Hurricanes. Mud slides. Tornadoes. Earth quakes. Flash Flooding.
Natural Disasters. We’ve all heard of them before but I have never seen a natural disaster first hand.
Until now.
Thursday night: Angry clouds slowly crept over the edge of the mountain. The sky turned dark, almost black. A storm was on its way. Little did we know the rain had already started pouring down on the other side of the mountain and more was heading our way. A rushing river was forming, growing stronger every minute, making its violent journey down the mountain crushing everything in its path. Homes filled, walls knocked down, roads washed away, crops wiped out, loved ones missing, possessions scattered.
Friday: Families slowly find their way back to their homes, or at least what’s left of them. Some only hours earlier watched as the water torn down the walls of the only place they have ever called home, watched their possessions wash away to an unknown resting place, or reached out for the hand of a loved one as they were carried away in the rushing waters. Wondering where to begin some start shoveling the mud out of their homes, some, not ready to accept reality, sit in silence, others, mourning the lost of a loved one, cry out in mourning, while others still, search for bodies.
What can we do? How can we help?
I’ve been asking myself these questions since Friday afternoon.
So far: We were able to bring a suitcase full of shampoo and clothing to one family. Convoy of Hope was able to give 80 boxes of emergency relief food. It will help yes, but that is not nearly enough.
I hope we can do more.
|
