Here is a follow up to what happened when we went to Panama City to help with disaster relief.
We arrived at night and I thought to myself, “It doesn’t look like a disaster area.” We had finally found housing at a Christian Retreat Center which just so happened to be in an incredible location. I could step out the front door of our cottage, walk barefoot across the road, and there was the beach. Looking at the area you would never know that they had been hit so hard. It wasn’t until the next day when we were driving to the home base for Samaritan’s Purse that we started to see any signs of the hurricane.
As you drove away from the beach and into the city, it was soon clear that this city still needed major help. Trees snapped like twigs. Buildings boarded up and shut down from damage. Car washes with nothing left but the frame of the structure that once was. As we drove through the streets we quickly understood the reality of just how powerful this storm really was.
After our 30 minute commute, we arrive at the church that is serving as a base of operations for Samaritan’s Purse. We go through the required training, get placed on a team, and then we are off to the home we will be working at for the day. Upon arrival, our team leader, Roberta, goes to check with the homeowner on what we will be doing that day. As we are waiting for the green light, the neighbors come over to ask us to move our van. They inform us that the trailer they were currently using as a home was being picked up and our van might be in the way.
As I spoke with them, they tell us their own story of what they have and are still experiencing. They had 17 trees in their yard fall over. Their roof was torn off, and damage was caused to the interior. They had been living in the trailer while working with insurance but the owners were needing the trailer back. They were having to move into a hotel until they could eventually return home. They finally had settled with insurance but now they were waiting on a roofer. The interior people were ready but had to wait for the roofers. So, they were at a standstill on rebuilding their home. Waiting…
The house we were to work on our first day was for an older woman. She was not there but her daughter and son-in-law were there with us during our day. Our job that day was to pull up the tack strips other contractors had left behind, pull down the ceilings and insulation in multiple rooms, and take down wallpaper. There was also some outdoor work to be done as well. We quickly got to work.
One of the things I loved about working with Samaritan’s Purse for this project was how they are more focused on the people they are serving than the work. Not saying that they do not do a good job on the work, but that they do not think that it is the most important part of what they do. In our training they stressed that if we end our day and all the work is done, yet the homeowner still feels unseen and unloved then we have failed to do our job. If we leave with work still to do, but the homeowner feels loved, important, and heard then we have done our job. That is something I can get behind.
I saw this actually lived out as our day went on. Many people taking time to sit with and ask questions to the homeowners. They even have chaplains come to the job site just to pray over and offer counsel to the homeowners as we work.
That day we worked hard. I saw people working tirelessly to pull down ceilings, bag up trash, clear fallen branches, and even try to find and exterminate the rat that fell out of the ceiling as we were pulling it down. (He got away, but not before giving Dosson a heart attack!) The other two days we worked with Samaritans purse was similar. Our incredible team we got to be a part of worked fast and well together. We became fast friends with those we served alongside.
One moment that I wanted to share with you all was during our second day. We arrived and met the homeowner and could just see how hard she was trying to be okay. Her home was beautiful and something she had worked so hard for. The moment that broke my heart was when she looked at us and said she never dreamt she’d be 73 and have to get a job so that she could pay for her house repairs. As the day went on I found myself spending most of my time talking with her. Hearing about her family. Talking weddings and flowers with her. She loved flowers and I loved just walking through her yard with her as she told me about the plants she had, why she’d chosen them, and what they were for. She got to share with me her passion for flowers and I got to remind her of the beauty her home still possessed. If we came to Panama City for no other reason than for that moment walking her yard, it was worth it.
Here are a few photos that I took during our time in Panama City.
(spraying for mold)
I just wanted to say thank you to those who donated so that we were able to afford housing in Panama City. We were so blessed to have such an incredible place to stay while we worked with Samaritan’s Purse. This hurricane blew through in October and 6 months later there is still so much that needs to be done. We were so thankful to have the opportunity to be a part of helping Panama City rebuild. If you are looking for an amazing service project to do soon I highly recommend looking into Samaritan’s Purse and seeing what they are doing in and around your area. They are a great organization that is doing incredible things.
Thank you to everyone who has and continues to support me in this mission trip. I am getting closer to being 50% funded but still am a ways from becoming fully funded. I ask that you prayerfully consider partnering with me financially so that I am able to continue following where the Lord leads and sharing His love with those who need it. Any amount helps! Love you guys!
