Ponder over it pure joy, my

Ponder over it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trails of many kinds, since you know that the testing of your faith builds perseverance. Perseverance must finish the work so that you may be mature and, not lacking anything.

(James the Apostle of Jesus)

Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005 destroyed 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 center and prayers are with you along with your memory will be with me for life.

(Bob Wilkerson)

Hurricane Katrina

Droplets regarding rain dribbled from the sky. The wind was swirling, the movement of this trees started to acknowledge her occurrence. 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. I actually denied the images and remained determined in my decision to stay on the seacoast.

The storm Sky cig keep getting tougher, bigger and she kept turning towards the east and it wasn't looking good for Biloxi. I thought about making but the traffic was so bad and am really didn't know where to go. I knew the roads were jammed plus going to a shelter was out of the question. We kept trying to believe the thunderstorm would move farther into Louisiana. I had Faith in God. We believed God would protect me personally. However, I didn't know in the event God was telling me in order to leave or stay. I was really confused. I knew that faith essential actions but I was undetermined just what action God wanted me to adopt. I guess it should have been an easy selection but it wasn't. My soon to get wife, who was in California, was initially begging me to leave but I just couldn't. I had worked extremely hard to help the homeless in Biloxi and now just leave. I had been by hurricanes before and survived. The elements reports keep saying this was the storm of century and I was starting to believe they were right. After enjoying the news all day, I realized we were going to get hit hard. My spouse and i didn't want to leave my task. I didn't want to believe my work with the hopeless was over. I had to make a decision. Katrina has been moving into South Louisiana. I was really confused and scared. I had to make a decision soon.

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

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

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

"It is crossing over into the Gulf and they are saying it is going to be a bad one. inch He stood to his foot 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 Brand new Orleans. " He had a uneasy look on his face.

We both was standing in silence for a few seconds then I chatted. "My friend we just have to include faith that God will safeguard us. " I opened the doorway to my office so I could listen to the phone ring.

"Bob the police are going to start rounding us up in the near future. " The Biloxi police division had a reputation for picking up typically the homeless and moving them to imprisonment before a storm hit. I had also heard the police would let them head out just before the storm hit. My spouse 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 us my friend but we also have to take action. " I put my hand on his shoulder and continued, " all of us also have to have enough since to take action. You may should starting heading north in case it hits. "

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

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

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

Night was approaching as well as the wind was picking up. I charged my clothes in car, still unsure if I would leave or not. I watched the sky. The particular clouds were moving faster in addition to faster in a circular motion. Inquiries exploded in my mind. Would I make risk and stay or would most likely I take the risk and depart. Finally, I made the decision. I got a long look at all the things I had accrued then I looked at the car. The thought of going swimming in 150 mph wind along with trees falling raced through my mind. Finally, I walked into the cooking area grabbed a gallon of normal water and headed for the car. My partner and i drove out of Biloxi, Mississippi for 7: 00pm on the night Katrina was coming into the coast. We didn't know exactly where I was going. I did have California on my mind but I only had 13 dollars in my pocket and of a tank of gas. I actually turned the radio on and just held driving and praying that I would go away.

To my surprise and delight typically the roads where clear and the rainwater wasn't that bad. I forced to Jackson, MS, turned kept and ended up in Cambria, LOS ANGELES. My fianc lived in CA and I really didn't have anywhere else to move so I drove for two days straight. Frighten, oh yes. I knew by the time My spouse and i reached Texas the storm experienced ruined Biloxi. I was in contact with Jane, via cell phone so I knew there is no turning back. I had never been to Cambria but I was confident Our god was guiding my path. To date, I have been in California for three months, got married, and started a ministry called Challenger Christian Ministries, using intentions of doing the type work I had in Biloxi.

I am so thankful My spouse and i left Biloxi. I am not sure easily would have survived or not. The office has been gone and the home I leased was under water for a time. I just lost everything but my clothing and car. However, the one thing that we never lost was my desire to serve my Lord. I will not have to get defeated because nothing in The lord's world happens by mistake. I am grateful I took the risk that night. I was able to have been trapped on the road right in the middle with the biggest hurricane to ever hit the coast. I listened to the particular voice of God and followed. Thank God I did. He is God of the storm and Lord of my life. I refuse to be disheartened, discouraged or beaten by circumstances. However, the storm wasn't above. I had no clue what was approaching and I have to admit depression have come, discouragement did invaded my own thoughts and once again, I was taken to the brink of insanity.

California Pinus radiata Trees

I couldn't believe my own eyes. I was numb, scared and positioning back the tears. I had steered clear of the horror of Katrina and already this. Four months after Katrina took my office and inundated my home and now this. We left Biloxi, Mississippi and all typically the destruction and now this. Disbelief had been an understatement. Shock, denial together with anger fired off in my center like a bolt of electricity. My wife 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 on the mountain when we received the phone call. The wind was blowing so hard My spouse and i a tough time keeping the car on the road. My mind was blank. During desperate moments, I have a tendency to just shut down emotionally. After hearing the news, I was totally shut down. I over heard typically the conversation my wife had with her young man. I couldn't believe it. This kind of phone call and the events of The month of january 2, 2006 would once again get a new course of my life, affect my beliefs and push me a little nearer to the breaking point.

