With a day of serving under our belts, we feel like we have a better picture of how people can help over the next few days. Like I said in an earlier post, let’s continue to pray, give, and serve with Hands On Nashville. But we also wanted you to be aware of a unique opportunity to serve some folks that need some help in Mt. Juliet.
If you want to help us over the next few days, here’s the
info you need to know.
When and Where Can You Serve? Thursday-Saturday morning at 9:30am, RCC will have a team member present at Kerry Bural’s house at 4002 Omaha Ct., Mt. Juliet, TN 37122. They’ll be there for a few hours working to help the Bural’s in any way that they can, along with any surrounding neighbors. If you’re coming on Thursday, Tyler is our point of contact (713-819-5661). If you’re coming on Friday, Manny is our point of contact (615-739-7140). If you’re coming Saturday, Abigail is our point of contact (540-454-9101).
What Will You Do? Today, we did all kinds of things.
We moved things, picked trash up, boxed up breakable dishes, hugged and prayed
for homeowners, walked to other neighbor’s homes to help, and more. There are
neighbors who aren’t connected to anyone, so we did our best to help them. You’ll
probably do the same on your day. The key thing is to be patient and flexible
as you help.
What Should I Bring? Bring water, gloves, and
anything else you think might be helpful. If you have a chain saw, that could
be great. There’s a lot of work, requiring a lot of different types of tools.
Bring what you can.
How Long Will We Work? You can stay as short or as
long as you want. I’d recommend staying for a couple of hours, if possible. If
you can stay longer, that’s awesome!
Each time we serve we learn more about how we can serve more
helpfully. With each coming day, I assume that will continue to be true. We’ll
do our best to continue to update you along the way.
I just got back from helping those impacted by the tornadoes
in Mt. Juliet. It’s hard to put into words what the Redemption City team and I saw.
Houses ripped off of their foundations, sides of homes completely gone, people’s
personal belongings found on the other side of their neighborhood, yards filled
with everything you can imagine, just to name a few of the things that I
remember seeing. People in various types of uniforms were walking around
assessing the damage. Homeowners and those helping them were working hard,
shedding tears, hugging, and staring at the wreckage.
I heard stories of families crying out to Jesus to save them
as they braced for what they thought would be their end, stories of neighbors
rescuing their neighbors who were buried underneath their homes, and even a
story of a kid who miraculously lived to tell about how he was sucked out of a
room where he was playing a video games.
Like many, we were there to help in any way that we could.
And help we did. But not near as much as we wish we could. Over the coming days
and weeks, many more of us will play a small part in the massive recovery
effort. But right now, as you patiently wait and pursue opportunities, I think
it’s important to keep in mind a three reasons that make the disaster relief process
slower than many people expect that it would be.
The Process Is Slow Initially Because Significant Amounts
Of Money Are On The Line – When we showed up to help clean up houses and
yards, we had to stand around a good bit. Why? Because before something could
be thrown away, it needed to be documented. Why? Because the insurance company
needed proof that it existed in order for there to be any chance that they’d
provide money for it. Even finding out the need for pictorial documentation was
a process because the insurance company is hard to get a hold of when a ton of
people are all calling it at once. Don’t be surprised when the process is slow,
especially early on, because people are doing everything they can to make sure
they are in the best position possible to win their coming battle with their
insurance company.
The Process Is Slow Initially Because Personal Stuff
Needs To Be Sorted Through By People Who Are Still In Shock – When you go
into these homes you notice a lot of stuff that seems like it could easily be
thrown away or straightened up. The reason you don’t do that is because there
is a lot of personal stuff in the mess that the owners wouldn’t want anyone
else to see. Of course, the only people who can work through that stuff are
also the people who are still shaking from this week’s events. Be sure when you
help that you remember that these folks need space to process their personal
stuff.
The Process Is Slow Initially Because Many Major Tasks
Have To Be Completed Before Related Minor Ones Can Be – Before certain
homes can be helped, roads that lead to those homes need to be cleared. Before
certain parts of a home can be cleared of valuables, the structure of that home
needs to be secured again. Before the stuff all over people’s yards could be
taken to the road, we needed the city to tell us which types of things to stack
together for an easy pick up. Over and over, we came across tasks that we could
easily have completed, if, and only if, something major (a task we couldn’t complete)
was completed first. And, of course, the people who have the machinery and
expertise to complete those major tasks aren’t usually going to be around for a
day or two (or weeks) because there is so much to do. So when you help,
remember that there are a lot of layers to a recovery effort of this scope that
impact the major things that need to be done.
The process is slow initially and many people struggle to be
patient. Learning these three realities today really helped me to be patiently
engaged, as I continue to my best to pray, stay out of the way, serve, and
give.
Last night a tornado tore through TN. The latest reports say that there are 25 confirmed dead. Besides the heart-wrenching loss of life, reports show numerous homes, apartment complexes, churches, schools, and businesses that have been demolished. Tennesseans in the tornado’s path are just starting to figure out how to work their way out of this stunning wreckage.
Like many others, Redemption City Church wants to do what it can to help. I’ve been in conversations with government and state relief leaders throughout the day. At this point, it seems that the best immediate course of action includes the following steps.
Pray – Because God can do more in a moment than we can do in a lifetime, we pray. No matter where you are, you can help by asking God to help everyone where they are. TN needs God’s help to move forward. Pray for those without water, food, electricity, and the disaster relief teams already on the ground.
Stay Out Of The Way – As tempting as it is to drive down to the areas most impacted by the tornado, Governor Lee and others have said that the most helpful thing non-essential personnel can do to help the disaster relief effort is to avoid those areas. With trees and wires laying on the roads, the ability to get around is greatly hindered. This doesn’t just impact the commute of those who live in those areas, it also impacts the ability of disaster relief teams to get their equipment to needed areas. That’s why staying out of the way is a great help.
Sign Up To Serve – There are a lot of ways that people will be able to sign up to serve immediately and for the foreseeable future. Whether it’s with our TN Baptist Disaster Relief teams, Hands On Nashville, or some other organization, sign up to serve in some way. To serve with some Redemption City folks this weekend, email us at info@redemptioncity.com. We are still exploring various possibilities, but it looks like there will be great ways we can help this weekend.
Give Financially – Because God generously gave his Son to meet our eternal need, we give generously in his name to meet the needs of those around us. Practically speaking, we all know that it’s going to take a lot of money to make things better. 100% of the designated financial gifts we receive will go to help the disaster relief work.
Jesus came to meet needs. He’s still doing that through his Spirit-empowered church. Let’s be available and engaged in this unique time to show the love of Christ to our fellow Tennesseans.
