Stepstones was able to respond to assist in disaster relief following Hurricane Ida. We were invited in by God through Jason Carrol, Pastor of Cornerstone Christian Center in Marrero, Louisiana. We arrived Sunday September 19th and immediately joined in a mattress distribution in a trailer park which had been flooded during the storm. When we arrived, we discovered the park was still flooded with over a foot of water. The residents were extremely appreciative of the mattresses, sheets and pillows. Before receiving the mattresses they had been sleeping on the subflooring of their trailer.
On Monday we worked in Jean Lafitte, Louisiana, gutting a 3 bedroom, 2 bath manufactured house that had four feet of water in it during the storm. As we served this lady, we were able to salvage some precious keep sakes, insurance cards and a few photos. When we gave these items to her at the end of the day she broke down crying because some of these had been given to her by her deceased mother.
Tuesday and Wednesday we spent removing four inches of mud, pews, carpet, platform furniture and sheetrock up to eight feet. The church had over four feet of water in it during the storm. God’s provision for the team was experienced as two skid steers arrived as we were deciding on the plan of attack. One skid steer pushed mud off the parking lot which was hidden by the mud and the other stayed all day moving pews and debris from the front steps of the church to the street. Thankful for the goodness and faithfulness of God!
Thursday was spent gutting a three bedroom, two bath, two large living area house for a grandmother. This house again had four feet of water in it during the storm. This lady lost everything, except a small jewelry box and some fine crystal glasses.
We want to thank God for allowing us the opportunity to serve hurting people in His Name! We are also thankful to those who went to serve, spoke on our behalf to raise the financial resources needed to respond in disaster relief. Thanks is given to Jason Carrol and the Body of Believers who we were able to work alongside of from Cornerstone Christian Center.
I would like to encourage anyone who has never responded in disaster relief to consider trusting God and giving a day or two or a week. There is an amazing unifying of people when they selflessly give themselves away especially when it is totally outside of a comfort zone. When we step out and depend on God we get to experience Him in a totally different manner. God is powerful to save, faithful to His Word, giver of all things good, Jehovah-Jireh the provider! Do you know Him? Do you trust Him?
