Contemplate it pure joy, my brothers, whenever

Contemplate it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trails of many kinds, as you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish their work so that you may be mature and, not lacking anything.

(James the particular Apostle of Jesus)

Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005 ruined the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. To those who died in this tempest I offer my prayers to their families and friends. To the destitute in Biloxi, Mississippi my cardiovascular system and prayers are with you along with your memory will be with me for life.

(Bob Wilkerson)

Hurricane Katrina

Droplets involving rain dribbled from the sky. Wind was swirling, the movement of this trees started to acknowledge her presence. Dark, sinister clouds proclaimed the girl arrival but I wasn't on the verge of leave. I listened to the warnings all day but still remained steadfast inside the decision not to leave. I considered Katrina would drift farther western. This scary picture of drowning kept leaping across my mind. My spouse and i denied the images and remained resolute in my decision to stay on the coast.

The storm keep getting better, bigger and she kept turning towards the east and it wasn't each and every for Biloxi. I thought about leaving but the traffic was so bad and I really didn't know where to go. I knew the roads were jammed in addition to going to a shelter was out of the question. I actually kept trying to believe the tempest would move farther into Louisiana. I had Faith in God. We believed God would protect us. However, I didn't know whenever God was telling me to be able to leave or stay. I was seriously confused. I knew that faith necessary actions but I was undetermined precisely what action God wanted me to use. I guess it should have been an easy decision but it wasn't. My soon to get wife, who was in California, seemed to be begging me to leave yet I just couldn't. I had worked so hard to help the homeless in Biloxi and now just leave. I had been via hurricanes before and survived. The elements reports keep saying this was the storm of century and I has been starting to believe they were right. After watching the news all day, I realized i was going to get hit hard. My spouse and i didn't want to leave my task. I didn't want to believe my very own work with the hopeless was more than. I had to make a decision. Katrina has been moving into South Louisiana. I was incredibly confused and scared. I had to create a decision soon.

Two days prior to Katrina's arrival I was sitting in my workplace in Biloxi, Mississippi. Suddenly the door opened and in walked a destitute man. I had been working with him for a time but he was having a hard time quitting alcohol. "Hey Dude, what's up. " I said with a smile. I usually enjoyed seeing him. I enjoyed this guy. My heart was on his side and I just believed that certain day he would walk free from alcohol and the bondage of homelessness.

That i knew he wanted to smoke so we walked out on the porch. It was hot, horribly hot in South Mississippi. He rolled up a cig, crouched down on his haunches and said, "Bob did you know a typhoon is coming this way? "

"Really, where is it now" I ask? I actually wasn't too concerned.

"It is traversing over into the Gulf and they are expressing it is going to be a bad one. " He stood to his ft and looked towards the Gulf of Mexico.

"Where is the sucker headed? "

"The word on the streets is it will be upon us soon straight towards us or New Orleans. " He had a uneasy look on his face.

We both was in silence for a few seconds then I spoke. "My friend we just have to need faith that God will shield us. " I opened the doorway to my office so I could notice the phone ring.

"Bob the police will likely start rounding us up in the near future. " The Biloxi police team had a reputation for picking up typically the homeless and moving them to jail before a storm hit. I had in addition heard the police would let them get just before the storm hit. My partner and i don't know if that was true or not. However, I had heard other desolate talk of mistreatment by the police.

"You know God will take care of people my friend but we also have to act. " I put my hand in the shoulder and continued, " we all also have to have enough since to take action. You should starting heading north just in case it hits. "

He nodded in agreement and then ask, "What are you going to do Bob? "

"I ain't going anywhere. " I just shrugged my shoulders and acted tough. "I guess I am going to hold off and help Rita down at the soups kitchen. " I had no idea the time the storm was going to be the biggest to hit the Gulf in a a single.

We continued talking about the surprise, our plans, and the hope this miss us. Hurricane Dennis trimmed us a little earlier in the year and we were not that worried about Katrina. I had shaped no idea what was about to happen. I additionally didn't realize I would never see the my friend again. I found out subsequently my friend did survive but My spouse and i still haven't seen or speak to him.

