To be honest, I never thought I would be writing this blog. Had you told me last Tuesday while I was sitting in the Veranda with 6 other lovely ladies that we were going to have a wide spread of devastation from 178 tornadoes across our beloved south, I would not have believed you.
As soon Thursday rolled around and we got word of all of the devastation close to our area, my heart was heavy for all the people across the southern states, especially in Sweet Home Alabama. I never knew then that it was as bad as it was until Sunday. Until Sunday, I just kept feeling like I wanted to get out of the house and help. Just help. Anyone.
Finally after 4 days in the house without power, we went to church. I was blessed to go to Higdon, Alabama Sunday afternoon to Higdon Baptist Church. We took them around 75 plates of food from Section Church of God. When we arrived in Higdon, there were a ton of trees down on the main road. I only thought this was it. I hopped in the back of one of two trucks that were going down a back road to deliver the plates of food we brought and packs of water.
I have never in my life seen such tragedy. I can’t even describe to you in words what we saw. There were no trees down on houses and no cars crumbled. Hardly any building was left standing at all. There was nothing. Only foundation where their houses stood and people searching the rubble for anything they could salvage.
This was the saddest thing I have ever seen in my life. I just can’t make anyone comprehend how bad it was that were not there.
We pulled up to about the twentieth house we had served food at. It was a long drive way that led to what was a house. As I got out of the back of the truck, I saw about 40 people standing on the rubble of what was a two story house before a tornado tore it apart. I didn’t take a picture of it because I didn’t want to offend the family. I gave a little girl a bottle of juice and her mother was standing with her. I asked if this was their house and she said it was not and that the family of 9 that lived there had all survived. They got under their staircase and the staircase fell on top of them, sheltering them from the violent twister.
I couldn’t help but be humbled at the site of it. They had around two truckloads of their belongings that they had recovered and for that, I could tell they were grateful.
It suddenly just hit me.
I have never been to Higdon, Alabama before in my entire life. I barely knew where it was.
Yet here I was, walking up someone’s driveway that I never probably would have walked on, to what used to be someone’s house that I never would have seen.
I didn’t even know these people. But that didn’t matter at all. This week, Alabamians have helped Alabamians. Neighbors have helped neighbors, but most importantly, strangers have helped strangers. They all continue to help everyone clean up and stay strong. I am just in awe of everything that I had to witness in Higdon and if it is worse than that anywhere, I don’t think that I want to see it.
The pictures do not even do it justice.
This is what God had planned for me. I felt that He called me to go out there and He called me to feed His people in need. I felt it when I sat in church Sunday morning. I still feel it right now. I feel so terrible for the people of Tuscaloosa, Sand Mountain, Cullman, and the Phil Campbell area. The storms were so widespread that it’s just incomprehensible. I am so thankful that everyone that I know were spared and unharmed and I pray for those in need and those who lost loved ones.
I encourage you to go out to your community and serve food to someone you don’t know. If you’re too shy or uncomfortable, take a friend with you! Our people need our help and it’s up to us to do it. God is calling us. It’s our wake up call.
