But for the grace of God

Well, we can no longer say a hurricane won't hit Central Florida! The last ten days have been overwhelming, to say the least! Mike and Sara came home and rode thru the hurricane (level 2) with us, watching the wind swirl and surge in ways we've never imagined. Trees twice as thick in diameter as we could put our arms around were snapped in two like toothpicks. Sheet metal from the roof of the antique barn in Oviedo was wrapped around the neighboring police cars and light poles like ribbon. Every family in our congregation of 750 members was affected in some way, most with lost shingles and downed trees, many with holes in roofs, collapsed fences, and days without power, water, or phones. Click here to see photos (scroll down once connected to the site and either click on each photo or choose slideshow.)

Friday we took a disaster relief team to Punta Gorda where the storm came ashore. My parents were in their home there through the level 4 hurricane, only 10 mph less than a level 5. Their front doors were caving in, so they pushed the recliner up against the door and sat in it to hold the doors closed. Their clay tile roof was destroyed, but their house is still standing and they are ok. Their area looks like a bomb went off. Whole sections of stores are missing, every street has major structural damage. The mobile home subdivisions look like kindling. In our area, branches are piled high on every street. There, broken belongings, insulation, and sheet metal are piled high on every street. The destruction is incomprehensible. Probably 90 percent of the traffic lights weren't working, and they didn't even have police at most of them. The National Guard was distributing ice. Everywhere you looked was damage. I don't see how there can ever be enough crews or materials to repair and rebuild all that has been destroyed.

Yet we are alive...and God has given many many opportunities to reach out to others and offer help, hospitality and humor through a time of great chaos. And we certainly don't take air conditioning, lights, phone, and much much more for granted any more.