The month of June for many of us represents the beginning of summer; kids are out of school and vacation plans are in full swing -- even if it’s a “stay-cation.”  June 1st also launches the commencement of hurricane season.  As a result, response agencies are readying themselves for the unpredictability of the earth’s most dramatic weather system.

Hope Force International is also gearing up, and we are looking at several new programmatic initiatives to better serve impacted communities.  The challenge is large... the need is great… and the opportunity to serve is abundant.   Response requirements will be daunting on several fronts:  financially, organizationally and the need for pre-qualified volunteers such as our Hope Force Reservists.   However, what a privilege to express our love of God and others through acts of kindness and mercy! 

A category F3-F4 tornado hit Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on Good Friday afternoon, April 10th, leaving a swath of destruction that leveled homes and left people in shock.  Sadly, a young mother and her nine week-old baby were killed, and the grieving husband and father is still hospitalized with a broken back.  Considering the fact that the tornado was on the ground for five minutes, it is remarkable that the loss of life and personal injury was not much greater.  Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with those who have experienced the trauma of loss, and are still struggling to regain a sense of normalcy.

Within 24 hours, Hope Force International was on the scene to assess how we might be of greatest value to the effort.  With the goal of finding gaps in service, it didn’t take long to see that there was a great need for proper application of tarps to cover roofs in an effort to alleviate further water damage.  The Hope Force team, which included several HFI team members from our post-Katrina efforts, was particularly adept at this task, and soon it was clear that this would be our “niche” response.

While we have been able to help several needy individuals and families, we found exceptional delight in serving one homeowner who desperately needed our help.  She’s 90 years old, a widow, living alone with no family in the immediate area.  As we talked to her about offering to help free of charge, she was thrilled and very grateful.  In the midst of the task, it was an honor to pause activities long enough for her to share her story with us.  She wanted – and needed -- to talk about her experience, which is a vital part of the healing process.

She welcomed our offer to pray with her asking for God’s strength, for the tarps to do their job, and for a speedy recovery.

We have found in every disaster event, giving respectful attention with active listening means so much to people who have been traumatized by disaster.  People need to tell their story.  The ministry of presence, just being there for people, is a significant expression of concern and care, even in the midst of the busyness of the task.

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