This week went by super, super fast, but the highlight was that we got to go down to Vilonia and help clean up the damage from the tornado that hit last Sunday. We first stopped at the Conway church building and there we got our HELPING HANDS T-shirts!!! We also had a short instruction meeting. We were assigned an area to go help clean-up/sort the damaged things. AH... this has been my dream since I was young! It was so surreal. It was so crazy that as we were pulling up some homes were perfectly fine, others had a little damage, (maybe a few lost shingles, broken window, or tree) and then others were completely gone. The first area we went to we mainly picked up wood and stacked them in a pile to burn. We also got in a long straight line in this huge cow pasture and picked up all the little small debris. (That way cows won't eat it and die) Then after lunch we went to a different area, maybe .4 miles away.. Here is where there wasn't much organization so a lot of us were standing around. There was a huge hole dug for all the biodegradable stuff that could be buried and then already sorted piles of everything else.. there was a large tractor that kept bringing these old, destroyed cars over into ta section more convenient for trucks to put on their trailer and hall them away. This area we later found out that we were cleaning up what used to be a junk yard. The last area we went to...again within 300 yards...is where we picked up everything from a completely destroyed home. There was absolutely nothing left. Apparently the family only wanted to save pictures and bibles. I found about 20 pictures stuck into the ground and I took them to the pile of saving. A little while later a lady came up to us and said the section we were cleaning up in was most of her stuff from her shed nearby. That's when someone realized those pictures I found could be hers. So we went back and go them and took them to her. Her face was priceless. A sense of relief. Her husband started looking through them and saying... "that's my dad, (next picture) that's my sister." Ah......it was so neat! We talked with her for a little bit and she said this is the 3rd time she has been hit in 8 years. The first time she lost like 50 trees, the 2nd time, part of her house was destroyed so they build a storm shelter after, and also got a big pod(like a storing shed) for all the retrievable items to put in... (this was 3 years ago) Well... on Sunday she said she was watching the news and the storm didn't look like it was coming toward them, however, on someones phone it did, so they took pre-cautions and went around telling their neighbors and most of them listened, and they all got into their storm shelter. There was one man that said, not to worry and didn't go. Well after the tornado came through they got out, and looked around and that house where that man was, was completely destroyed. They ended up finding his body a little ways away. The things these people have gone through, and the pain they are experiencing are indescribable. She told us she was moving to Conway. This whole experience I will never forget. The last part of cleaning up we were cleaning up the kitchen debris of someones home. I could go on and on about everything I saw and did, but most importantly I learned that materialistic things don't matter. It's our faith in Jesus Christ and our families! There were so many people out here volunteering. There were dark blue, light blue, red, orange, and our yellow shirts all representing different organizations or church groups. There were people coming around bringing us food and water. There was one man in my ward that was stationed down there that was cooking enough hamburger and hot dogs to feed 3,000 people. There were SOO many people like that. Everyone's faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ is what is helping people through this. I loved when that family only wanted to save pictures and their bibles. The south is truly amazing! So fitting is Helaman 5:12! It's Christ, without a doubt that is helping us all through this time. If a tornado were to touch down, why not the south-where the communities will unite together, thank Heavenly Father for their lives and then help those in need. This place is so loving and charitable! That's something I can definitely work on! I'm so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the enabling power of the Atonement. I'm so grateful for the the hope and happiness it brings me daily!! I'm also so grateful for my family!! I CAN"T WAIT to talk to ya'll on Sunday!!!!
ALSO, yesterday was fast and testimony meeting. I was sitting next to Diana (recent convert) and I did the whole, 'if you go I will go.' She immediately said "yes, I have something to share." It was the most powerful testimony that our Heavenly Father lives. I was sitting up on the stand, just looking out at everyone's eyes crying. Her mom came up to me afterwards crying and gave me a hug and then said, "You are God's miracle, thank you so much!"
What a wonderful weekend!
Love you all!! Thanks for everything! I'm so grateful for all of ya'll!
Hermana Warner
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