Assisting with Hurricane Sandy Clean up

Today, was the first day since the storm hit that I could go anywhere because of the gas crisis here in NJ.  After filling up down south a bit, I decided to make a trek into Staten Island, NY where the costal areas were devastated by Hurricane Sandy.  The entire time I was praying that God would direct me since I had never been to Staten Island and I was really not sure where the flood damage had occurred.  All I had to go on was the name of a street mentioned in an article.  

The woman I helped and I sitting on a dock made of cement that was around 4 feet tall that washed up on the beach!

Usually I would join a group like Samaritans Purse Disaster relief organization but I knew they were not in Staten Island at this time.  As I crossed the bridge and entered Staten Island I followed my GPS to the street I had read about.  As I did so, I prayed that God would show me who needed help.  As I turned on the street which is along the shore but back a ways from it, I started to see the houses that had been damaged.  As I slowly drove by, I saw a blond woman coming out of her house carrying items and I felt compelled by that inner voice to stop.  I immediately pulled over and went up to her and asked her if she could you an extra set of hands.  She immediately threw her arms around me and said, "Yes, I am all by myself."  

Her basement apartment was completely flooded, the ceiling had collapsed, the walls broken down.  The water had risen probably half way up the first floor destroying everything.  Furniture was overturned including a huge, heavy fridge.  

We began the process of carrying all the trash out to the street.  She was widowed and had family but they each had there own house flooded.  As we began working she opened up her entire life to me, all her hurts and struggles.  I listened and prayed for her.  One of my prayers was for some way to get some strong hands to help move all the mattresses and furniture out.  As I went to take a load outside I saw a FDNY utility truck pull up.  The men stepped out and said, "do you need any help."  I jokingly said, "if you can help move furniture we could use the help."  To my amazement he waved to the other men in the truck and the next thing I know, we had 5 strong men to pull out all the heavy items.  I walked inside and told her my prayers were answered and all she could do was smile.  

With their help we were able to empty out the first floor!  The pile outside was probably 5 or 6ft high of all of her memories and personal effects.  As the men were leaving they stopped me and said, "Thank you for stopping to help her, we here in NY are a family when tragedy hits, now you are part of that."  I had no words to say except that as a follower of Jesus, I am to be His hands and His feet to the world, a reflexion of his mercy, grace, and love.  It is something I am compelled to do because of the great mercy, forgiveness and love He has given me.  

Today, I had the chance to help one person, but as I drove the street there were SO many who were trying so hard to salvage their lives.  I can't help them all physically but I can pray for my Great God to step in and carry them in their time of great need.  I don't think my time there is over, and I pray that God will direct each encounter as I return.  

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

Matthew 25:34-40

Heading out the back door

The back yard with debris everywhere

The back yard with a couple feet of debris covering it.  

The front yard with debris

Personal items destroyed

The neighbors house completely off the foundation

The basement.  water completely filled this and half of the first floor at least.  Collapsed ceiling, walls destroyed.  

FDNY Brooklyn to the rescue

The national guard in town

a palm tree that washed up out of nowhere!  Someone decided to plant it!