The Wrath of Hurricane Dennis Part Four

Determined to find a nurse who would help the lady’s father, I looked down the hallway– my eyes searching carefully for someone who could possibly be a nurse. I saw a woman a few feet away, sitting with an elderly man. Have you ever sensed that someone deliberately turned away from you because they knew you were about to approach them to ask a favor? This was the first response that I got from the lady; so, I decided to back away. I stood there contemplating whether I should approach the woman or continue to look for a nurse some place else. I looked at the lady’s father who could not do anything to help himself. He could only hope for help from people around him. I knew that for his sake and for the sake of my own peace of mind and heart, I had to step forward. Approaching the lady, I said to her, “Are you a nurse?”

“Yes, I am.” The woman replied. She agreed to help with the man’s medical problem. I knew it was the favor of God, and I was grateful; and so was his daughter who had been left alone to care for him.

A few days after hurricane Ivan had passed, I heard a preacher on the radio condemning all pastors who had not stayed home during Hurricane Ivan. He said they should have stayed home and used their faith, believing that God would protect them and their families from any harm that could come from the hurricane. I was disappointed in him as a pastor that he would condemn other pastors for going to a shelter to get away from the hurricane.

Hearing the pastor’s comments, I realized that my reason for going to the shelter was not only for the safety of my family and myself. God wanted me to go to the shelter because He knew there would be people there who needed my help. He knew the elderly man would forget his knife and would not have a way to peel his apples and cucumbers; so, He told me to go and take the knife and he sat the man down beside me. God knew the lady’s brother would not return to help her care for her father and that she would need help; so, He sent me to help her care for her father. Being placed in that environment made me realize that those shelters are mission fields!!! There are so many people in those shelters who need help! Especially elderly people who have been dropped off at the shelters and are alone with no one to care for them. Never again will I go to a shelter without asking God, “WHO AM I HERE FOR?”

As Hurricane Dennis took its toll, interrupting the routines of our daily lives and causing crisis in the shelter, I was very much aware that I was on a mission, sent by God. I looked around and I saw a six-year old black girl and a five-year old white girl, who had earlier fought over a toy, sitting side by side sharing a slice of turkey beacon. The true saying that I have heard throughout my lifetime came to mind: “Adults can learn a lot from a child.” As I sat in my chair, watching the two that had become friends, the two-year old that had repeatedly run from her young mother to escape taking a nap climbed up on my lap and went to sleep. You might ask the question: “Do you think the two-year old is who you were there for?” You bet I do!