On Thursday, September 1, an equipment truck, a van, and two busloads packed with almost 100 students, faculty, and staff from Andrews University, Andrews Academy, Broadview Academy, and Great Lakes Academy drove the 20 hours to Bass Memorial Academy in Lumberton, Mississippi. They were filled with desire to do something to bring relief to the thousands left behind to pick up the pieces of their lives in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. With media flashing images of devastation and depression—a city under water, whole neighborhoods flattened to the ground, looting, people desperately searching for food, the horrors of life in the Superdome, and shootings over bags of ice—we didn’t know what we would find when we arrived. Every mile we drove further south, the worse the countryside began to look, the weaker our cell phone signals grew, and the rarer became our chance to purchase gas.
Originally asked to help repair and clean up the academy grounds, our group, as well as a crew of 40 students and five faculty and staff from Southern Adventist University, ended up doing much more. Joining forces with Adventist Community Team Services (ACTS), we went into the surrounding community to distribute water and food, worked in one of two mobile soup kitchens, unloaded semi-trucks full of donated food and water, and performed a variety of other tasks.
The devastation and depression experienced by the rural communities of Lumberton and Purvis, Mississippi, were heart-breaking. Cars lined up for over a mile each morning, waiting to drive through the distribution line based on the Bass campus, where community members' car trunks were stuffed full of canned goods, baby food, water, toiletries, and other basics that had suddenly become luxuries. Thousands waited in line for a hot meal served up from one of two mobile soup kitchens. But, as I served up spoonfuls of goulash and string beans onto Styrofoam plates, I never encountered a harsh word. Instead, I received grateful smiles, humble spirits, and a restored faith in the goodness of people who lived out Christ’s admonition to “love thy neighbor as thyself.”
I’ll never forget my encounter with a particular elderly man who passed through the lunch line on Saturday. He was thin, his face filled with wrinkles, and a baseball cap covered his white hair. As I began to pile macaroni on his plate, he pulled back saying, “that’s enough, thanks.” I looked down at his small amount of food and scooped up another spoonful, unconvinced one tiny scoop was enough to fill this hungry man. But, despite my encouragement to let me give him another scoop, he just smiled and insisted he didn’t need more. My heart was touched by his unselfishness, his desire to take less for himself so that someone else might have a little more.
Amazingly, this happened more than once. Where were the people pushing and shoving each other, the fighting over loaves of bread and gallons of milk I’d seen on the television and read about in newspapers? The entire time I was in Mississippi, I never heard one angry word spoken about another person. Instead, I encountered grateful hearts and caring neighbors. People came for miles around to fill their cars not only with food and supplies for themselves, but for their neighbors and friends. Extra plates were requested for the elderly woman who lived next door who couldn’t get out; neighbors directed us to the woman with the baby next door who might need some water.
As we were getting ready to leave, I stood in the food line for what would be my last hot meal from the makeshift kitchen. Because we didn’t have much time to eat before we needed to pile on the bus, our leaders instructed us to politely make our way to the front of the line. I couldn’t help but feel a little guilty cutting in front of those who had been waiting so long, but I knew I had to if I was going to eat at all. I turned to the couple next to me and apologized for jumping in front of them, explaining that our group was leaving. I expected them to be angry or at least annoyed. But instead of anger, I met smiles of gratitude, something I’d never experience had I been in line for a burrito at Taco Bell. They insisted I go ahead and thanked me for what our group was doing. I know each one who went on this trip could relate a similar story.
There were many incredible miracles that occurred that weekend in the form of semi-trucks of food and water, clouds to cover the sun and make the heat a little more bearable, or a supply of gas to fill our almost-empty tanks and carry us home. But one of the greatest miracles I experienced was seeing, in the midst of what can’t be described as anything less than a disaster, the spirit of Christ alive in the hearts of the people I encountered, who gave me much more than I ever could have given them.
Beverly Stout is a University Relations correspondent.
Many of us have seen the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf States. As I watched the newscasts played before and after the storm, there was an inner conviction we must do something to relieve the suffering and loss many thousands experienced.
The Indiana Conference community services and disaster response leadership team began to mobilize disaster teams and laid out plans to help from Indiana. Conference administrators also responded by suggesting we collect a special offering in our churches. The response has been overwhelming. After two special offerings were collected, church treasurers notified the conference that at least $41,000 was donated for relief efforts.
On Tuesday, September 6, Jerry Higgs, a pastor, Mike Hughes, Paul Fruth, and I drove to an Adventist disaster warehouse in Louisiana, more than a thousand miles away, to deliver 954 blankets and close to 600 personal care kits. While we were there we helped unload several truckloads of supplies. The days were long and the hours full of activity, but we were glad to be the hands of Jesus to bring relief to the people.
The relief efforts will continue for several months to come. We set up a warehouse to collect donated items in Cicero, Indiana, and collection operations continued at the warehouse until the September 25. Many churches across the state conducted food drives in their communities and the response has been overwhelming.
One day Randy Barr, a young man from Columbus, Indiana, called and said, “We must do something. I want to collect items needed and take them down there.” The Columbus community responded in a marvelous way. Someone donated the use of a truck. Another person got in contact with the local country radio station and they ran advertising spots free of charge. In a matter of 24 hours, more than 20 tons of water and diapers were collected! So, on Saturday, September 3, three truckloads of water and diapers were delivered to the fairgrounds in Jackson, Mississippi, where many evacuees were housed.
Jeff Smith, a Fort Wayne Church member who works for Triple Crown trucking company, made arrangements to bring the supplies to our warehouse. He also contacted his company to deliver the supplies that we collect to the effected states for a very reasonable amount. Volunteers from the church set up a semi at a local mall and ran ads on the radio and newspapers. They collected close to 100,000 pounds of much-needed supplies. I had the distinct privilege to meet the team from Ft. Wayne when they came to drop off the supplies at the warehouse.
Many Indiana schools are participating in fund drives and food drives in their communities. There is a spirit of service that has taken hold in our schools and churches. Sarah Stout, fifth and sixth grade teacher at Cicero Adventist Elementary, mobilized her class to go door to door for donations. They were able to fill over 60 grocery bags with needed items in a short amount of time.
Indiana's leadership team participated in the North American Division’s disaster response coordinator’s meeting in Dallas, Texas. We were surprised to find many of the hotel guests were actually evacuees from New Orleans. They were there with just the clothes on their back. We were moved as we listened to their stories. We offered prayers and hugs, but one of our own coordinators, Katheryn Ratliff, was inspired to do something more. She said, "Why not bring the disaster truck from the Texas depot with blankets, clothes, and personal care kits to them?" We made arrangements with hotel management, and the next day the disaster truck was brought in and close to 100 people were helped.
In the days ahead there will be many opportunities to serve, not only here in our state, but also in the effected states. Several hundred individuals have moved into our communities. This presents an opportunity to help them. There will be opportunities to go as volunteers and serve in warehouses and distribution centers.
The North American Division will embark on the most ambitious plan yet to make a difference in the lives of people. “We must go beyond just providing food and supplies. We must provide a tangible impact in their lives through our churches,” urged Sung Kwon, North American Division Community Services executive director.
Three strong entities in our church are partnering to make a huge impact in the effected communities. Maranatha International, Adventist-Laymen's Services and Industries, and Adventist Community Services are joining forces to help rebuild churches and the houses in the immediate vicinity of those churches. Contact one of these organizations to learn how you can become involved.
I leave you with the words of Jesus, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28). All of these disasters are just reminders Jesus is coming soon. Let us serve while we have the opportunity until He comes.
José Vazquez is the Indiana Conference community services and disaster relief director.
