What you do in your house is worth as much as if you did it up in heaven for our Lord God. We should accustom ourselves to think of our position and work as sacred and well-pleasing to God, not on account of the position and work, but on account of the word and faith from which the obedience and the work flow. ~ Martin Luther

Saturday, September 17, 2011

A Natural Disaster

'ello? tap, tap

this thing on???

I have traveled to the land of internet in order to tell you that despite the fact that our area has been hit with the worst flood of its' history, we are all doing remarkably well (considering). We don't presently have telephone or internet (and thus, no real connection to the outside world and thus~ no blogging) and we are all but stranded at home with bridges being out to our North, South, East and West but we have found a single road to get us to a store if the need should arise and we have electricity.

Electricity means that our two chest freezers full of homegrown beef, bacon, pork, BACON and all I have put up from gardens and berries are not lost. And drinkable water. And water to wash with. All great blessings, indeed, made only more apparent with the clear distress all around us. The nearest town, down the road a piece, STILL has its power out after over a week and the fire station serves 600 meals, three times a day, to the many people in need.

Pastures have turned to stone quarries, bridges everywhere (even the two right outside our driveway) have collapsed and washed entirely away, and sludge covers everything that the water didn't take away. Homes and businesses are destroyed. People, MANY, are wondering where to go from here. Including my sister and her family, who have been staying with us because their house was ruined in the flood. The water filled up their basement, went into their first floor and only once the water receded, did they realize it took with it their foundation.

There are stories to tell, many. And awful, ugly pictures to share. But for now, I just covet your prayers for everyone down this way.

Be well, friends.

29 comments:

Hollace said...

We'll be praying for you, the freezer holding out, your sister and her family, and all the folks still struggling with the aftermath. Glad you are safe and could help others, too. Thanks for letting us know.

Bonnie said...

I Am SO GLAD TO HEAR FROM YOU!!!!!! I truly believe the Lords hedge of protection was around you the entire time, even to not losing electricity, He is So good to His children! Praying for Elizabeth and Bob, how awful!

Rejoicing in Gods blessings on you!
Love, Bonnie

ulli said...

My heart breaks for you and the people in your area. You really got hit hard. So nice to hear from you and know you're alright. God will see you through this--it could have been much worse. The simple pleasures are indeed the best! Blessings to you and yours.

Southern Comfort said...

I'm glad you and your family are safe, and you have electricity. I remember when our town was out for 5 days and I helped serve food provided by the Red Cross. I can't imagine the flood where you are,
we are in the worst drought since 1917. I pray for rain but forget how destructive floods can be. I will pray for the people in your area.

Mar said...

I am so glad and thankful that you, your family, and all the others are safe, even though there are great physical hardships. I will keep you in my prayers.

Dana said...

So very thankful that you and your sweet family are alright. Please know that you all are in my thoughts and prayers.

Father's Grace Ministries said...

Prayers from our family to yours and to your community. Back in 1983, when I was in my teens we were chased out of our home by flash flooding- the memories are still very vivid. My heart goes out to your sister.Thankful to hear you still have electricity, and that your food supply is safe.Usually disasters like this make it on the news over here- this is the first I've heard of the flooding there.
((hugs))

Claire and family.

Anonymous said...

i will continue to pray for you! and will add to the list your family and dear friends.
blessings
-bobbi

Jerelene said...

Sorry to hear of all the devistation...esp. for your poor sister and her family. I'll keep you and your family in my prayers..
Stay safe...
Jerelene

Leah said...

We will pray for you. :)

Davene Grace said...

Oh no! I'm so sorry to hear that your area was hard hit, but at the same time, so very grateful for God protecting you the way He has.

I have a friend in the Harrisburg area whose home was flooded. Seeing pictures from her today on Facebook was mind-boggling. So much devastation. So much time and energy and hard work to recover.

Thanks for posting this update and a reminder to pray for those affected.

Tracy said...

So thankful that you are safe, that your hard work and food supply were spared, and that despite your sister losing her home, they are safe as well. Praise God... He is good in all things!

Anonymous said...

Praying for you, your loved ones, and all the people in your area. Glad to hear you are alight, all things considered, and that God is providing in the way of electricity, which equals a saved store of food. He will use this for good.

Nanci said...

Rebecca,

I've been praying for you in regard to this flooding since last weekend. I was so thankful to get your letter on Wednesday and to hear how you are faring. Do you have mail delivery yet?

I'll add Elizabeth and her family to my prayers for you all.

Love,

Nanci and family

Terri said...

Praying here, Rebecca. My hometown was wiped off the map practically during Hurricane Irene so I can empathize.

Farmers Wife said...

So sorry to hear all of this... i recall reading Elizabeths post on how worried she was about the flooding, and now I read this...how terribly devastating. Please let her know we're praying for you all.
Keep us posted as much as is possible,
Leanne

Jennifer said...

Praying for you and your family!

Unknown said...

Continuing to pray for you guys! So glad you and your family are safe! Praying for your sister & her family, for direction & peace as the begin again!! :(

(((HUGS)))

Farmers Wife said...

While we were in church this morning, we sang this song....and I couldn't help but think of you guys...

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

Refrain:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

—Edward Mote (1797-1874)

Jaya P said...

you will be in my praters, you and your sister and all your dreams and hopes. god has a plan.

Mrs. MK said...

Praying, keeping all of your sweet family in my prayers!

alltheposts said...

So sorry to hear of the flood in your area. My town was hit with our worst flood in history this past June and we are still recovering and will be for some time. I pray for strength for the long road ahead.

Abigail said...

Rats. I know having an internet connection is paltry compared to the real needs gaping all around, but I still kind of hoped that you had it by now! Tell Matt he needs to pull out his fire breathing superpower in his next email to Verizon.

Oh, yeah.
You won't read this comment, anyway...

Millie would like to say, "See you in three days!" The girls were already over the moon, but I hadn't realized that they didn't know that YOU ALL were coming along for the journey, too. Now their excitement is irrepressible. And please don't worry about packing a girly castle pinata stuffed with candy. We've got that covered.

Oh, yeah, again. You won't read this comment, either.

Darn you, Internet.

Mandie said...

Oh, Rebecca. Your entire region is in our prayers! Love you very much. (And the freezer is the first thing I think about when I hear of power outages!)

P.S. Did you ever receive that email I sent a few months back?

Victorianlady8 said...

Praying for you Dear One, and so grateful that Matt is at home working now, instead of driving or being gone away! Love to you all, and Thank you Lord the freezer is on...as a farmer/homesteading family we understand this! We lost our electricty for four days once and it was very scary!

Anonymous said...

Yes, praying with you Rebbecca, for your family and communitiy.


Jinger

Paula said...

Thankful you are all doing well! :D Are you on Pinterest yet? Send me an email and let me know if you are! :D
(Paula - from heartyworks) :D
paula at paurian doott coom

Anonymous said...

Our prayers goes to you and your family, and all the others around in the situation.
We are a few swedish ladies that follows your blog at our work here in Sweden! We love your words, your pictures and your way of living. We love that you give us a chans to let us in. Now our love goes to you in these times...
/Your Swedish fans!

Amy said...

I had not checked your blog in so long, I had not heard about this!! And I had no clue that Pennsylvania even had a flood that bad!! I didn't see anything about it on the news ever. I'm so glad ya'll are alright.