Early March Tornado’s sent trained Emergency Response Team members of the United Methodist Church Holston Conference to the Cleveland and Chattanooga TN area. Five of the 10 counties are in Holston Conference: Hamilton, Bradley, McMinn, Monroe, and Polk with damage as follows:
Bradley County
6 homes destroyed
13 heavily damaged
20 moderately damaged
Hamilton County
347 homes affected
77 destroyed
23 major damage
McMinn County
11 homes destroyed
Monroe County
33 homes destroyed
Polk County
7 homes destroyed
The Holston Conference Early Response Team was hard at work assisting survivors, primarily in the Ooltewah/Harrison area. We were based at and supported by Ooltewah UMC. They provided food, a place to sleep and showers. Everyone there was so gracious and helpful to the ERT members. I can’t express how Thankful and Blessed I felt to be living among the Ooltewah UMC family and for all they did to support the ERT Team members. They did everything possible to make us welcome and comfortable.
The days were long and the work was hard sometimes, but all of that was put aside to do what we needed to do to help the survivors. They were all so grateful and we felt blessed to be helping them. Each story was different and everyone I talked with felt blessed. I had a home and my possessions to go back to, and yet they had lost their homes and most of their possessions, but still talked about being blessed. Hearing their stories, listening to them, seeing what they had lost and still felt blessed, how could I complain about being away from home and family, or not having my bed to sleep in, or being out of my comfort zone, or being exhausted and dirty? I have no right to complain. In fact, I was rejoicing to be there. We had tears and laughter while helping the survivors, but most of all there was Love and you could see God working all around. One day some of us broke out into singing the song “This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” We were working on one of the worst projects where the family had lost about everything, but they were spared their lives and it was a good day. The owners and family members were working along side us and even helped us clean up at other locations. Wow! Survivors can teach us a lot. When we showed up at one ladies home, she told us she had been praying for us all morning. That we would be safe etc. while we were working. How humbling. We were there to help her, but she helped each of us. What a wonderful thing to know that as you are using your hands and feet to be Christ, someone who is hurting because of the devastation to her own home is praying for you. How unselfish!!
The Holston Conference is in need of trained ERT workers who are willing to respond to disasters such as the Tornado’s that hit Tennessee. Please consider getting the training and even if you find you only have one day that you can help during a disaster response, it is greatly needed and appreciated and you won’t believe the blessing you will receive.
For information about ERT training, contact Mark Hicks at (865) 809-9044.
Funds are also needed. To give to ERT response efforts, write a check to your local United Methodist Church with “Advance # 143” on the memo line.
A special Thank you to all the ERT members I worked with. It was a pleasure to get to know you and to work with you. I feel blessed that God brought each one of you into my life. And also to Ooltewah UMC and for all you have done for the ERT team. May God Bless each of you for your sacrifices.
I can never put into words what I saw or felt. Pictures can’t even truly tell the stories that only your own eyes can see. But, I hope these pictures help.
Our Willing Hands 