Month: May 2014

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Moore, OK one year later

It’s been a year

A year ago today, a tornado touched down in Moore, OK.

Lives were lost, many homes damaged and just a little bit more fear came upon a community.

Living in California, it was devastating and horrific to see an elementary school flattened and children separated from their frightened parents. But to live it, to live through it would be hard.

We worked on the very ground that houses had been destroyed. We stood right by a twisted tree that was the only thing remaining from a neighborhood. It affects your heart. It’s no longer abstract, because you stood on the soil.

Oklahoma Strong

Less than a month ago, we had the opportunity to experience “Oklahoma Strong” first hand. We shared and hammered side by side survivors or neighbors of the tornado. We worked in winds that didn’t even cause the locals to blink.

The people of Oklahoma are indeed strong, and they’re trying to pool their strength and resources to weather this and other tragedies that have impacted the area. The community is better able to respond to similar crises, the building codes are stronger so that maybe there will be less tragedies.

Hopelahoma
Restoring Hope, Rebuilding Lives

But that only gets you so far. There’s only so much you can only convince yourself that everything will be okay, or that your building will be strong enough. There comes a time for faith and hope. As mentioned before, our friends at Crossings Community blessed all of our team with free tshirts “Restoring Hope, Rebuilding Lives.” And when you look at the shirt, the main thing you see is “Hope Lives.”

And hopefully that’s the main thing the community and we will remember. This is bigger than a tornado, it’s the other challenges that happen to families and communities.

And that’s why we came out. Because our area wasn’t devastated by the tornado, we can come and help. Not just with hammers, but with hope, prayers, concern and sweat. For our team,we still keep our eye on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and think of families and friends met there. Now the same is true for Oklahoma.

And we take pause today a year after a tragic event, and we leave it in the hopeful hands of the One who sent us, our God.

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Paul, the only newbie and his reflection on the week

Paul had been our site supervisor in Mississippi for years. 

Within moments of meeting him, we became fast friends. His care for us volunteers and partner families alike, his professionalism and his spiritual life spoke louder than any Habitat brochure. But friendship turned to family, and Paul chose to make his first missionary trip for Habitat to be with us for our week of service.

The only newbie on our “scout” team, he came with the most experience and unique point of view
This last week reminded me of the beauty of the unity the Spirit of Christ creates among those He holds. I am deeply thankful for the relationships we have built in His grace that continue to grow as we give ourselves to time together, united in the goal of being His hands and feet.
I certainly had moments of frustration and fatigue on the trip, but each time encountered encouragement from others who were resting in the joy of the Lord. It leads me to wonder that in those times I was able to rest, God was able to encourage through me. I think it is pretty cool in how fluid and complete the Spirit’s work is in and among the saints.
Besides the spiritual side of my experience, I was reminded of the satisfaction I receive in the work of helping others recover from a disaster, using the skills one has, no matter the level. It is a deep joy to help others get back to normal, yet hopefully encouraged and built up in Christ. It was awful and awesome to hear the stories of loss and redemption from those affected by the tornado. I was reminded that our lives are so fragile and yet, His Hand is a never tiring hand, holding our lives together even when they seem to be falling apart.
I look forward to, God willing, being able to serve along side any and all of ya’ll in the future
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Steve’s “The Devo I didn’t do”

Every morning, and most evenings, our team would do a “Devo,” short for devotional, a short teaching or reflection, followed with prayer. It’s a way to learn from each other and from the Bible.


Most all team members were assigned a slot, but sometimes, because of circumstances, we had to skip it.


Steve was the team’s “medic,” watching over us in injury or ailment. It was also his 8th trip with the team.

Tommy and Steve


THE DEVO I DIDN’T DO



Because of a timing miscommunication, our team was late to the job site on Saturday, the last day of work, and the morning I was scheduled to deliver the devotional message. I wasn’t sure if I would be addressing fifty or so more folks from Crossings Community, the local mega-church in OKC also scheduled to work the build, so some of the inside humor and sarcasm I would have omitted. But here it is in writing…


A good rule of thumb when speaking to adults is that a message should best contain three (3) points. When addressing children, you should focus on just one (1) point. For this group, I figure a good compromise would be two (2) points. You know, somewhere in between.

Point 1 – Just because those close to you are doing something wrong is never a reason for you to also do wrong. My job at both houses the first couple of days this week was to remove the thresholds from all the door openings. A threshold is the portion of the two by four lying on the floor that must be cut out before installing the drywall that will eventually become the door opening. But before I removed the threshold, I needed to make sure that the studs on both sides of the opening were plumb. A problem arose when I noticed one particular stud was not straight, but nailed in at an angle. I was not sure if I should cut the threshold straight across, or follow the angle of the mis-nailed stud.
One of my rules on this trip when I don’t know something is to ask either Gary or Tommy. Gary, AKA “Mr Interweb” is helpful in discovering general information and to settle disagreements as to fact. Tommy is good for construction knowledge as well as spiritual insight. Tommy’s answer was that just because the stud was position incorrectly is no reason to cut the threshold incorrectly as well. I said, “Hey, that is a good metaphor for life.” And also Point 1.
Steve working on the thresholds

Point 2 – You can find joy in almost all things. As you know, on Tuesday, Uncle Roy smashed in his middle finger not once, not twice, but three times. The first hit was around noon, but by dinner, it still had not stopped bleeding. I found this can of blood clotting spray and I told Roy that if this doesn’t work, we’re going to Emergency. Two hours later, we pulled into the St Anthony’s ER. When the nurse called Roy’s name, Millie and I went with him into the examination room. I can’t share everything that happened in there because it is kind of graphic to some folks, but suffice it to say that Roy is a funny guy…even while getting his finger injected multiple times with anesthetic, even while getting his fingernail cut out with scissors, even while getting his nail bed cauterized with silver nitrate and even while getting a stitch to close the wound.

