Physically Involved = Emotionally Involved, by Dr. Jim Jakubchak

Frequently natural disasters make the front page of the newspaper.  In a day or two they are forgotten and become yesterday's news.  A group from the Piedmont Convocation on a mission trip to Alabama found that the memories of the natural disaster live on.

On April 28, 2011, several tornadoes touched down in northeast Alabama.  Thirty-three people died and more than 200 were injured.  Several hundred homes were destroyed.  This natural disaster touched the hearts of all those attending the Episcopal Mission trip.

Last Tuesday was a particularly hard day emotionally.  We worked in a community which was composed of relatively new houses.  Most had been destroyed.  One home was 16 years old.  It held 16 years of memories, pictures, furnishings, clothing and love.  We sorted this heap of rubble and debris and hauled it to the street for pick-up.  What took 16 years to develop we hauled away to the street in 6 hours.  What was once a home was converted to a stack of debris by a tornado lasting 40 minutes.  This debris would be picked up by a front loader, put in a dump truck and hauled off to the land fill.  What we experienced was emotional but cannot compare to the pain that this family will have forever.

I hope our efforts allow other residents of northeast Alabama to return to a home one day.

It was a pleasure and an honor to work side by side with all of those on our mission team helping the unfortunate families in Alabama.  I am glad I participated..............J