Blur

I pretty much lived at church this past week.

I love BBQ sandwiches and I love pulled pork sandwiches. But, after eating the majority of my meals this week in the church dining room and many of them BBQ sandwiches or pulled pork sandwiches (and all good!), I have had enough for a long long time!  The amount of food donations that have been showing up is amazing.  Individuals, churches, organizations, restaurants, and caterers have been donating hundreds of pounds of meat, sandwiches, and other foods.  The Midwest Food Bank has kept us supplied with water and whatever staples, condiments, and paper products we needed.  Food and supplies are piled around the perimeter of the church dining room.

The amount of machinery that has been showing up in our parking lot has also been amazing. Dump trucks, high-hoes, backhoes, mini track-hoes, dump trailers, cargo trailers, and the highest demand item; tracked skid steers with grapple buckets.

Because of the supplies and clutter, we did not have a noon lunch today.  We had two services with a 15 minute break in between.  It was a blessing to be able to gather again one week later as a church family.  It was good to see the families in church today who lost their homes. It has been an overwhelming week for them, and we continue to pray for them.  It has been a blessing to watch the national church family help out our community, as well as to watch the local community work together.  Also, relief organizations from all over the country are showing up to help.  There were so many volunteers that came through this week that I would have loved to sit down and visit with, but was just too busy helping with logistics to do much more than just nod at them.  I apologize if you were there and I ignored you. We are hoping the coming week will perhaps be a little less frantic and a little easier to organize.

When this is all over, on behalf of our church and community, we would love to be able to personally thank everyone who helped out in any way.  But I know that won't be possible.  God will have to be the rewarder.

   The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.
Ruth 2:12

Tornado

Sunday morning started off like a typical Sunday.  We were looking forward to having baptisms in church and the visitors that would bring.  It was unseasonably balmy, yet blustery when we left for church.  At the end of morning service, the town tornado sirens started sounding along with smart phone alarms.  A tornado warning was issued.  Everyone was ushered into either the dining room or Sunday School rooms.  A few minutes later the report was that the tornado was on the ground heading our direction.  Everyone was ushered into the small windowless SS rooms. We lost power, so all went dark.  Despite the soundproof rooms, we could hear the roar, feel the debris hit the side of the building, and feel the pressure change as the tornado passed us.  After it was past, because of the still unstable conditions, we ushered everyone mobile to the condo basement across the parking lot.  The lot was full of debris, car windows were broken, and 300-400 yards west we could see houses that were destroyed.
 We were very thankful for God's protection.
After the all clear was given, we went back into church and some tried to eat lunch in the dark by cell phone light.  Our church is on a well, and with out power we couldn't fill the baptismal tank.  Eureka Church had cancelled afternoon services because they had no power, but they agreed  to let us use their sanctuary because they had water available.  I drove home to make sure the automatic generator had started (it hadn't), so I was a little late to the service.  The tub was full, and there was enough light coming in the windows that we could see to sing hymns.  A battery powered P.A. system was used and the ceremony was completed.  The two young men will not forget this day!

The devastation is hard to comprehend even when you look at it.  I have helped clean up after tornadoes before, and the power they have to destroy still shocks me.  I didn't take any pictures, so I won't post any.  But You Tube, Facebook, and the news media have plenty to get a good idea of the extent of the damage.  Daughter #2 has pictures here.

We spent the day today at church cleaning up outside, trying to get some generators hooked up at the church and the condo's, and started planning our response efforts.  Christian Aid Ministries' advance team showed up seeking our help to get their response effort started, as well as the Apostolic Christian World Relief disaster team with a fleet of trucks and trailers.  Our efforts to help our church families who were affected was hampered by the fact that the city is still on lock-down and teams were not being allowed in yet.  We were able to sneak some small crews in and get a start.  Numerous people parked in our lot and walked into town to try to bypass the police blockades and get to their destroyed homes.  Some made it and some were turned away. Hopefully in the coming days we will be able to make greater headway.

Fred and the Earlybird helicopter taking the CAM crew for an aerial tour.

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Acts 2:2

Completed

We finished harvest before the rains started.  We received about 5 inches over the last week and a half, and it all soaked in.  I saw a coyote in the last field as we finished, but not as much wildlife this year as in some years.

Saturday we went up to Elgin to attend an unexpected funeral.  I have appreciated getting to know Larry over the years when he came down to visit his in-laws.  We were saddened by his sudden passing.  I always learned from the conversations that I had with him, and he will be missed.  We pray for his widow.
It was good to see a number of my cousins from Lester there and it was good to visit the Elgin congregation again.

I was surprised at the amount of corn still unharvested in northern Illinois.

My favorite daughter-in-law made me a pie today!  Take note daughters, you have competition!

I saw this comment under a picture that was posted on Facebook this week.  I thought it was interesting.  I paraphrase.
  "I don't see a Hymns of Zion on your piano.  I left the AC Church 20 years ago and still have my HOZ on my piano.  Still the best hymnal around!"

Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the Lord, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.
Jeremiah 31:12

Rejoice

We finished harvesting on Tuesday before the rains moved in.  The unloading auger chain on the combine broke for the third time this fall.  We fixed it and were able to finish, but it will need to be replaced before wheat harvest next summer.  It was stress free then when we received 3.5 inches of rain over the next few days.

Down a winding gravel lane in a nondescript building in the timber south of Secor, is the home of  Rejoice  Records and an impressive recording studio.  My siblings decided to make a recording for my parents for a Christmas gift to honor them for the Christian heritage and music appreciation that they passed down to us.  On Friday night and Saturday we children (and spouses), along with our children (and spouses) and grandchildren, and the Streitmatters gathered in the studio to sing some old family favorites.  Denny and family welcomed us and were very patient with our large group.

When four of us siblings were attending Goodfield Grade School in the middle 1960's, we entered the annual talent show and sang "The Church in the Wildwood" because we used to sing it on our way to church on Sunday mornings.  We won our division and each received a dollar.  We sang that song with the little children.  In honor of Rita practicing piano to get out of washing dishes, we sang "Suppertime", the one song she knew and played over and over.  In memory of Uncle Vernie, we sang "Jesus Hold My Hand", which  he always sang with us when driving. Ned added a violin track to "Love at Home". Some men's quartet songs, a couple of female numbers, and other group songs rounded out our time.

We didn't sound very practiced or professional, but since most of the family made it for the weekend, we had a blessed and enjoyable time.

The first cousins practicing their song before recording.

The masters at the control panel.

Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name Jah, and rejoice before him.
Psalm 68:4