Ike Issues

First off I'm MOST thankful that things aren't worse but can I be human and tell you that I've felt traumatized from Mr. Ike today. In the middle of the hot night another storm swept through. We had lots of lightening, thunder, rain and wind. It did cool things off a bit initially. I slept for about 2 hrs after the storm. I woke up and of course woke Kent up before daylight. I stumbled to the dark bathroom and endeavored to 'freshen' up and dress for the day. I crept out of the house so I wouldn't awake those sleeping in both my den and living room. I found a shovel and hoe and scraped both our sidewalk and Mom's from the mud and debris. Kent followed me with the blower. All the gillions of leaves and debris kept being tracked on my white carpet. I was about to go insane. We can’t vacuum so I’ve been sweeping the downstairs.

Around 8 am we ventured out. Since it's Sunday our first stop was to our dismal church. As Kent opened the door tears burst from my eyes. Of course immediately Kent's eyes were filled with tears. Where are all of our people? Where are all of my outreach kids? Today is a day with no music, sermon, offering, or outreach. How depressing is that for a Pentecostal preacher's wife? I wrote a two page note and taped it to the church doors just in case anyone ventured by. Our next stop was Lowe's. There we found 100's of people in similar circumstances. We were in pursuit of oil and gas for the generator. We did find oil but no gas was to be found in Conroe.

Driving around the city I felt such a weight. I couldn't help but keep crying. We are beginning to get low on food. We have lots of snacks but not food. I guess I didn't think it would be so bad since we are 90 miles from the coast. We have been surviving with no water, electricity, sewage, phones – land or cell, internet and lots of hot humid weather.

Our mayor, Webb Melder, is a personal friend of Kent's. When I heard him speak on KTRH radio as we drove I couldn't help but cry again. Webb told how the citizens of Conroe can expect to be without power for 2 - 3 weeks. He begged people returning to Houston to not exit the interstate in Conroe because we have no fuel, food, etc. Of course, I already knew these things but hearing Webb talk about it disheartened me. I told Kent we could not continue leaving with no water, sewage, electricity, etc.

Kent and I made a new plan of action. We told our house guests that we were closing shop. We asked Trent if we could move to his house rather than them staying with us. I went to Mom's and told her she had to do the same. Her immediately reply was, "I'm not leaving!" Kristi is about to deliver her 3rd child. Kristi and Mickey have water and sewage but no electricity. My brother, Scott, went and bought Mom a generator.

We ran out of fuel for the generator today. We had to drive about 1 hr 30 minutes to College Station to find fuel and a restaurant. It was funny because both my sisters and their families and my parents were in College Station at the same time. When Scott returned to his house, he found a blessing. His power had been restored! Scott worked hard to provide us a generator during the storm and then bought my parents one afterwards when Kent bought ours. I think Scott reaped a huge blessing!!! Scott is a MOST compassionate person. Thanks, Bub, I love you.

Tonight we hooked our generator to Trent and Calah’s house. They have water and sewage. Though we are hot things we will be better! My parents moved to Kristi's. The generator will help Kristi and her family to have a lamp and the refrigerator. We have a fan helping to keep us cool, it isn’t too unbearable. We have a couple of lamps, the refrigerator, the wireless modem for internet, and the Wii hooked to the generator. Atlas we can follow the news, check emails and even I’ve been able to make a couple of phone calls.

Tomorrow we plan to distribute some GOT THIRST WATER. Giving to others always helps my spirits. I need to get my mind off the mess Ike has left us with. Pray we can get back to normal soon. I know our budgets will all be wrecked. Our church people have experienced minimal damage. Roofs messed up by trees, downed power meters, messed up fences, destroyed boats, downed trees, etc are what our people are dealing with. My brother-in-law, Myron, pastors in Dickinson. He had four families suffer a total loss.

I know God is with each of us. Knowing you are praying encourages!