Bringing the Kingdom in Long Island

I spent last week in Long Island, NY with a group from the Clemson Wesley Foundation, doing relief work in communities affected by Hurricane Sandy. Our home base was Hicksville United Methodist Church, and each day we would split in to two groups. My group worked out of Massapequa UMC. We were at a different house each day, and it was a privilege to meet so many people and to see so much of the area. Unlike Katrina, Sandy did not wipe out vast swaths of houses and land; but rather, the damage is spotty, but nonetheless devastating.

There were, of course, so many memorable moments throughout the week- moments in which I felt anger, frustration, joy, and sadness- but the most poignant occurred Thursday afternoon as my friend, Jessica, and I stood in the kitchen of Ms. Gennie, whose house was by far the worst I saw all week. As we picked up the remnants of her artwork, which had been flung from the back of the house and into the kitchen, I was filled with a mix of emotions- joy in being able to meet Ms. Gennie and stand with her in the midst of this tragic loss; anger at her crappy situation; and sorrow as I saw the sadness in her face. She did tell us that our help allowed her to begin to feel some hope and to begin facing the task of moving forward, and for that I am grateful.

I saw the Lord's face in those of the people we met and served. And I saw His kingdom come to earth as we talked and prayed with them and even as we ripped up floorboards and bagged trash. Like most mission trips I have been a part of, our presence was more important than any of the physical labor we did. Most of the homeowners we met were surprised to learn that we had come all the way from SC to help out. That's not to say that we are so great for doing what we did, but I do think that in giving up part of our Christmas break to drive 800 miles to muck and gut houses is a shining example of answering Jesus' call to help people in need and to bring His kingdom to earth.