Go Beyond

This week, our Disaster Response Team joined other volunteers from around the country to assist with the clean-up of homes damaged by flood waters in San Marcos. Our team focused on removing water-logged sheetrock and cabinets from homes located just around the corner from the Blanco River. After days of torrential rains in Central Texas, the normally scenic Blanco River overflowed its banks and unleashed a deadly and destructive wall of water in this area more than a week ago.

Although the waters have receded, the damage remains. Today, some families are grieving the loss of loved ones swept away by the flash floods. Eleven bodies have yet to be recovered. Many more families are dealing with the aftermath of the damage to or complete destruction of their homes. Our team had the opportunity to work in ten damaged homes in a subsidized housing community.
The water that entered these homes certainly left its moldy signature throughout. All volunteers were required to wear masks because of the mold and the bad stench. We removed the sheetrock, all of the cabinets in the kitchens and bathrooms, appliances, and any damaged furniture and household goods. We then piled all of the debris in front of each home for pickup by other crews.

Once we completed our work, another crew of volunteers cleaned all of the surfaces with bleach to kill any remaining mold. Over the coming days things should dry out and repair work can begin. The sooner that repairs can be made the quicker the displaced families will be able to return to their homes and begin the process of getting their lives back to some kind of a new normal.

As I worked alongside our men, I thought about one of my favorite Mother Teresa quotes —“I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world.” The flood waters certainly left their ugly signature on the homes and in the hearts of many people in Central Texas. But God is leaving His signature as He uses waves of volunteers to write a message of love, hope, and healing.

I am grateful for the men on our Disaster Response Team and for all of the volunteers we met this week. We all enjoyed meeting and serving alongside folks who traveled to Central Texas from around the country to lend a hand. While homes will be repaired in the coming weeks and months, it may understandably take a little longer for hearts to heal. Even so, one thing is certain — God is indeed writing a love letter to the people of Central Texas through the selfless and compassionate service of so many volunteers.