On our way...

Well, it is 8:46 pm (Monday) and we have finally packed our bags. As always, the last 24 hours has been hectic as we have been preparing for our six weeks trip to the U.S. Of course, the best laid plans.... we had a meeting go two hours over today, we had last minute errands to run, etc. You know the story. But we are pretty much ready now and will try to get in bed by 10pm. We have to be at the airport at 4am for our flight at 6am. Got lots of goodies in my bags for kids and family. We didn't get to spend Christmas with them so I am bringing a little Christmas with me! Ha!

Talked to Ross this morning. He will be with us on Friday as will Chelsea. Audra and her husband live in Nashville so we will have a happy reunion on the weekend. I can hardly wait. Ross continues to amaze us at his response of his loss even though this is the third time he has lost everything. Bless his heart!

Rick and I have been recounting all the times that our family, either as a group or as individuals, have been in life threatening situations and how God continues to preserve our family. We are humbled by the many times His hand has cared for us in miraculous ways. Have you thought back recently at all the times He has been abundantly faithful to you in times of need? He is an awesome God and we forget that sometimes.

I will try to keep up the blog while stateside. There are many adventures to come, I'm sure. Thanks for taking the ride with me!

New update on Ross (and picture)

Another update on Ross – today the National Guard went through the campus condemning the dorms. Ross has been there since the tornado hit, helping clean up, bag and tag items from dorms, etc. So he was walking around with the National Guard. They got to his dorm and condemned it. But then one National Guard asked Ross – if you could have three things out of your room, what would you want? Ross said – my hard drive, my acoustic guitar, and my bass guitar. Then the Guard proceeded to get those things for Ross. Of course, Ross was elated. But as he began to think about what all was LEFT in his room that he would not be able to recover, I think he grieved. I guess up until the “condemnation” there was always that chance that he would be able to get things out. Now they are gone forever. He will be with us on February 15 and you can imagine what a reunion that will be!

However, the church of one of his frat brothers took up a collection and sent it down and Ross was able to go buy some clothes last night. Another frat brother (graduated years ago and doesn’t even know Ross) told Ross to go and get his car fixed (the dent and broken window) and bring him the bill!

We continued to be amazed at our God but not surprised!

Here is a moving tribute to what happened at Union!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3O-IiHCrsK8

P.S. If you would like to send Ross a card please email me for his address and phone number!

Update on Ross

Just another note about Ross. We talked to him this morning and he is doing fine. The National Guard has taken over the Union University campus and is not letting anyone on campus. All of the dorms (except for two) have been condemned and they are not letting students retrieve their things. However, because Ross was a resident assistant, he has been put on a team that is going into the dorms to retrieve goods. They go in, bag and tag the stuff, and then take it to the gym for students to be able to collect at a later date. He was even able to go into his dorm. His roommates room were okay – not even windows were broken out. He tried to go into his room but the roof and wall have bucked out right at the door (structural damage) and he could not get in. The National Guard guy with him told him that it looked like that wall was holding up the roof so he would probably not be able to get any of his stuff. Ross also said that the back wall of his room was gone. He could see through the crack of the door that the window over his bed had blown through his room including the window frame. Where his computer screen used to be was just rubble. So it looks like he will be starting from scratch. He is still wearing the clothes he wore on Tuesday. He is staying with a family and washing them every night (thank goodness) but just hasn’t taken the time to go shopping!

For detailed pictures of Union: uurecovery.blogspot.com (no www).

We have a Great BIG God!

On Tuesday night, around 8pm my son and some of his friends were outside watching the storm clouds rolls onto Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. As they were standing there fascinated by the sky, all of a sudden the wind made a noticeable change. From a distance they heard what sounded like a freight train coming straight towards them. (Thank goodness they have seen enough disaster movies between them to know that when you hear that sound - you RUN for cover!) They ran to the nearest dorm and as they made their way to the bathroom their ears popped and every window in the place blew out! We have a GREAT BIG God!

In what seemed like hours (but was probably only a few minutes) all they could hear was the roar of the wind, the bumping and banging of tree limbs pounding on the roof, and finally a dead silence. Because they knew others were "out there" they made their way out of the bathroom and onto the campus which now looked like a "war zone". (Believe me, my son knows what one of those looks like!) My son and his frat brothers scrambled all over campus breaking down dormitory doors to get people out and to safer places. (Did I tell you that he has always been my superhero?) We have a GREAT BIG God!

Although the tornado devastated the Union Campus (some $45 million dollars worth Dr. Dockery said) not one life was lost! There were a few students stuck under the rubble but always in cell phone contact with someone "on top". Every student did their part to ensure the safety of everyone and in what have could have been a very chaotic situation, there was overwhelming peace! (Wonder Who that came from?) We have a GREAT BIG God!

Later on a bus from FBC Humboldt came to take some of the students back to their church. They fed and clothed them (some were without shoes!) and found homes for the night. Thanks to Steve and Dottie Babcock who were instrumental in making sure that everyone was safe, fed, clothed, debriefed, prayed for, and tucked in for the night. They are dear friends of us and know how to handle crisis situations (because they have been in many themselves.) Thanks, too, to FBC for the way they stepped up to the plate to minister to these young ones - some so far from home (like our son!) We have a GREAT BIG God!

Needless to say, I was up most of Tuesday night watching FOX News as the photos of the destruction across Tennessee began to meet the light of day. As thankful as I was that all of our Union students were spared, I was deeply sad to hear of the many who lost their lives and their homes on Tuesday night across our great state. I know you will continue to pray for them as they face the uncertain future. We have a GREAT BIG God!

Ross called again on Wednesday morning to say that he was headed towards the campus to see if he could locate his car. Of the 1200 cars on campus fewer than 100 escaped damage. Ross's was one of those! (PTL!) He was able to get his car which was only dented a little with one little cracked window and drive away! We have a GREAT BIG God!

I asked him how the campus looked now that it was day and he could really see the devastation. He replied, "Mom, people should have died." It was true. When you see the photos of the destruction, it is amazing that not one student sustained mortal wounds. We have a GREAT BIG God!

Emails and phone calls have poured in to each one of our family members offering whatever help Ross needs. He doesn't even know what those needs are exactly yet, but we do appreciate how everyone has rallied around him! We have a GREAT BIG God!

Rick and I will arrive in the states on Tuesday. Our GREAT BIG God knew all of this was coming and had already arranged for us to be in the states (months ago) for meetings and some training. We will be able to wrap our arms around our children and thank our GREAT BIG God! that once again, He has proven Himself faithful to preserve our family! We praise our GREAT BIG God!

True Stories

I wanted to share with you one of the stories we heard while we were in the Philippines. One of the pastors that we visited with shared his testimony. He was traveling to a village to set up an agricultural project in an area where rebel soldiers were known to live. He arrived at the village late at night and was directed to a certain house where he would be staying. He didn't know that this was a house where a rebel commander lived. The commander asked the pastor, "Did you not know who I was and that with just a thought I could kill you?" The pastor replied, "Even if you chop me into pieces, each piece will cry out to you how much my Lord loves you!" Before the night was over, the commander received Christ as well as his whole household!

This same pastor was doing agricultural work in another village near to where the rebels were said to have attacked recently. He remarked about his fear to the village believers. They told him, "Don't worry. We will die before we allow them to kill you." He was ashamed of his lack of faith!

We heard many stories like this from the people who worked at the farm. Our own faith was challenged and we were inspired to walk closer to the same God who had proved Himself so faithful to these.