Sunday Service Day

Mormon Helping Hands

Sunday, Tony and I had a wonderfully heartwarming experiencing helping those affected by the hurricane.  Literally 10 minutes away from our apartment, the ocean pounded 9 feet of water into the homes of countless people.  The water gutted everything from these homes: couches, cabinets, floors, walls, refrigerators, stoves, washers/dryers, beds... the list is endless.  To add insult to injury, the water left behind mounds of sand in it's wake. The people had to pile up all their ruined possessions on the street and begin knocking out their drywall and stripping out sopping wet insulation.  After church, we went with our fellow church members and helped the devastated people remove debris, sand, and walls out of their homes and clean up the wreckage of the fierce winds.  Glass littered the entire area from shattered windows.  Houses shifted, and in some cases ripped away, from their foundations.   The people here were nothing short of amazing... still faithful and optimistic despite all the destruction.  

The water level.... half way up the kitchen window. 

 These vests were so helpful to have!  As soon as we drove up, a policeman directed us where to go.  Then, people instantly approached us with work needing to get done.  We would troll the streets and people knew exactly what we were there for, and were so grateful for the help.  

Debris piled up almost as tall as the house. 

Some people got a little creative with their ruined belongings

We were just grateful to have a chance to serve the people who needed it most.  It truly made us count our blessings... and give thanks for our safety.