Edition 16 - Weather The Storm

It has been a minute since the last edition of the newsletter...

I felt it was a time of refreshing, and realigning...and boy was that feeling accurate. It has been more than a minute, and it has most definitely been a doozy of a few weeks to say the least.

Tests are our testimonies. You can't have a testimony without the Test.

Enter Hurricane Ian to my doorstep on September 28th, 2022, one day before my birthday. Happy Birthday to me!

After losing my home and High School 2 weeks into my senior year with Hurricane Charley...I kind of knew what I was in for. Hurricane Ian was about to make Hurricane Charley look like it's much smaller brother.

You see...Hurricane Charley was in and out of my hometown of Punta Gorda, FL in just 2 1/2 hours when it made landfall on Friday, August 13, 2004. This was much...much different.

However, thanks to updated building codes and the MAJORITY of thanks to God...my home was spared, minus the fencing.

I could feel the block building flexing for hours, the sound of 155mph sustained winds & higher gusts...was an unwelcomed memory that never seemed to end. For hours on end I was praying that the roof would not be compromised, and praying the same for everyone that was enduring the same wrath that I was. Truly, there was a layer of protection placed upon my home & my family.

We never made it into the relief that the eye will typically and temporarily bring, but rather were in the eye wall the entire time (8 to 10 hours straight).

A friend that evacuated from right off the Charlotte Harbor, my golden retriever (Tucker), and I hunkered down with pillows, blankets, and our bibles in my guest bathroom taking turns launching prayers for friends, family, lives, and homes.

I am super grateful for how I fared compared to most of my neighbors and all who were apart of the widespread devastation from Naples/Ft Myers, the barrier islands, Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte, Arcadia, North Port...all the way to Venice/Sarasota.

It will be a long road, but I was blessed to be able to help others right after the storm and also dedicate my time to that all of last week.

I will admit, I am exhausted...my body is beaten, and trying to stay strong with knowing how long of a recovery this will be for all the areas and for so many affected. But I still have breath. The best birthday gift I have ever received was to be placed on the wake up team again for another day on September 29th, 2022.

It has been super humbling and the news is not reporting (and never will) the actual figures of the number of lives lost from the storm. It is unfortunately going to be a disturbing number. Please take a moment and pray for all the lives lost and what their families/friends are going through.

Even in the midst of loss, we must remember as believers, that we are called by God to make Disciples.

Even those who don't consider themselves believers tend to reach out for prayer or seeking God in moments of chaos, helplessness, and tragedy. The stories that are starting to come to the surface of what some people endured that day will rock you to your core.

"And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm." Mark 4:39

"He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed." Psalm 107:29

I do know that when the winds and seas calm, beauty sweeps in.

It is seen in others being the light in the darkest of days.

It is seen from neighbors, helping neighbors. First Responders being away from family to serve others. Lineman working tirelessly to get the power restored.

Churches, organizations, & volunteers helping bring down supplies & prepare warm meals.

From the ashes, new growth will rise. What an opportunity to show the love of Jesus to others that maybe are going to experience it for the first time.

I have experienced and seen the love of Jesus from all over the past 2 weeks. Love & kindness hold no boundaries. It breaks down even the biggest walls that divide us.

"Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up." Proverbs 12:25

"After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid?of them. Remember?the Lord, who is great and awesome,?and fight?for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.” Nehemiah 4:14

Praying for my?#southwestflorida ?community.

Continue to rise up & help one another.

Continue to be the light in the darkness.

The news will show/promote divisiveness due to politics, opinion on gender, equality, sexual preferences...you name it.

Those DO NOT EXIST when communities are affected by such tragedy & destruction. I am a witness to that.

One body.

One team, one fight.

Stay safe and stay blessed ??

#hurricaneian ?#recovery ?#relief ?#restoration