October Newsletter 2024

Beauty From Ashes - Part One

Dearest Tribe Members,

With the dawn of a new day, we are called to remember those in North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida who have suffered extreme devastation caused by the powerful winds, floods, tornadoes, and hurricanes in the last month.  May our prayers continue to surround and lift up the affected families and businesses, bringing peace and a sense of community as they heal and rebuild their lives and towns. I would like to share some of my experiences after I volunteered in North Carolina. These are stories of beauty rising from the ashes, and a return to our God.

“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!” (Psalms 46:1-3)

A friend called me earlier this month after he volunteered in North Carolina. He choked back the tears as he described the  devastation from the hurricane. The massive water surges were unlike anything ever recorded in history, and now the people were in a state of shock. They had to process losing friends and family, their homes, and livelihoods. They needed help. 

I decided to go with my friend Steven. We contacted people in our communities and within 24 hours had a trailer full of goods and money donated. What a blessing it was to see the body of Christ work together as the Holy Spirit flowed with divine appointments.  When we are on the path our Father in Heaven has for us, the synchronicity is amazing.

We then began our trek interstate, and we prayed. The stories of “ground zero” were being reported back to us, and we began to brace ourselves for what we may see. The storm surges that raced down the mountains had been 15 feet over the highest recorded surge in history, so houses were ripped from their foundations in minutes and destroyed. Some of our brothers and sisters watched helplessly as their own family members and friends were swept away and killed. Many more were processing their emotions from seeing dead bodies stuck in trees or in the ruins. Once again the news was not reporting the reality of this tragedy.  The uncertainty of what we would see 2 weeks out from Hurricane Milton played on our minds.

Along our journey, many fellow Americans stopped to talk about what was going on, offer help, and most importantly pray with us. We were advised to be alert and carry a weapon with our trailer of goods, as burglary was on the rise.

We encountered a few mishaps, including two tires blowing out on the highway. God was watching over us, as we were able to make it to a tire shop safely.

A very tall, burly man named Jonathan approached us and asked what we were doing. Steven told him, “Helping in North Carolina.”

“Oh yes, I heard about that. What is going on there? I’m a Mennonite and I don’t really watch the news.”

“You aren’t missing anything. You certainly won’t get the truth by watching it.” I replied.

Steven gave him the cliff notes about the situation, recounting what our contacts in the base camps were experiencing.

Jonathan asked, “So how is the government helping?”

We shrugged our shoulders. “We don’t know. We will check it out for ourselves. But the word on the streets is that in some areas the people are on their own.”

Jonathan thought for a moment and said, “Well it looks like this is an opportunity for the American people to get together and help one another, to do something good for each other and our country. I am Mennonite, but denominations don’t matter to me. I follow the Bible, and it is time we start working together. I want to help. We have a whole village that will help.”

We left the tire repair shop in good spirits, as genuine hearts of charity were seen that day.

“And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

2Peter 1:5-8

Later that afternoon we arrived safely to Marshall, North Carolina.

Our first two drop points were disappointing as we were told “No one is in charge here.” Good hearted, but exhausted, volunteers  were present and goods were all placed outside in piles, as no containers or housing were available. We were told they could not take any more food as the bears discovered this jack pot of goodies.

“What will you do when rain comes?” I asked one of the volunteers.

He shrugged his shoulders and said, “I don’t know. We are hoping to move these piles to another location.”

We traveled to two other drop points before we got to a well organized distribution  center in Candler, North Carolina. Curtis ran this location and his background as a Marine was well suited for the job.

His central command board showed sites that needed help, what items, and contact names and numbers. His location supplied up to 2000 people and they had a 6 day reserve. The volunteers had clear direction and job roles and so this location was the most efficient we saw.

“Where is the government? Where is FEMA?” I asked.

The general answer I received back from people was an exasperated, “I don’t know. Most of the rescue and supply efforts are civilian; perhaps up to 80%.”

We asked, “Where can we help the most?”

“This general area has not been assisted fully yet. Recently 100 survivors were found in a church here. People don’t have power, internet, water, or infrastructure here. In some circumstances the infrastructure isn’t just broken, it is completely destroyed from the massive floods. You can help where you can; be aware that things change constantly and you have to be flexible.”

Curtis went on to tell us, “Quite honestly the people need someone to talk to and pray with. They are traumatized and feel isolated. They are also tired of people dropping off supplies then taking pictures of them then leaving. They don’t like to feel like zoo animals.”

We took that advice to heart and went to the first location on the map.

A couple locals greeted us when we arrived. They did not know our contact, and there was no one in charge of this distribution center.  Before we headed on, a woman named Brenda came up to us and said, “I’ve been meaning to look at this house. Would you like to go with me?”

We looked at each other and nodded yes. We slowly walked to the back of an abandoned brewery along a river. Brenda reminisced about the friends and music scene there.

“We all knew each other well. This was a family place; you could bring your kids here and go swimming. Golf carts would line up here, and the live music was the best.

One of my closest friends… well he was such a good man and pillar in the community. He… he died.” Brenda eyes glistened over. “His body was found down the river.”

We stopped walking. “I am sorry. I cannot imagine how you feel.”

We continued to walk. “Be mindful of the smell. You will be able to tell if there is a dead body around here. If you smell one, don’t go any farther, just get help. We’re still finding them daily. A lot are still buried under the mud and debris.”

Brenda went on, “This has been a nightmare. I haven’t been able to bring myself to look at this house. It was torn off its foundation and was pushed a half mile down here. You can see half the house here. The books are still in the bookshelf.”

We were speechless. We asked what we could do for them.

“We need prayers more than anything else.” replied Brenda.

I stood there for a minute, taking in the gravity of the moment. I thought about the moments of terror, then despair, then confusion that the people of North Carolina must have felt. As the days go on, the shock wears away and then deeper emotions will emerge. It was a sobering thought.

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

Matthew 25:35-40

Beauty From Ashes - to be continued in the next newsletter.

With the greatest of love and many blessings,

Carrie Madej

Now available for online health consults.

Please email your requests to info@carriemadej.com

for more information

• 9/3/2024 Carrie covers various heatlh topics, saunas and Q & A

• 9/10/2024 September 10, 2024 - Pastor Dean Odle

• 9/17/2024 Septeember 17, 2024 - Marlena Ariel Geren