Helping Flood Victims

On Thursday night we got a call from a few people letting us know that the bishop would like the youth to participate in a clean-up effort in the town of Vernonia, Oregon. There is a small LDS branch up there and some members really needed assistance with cleaning out the gunk, as well as taking their furniture, appliances and other belongs out for the dump. They needed their carpets and linolium ripped up and subfloors completely removed. Bob and Nathan were suppose to go on a scout campout the next day. Bob had just walked in the door from buying all the food and supplies for the campout when the calls started coming. His initial response was, "Well, we've already reserved the site and I just bought the food...so....it doesn't look like the deacons will be able to make it." When he went to pick up Nathan from trumpet lessons, he started having second thoughts. So, after discussing it a little more with me, he decided to ask the young men what they wanted to do. Nathan wanted to help at Vernonia and when he called the Deacons Quorum president, he wanted to also....so...we now have good "campout" food in our house to eat.....and instead....they packed their rainboots, rubber gloves and dust masks....and headed off to Vernonia early Sat. morning. What an experience! Nathan told me about how he walked into a bedroom and saw the walls painted with blue and there were planets on the walls and it was a really cool room. He thought of the boy who's stuff was all ruined and felt really sad for him. It was wonderful to hear my usually self-centered boy thinking so deeply about the welfare of others. I love service and truly feel sooooo bad for the people who's lives have been turned upside down. Here are some pictures of the flood and their day. Oh yeah.....Amanda wasn't able to go because of a previous comittment with school. And, I didn't get to go because I had to drive Amanda around....bummer!

Here's a sky shot of the town while it was under water....all roads in and out of the town were flooded for days also. Plus, there was no electricity. Terrible!

Nate with his Young Men's leader and a couple of Deacon's Quorum buddies

The destroyer.....right up Nate's alley of fun!!

Big Bad Bob! As you can see Bob is a tad bit muddy. He had a run in with the muck on the ground while he was carrying out a TV in the house. The gunk was a bit slippery and rubber boots don't tend to have very good traction.....well....YUCKY!!