What started out as a missions trip to Richwood, West Virginia, quickly became a lesson in handling disaster situations and leaning on God and fellow believers in the process.
Fifty teens and chaperones from Highland Baptist Church, Florence, traveled to Cherry River Baptist Church to help with construction projects (installing two shower units and an office space), Vacation Bible School and the repair of two homes in the community June 18–25. The team worked well together despite hard and long hours and staying in tight quarters inside the church.
Five days into the trip, however, things began to change — and fast, according to Ryan Tyler, associate pastor for youth at Highland Baptist.
The area received inches of rain and by June 22 water began to flood into the church building. The “water became almost like rapids,” Tyler said. As everyone tried to quickly pack up the vehicles, the water rose so rapidly that they had to leave several belongings and tools behind. As they began to leave the parking lot they immediately faced closed roads. Realizing they had to get to higher ground, the chaperones drove the vehicles to a primitive campground to stay the night.
With the help of John Burke, a deacon at a local church, the team was introduced to Trinity Baptist Church the next day, a church in a dry area that was willing to host the team. Lloyd, a deacon, grilled hotdogs and made sure the team members were as comfortable as they could be on the sanctuary floor. The team was able to return to Cherry River Baptist on June 24 to clean up a few items before departing for home.
Tyler shared that he had been “asking God to give us the opportunity to serve each other in love this week,” and that opportunity was given to them in the unexpected flood situation.
God worked in “every step and stage” of the week, Tyler said.
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