As I previously mentioned, Deb and I volunteered to help with the FL Disaster Relief through the church. We were sent to the Murdock Baptist Church in Port Charlott, FL. We weren’t sure what we’d be doing, so we had work clothes and gloves, in case we were going to “clean up” areas. We brought twin size air mattresses ready to sleep in outdoor tents they had set up. We were very fortunate when they assigned us to the “music room” in the church. We set up our beds, not knowing how many other women would be coming. The bathroom wasn’t too far down the hall. Our room was roomy, air conditioned and even had a little refrigerator in it. We were pleasantly surprised, since there were numerous big white tents set up outside the church that had both men and womens quarters. We got 2 new “room mates”; Janice and Yolanda who drove over 5 hoursto get here from Islamorada (my neck of the woods growing up).
Although we had indoor bathrooms, the showers were portable, outdoor showers set up near the laundry service.
Talk about being thankful! These preciousladies, (some had been here since the day AFTER Ian hit!) kept these showers clean and ready for anyone that needed it. Mind you, there were over 500 Volunteers that came through per day, when we came, no telling how many had been there in the beginning. These ladies not only kept the showers ready, they also did on site laundry! You left 2days worth of dirty clothes and they were washed, dried and folded for you to pick up! Ms Sally and her husband (he does Security) have been there since 09/29. That sweet lady was 77 years old and had been doing this over a decade! I can’t tell you how much I appreciated that shower and clean clothes after each shift. God Bless each one of thoseprecious women.
I mentioned we worked in the “outdoor kitchen” preparing meals for “the field”. There’s also an “indoor kitchen” that prepares 3 meals a day for all of us! These folksstart at 4:00 am, preparing a hot breakfast for us by 7:00. They also make sandwiches for a “bag lunch” for the crews to eatwhile they’re out there clearing trees, tarping roofs, and every other imaginable need on site. They head out early and come in late afternoon to cleanup get dinner by 6:00 pm and get ready to go it again the next day. Did I mention we are ALL VOLUNTEERS?!?!? The inside kitchen crew not only fixes a hot breakfast for everyone, bagged lunches for off site crews, but a hot lunch for on site volunteers, and a hot dinner for everyone! Mr John lives nearby, so goes home every night. But he’s been here since day 1! “G” is from Haiti, but lives in CA. He’s been here since day 1! Ms Karen and Ms Mildred and others have been here for a while, too. I know one thing, when we walked in that kitchen area for a hot meal each day, I sure was thankful. Dinner time was the best, because after dinner, the Pastor or a Chaplain would ask “what was something good that happened today?” Different people would come up and share something good.
This one man said after helping a young couple with 3 kids get their place cleared and somewhat habitable, he witnessed to the man and with one kid hanging off of each arm, he cried and accepted Jesus!
Another lady said a woman and her husband had taken a week off work to come down and help their elderly parents to clean up. She said how much they appreciated the hot meals they delivered each day. It saved her from finding a grocery store, and trying to fix meals for them on top of all the cleaning up work.
Every night there were wonderful stories letting each person know their hard work was appreciated and needed.
Needless to say, this has been a wonderful, eye opening experience. I thank the Lord I am strong and healthy enough to help. I am truly thankful He gave me the desire to go. (Those size 7 Vionic sneakers sealed the deal !)
There’s more, so stay tuned.
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