I have not figured out what to write. I am not known for being a writer. I am a proud daughter and sister to great writers but know full well I am not one. Yesterday some of us went to one of the MANY evacuee sites on KellyUSA. We passed out Bibles, giftcards, babydolls, toys, books, and homemade cookies. Our little church bought as much as we could and it was gone in just a few minutes. Our bags of things ran out so much faster than our hearts. I wanted to be like the woman whose bottle never ran out of oil. The faces of the grateful, the ones still in shock, the children who were squealing w/ delight over such little things, the old man who half-smiled at the pack of cards I handed him (as if he were remembering something from long ago), the mother's face of relief when I offered her a stroller: they are burning my mind.
The signs posted in the long hallways are just as painful to recall: TODD ______, PLEASE CALL YOUR FAMILY: (houston #) WE DONT KNOW WHICH CITY YOU ARE IN! WE CAN COME GET YOU!
HAVE YOU SEEN MY DAUGHTER (description and name)? SHE IS 14 AND NEEDS HER MEDICATION. PLEASE CALL ME IN BATON ROUGE SHELTER...
I talked to a woman who had stood in line for hours at the free phones set up by SBC. She said she called every single number she knows: friends, family, coworkers, anyone. No answers. She said she only has family and friends in Louisiana and Mississippi. No one is there.
So many asked us "which way to the Missing Persons room?" we lost count.
Dirk gave one family a box of things our church had put together. He was in the process of explaining what was in it when the lady stopped him and asked, "Is there a Bible in it? Yes? Hallelujah, Jesus!" She didnt seem to care about the gift card.
There are so many people there doing good things. These peoples' practical needs have been met for the short-term. What they need now is spiritual help, simple diversions, and help for making a long-term plan. If you can go, GO. If you can send money, SEND. But PRAY for those hurting and those trying to make a difference, no matter how small.
Dirk went back this morning w/ our two oldest sons. They took loads more toys, games, dolls, etc. It was gone%2
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5 comments:
Aubrey, I'm so proud to be part of a family who truly cares for other people. . .whether it's the lost family next door or people in our circle who are hurting, or displaced storm victims whose names we will never know. Thank you for helping, thank you for being an example to the rest of the family. I love you.
The blog didnt publish the last paragraph of my Post! Sorry that it seems to end so abruptly.
The best writer is one who lets the emotions flow freely from heart to hand and onto paper (or keyboard), and you definitely conveyed the feeling of hopelessness from those refugees. I'm so glad y'all were able to meet physical, emotional, and spiritual needs in such a needy place.
I'm not rationing very well. I'm afraid to go back and try to make sense of what help is needed, and I can't wait to be there. God is good to give His people hearts that want to love, but limit us enough so that we have to lean on Him to fill our cup.
Thanks Aubrey for "writing" ... words from the heart are eloquent because they are authentic. And after reading the comments here as well as Kristen's blog I thought of Mother Teresa's quote...
"Each one of them is Jesus in disguise."
You've served HIM well.
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