This story of one of a lady (Melvinia) who since Aug. 29, 2005 has been on a roller coaster of immotions. Her home along with thousands of others was flooded buy the rath of Katrina. What makes her different in my life is that her home was the first home that a small team ( Larry and Patty, I know if you are reading this you will remember her) from CTR tore out and threw out much of her personal belongings. It was heart breaking for all of us.
It was the 2nd week in October of 2005 when in some ways we added to her stress level and in other ways we were there to give her a new beginning. We only had a day and a half to go through her entire home to throw out all the things that were damaged buy the storm and then tear out her drywall and insulation. The mound along the roadway in front of her home was massive, too difficult to imagine unless you were there. there were time throughout the day that we just needed to stop and give her time to collect herself from the overwhelming feeling of loss!
We got as much done as possible by Friday midday but had to leave. Melvinia was very thankful and as we all gathered for prayer she prayed for us as well. She never left my mind since that day.
On a return trip Patty and I were curious as to whether she was in her home but when we were not able to catch her at home. I llater found out that things just got too much for her and she went to stay with a sister in another state to try to bein to heal. It was in October of 2006 that I finally was able to catch her at home. I was again leaving to come home within days but was totally shocked that very little more that what we had done a year prior was done. She had no family to help her and was depressed living in the FEMA trailer so she decided to put here bed in and live in the house as is. Mind you there is no kitchen, no flooring, half walls, some rooms had no ceilings but she did have a working bath tub and comode. Her tub was also used for washing dishes. She ran electricity with extension cords so she could have lighting and use small appliances.
There was good news though, she was working again. You see along with loosing a good share of the personal belongings and much of the structure of her home, she lost her job. The casino she worked at was also destroyed by the storm. It was now re-built and she was working again.
bidding her good-bye again was not easy. I asked her to get her name on the lists of Relief Agencies to get her some help.
I was home for 3 months we spoke a few times so I knew that she was not helped yet. When I went back the list of homes that had prioity over hers seemed endless, but.... I stopped in to see her and she became my mission again. I pleaded with the leaders to get a team in to help her out. Finally in April of 2007, it was going to happen! A team from Christ The Rock came down and we were able to do some work again, trim was cut and installed in a few rooms and a much needed shed was assembled so she could free up some space in her home. Guess what... not done yet!!!! There was one last team from Iowa that was coming in before Convoy Relief Center was moving to New Orleans. The week was full of finishing touches for several homes, Mel's being one of them. At the end of the week, my heart ached again because as much as we tried, she was still not back into her home. Her case was sent over to another Relief Effort and we had to bid her a prayerful good-bye.
I have kept in touch with her and found that that agency, even after she contacted them never got back to her. She had to hire out and found that to be just another problem. It was not that Mel didn't have the funds to pay for materials, she just became a victum of countless unfortunate circumstances.
Take a minute and put yourself there... what would you be doing? Mel went through the up's and down's keeping faith that God was there and someday it would all be done.
This past month when Tony and Shirley Slaats from CTR were volunteering in Ocean Springs that I asked Shirley if she could check up on her. Shirley called me while she was there to get more details, which brings me to the conversation that I had just last night. Melvenia called be and the minute I heard her voice I knew that things were getting done. She had never sounded so full of joy! What she found that had happened was that her paper work was lost and once this contact was made... work could get done. She was beaming with thankfulness not only to me that I never forgot her but more importantly to God that she is being blessed. I can't wait to see her and her home when I get there later this month. Her roller coaster ride is nearly at the end and she is singing praises to God for all of it.
So often we let go of people thinking that everything is okay. Don't let go, always remember, God doesn't ever let go!
Psalm 138:8 The Lord will fulfill, his purpose for me; your love endures forever-- do not abandon the works of your hands.
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