Night was approaching as well as the wind was picking up. I jam-packed my clothes in car, nevertheless unsure if I would leave or not. I watched the sky. Typically the clouds were moving faster and faster in a circular motion. Problems exploded in my mind. Would I make risk and stay or would I take the risk and keep. Finally, I made the decision. I had taken a long look at all the things I had gathered then I looked at the car. The thought of diving in 150 mph wind having trees falling raced through my thoughts. Finally, I walked into the kitchen grabbed a gallon of normal water and headed for the car. I just drove out of Biloxi, Mississippi located at 7: 00pm on the night Katrina was coming into the coast. My spouse and i didn't know exactly where I was planning. I did have California on my head but I only had 14 dollars in my pocket and of a tank of gas. I just turned the radio on and just kept driving and praying that I would break free.

To my surprise and delight the roads where clear and the rainfall wasn't that bad. I went to Jackson, MS, turned still left and ended up in Cambria, CALIFORNIA. My fianc lived in CA and am really didn't have anywhere else to move so I drove for two days directly. Frighten, oh yes. I knew by the time My spouse and i reached Texas the storm experienced ruined Biloxi. I was in contact with Mary, via cell phone so I knew there was no turning back. I had never been to Cambria but I was confident Oplagt was guiding my path. Currently, I have been in California for three several months, got married, and started a ministry called Challenger Christian Ministries, along with intentions of doing the type work I did so in Biloxi.

I am so thankful We left Biloxi. I am not sure should i would have survived or not. The office seemed to be gone and the home I leased was under water for a time. We lost everything but my clothes and car. However, the one thing i never lost was my wish to serve my Lord. I will not have to get defeated because nothing in God's world happens by mistake. I am grateful I took the risk that night. I can have been trapped on the road right in the middle belonging to the biggest hurricane to ever hit the coast. I listened to the voice of God and obeyed. Thank God I did. He is Head of the family of the storm and Lord regarding my life. I refuse to be stressed out, discouraged or beaten by instances. However, the storm wasn't over. I had no clue what was arriving and I have to admit depression would come, discouragement did invaded my personal Skycig electronic cigarette thoughts and once again, I was taken to the brink of insanity.

California Pine Trees

I couldn't believe my own eyes. I was numb, scared and holding back the tears. I had steered clear of the horror of Katrina and then this. Four months after Katrina took my office and flooded my home and now this. My partner and i left Biloxi, Mississippi and all typically the destruction and now this. Disbelief was an understatement. Shock, denial plus anger fired off in my coronary heart like a bolt of electricity. My significant other hung up the cell phone and franticly began to praise God. I cussed and went into shock. I just am not able to believe it. We were coming more than a mountain when we received the phone call. The wind was blowing so hard Thought about a tough time keeping the car on the road. My mind was blank. During desperate intervals, I have a tendency to just shut down emotionally. After hearing the news, I was completely shut down. I over heard the conversation my wife had with her kid. I couldn't believe it. This particular phone call and the events of January 2, 2006 would once again alter the course of my life, affect my belief and push me a little closer to the breaking point.

Rain had been coming down like bullets. The wind was initially furious yet we had to get house. When we finally arrived at the house it absolutely was still raining and trees, large, tall and pines trees were still popping like firecrackers. We could see them falling and the sound of fire trucks and ambulances loaded the air. As we stepped out of the vehicle a fireman appeared and informed us to leave the area although we didn't. My new spouse was frantic. She couldn't get her son. We knew he was alive because he phoned us following his narrow escape. Yet your lover wanted to see him, touch him or her, and hold him. Kyle, the girl son, was nowhere to be found. Jane, my wife, was running around screaming call him by his name, totally ignoring the destruction involving her house. I, on the other hand, has been calm on the outside but scared in order to death on the inside.

As my wife searched her son, I stood speechless in front of what used to be our house. My spouse and i couldn't believe my eyes. A woods approximately 6 feet in diameter and over 100 feet tall chop down during the storm and totally shattered the top floor of our house and even caused sever damage to the lower stairs. In a split second life got changed again. It had only already been four months since hurricane Katrina altered my life now this. What in addition could happen? This had to be the end for the storms but it wasn't. My hope was beginning to grow weaker, my very own marriage was off to a truly unpleasant start and it was just the beginning of any tidal wave of grief, stress and questions.

