This week flew by as we have tried to put the pieces together following our good friend Harvey. Sunday the entire Houston area had a brief sacrament meeting and then went to work. President Uchtdorf, as well as Bishop Causse were in town visiting several areas in the north and northwest part of Houston assessing the damage and needs of those effected by Harvey. The Church had purchased a building to put a DI in, but quickly converted it to a warehouse for all the supplies needed to clear out homes. They have spared no expense in helping families get back on their feet and intend to be here for the long haul. We had approximately 4500 brethren from the surrounding areas come into Houston last night to help in the work. Aaron and I headed back to the area we were helping on Saturday. It gave me a chance to see Rosemary’s house finally completed with the muck and spray down of bleach and water to prevent molding. The boys helped in the Riverstone and Sienna Plantation area with ward members. The water in that area receded a few hours before we met for Sacrament. Both areas were inundated with lots of help from the stake and community. Jessie went to the Gabrielson’s to be entertained and to entertain little ones. She has been a trooper through this with Aaron and I so busy working alongside the missionaries. That evening the Morton’s hosted their stake missionary dinner. It was rejuvenating to be with members, sharing our experiences of Harvey and the service were all involved with. We also got to catch up with one of our former AP’s, Brett Tittle and his wife. They were in town for the BYU game that was moved to Louisiana.
Mucking houses this week will be different from the first five days because the members, for the most part, returned to work on Tuesday. The members are a key part of helping hands in that they establish a neighborhood/ward headquarters for the areas the missionaries serve in. The headquarters have the supplies like crowbars, hammers, sleds etc. to effectively muck houses. They also have members that utilize and provide work orders from Crisis Cleanup. After hurricane Sandy, a website called Crisis Cleanup was developed by a member, and it has become the standard for third party groups to help in relief efforts. People that need help can call the hotline and raise their hand for help and it shows up on the website. A work order is created and any group can request it and then go take care of it. The members are a great support in our missionaries’ ability to be Helping Hands. Once in the area affected by Harvey, the missionaries usually come upon others they can help. As they do so, the people they find to help are also put into Crisis Cleanup to make sure the work gets done for them as well. It is a great way to provide service to those that need help, find those that need assistance and get a lot of work done in the process. As a part of the missionaries’ service with Mormon Helping Hands, Aaron has encouraged the missionaries to introduce themselves as they enter a home and ask a little more about the family, to offer a prayer with the home owners before we begin to bless the family and to protect all from accident. It’s a tender time for most people still as they try to figure out where they’re going to live, what they’ve lost, and how soon they’ll be able to return. For many it will take a year before they’re able to go back. We do see that some hearts have been softened and we hope to reap the harvest simply by being there, offering our support and a simple prayer.
I met up with the sister missionaries from our ward on Monday to help a neighbor of our Stake R.S. president that had been flooded in Sienna Plantation. The comparison of 4 to 6 inches in some rooms from the 2 to 3 feet of water in the whole house is drastic when it comes to the material possessions but the emotional toll is just as devastating. This neighbor’s area had been evacuated as well as her parents, however her parents had chosen not to leave. In the process of insisting and helping them evacuate she ended up only making it back to her house before the water became impassable. She ended up being rescue and evacuated by boat. As a result, she is experiencing post traumatic symptoms of migraines and a lot of confusion. We cleaned, prepared clothes to be washed by neighbors, talked with her about what weighed on her mind and became or found solutions to help ease her burdens. Our service is rendered in so many ways. Later that afternoon Jessie and I went to the movie, Leap. A great animated show about never losing sight of and reaching your dreams despite the trials and circumstances you’re in. We loved it especially because the main character, Feilicie’s dream is to dance in Paris.
With no school this week, Jessie really desired to have a plan for the week. Each day we exercised together (bike, walk or swim), a baking/cooking activity (pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, no-bake cookies, banana bread and more delicious cookies), and a craft of some kind (slime, crayon shavings prints, welcome sign for the new missionaries and more slime). She loves to have a plan and know what she is going to be doing each day. Jessie was so happy to be invited to a swim party with several of her friends on Tuesday. She and I volunteered at the Second Mile Mission, helping those affected by the Harvey select clothes, toiletries or items they needed so they could clean their homes with. Another day, we delivered snacks to missionaries as they were mucking houses. She also had a visit to the dentist for teeth cleaning which she had no cavities. YEAH! She was a big help with the newly arriving missionaries on Friday too.
The boys have stayed busy with a couple of basketball training sessions. They also joined the missionaries mucking houses a couple of the days. Bode had an orthodontic appointment where he is progressing well. Just hoping his teeth will be completely straightened by next July and he will only need follow up visits that we can do in Utah. ;) They have also been hanging out with friends in the evenings too.
As far missionary work goes, we are having the missionaries out in the evenings visiting with members , teaching their investigators and talking to as many people as they can. Thursday, we still had district council meetings focusing on talking with people about their experience and how they can find peace and comfort during difficult times. Study and share scriptures that share a message of hope and offer help. I went out with some of the elders to a lesson of a family of investigators. The elders were appreciative of the thoughts I shared because it was the first time the girlfriend of one of the young men opened-up which helped them see how they can teach more to her needs. As we left, we talked with other residents of the complex and I did my darnedest to have a family accept a Book of Mormon after I explained how we were different from Jehovah Witnesses. The mom kindly turned me down but she did accept a pass along card. ;) As I said goodbye to the elders, I notice a man looking downtrodden in the car next to me with his door open. Wanting to take every opportunity to talk to everyone I ask him if he was alright? Or if I could help? He declined and we continue to talk about hope in Christ for a few minutes. When suddenly, I had a distinct impression I needed to leave and I needed to now. I started to feel darkness and scared for my safety so in the middle of our conversation I said, “I’m sorry I need to go now,” and just got in my car and locked my doors. I was happy to see the elders had waited a few cars down from me to make sure I was safe. Once on my way home, relief washed over me and gratitude filled my heart for the gift of the Holy Ghost. I have no idea what could have happened but very grateful that I didn’t have find out.
On Friday, we were finally able to receive our transfer group of 20 new missionaries (8 sisters & 12 elders) that have been patiently waiting at the MTC. Before they could come in, Aaron needed to get all our cars and apartments changed that were effected by the hurricane and we were blessed to have all pieces come together. Transfers were held in the morning for all our missionaries who are not training and got them back out to work for the day. Our new group arrived from Provo & Mexico around 3pm and we ended up doing an abbreviated welcome, interview and an early dinner.
This week, I have loved working alongside our missionaries and the kids. I finally felt like I could bring Jessie along to help in the devastated homes. As Aaron, the missionaries and the boys muck, I would take Jessie and other kids that were with their parents to move the debris piles in the front yards. The equipment the city uses can only reach so far so as they move the debris closest to the street the stuff that is left needs to be moved forward to be taken away eventually. A job most don’t want to do because you’re dealing with the junk you just took out and now you need to move it again. The streets in some of the most affected areas look like the junk yard showed up on their front lawn and it will take months for the cities to dispose of it all. At some point, we’ll get some normalcy again. The weather has been fantastic since Harvey left, almost Utah like, so we’re not dying in the heat and humidity. Blessed to be serving in the Great Texas Houston South, what an adventure we’re having.