After spending the day in Rainsville, Alabama, Connie, Tonya, and I drove to Tuscaloosa to spend the night with a dear friend, Caroline, who is a grad student at Bama. Driving in, we saw a few downed trees and some twisted metal signs. It wasn't until the next morning that we saw a small glimpse at the full extent of the damage.
The mile-wide tornado roared down her street and when it was within 20 feet of her apartment, abruptly turned left. If it hadn't... I really don't want to think of that right now. Nothing can fully describe the devastation of 15th street.
The three of us left mid-morning, attempting to return to Rainsville to meet up with our contacts from the day before. Halfway there, the Lord changed our plans and we drove back to Birmingham. When we reached the outskirts of Pell City (one of the areas of Birmingham with the most damage), we turned off the interstate and started to pray for direction. At one point we turned right, still praying... and finally stopped to ask a woman for help. It turned out that God led us directly to the Chamber of Commerce! The lady gave us directions to the hardest hit area of Pell City. We thanked her and left.
Forty-five minutes later, we turned onto a road in the countryside of Pell City. On the mountains to our right, the trees were stripped bare of branches and leaves. Home after home was destroyed. It was definitely an area of terrible damage.
At the next intersection, we pulled over and spoke to a pastor handing out food underneath a tent. A woman named Victoria walked up and started telling us her story. She, her husband, Bryan, and their two-year-old son, Gage, were safe, staying at a family member's house. Their home was hit, but it only has minor damage in comparison to other homes in the area. Even their puppy, who was on the back porch at the time, survived.
Victoria stood there, telling us of a former schoolmate who'd lost his entire family and house in the storm, of how he survived simply because he was at work when the tornado came through. With tears in her eyes, she told us she felt blessed, even with the hardship of damage to their home. Those she loved most were still alive. She hurt for those in her neighborhood- grieved over those she knew were gone, but she said that she knew the tragedy would bring the community closer.
We left knowing that God had brought us specifically to that tent to meet Victoria, hear her story, and to pray for her, her family, and her community. Hopefully we encouraged her. She definitely encouraged us.
If you think about it tonight, please pray for Victoria and her family. Pray for her community as they continue to step through the effects of disaster. For courage... hope... restoration.