After the tree strike the house the Red Cross put us up in a motel for several nights. Men from the church aided us clear the wreckage and we could see what we had kept. We moved from house to accommodate trying to find a place to live while the residence was being rebuilt. We were under huge pressure and didn't have virtually any idea which way to go. One of the hardest parts of this ordeal was to view the pain in my wife's face. The girl house, her things, her antiques, her paintings and collectable goblet and her cat was removed. The Tree killed her kitty named Paws. To her Paws was just like a kid. The poor old cat seemed to be just too old to move when the tree fell. In my wife's property was a life time of accumulation and it was destroyed. My heart was basically broken for her and her son. I tried to comfort her nonetheless I didn't do a very good work. In fact, it was her faith within the Lord Jesus that kept us going. She is a really trooper. In fact, she actually is my hero. She cried together with praised the Lord at the same time. My propensity was to cuss a little, praise somewhat and wonder what life acquired next. I actually had people that failed to want to get to close to me because of the gatherings that had occurred in my life. We didn't really blame them and am know that were kidding but I got beginning to pray that an earthquake did not occur and so far it hasn't, thank God.

Return to the Destruction of Biloxi

I really didn't need to return to Biloxi but it seemed like an appropriate think to do. Both of us have been excited about the invitation to return to support the Mental Health Association associated with Mississippi. In fact they offer both of people a job so we bought a motor residence and returned to Biloxi to help with survivors of the storm.

I actually wasn't prepared for what I saw on the coast of Mississippi. I just wasn't prepared for all the destruction. I had witnessed the pictures but the pictures didn't definitely tell the story of what happened around the coast of Mississippi. It was as though a bomb had gone off. We couldn't believe my eyes. I felt a surge of pain and great shock when I first saw the coast. I knew many had died (some have been my friends) and so... so much was gone. I cried.

Mary and am went to work almost immediately. There was and for that reason much need. Yes, the bodily destruction was beyond comprehension however the emotional, spiritual and psychological require was even greater. Anger was the most important emotion of the many who had survived typically the storm. Aggression, depression, suicide, homicide was at an all time high. I believe it would be risk-free to say we say a car destroy almost everyday. People were in discomfort, hostile towards FEMA, God, in addition to anyone else they could think of to blame. I must say I was angry, frightened and in the beginning stages of PTSD the same as many on the coast.

We got about six months after the storm experienced hit but it was if it has been yesterday. Everywhere we went men and women wanted to tell their stories. Individuals needed to talk about what had eventually them and how they survived. The main conversation of almost everyone me met was about Katrina. I went to work as being an Out Reach Provider or counselor and Mary went to work as a situation manager. It was absolutely unbelievable, individuals that came through our doors. Hurting, angry people came out of the real wood work. We started a survivors group so people could talk about what had happened to them. It absolutely was sad, draining and totally using my scope of training. I was value to working with the homeless, alcoholics in addition to drug addicts not people who had knowledgeable this type of devastation. We were all injured and doing our best to help typically the wounded. Then the strangest thing took place. Without much warning, we had an argument with the leaders of our agency and we resolved to quit. This was a major decision and even our leaving this job nearly killed my wife and I became more angry, depressed and my since associated with purpose was gone. I had developed my identity around what I would instead of who I was in Christ and I was paying the price because of this mistake.

My Mother Died

I used to be close to the breaking point when I acquired the phone call. The phone rang, I actually picked up knowing this could be the call My partner and i didn't want to get and it was. My personal sister said, "Bobby mother only died. " We were expecting this, in fact, my mother told me she'd wait until I got home to die but now she was really dead. The heart broke but my deal with and my words didn't mirror how bad it actually damage. Mother was one of the greatest Christian ladies I had known. She believed what exactly she believed about Jesus and nothing could change her love just for Jesus. It didn't matter what My spouse and i done or how many times I had been to jail she loved myself. I knew she was always praying for me and now she was went. I have no doubt my mother is heaven.

Mary and I decided to go back to California. We didn't have a individual clue as to what we would do these days. We believed with all of our cardiovascular that God had sent us all to Mississippi and I am sure He / she did but now our mission was over. I am not sure what we accomplished yet I was just about ready to give up on this thing called life.

The house inside California was still being rebuilt and am flooded the motor home. I had been really starting to crumble. I required a drink. I mean I took a glass or two and got drunk and Three hrs after the drink I was in jail. I couldn't believe it. I had been once again as hopeless as I possessed ever been. The insanity of addiction to alcohol had returned and death has been close.