All the other guys in the van that came with us to show support for Roy were able to watch the OKC basketball game go into overtime on the lobby flatscreen. I’d say that was a pretty good win/win situation. And also Point 2.
This was supposed to be the end of the devotion and I would close with prayer. However, later that day I received Point 3.
Point 3 – Sometimes you need to stop and re-assess the situation. A good portion of Saturday was spent hand nailing OSB sheeting around the house that we had framed earlier in the day. I recall a few team members were clustered on one side of the house pounding away, Roy, Paul, Millie, Craig, Chris and Tommy. I must have been tired, as I totally missed multiple times, one particular nail I was trying to hammer. Tommy noticed and told me to stop, pause and re-aim the hammer. I did, and three strokes later, the nail was in. He also said that this should be Point 3 of my devotion.

And so it is.

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Last Day


We’re Back!



One direct flight back to LAX and we’re back!

We’ll be reviewing the trip, and the team members will be posting some of their thoughts as they get settled back home, but for now, just wanted to do a quick recap of this last day

Morning

Most all the team packed up and ready to go, about half of us went over to the Sanctuary side of Hilltop Baptist. It’s the second of the two main buildings on the property. We’ve been staying on the Gym/Fellowship side.



After breakfast, it was worship, including taking communion with their congregation. For a few moments, Gary was helping greet people. Pastor Matt preached a message regarding commitment to church. This is especially poignant as they are in a regrowth swing in their church history. After being in a interim position as lead pastor, Matt’s permanent position was being put to a vote later that day. 


Flight home

Flight home and the direct flight was a welcome change from the dash 
in Dallas we had done when going to Mississippi. 

While at the airport, it was time for the vote on Matt. Although not members, and not at the church, we sent Matt an email of encouragement showing him our support. (We literally asked each other for their vote, and this is the result)


Goodbye Paul 

Paul was with us for a week, and it went by so fast. It wasn’t until the last half of the week that we realized he had been sent by his home church, and our church while in Mississippi, Mosaic. The difference of being sent by a church vs coming on your own was never more evident as this realization swept over us. We love Paul and his presence on our team has been an honor and fantastic resource. His spiritual presence, humility and candor has helped us all grow, but knowing that he carries the blessings, authority and resources of his church was somehow a little more humbling. He was no longer just a friend who came along to be with us, but a man with clearer accountability and purpose, even in our eyes. It helped us understand our own role.

We prayed with and for Paul in the OKC airport. 
Paul talking with his fiance, and our friend, Denise

Praying for Paul in OKC

Peter, Paul and Gary (and Millie)


Flight back was full of people nodding off too sleep from a hard week’s work, but also for chatting with people on the plane. Wearing our Habitat shirts, it was often the point of conversation. Jeff hit it off with a traveler who spends part of his time in Southern California, and the rest in Oklahoma. Tom might even join us should we come back to build in OKC. 
Pam was seated next to an Oklahoman woman whose home was wiped out by last year’s tornado and had it rebuilt by Habitat. Was a nice way to end the trip.


Returning home, we deplaned and paused for a moment to thank God for a good trip and a good team, then off to be greeted by our supporters. Their support was very energizing even thousands of miles away, but to experience it firsthand is all the more heartfelt.



There’s more to come as we catch our breath and reflect upon this week of serving God and His people. Just trying to get settled down into the life we left behind and get caught up. But wanted to let you all know we arrived safely!

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OKC 2014 Day 6 – End of Job

Today was our last day on a work site.

Tomorrow it’s church, then to the airport.




Moore OK

Google Maps Streetview in previous years
Started the day a bit behind schedule. We had the right address, but just the start time we had was 830a, but there was a group already on site by 8am.


We were told that we’d be working on a tornado work site with another organization with a team of 30. We had no idea what to expect, but some of us were not looking forward to it.


Two things we quickly found out
a) our job site was only a few blocks away from Towers elementary
b) we’d be working side by side Crossings Community Church


To be honest, there was some feeling that it’d probably be a crowded site, but we were greeted with warm smiles, a free lunch and some incredibly great fellowship. They even gave us some of their tshirts






We met a number of people. including Steve, who was filming video for the church, and will be hoping to produce a video detailing all the work they’re doing for rebuilding OKC.


Many of our team spoke with their church members and were impressed with their kindness, heart and focus. They seemed like good people with good focus. And they were fun too!





Click here for the Photo Album for the day



Dawn

Another person we met was Dawn, the homeowner. It was humbling to see Dawn standing against a backdrop of the missing houses and big sky area behind them. She told us her story, that she had been at work, and the kids were in the elementary school right before it went down.


We toured the area and saw the rebuilt school. It’s gone from not having any tornado shelter to now the entire school is rated as tornado shelter.





Dinner and debrief

Later in the evening , it was time for a debrief. But first a dinner brought by pam’s uncle who lives in the area. He and his wife home cooked and brought us a multicourse meal at Hilltop Baptist. The home style food was much appreciate and a blast of asian cuisine!