Hubby is coming home today, he left last Sunday. He has been away to Iowa, helping flood victims clean out their ruined homes since last spring's devastating floods. In the past couple of years, he has also made 2 trips down to New Orleans to help the hurricaine victims there. Unless you have lived through this kind of disaster, you really can't understand the shock and depression that victims suffer. My husband and I were living in St. Croix, USVI in 1989 when Hurricaine Hugo came through. While our house suffered little damage because it happened to be sheltered by a small hill, our neighbors directly across the street and behind us were left with nothing but a concrete slab where their homes used to be. Pictures cannot describe the devastation in these areas, it is something that has to be seen to be believed.
The organization that organizes these trips is Samaritan's Purse. This video shows the work that they do, and how much is still left to do. It really chokes me up, because the recipients are so grateful, most of them never expect this kind of help and kindness, it is literally an answer to prayer for them. This is Faith in Action, showing the love of Christ by loving our neighbors. Please pray for the flood victims and the volunteers and organizations striving to help. You can contact Samaritan's Purse to volunteer, make a donation, and see the kind of work they do all over the world.
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"
He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' "
"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'
"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." Luke 10:25-37
I'm sure your husband will have many stories to share. And what a great thing to be a part of. My parents were in Lima, Peru when the earthquake hit, and stayed to help the people in the area. It was a blessing for them to be able to lend a hand.
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