Hurricane Sandy Strikes East Coast October 29th
Wednesday, October 31st we deployed
On Wednesday, October 31st we deployed to the east coast in response to the great need after Hurricane dubbed,“SuperStorm Sandy” by the media. The devastation we witnessed reminded us in many ways of the destruction after Hurricane Ike in the Gulf Coast region. However, in many ways the impact of Sandy is much more magnified. With the population density of the Northeast, the volume of people impacted is significantly greater than in the Gulf Coast. With basements in most all of the homes, water from the storm surge had to be pumped out. Even after the storm, many people remained in their homes because they either had no place to go, a way to leave or were concerned about looting. Being without heat or electricity in the cold also magnifies the intensity of suffering. It has been estimated that many will not have power for months in Staten Island.
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As only the Lord can do, we were supernaturally connected to Rev. Daniel Delgado of House of Victory Church in Staten Island the first day we arrived in NY. The Delgado family graciously opened up their home to us and allowed Terry and I to stay with them the entire week as we met and worked through the Somebody Cares Network with local pastors. Within hours after the storm, over 40 Staten Island pastors met to establish a strat- egy for long term recovery. Dividing the island into four sectors, different churches took on responsibilities in each sector. Terry and I were privileged to work with Christian Pentecostal Church and serve in their coalition as they determined procedures for gifts-in-kind donations and volunteers arriving to aid the areas impacted.
Week two found us moving from Staten Island to Jamaica Queens as we worked with Somebody Cares America and Mercury One (Glenn Beck’s new foundation) in partnership with local ministries, Hope NYC and CRI on two separate outreaches held in one weekend. With one week’s preparation, Somebody Cares America, SC Baltimore, SC York, SC Lowell, and the Blood n’ Fire crew pulled together two days of Thanksgiving blessings for over 1500 people! It is a great privilege for us to be able to work alongside all of these guys! They are amazing in their commitment to “get it done” and everyone went the extra mile to see to it that families displaced by Sandy would have the best Thanksgiving Day possible! We thank you for your support that enabled us to be a part of it. Volunteers filled donated gift bags with everything from gift cards, non perishable food, stuffed animals and blankets. The Holy Smoker crews and volunteers served hot turkey meals to everyone. Many weary souls were blessed by the care offered to them.
When crisis comes, it seems like everything suddenly is going backwards! It seems that times are dark and difficult. But as the Lord shows up and His Church connects with volunteers, officials and those in need, things begin to improve and the load gets lighter. Often, things end up better than even before! We pray that each of us can RISE TO THE TIME IN HIM!