Pray for Iowans

Iowa, the state of my birth, has taken a beating from rains and tornadoes these past few weeks. I have siblings in communities that are stressed and dealing with disaster.

My sister, Jeni, is the director of residence life at Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, and they are housing around 500 National Guard and Army troupes and an army triage center with no running water and 19 porta-potties. She is living in crisi mode, caring for these men and women who are doing dirty, difficult work in this devastated city. You can read and see more about this project at the college's website.

My brother, Jeff, and his family are in Cedar Falls, and despite the appearances from the national media, these are actually different places along the same river and not interchangeable. They had quite a bit of damage and flooding on their property, but their building has been spared so far as I know. They have also been helping in the community effort. Jeff and Marsha direct a ministry in Cedar Falls called Lampost, and times like this can bring in a harvest for the Lord.

Jen mentioned that she thought the national media types must have rarely met Iowans. They apparently kept interviewing people who were stuck in traffic, trying to get them to emote or complain. Most people in their cars and on the road knew they still had homes, and were in no mood for that sort of thing. Those stodgy upper-Midwesterners are truly the backbone of our country!

Please pray for all the folks spending hot, humid time pulling out their carpets, removing slime and sludge and mold from their homes and businesses, and beginning the overwhelming task of rebuilding. Pray for the folks downstream where disaster is looming. And pray for the Lord of the Harvest to bring in many during this time of trial.