Hurricane Ike Clean Up

Disclaimer: Let me preface this post by saying that Sheryl is the author and complete contributor to everything on this Blog. This is my first time interjecting myself into the world of blogging. Though I read everyone else's.

Yesterday I had the privilege and blessing of going down to Lake Jackson, Texas to assist in the clean up and recovery after Hurricane Ike. It all began with an email and phone call on Tuesday from the EQ presidency calling everyone available to get equipment and bodies for a trip down on the following Saturday. There was an immediate response from the ward. We were short on chainsaws and we extended our reach beyond the ward to our good neighbors and friends not of our faith and got all the chainsaws and equipment needed. It just goes to show that Texans are in fact some of the kindest people around.

Many of you may not know but I'm a bit of a night owl. So I knew that even though we would be leaving at 3AM Saturday morning there was no way I was going to be getting to bed early. I'm really not into laying for ahhh and hour or so staring at the ceiling. So I packed up that night and hit the sack around 11ish, said a prayer that even though i was going to be asleep for just a few hours that it would be a deep sleep. Well 3AM came upon me and I was bright eyed and bushy tailed and ready to go. Our ward met up at 3:30AM, we loaded up everyone and headed to Elgin (rural town just east of the Austin area) to meet up with our Stake.

There were about 150 people from our Stake there and we all caravaned down to Lake Jackson. I will have to say there was a feeling that I will describe as the light of Christ in everyone. I looked into the eyes of our Stake President and I could see it, I could see it in everyone's eyes and countenance.

So after a few hours in the car filled with small talk (which I thoroughly enjoy) we arrived in Lake Jackson. Upon arriving, we checked in and got our yellow Mormon Helping Hands t-shirts (along with 500 other's), got our work assignments, had a few words from the mayor and stake presidents in the area and headed off to or assigned work areas.

My group was assigned to an older couple in their 70's. They were the nicest folks. They had 4 acres that had large tree's (40+ feet tall) throughout the property. We worked all day cutting up downed trees and piling up all the branches and wood in large piles 15 ft. high and 15 ft. in diameter for burning. Throughout the day the owners would come up and just say in the most sincere way how appreciative they were and that there was no way they would be able to get to this work. I know that we were all more then happy to be down there helping. Everyday after the hurricane hit I kept telling myself when are we going to go down and help these people out. When the phone call came I was released from this anxiousness to help. I say that humbly and not pridefully. God put's that in us.

We had one incident with the chainsaw but for the sake of the length of this entry (if you've even read this far) I will refrain. Ask me some time. We finished up with the first property around 3ish and moved to the next door neighbors asking them if they needed help which they emphatically said yes. We worked on their property and the next one until about 5PM and then called it a day and headed back to the park were we got our work orders from.

A shower, there is nothing like a good shower. They had showers at a rec center and we took one and hit the road. Another thing that is just great is a good meal after a hard days work. We stoped for a quick bite to eat and got home to our loving families.

I know that this is a bit of a travel log, but there was so much more that was happening yesterday and I just cant put it all down but, I was moved again by the Spirit to remember what I know to be true, that God is a merciful God and his Son Jesus Christ showed us the way to live and payed the ultimate price in His infinite sacrifice. The Kingdom of God is on the earth and I am fortunate to be affiliated with that kingdom. His work is moving forward and we were apart of that work yesterday and each day as we follow Him. -Dallas

I only took a few pictures as I was more focused on working ;)