Band of Sisters

No we are not really related by blood but these 2 ladies have been my support system. Wendy Tulloch and Shell Kopp. We were close friends while living in Galena but crisis has brought us closer. We may not be military wives, but we  Feel the full force of our husbands being deployed! Our husbands may not be going to a foreign soil where bombs and guns make them the target but they are being sent to a community ravished by flood where there is no power, water, sewer and they must be fully self sufficient. They will be rebuilding our town where there is fuel and sewage contaminating the water supply. Where the low humidity makes it a fire hazard. Where all the personal vehicles are water logged and unusable. Where every house hold has some sort of loss. Some houses( like mine) have little damage. Praise The Lord but others like Shells had 4 feet of water in their home. Clean up is going to be hazardous and long. The men will be busy cleaning and rebuilding in a town only accessible by plane. All supplies, fuel and water will have to be flown in. As I said it will be a long journey.

While they are there, us wives with our children will be scattered across the country. This past week we have built a support system that works. With 8 kids among us, we fed, clothed, wiped noses, broke up arguments and disciplined children as a team. I can tell you that system was great! We could depend on each other to look after our kids. This made it easy on us moms and made a stable environment for our kids. Their friends were around them and so were adults that cared. We may not be military wives but we feel like it! We all have been through the same situation. The panic as we held our kids and they told us no planes were coming to evacuate us out, the worrying that the flood waters are still rising, the crying when our husbands stayed behind, the relief when our husbands got out on more missionary flights. We all laid awake thinking of things that we lost, had the water rushing at us and our children to only wake up in a sweat and realize it was just a dream.we banded together and pulled our resources during the evacuation and fed our kids which ended up being pop tarts, canned nuts and animal crackers. These ladies were there when donations upon donations came in of clothes, food, car seats, bedding and toys for our kids to play with. they all have felt the humbleness of receiving. These women are some of of strongest women I know. I love them so much and will miss them and their support!

Our lives are about to change. With our husbands heading out to Galena for an indefinite amount of time and our friends scattered around the world.( some are even in Germany) we feel like we are under a deployment. We don't know the next time we will see our husbands, or the next time we will get to return home or the next time we will see our friends. Maybe that is why I feel sick to my stomach! All I know is God knew who I needed to be with through this time of crisis! As we all disperse to Montana, south Alaska and Puerto Rico I know that bond will hold till we get back together again. I pray that will be sooner then we all anticipate! With Shell already gone, Right now I feel like my support system is broken. Wendy heads out tonight. I leave Saturday. Yes I am ready to be some where stable with a bed but I am not ready to leave this survivor system.  My kids can feel the change coming. But we know it will all work out and like the songs in church sang this morning by Casting Crowns "I will Praise you in the storm"

 

I was sure by now
God You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining

But as the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find You

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth
I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth

I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

That is all I can say right now!