Many people may be aware that I spent two weeks in Galveston, Texas with The Salvation Army on disaster relief deployment in the wake of Hurricane Ike. I left Edmonton on October 6 and got back home on the 19.
It was an interesting experience for me. It was my first time being away from home since we got married and it was difficult at times, but the work was rewarding (and very tiring). I was able to participate in a variety of duties during my time there including distributing food from canteens, cleaning canteens, cleaning Cambro containers (used to keep the food hot), driving a shuttle van to pick up new volunteers from the airport in Houston, and distributing food hampers and cleaning kits at a social service centre.
I also spent one day in Cyrstal Beach, a community on the Boliver Peninsula - a ferry ride from Galveston. The Boliver Peninsula was hit particularly hard by Ike and the communities are devestated there. It was a very difficult day that I will not forget any time soon. Click here for a USA Today news story from Crystal Beach.
I am glad to be back home now, but will hold on to this experience for a long time. It was a valuable time for me and I learn a lot from it. It affirmed the value of the Emergency Disaster Services ministry of The Salvation Army in me, and I feel privileged to be a part of that ministry.
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