Post Katrina
On August 29th, 2005, our lives were forever changed. We left New Orleans Seminary on Saturday, August 27th, with enough clothes for 3 days and in only one vehicle. We assumed we would be gone for 3 days to visit family, while the storm was coming to shore. Some may remember Hurricane Ivan, well, we prepared very well for that one. Sandbags outside the door, furniture put up on concrete blocks, the car and truck completely packed with belongings. We stayed up all night for that, and the hurricane didn't even affect us. So, when we saw Katrina we just assumed that it would be a miss as well. Besides, I had to be back at work on Wednesday! Soon after we arrived at Steven's parent's home we saw the forecast and it was much worse than we expected. We were up for most of the night, not able to peel our eyes from the T.V. Early Monday morning the hurricane hit and made its way through Mississippi and even affected us in Central MS, where power was knocked out for thousands of people.
The emotions of our whole family were running high as we attempted to accept the reality of our losses. Many nights as the kids cried for their toys, we also cried with them. We could do nothing to console them. Then came the realization that we both lost our jobs and a wonderful church family of First Baptist Kenner. We felt destitute. We still had our faith and the assurance that God was in control, but there was a sense of turmoil in our spirits.
So many kind people gave us money and clothes. We are so thankful to them, especially in those early hours after the storm and we had nothing to wear! When a couple came over with a load of toys for the kids we were so grateful. Anything that helps the kids feel better makes it easier for us to cope.
It was six weeks later when we were finally allowed to re-enter the seminary campus. We had prayer support for that day, as it was emotionally draining. We never expected to see all of our belongings ruined from the storm. We were never sure how much water had flooded the campus, but by the marks on the walls it reached about 5 & 1/2 feet. What was untouched by the flood was covered with a thick mold. We left with an empty trailer that day and sad hearts. Since the kids were not allowed to go that day to the seminary, they did not understand the devastation. They still prayed for the water to go down so we could move back to our house. Our faith was strengthened by the generosity of others. We focused on the truths we had set our ministry on. God loves us, bad things happen, but God does love us! This is the focus of why we had gone to Romania and Ukraine - to share the love of God! Now we were having to remind ourselves of this basic truth!
Steven was able to finish all of his Fall classes online. Now, he has just begun his last semester at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, also all online courses. We have been with Steven's parents in Flora, MS. They have graciously opened their home to us for as long as we have need. We are so appreciative of a loving and giving family around us. We look forward to Steven's graduation in May (God willing), and our deepest hope and desire is to move to Ukraine this summer as fulltime missionaries. We know we must totally rely on God's timing and we are trying to be sensitive to the Spirit. Please continue to pray for us as we are on this journey!
The emotions of our whole family were running high as we attempted to accept the reality of our losses. Many nights as the kids cried for their toys, we also cried with them. We could do nothing to console them. Then came the realization that we both lost our jobs and a wonderful church family of First Baptist Kenner. We felt destitute. We still had our faith and the assurance that God was in control, but there was a sense of turmoil in our spirits.
So many kind people gave us money and clothes. We are so thankful to them, especially in those early hours after the storm and we had nothing to wear! When a couple came over with a load of toys for the kids we were so grateful. Anything that helps the kids feel better makes it easier for us to cope.
It was six weeks later when we were finally allowed to re-enter the seminary campus. We had prayer support for that day, as it was emotionally draining. We never expected to see all of our belongings ruined from the storm. We were never sure how much water had flooded the campus, but by the marks on the walls it reached about 5 & 1/2 feet. What was untouched by the flood was covered with a thick mold. We left with an empty trailer that day and sad hearts. Since the kids were not allowed to go that day to the seminary, they did not understand the devastation. They still prayed for the water to go down so we could move back to our house. Our faith was strengthened by the generosity of others. We focused on the truths we had set our ministry on. God loves us, bad things happen, but God does love us! This is the focus of why we had gone to Romania and Ukraine - to share the love of God! Now we were having to remind ourselves of this basic truth!
Steven was able to finish all of his Fall classes online. Now, he has just begun his last semester at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, also all online courses. We have been with Steven's parents in Flora, MS. They have graciously opened their home to us for as long as we have need. We are so appreciative of a loving and giving family around us. We look forward to Steven's graduation in May (God willing), and our deepest hope and desire is to move to Ukraine this summer as fulltime missionaries. We know we must totally rely on God's timing and we are trying to be sensitive to the Spirit. Please continue to pray for us as we are on this journey!
posted by Steven/ Missi Perry at 6:26 PM
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