Sunday's of service

Salt Lake made the executive decision to cancel church services so we could all help those in our area suffering from the Irene flooding.  We got to the church at 8:30 am, dressed in work clothes, took the sacrament then gathered in the gym to get our assignments.  We went out in teams of about 10 to many different areas of lincoln park, fairfield, and wayne and went door to door asking if families needed help.

It was impossible to keep from crying.  Sometimes I did it away from the group, sometimes with the homeowners, sometimes with others of my team.  The devastation is so extensive.  There was no way to get away from it.  Every home we went to had to have carpet ripped out, furniture drug out to the streets, family pictures bagged and thrown out, toys, electronics, memorabilia, antiques, you name it, if it got wet, it got thrown out. 

The homeowners kept telling themselves it was just stuff and not to worry about it.  But then they would break down.  It was heartbreaking knowing there was nothing to say.  Sometimes the only thing to do was throw your arms around them and let them cry. 

It was back breaking, but the most fulfilling service I have ever rendered.  God bless the families who are still flooded, who have this to look forward to!

Lives lining the streets after Hurricane Irene

The stink of mold, sewage, and river water permeates everything

For most of the people we helped, this was their 5th flood this year

It didn't matter how much we tore out or carried out, there was still so much more to be done.

I don't know how most of these wonderful families can recover financially from this year of disaster

There are towns were this is all you see for miles

The flooding still hasn't ended

Many families in my town are still flooded 2, almost 3 weeks later.