Rain was coming down like bullets. The wind seemed to be furious yet we had to get home. When we finally arrived at the house it was still raining and trees, major, tall and pines trees have been still popping like firecrackers. We're able to see them falling and the tone of fire trucks and ambulances filled up with the air. As we stepped out of the automobile a fireman appeared and advised us to leave the area although we didn't. My new spouse was frantic. She couldn't discover her son. We knew having been alive because he phoned us right after his narrow escape. Yet she wanted to see him, touch him, and hold him. Kyle, her son, was nowhere to be found. Jane, my wife, was running around screaming his name, totally ignoring the destruction of her house. I, on the other hand, appeared to be calm on the outside but scared to be able to death on the inside.

As my wife searched for her son, I stood left without words in front of what used to be our house. My spouse and i couldn't believe my eyes. A tree approximately 6 feet in size and over 100 feet tall droped during the storm and totally damaged the top floor of our house and caused sever damage to the lower stairs. In a split second life acquired changed again. It had only been four months since hurricane Katrina altered my life now this. What else could happen? This had to be the end in the storms but it wasn't. My trust was beginning to grow weaker, the marriage was off to a nasty start and it was just the beginning of an tidal wave of grief, heartache and questions.

After the tree struck the house the Red Cross place us up in a motel for a few nights. Men from the church assisted us clear the wreckage and we could see what we had remaining. We moved from house to house trying to find a place to live while the house was being rebuilt. We were under remarkable pressure and didn't have any idea which way to go. One of the toughest parts of this ordeal was to begin to see the pain in my wife's face. Her house, her things, her collectibles, her paintings and collectable cup and her cat was no longer. The Tree killed her kitten named Paws. To her Paws was just like a kid. The poor old cat had been just too old to move once the tree fell. In my wife's residence was a life time of accumulation and already it was destroyed. My heart was basically broken for her and her son and daughter. I tried to comfort her but I didn't do a very good task. In fact, it was her faith within the Lord Jesus that kept us heading. She is a really trooper. In fact, she actually is my hero. She cried and even praised the Lord at the same time. My inclination was to cuss a little, praise somewhat and wonder what life possessed next. I actually had people that didn't want to get to close to me because of the happenings that had occurred in my life. I just didn't really blame them and am know that were kidding but I got beginning to pray that an earthquake didn't occur and so far it hasn't, thank God.

Return to the Devastation of Biloxi

I really didn't want to return to Biloxi but it seemed like the right think to do. Both of us have been excited about the invitation to return to use the Mental Health Association of Mississippi. In fact they offer both of us all a job so we bought a motor house and returned to Biloxi to aid with survivors of the storm.

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

Mary and i also went to work almost immediately. There was and for that reason much need. Yes, the actual destruction was beyond comprehension nevertheless the emotional, spiritual and psychological want was even greater. Anger was the key emotion of the many who had survived typically the storm. Aggression, depression, suicide, murder was at an all time high. I believe it would be safe to say we say a car destroy almost everyday. People were in soreness, hostile towards FEMA, God, and even anyone else they could think of to blame. I have to say I was angry, frightened and the beginning stages of PTSD just like many on the coast.

We came about six months after the storm got hit but it was if it has been yesterday. Everywhere we went persons wanted to tell their stories. Individuals needed to talk about what had occur to them and how they survived. The primary conversation of almost everyone me reached was about Katrina. I went to work as being an Out Reach Provider or consultant and Mary went to work as a situation manager. It was absolutely unbelievable, the public that came through our doors. Hurting, angry people came out of the wood work. We started a remainders group so people could talk about what had happened to them. It had been sad, draining and totally beyond my scope of training. I was use for working with the homeless, alcoholics together with drug addicts not people who had knowledgeable this type of devastation. We were all wounded and doing our best to help typically the wounded. Then the strangest thing occurred. Without much warning, we had an argument along with the leaders of our agency and we made a decision to quit. This was a major decision in addition to our leaving this job practically killed my wife and I became more mad, depressed and my since regarding purpose was gone. I had developed my identity around what I did instead of who I was in Christ and I was paying the price with this mistake.

My Mother Died

I had been close to the breaking point when I received the phone call. The phone rang, I just picked up knowing this could be the call I actually didn't want to get and it was. Our sister said, "Bobby mother only died. " We were expecting it, in fact, my mother told me she would wait until I got home to kick the bucket but now she was really dead. My heart broke but my encounter and my words didn't show how bad it actually damage. Mother was one of the greatest Christian women of all ages I had known. She believed what exactly she believed about Jesus and nothing could change her love for Jesus. It didn't matter what I had shaped done or how many times I used to be to jail she loved me. I knew she was always praying for me and now she was gone. I have no doubt my mother is within heaven.

Mary and I decided to come back to California. We didn't have a single clue as to what we would do today. We believed with all of our cardiovascular system that God had sent us all to Mississippi and I am sure They did but now our mission was above. I am not sure what we accomplished but I was just about ready to give up on this particular thing called life.

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