Waking up at 4:25 am on a Saturday morning, I met with others from our group and began our trek down to Vidor, Texas (about 100 miles east of Houston). Sixteen in our group from our local congregation made the trip this last weekend, but there were thousands more making up hundreds of crews of 10-20 people to help clean up in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. 11,000+ Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donning yellow shirts and vests had come the weekend before and at least that many were coming this week and the next.
As we entered the affected areas, we began seeing more and more evidence of the devastation. Piles of trash lined the curbs. Furniture. Refrigerators. Pianos. Drywall and insulation. Lots of it.
This was one of the worst areas we saw with trash lining the streets
We arrived at our first assignment a little after 11 am and got to work. In this first house, the water reached five feet up the walls. Carpet and furniture were still saturated with water. Mold covered the walls.
Moldy walls, yuck!
This picture was from the second house where we worked. The water "only" reached two feet high at this home.
We began the process of clearing out the furniture, cabinets, appliances, knocking out the moldy drywall, pulling up carpet, and hauling it all out to the street.
Wheelbarrow by wheelbarrow, we cleared out the homes
The disposal pile from the first house.
Three of the four families we helped lost virtually everything.
Three of the four families we helped lost virtually everything.
A walkthrough of the first house when we were done for the day
This work was hard work. Hot. Sweaty. Stinky from mold, rotten refrigerators, and who knows what else. We worked on that first house and another nearby until 7:30 that night, packed up, and headed over to the local junior high school where we spent the night. We showered at the school, set up our beds for the night, and our van-load went to the local Whataburger for dinner. Approximately 1,000 people crashed the night in the junior high gym, cafeteria, and hallways.
Setup for the overnight "camping" in the school. Combined with the hard floor and a chorus of snoring all around me, it wasn't the most restful sleep I've ever had.
In the morning, we held a huge sacrament meeting in the gym, where we were able to worship together, partake of the sacrament, reflect on our covenants and love for Jesus Christ -- a love that motivates us to participate in this type of effort. As I looked at the sheer numbers of people, and knowing that it was repeated several times over in the surrounding areas, I was overwhelmed with emotion. I was proud to be a part of this effort. I was proud of my church. I was grateful for the opportunity to serve. I was grateful for Jesus Christ and His example of love, sacrifice, and service. It was a sweet experience.
Getting ready for sacrament meeting
After the sacrament, we heard a couple of
short talks. There were many great things shared, but I just want to
share one thing in particular because it gives me an opportunity to recognize
my wife and son for the sacrifices they made to let me
be gone for a weekend. The speaker told us to be sure to thank our
families who were not with us who were behind us supporting us, who are also
part of the effort even if they weren't directly helping the families in Vidor,
Texas. I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge my wife's efforts at
home. Because of her service at home with our son, I was able to serve
away from home. Thank you!
To conclude the service, we sang these words during the closing hymn:
Do what is right; be faithful and fearless,
Onward, press onward, the goal is in sight.
Eyes that are wet now ere long will be tearless.
Blessings await you in doing what's right!
That third line touched me as I thought of a woman we helped the day before who when recounting her story said, "I can't talk about it or I'll start to cry." Hours later when we left that home, she gave us hugs and she shed tears of gratitude. "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain..." (Revelation 21:4)
After our sacrament meeting, we helped at two more homes that day. We pulled away to head back home at about 3:00, and I arrived home at 9:00 Sunday night when all was said and done.
It was a whirlwind 40-hour trip! It was grueling. Taxing. Challenging. But it was a labor of love, and I am grateful I was able to help serve our brothers and sisters who were devastated by this catastrophic event.
I was changed by this experience. I felt love for those whom we served. I felt closer to friends and acquaintances at church, serving side by side with them, and spending 10+ hours in a van with some of them. And I felt closer to my Savior, Jesus Christ, as we did our best to emulate Him and do as He would do.
God bless you, Vidor, Texas.
Here are some links to local news stories about this massive "Helping Hands" effort by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
