How it all began- September 8, 2008

Ben and I had decided after Hurricane Gustav hit that we wanted to do something to help.  I was very concerned when I learned that Houma, La. and Terrebonne Parish in general had been hit pretty hard.  When I lost my home in Katrina, I had been evacuated in Tuscaloosa, AL in a hotel with my mother and kids for about a week.  We then went to Houma to stay with some friends for another week before my company transfered me to Mobile, AL. 

This family had been so wonderful to us.  I was in a state of complete shock, as were my children.  This family took us all in and treated us like part of their family.  They were the parents and sisters of someone I had known in Bay St. Louis.  The time we spent is pretty much a blur for me, because of everything that was going on at the time, but their kindness is something I will never forget, nor will my boys.  i knew I had to try to do something for the community that had been so good to me three years ago when I was at my lowest.  There is just no way to describe the feeling of hopelessness and fear when you come home to find you have nothing left.

With the help of the local media we were able to collect a truckload of supplied that we took down to Bayou Dularge, La. just south of Houma.  Everyone there was so wonderful and so receptive.  It was such a great experience for both myself and for Ben and the boys.  My middle son Connor commented on the way home that he felt like he had a big weight off his chest.  He said it felt like he had repaid something.  I was happy to see them thinking about giving back.

Ben and I began to talk when we stopped for dinner about the experience and we both were feeling in our hearts that God was calling us to continue.  We knew we needed to collect another truckload and get ready to help whoever needed us next.  We did a lot of praying for a few days and a lot of talking about where we felt we were being led. 

The idea of forming a non-profit organization kept coming up and within a week, Eyeofthestormrelief.org had been born.  We both knew this was where God wanted us and we had talked with the boys who also agreed that this was a good step for our family and that this was mission we were all prepared to take on together. 

The next weekend after we returned from Gustav relief, Hurricane Ike struck. 

Ike trip number one- September 20, 2008

We just got back from our first trip to Texas for Ike relief.  All I can say is wow.  It was such an amazing experience.  We collected for four days at our church, Christ United Methodist.  We received so much support from the local CBS affiliate as well as from the ABC affiliate in Biloxi, MS.  We also had amazing support from several local radio stations.  By Friday evening, we had a truck that was so full!  One of the soccer teams at church helped load the truck as their service project and were such a big help!  There is no way this trip could have happened without all of the support we got from everyone. 

God taught me a lot about faith that trip as well.  For the first trip, Ben and I had to spend a lot of money out of pocket, and we knew we were pretty much at our limits there.  Just when I was saying to myself, "how are we going to do this next trip which is twice as far as we went before which means twice as much diesel and a hotel room?", God came through with some wonderful people who sponsored our fuel costs.  This really reinforced in my mind that we were doing exactly what God wanted us to do.  He just keeps opening doors and Ben and I keep walking through in faith. 

We went to First United Methodist Church in Pasadena.  The church had so much damage, but they didn't care about that and were focused on helping others.  Ike had ripped their roof off and it had actually been raining in their sanctuary.  The gym also had a lot of water damage.  The wonderful positive attitudes of everyone there was such a great example to me of the true Christian spirit in action.  There were about forty people assembled to help unload the truck and sort the supplies. 

I cannot say enough about Pastor Cheryl Smith and Pastor Steve Woody and his wife Pam.  They were all so gracious and we were treated with so much hospitality.  Once we finished at the church, Ben and I took a bit of a tour of the Houston area and we saw so much damage.  It was sad for me, but also made me realize even more that I wanted to do something to help.   We knew this was not going to be our last trip to Texas. 

We left there full of hope and excitement and eager to see if we could collect even more for the next trip.  We told Pastor Cheryl and Pastor Steve that we would return in two weeks.  There was some talk of us possibly going all the way into Galveston next time.  Ben and I told them both that we would go wherever they felt we were most needed and could help the most people. 

Within forty-eight hours of our returning, we had received word that all for the supplies had been distributed to needy families and that they were waiting for the next load! 

What a week! - September 28, 2008

This has been an amazing week for the organization.  We are preparing for the next Texas trip next Friday, and already have almost a whole truckload!  Through our awesome church, We got a POD donated which is sitting at the church practically full with still a whole left before we leave!  God is amazing!  We also found out that a local group of builders is going to help sponsor our trip on October 10th. 

Our articles of incorporation went through and we also had a donor for the fees needed to complete our 501C3 filing.  That is a huge step because so many companies we have spoken to about helping us get this organization going cannot donate until that comes through.  We had an incredible week of collecting supplies as well.  The new Wal Mart on Dawes Road let us set up in front of their store On Thursday night and then all day yesterday.  We really appreciate this because we know the local media cannot keep plugging us every week, week after week.  There are new stories and new things that they have to report.  We are so grateful for what they have been doing for us and without their help this effort would not be where it is right now.  We also know we need other sources and Wal Mart turned out to be such a blessing!

So many times in the past month along this journey, things have happened that have been hue learning experiences for me and for Ben and the kids as well.  Nothing opened my eyes quite as much as sitting in front of Wal Mart for twelve hours.  It was such a huge success and we cannot thank the Dawes Road Super Wal Mart enough for having us.  We had to fill the back of a large pickup truck three times with the donations and take them to our POD at the church. 

The people of West Mobile were so generous.  There were several incidents that i will never forget.  I had one lady drop in our donation jar a handful of change and apologize to me telling me it was all she had.  Her sincerity almost made me cry and I assured her that her gift was greatly appreciated and would buy fuel.  In a small start-up organization lke ours, every penny is precious and every person who gives is a blessing.  We had some give several cases of diapers and cases of bottled water and canned goods.  We had one man donate twenty cases of water and a whole grocery cart full of other supplies, but he did it anonymously and had the store employees cart everything out to us.  He truly wanted to help and wasn't looking for a public "thank you".  That really touched me.

Ben and myself and the kids all took turns handing out fliers that listed the items we needed.  Families were dropping off bags of groceries for us as quick as we could take them.  It was awesome.  One of this things that truly made me realize God was in control, was the sheer number of people who took the fliers.  For every person who held up their hand and said "no thanks", there were fifty who took them.  I think I could literally count on my fingers the number of people who chose not to take a flier. 

I am just so excited by the response of the people of Mobile.  Today, our church put an announcement in the bulletin about our collection and so hopefully we will collect even more this week.  I really want to help even more families this trip.  I have faith that we will be enabled to do even more this trip.  God just keeps blessing this ministry daily, and He never ceases to amaze me in what He provides for our group.  It is all quite humbling indeed.