What an incredible 24 hours this has been!
On Saturday, Sept. 14th., I was stripping wallpaper off of the family room wall when the phone rang. A strangely familiar voice asked what I was doing. After a few seconds I realized the voice belonged to an old friend, Michelle Craig, from Tiffin.
"Pack your bags, I want you to come with us," she said.
"OK, where are we going?"
Her reply: "To New York City to work on the disaster relief."
As the implication of what she was saying hit me, my blood seemed to run cold. I started asking questions about details but she said, "You really don't need to know all that! Just pray and see if the Lord wants you to go and then call me back. We leave Tiffin at 4:00 tomorrow
afternoon. I hope you can go."
I hung up the phone and took a walk outdoors in the lawn to pray and think. I began to think of all sorts of reasons why I'd not be able to go. "What about work? What will Frank think about it?"
First, I called Maryann, the nurse I work with to see if she could pick up any of my hours at work. She said she would check and call back. Next I called Brian, my supervisor at Visiting Nurses. He listened to what I told him and replied; "Don't worry about work; if you feel you should go, then go."
I called my patient's mother, Chris. She advised me, "Pray about it and do whatever God directs."
Now the only other bridge to cross was to talk to my husband, Frank. He came home and I ask him to sit down. "We have some things to discuss." I told him about the phone call; he sat quietly for a few minutes, then said, "I won't hold you back. If you feel you want to do this, it's OK . I only wish I could
Anna and Joyce are at the extreme right, above.
do it, too. If you don't go, you'll
probably always regret it."
It seemed all my possible objections to going had just dissolved. I felt a
peace as I called Tracy Elder, the name Michelle had told me to call with
my answer. She gave me the address of her home and
a short list of things to bring. Sleeping bag, towel and washcloth, boots,
goggles, masks, jeans and tee shirts. I went to K- Mart with my list
and purchased what I needed. By 11:00pm I was packed and had my bags by
the door.
This morning at church
I told Pastor Meadows what was happening. Before I'd finished
he was sending word to the adult Sunday School classes to raise
funds.
Although I told him
I didn't need funds, he said, "Just stay out of it! You may not need
it, but the people of the church
need to be given the opportunity to give money for you to
take along to use to help out in whatever situation you might run
into."
When I went into church
people were handing me folded bills. When the children went forward
for the children's word, Pastor ask me to come forward also. He
talked to the children about the events of the week and how we as
Christians should respond. He then told the people that he was
sending the children out into the congregation to collect their
gifts. I was (click here)
Journal continued on large graphic below. This will be converted to text and the remainder of the Journal will be published by April 15.
