There will be extensive and terrible devastation to those living on the Gulf Coast in Texas and Louisiana.
One of the ways God shines his light through the darkness of natural disasters is through all of those who rush to help and provide aid. My community saw this after being ground zero for Hurricane Harvey three years ago. I could see the Lord in all the help my community received from people from every state and from around world.
Perhaps you and your church are considering providing help to those in the path of Hurricane Laura. I give thanks for you.
Here are some things to keep in mind after the storm has passed and the recovery phase has begun.
1. Pray
There is no way to describe all the emotions, challenges, frustrations, despair, hope and joy people experience in a natural disaster. Ask God to reveal himself, so people will be reminded constantly of his presence each day and receive strength.
2. Be patient.
After Hurricane Harvey hit our community, it took time for people to get their footing and know what was needed, where to store it, and how to distribute it.
I was contacted by people the day after the storm asking me what I needed or telling me what they were bringing. Having just experienced a traumatic event, I wasn’t prepared to manage a recovery effort. We eventually caught our breath and hit the ground running, but it took time.
3. Try not to create a second disaster through your donations.
We were blessed and overwhelmed by the material goods donated to our community. But not everything was helpful.
The idea is to donate items that will move quickly to those in need, and not sit in some storage space for months or years to come. Things like food or insect repellent went quickly. Huge boxes of underwear took longer to distribute and had to be stored.
Reprinted from the Baptist Standard. For the original article and more go here: The Baptist Standard.
