One minute or less can change your world forever. Every spring a threat looms over us knowing we might need to spring into action at a moment’s notice. Obviously, some are more afraid than others. Usually the ones most afraid are people moving into the area…you know, the ones who have lived through terrible hurricanes, earthquakes mud slides, and forest fires.
Funnel clouds often form when those wonderful artic jet streams encounter the hot air lingering above the Gulf of Mexico here in the Midwest. “A tornado watch is in effect until 6:30 this evening,” the television blares. If rotation begins, the watch becomes a tornado warning and people must take shelter.
Never fearing tornadoes before, I developed a healthy respect after being up close and personal. It’s amazing how one circumstance can change your perspective. In 2008, I experienced firsthand what an EF-5 tornado could do. Our house received plenty of hail damage from being on the north side of this twister. Our church had just moved from the attacked town to Baxter Springs. Immediately we gathered clothes to take down. Unexpectedly, the city designated us to be the disaster relief center in our vacant building since it still had electricity. Hearing the tragic stories of those brutally attacked physically and emotionally gave me insight I had never obtained.
Three years later a rain-wrapped EF-5 tornado hit Joplin, Missouri, making national news. Every church member of ours had a relative working or living there creating a new level of care for us. Already knowing the types of problems, even though we couldn’t conceive the magnitude, saddened us. Tragic stories weren’t just heard a few hours a day, but 24/7. This time it involved people we personally knew and places we did business with. The greatest loss was our dear friend’s church in our fellowship. They lost their entire building and five members. In spite of personal emotions, we knew we had to respond.
In addition to cooking our 1,200 evening meals per week, we prepared 10,000 meals for clean-up crews. The Ministerial Alliance served them. Donations of water, hygiene kits, clothes, and much more were given to various response centers. Clean-up crews were sent as well.
Finally making it through a couple of tornado seasons, it happened to us on April 27th, 2014. With no storms in the forecast, and on a sunny day, a dangling rope lowered itself in front of our vehicle as sirens sounded. Rushing to get inside the church, a sailing board tried to pierce my head like an arrow, forcing us to lay down outside. The wind carried my husband and me ten feet from the church into our parking lot.
Grateful for God’s protecting power, we immediately reacted by checking on those in our neighborhood and passing out water. It was difficult, but God sent comforters from Joplin to give hope and encouragement.
The next four months were totally insane as we operated our church and ministry in survival mode. Providing relief from the inside is way different from the outside. Only God can give that kind of strength and courage.
Courage is being afraid, but doing something anyway.
What circumstance has changed your life drastically? Good or bad.
Please share.
© 2015, Jena Fellers. All rights reserved.
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