We have each other and Him

Photo courtesy/Yi Wei

On September 6, 2017, a rare super hurricane Irma formed in the Atlantic Ocean. It swept through many Caribbean islands with speeds exceeding 185 miles (298 kilometers) per hour, causing heavy damage and continuing to sweep towards Florida. The state government issued mandatory evacuation orders for residents of various southern islands, coastal communities, low-lying areas, and mobile housing areas. Governor Rick Scott looked solemnly on television and called on state residents to cooperate with the evacuation order: "This is a catastrophic hurricane that Florida has never experienced. Homes can be rebuilt, but lives cannot be rebuilt!"

love in the storm

My husband and I support our parents, both ninety-two years old, who live in the same neighborhood only a two-minute walk away from us. During the storm, we shouldered the responsibility of protecting our parents, and we were alert and ready.

Since September 6th, emails have been sent to express concern from KRC colleagues and relatives and friends. My sister, eldest daughter, youngest daughter and son-in-law who live in Pennsylvania, as well as Teacher Gao Lili, have successively invited us to stay. At that time, it was already hard to get tickets for the flight. Someone finally found the ticket online and found it. The moment he paid, the seat disappeared from the screen. It was impossible to arrange for the four people to evacuate by air.

My eldest daughter urged us to evacuate by land instead, and even arranged for friends to fly in and help us drive to Pennsylvania. At that time, let alone interstate evacuations, vehicles rushing to purchase emergency food supplies at a nearby Costco were lined up for a mile, moving at a snail's pace. Some people have even evacuated to a safer city slightly north, and news came that the originally three-hour drive actually took eight hours.

Our elderly parents are still in good health, but considering the hardships of the long journey, the fact that we live a little far from the seaside, there is no risk of flooding due to huge waves, and other factors, we decided to stay behind and remain unchanged in the face of changes.

Neighbors are busy climbing ladders, upstairs and downstairs, and installing eight-inch-wide metal storm shutters piece by piece on ordinary glass doors, windows and floor-to-ceiling windows. This is a job that will make your shoulders and waist sore for days. Hard work. The old and the beautiful are close neighbors, and they are taller and younger than us. They are pretending and sighing: "You are no longer young!" And we have two buildings, each with more than 20 large and small windows. It is really embarrassing. The elders of the church also said Some brothers expressed their willingness to help.

When Hurricane Wilma hit in 2005, we had no time to put up storm shutters and spent the night holding buckets to catch the rainwater that seeped through the windows. The experience of protracted repairs was heart-wrenching. After I calmed down, I immediately installed accordion-style windproof shutters. As long as the left and right sides are pulled together and the middle is fixed and locked, it can be taken care of easily and quickly. After thanking the brothers for their kindness, they were not idle, going from house to house to help those brothers and sisters who could not find clothing workers, but had old shoulder and waist injuries, lived alone, or were elderly. Many people in the church live in simple mobile homes, and they have been invited to stay with different families. Before the violent storm hit, I especially felt that the church was a warm and loving home. The deep brotherhood and warmth soothed many anxious hearts.

▲The alleys equipped with metal storm shutters are dead silent, preparing for the hurricane.

▲The installation is easy and labor-saving, and the sunlight can penetrate through the accordion-style windproof blinds through the wavy creases.

A devoted guardian angel

When a hurricane hits, people are most worried about Lake Okeechubi near where they live. Once heavy rains bring the lake water to swell, coupled with strong winds, the ancient embankments may collapse, causing flooding in South Florida and streets. Boating, destroying property and lives.

Power outages are another serious concern. Loss of lighting, hot food and air conditioning will affect nursing homes, hospitals, commercial areas, residential areas... Dai Chang, a co-worker on the prayer team, works for Florida Power & Light Co.. Emma has not yet landed in South Florida. The company has already entered a state of preparation. Employees take turns to take half a day off to settle down with their families. The IT department where she works works day and night. Two shifts, nearly three weeks, seven days a week, 12 hours a day, to maintain the normal operation of the software around the clock. During this period, she was temporarily assigned to design a navigation software and implant it into Google Earth, so that the damaged circuit work order could be displayed on Google Earth, which could help the command center analyze and research, and instruct line workers to quickly arrive at the power outage site for emergency repairs. This new software must be compatible with other software. If it crashes, it will be a big problem. Dai Chang was walking on thin ice and was trembling with nervousness. She said, "During the process of designing the software, I felt that the prayer team was constantly watching for me." She completed her mission in prayer and realized that "all those who believe in Him will not be shamed." (Romans 10:11, Chinese Standard Version)

▲After Hurricane Irma passed through, line workers rushed to repair and restore power. (online picture)

Thoughts in heaven and earth

On September 8th, I baked some snacks to send to my parents and visited my neighbors on the way. There is no sound in the community, no cars roaring, like a dead lake. However, eight or nine children were suddenly seen running and playing on the green grass. Their laughter and laughter cut through the heavy haze, filling them with sunshine and hope.

During the attack of Emma, more than 2,000 members of the Truth Church in Taipei prayed eagerly day and night without interruption. Pastor Du Tianxin of the Truth Church in New York City also sent his thoughts and blessings: "'He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will abide. Under the shadow of the Almighty." (Psalm 91:1) You will weather the storms safely as you live in the wings of God's love, and be filled with the peace that the Lord gives you that surpasses all understanding! Worship this morning and pray together, Pray for peace for the United States and for Florida. May the Lord have mercy and help Florida weather the storm. We must continue to watch and pray until the storm subsides.”

There are also many prayers coming from Taiwan, the United States, Türkiye, and everywhere.

On September 10, Irma had changed its course to the west, and the eye of the hurricane missed Lake Okeechoubi. The wind speed at my residence dropped to more than 60 miles per hour, and the intensity was less than level 1. It passed gently during the night, and the power and water were not cut off.

At dawn on September 11th, the clear voices of a group of children came through the windproof shutters. The wind had died down! Is it okay if we go to visit our parents? Without God's permission, not even a hair of ours would fall to the ground!

▲Children were playing before the hurricane, and the laughter and laughter cut through the heavy haze, filling the place with sunshine and hope. (online picture)