Helping out in Wakefield Nebraska / Clearing debris from the tornado

This past Friday I traveled to Wakefield, NE along with other American Baptist Men from Churches in Omaha, Lincoln and Norfolk.  We spent our time there helping to clean up debris from the Tornadoes on June 16th.  The town of Wakefield itself was very lucky as the actual twisters very, very narrowly missed the town.  But unfortunately, they did impact some residential areas outside of the village.  Several farm homes were destroyed and a great number of farm buildings were heavily damaged or completely demolished.  There was a great deal of shredded steel from granaries littered across the fields.

Tornado Damage near Wakefield, NE

On the farm where we were helping there were two large machine sheds that were ripped right up and entirely torn to bits.  The tractors, combines and other equipment remained behind and amazingly enough suffered very little damage.  All the buildings in that location were either completely destroyed or very heavily impacted save one building.  That building happened by providence to be the location where five individuals took shelter.  Even more remarkably, it was located adjacent to the two large machine sheds that were ripped down.  All that remained of those two sheds was the bases of the poles that had supported the sides of the structures.  The brick home on the property was leveled to the foundation and scattered, the man that lived there survived by taking refuge in the basement. 

American Baptist Men helping clean up fields near Wakefield, NE
I am on the far left side of the photo with my back to the camera.

We were able to clear several fields for the Farmer that we were assigned to assist and he was very appreciative of all our efforts.  Large sections of the fields we were in will have to be torn up and replanted as soon as possible.  All the wreckage, wood, brick and steel will need to be removed first or else it will run the risk of damaging the equipment used in replanting.  I am afraid though that some of the areas aren't going to dry out sufficiently in the time frame needed in order to replant.

Cleaning up after the Wakefield Tornadoes
American Baptist Men of Nebraska

American Baptist Men helping clean up fields near Wakefield, NE
I am to the left of the tractor with my back to the camera.

I did ask and this farm was insured so they will not have a total loss from the storm, whether or not they are able to replant.  Of course there is no way to be made completely well from such a disaster, the loss of man hours and the expense of cleaning up is just over whelming.  Thankfully, these days most farmers opt to carry crop insurance.

Tornado damage near Wakefield, NE

Besides the American Baptist Men, there were also a number of other organizations with people in the Wakefield area assisting with the clean up and recovery.  It is a wonderful thing to see the outpouring of assistance that these natural disasters bring to the forefront.  I should also report that members of our congregation 'Sunset Hills Baptist' also sent members to Pilger on this past Thursday.  At this time I do not know what type of work they were assigned to but Bob Slechta and I drove through Pilger on our way to Wakefield and it was obvious that cleanup there will be ongoing for quite sometime.

Video of twin tornadoes that hit near Wakefield, NE

As terrible as the effects of these storms are they provide us with the chance to demonstrate and to truly be 'the hands & feet of Christ'.  It's in our responses to these misfortunes to our fellow man that we best model to others the love, grace and care of our God the Father.  Praise to God, that so very many have and do respond at these times of need.

Tornado damage near Wakefield, NE

Tornado damage near Wakefield, NE

On another note, this afternoon I started reading a new book.  It's another book by Bart Ehrman entitled "Peter, Paul & Mary Magdalene".  It's an in depth look into just what we do and don't know about these figures in Christianity.  Ehrman is the chair of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  Ehrman is widely considered a leading authority on Early Christianity, Jesus and the New Testament.  He is however, a controversial figure in that he is currently a professing 'Agnostic'.  I will point out though that he has received his seminary training, ordination and has served in an American Baptist Church as a minister.   Ehrman is one of my favorite authors due to the depth of his knowledge and his engaging writing style.

Well it's getting late and I need to get going.  May this blog post find you all well and blessed by our Lord.

In Christ,

Roy

Tornado Warnings Today

Update: June 30th, there is currently a tornado in Wayne County, NE.  Please pray for those in the affected areas.  Another day of rough weather in Nebraska.