Well I am sure that you are much more aware of the situation in Houston since y'all have the news and such. I just have what I can hear from people and then of course what I have seen.
It has been a crazy couple of days.
On Saturday night the first storm came in and with it came tornado warnings. We were very blessed that nothing came down near us but there was one that touched down in the area of the Houston 2 ward. This week we are going to be doing some translation work with the Red Cross. Well Sister Moreno is. I am just going to do whatever else they need done. The real fun started Monday night. The whole string of events truly is full of tender mercies from the Lord.
So on Monday we were less than a half a mile from out apartment when the rain started. We left our appointment soon after the rain started at 8:45. We made sure to be home on time because we had Sisters coming in from Brazoria to stay the night. All of the Sisters in the mission drove up to the Houston areas to stay the night because we had to leave for the temple at 4:30. Little did they know what they were driving into. Many of the Sisters had to stop on high ground and wait it out but since it never stopped raining most of them didn't get into an apartment until 2 in the morning. It was just craziness. Of all the nights it had to be Monday. Our friends for the night made it in and we were all in before 9:30. I didn't sleep at all though. I have never been in a storm like that and Texas has given us some good ones in the last year. The flash flood warnings would sound every hour and It didn't stop raining for over 8 hours. The sky was never dark because lightning was flashing all the time. A member told me that at one point in the night that the lightning count was over 650 strikes an hour! Thunder was shaking the ground all night and setting off car alarms. I was loving it! My love of thunderstorms is forever still there but little did I think about the consequences. We got up at 3:30am and I looked out the window. My heart sank as I saw a river flowing instead of a road. There was no way would could take the car out in that...we already learned that lesson. So we called the APs and said we were stuck and there was no way we could make the 3 miles to the church to catch the van to the temple. They said they would try to come a pick us up in a bigger car. They said to go out and see if there was a best direction to take. So I booted up and walked outside. There was no hope of getting any car to our apartment. The road was flooded and cars were stalled out everywhere. Our parking lot flooded up the doors of all the cars. We all got ready anyway. We stood out in the front of our complex waiting for the APs. They called us about 20 minutes later saying that there was no clear path to the complex. The closest they could get to the complex was the Sam's club about a half a mile away. We were not giving up our temple trip that easily, so we took off our shoes and set out on foot. It was fine for a while because it was only mid calf...but as we got farther along the water got higher. Luckily it evened out a little above my knees. I couldn't lift my skirt though because I had the phone in one hand and my bag and shoes in the other. I am sure it was a site to see. 4 Sister missionaries dressed in church clothes walking through flood water at 4 in the morning. The more we walked the more cars and damage we saw. All the lights were out down the street. I cannot believe ours didn't go out. We made it to the car and set off for the church. Next problem...all the streets to the church were closed. The 59 was a mess. But we made it. And were on our way to the church. We had to go a crazy way to get there because all of the main roads through downtown were flooded. But we made it... late but we made it. Some sisters weren't so lucky. Many people woke up to flooded cars and apartments. We were so blessed.
The temple trip was one of the best experiences I have ever had in the temple. The Spirit was very strong and I learned more than ever before. Unfortunately I cannot share most of what I learned. We will have to go to the temple right after I get home so I can tell you everything!
I know that we are all very special children of our Heavenly Father. He has given us all that we need so we can become like him. There is no better place to find our true identity than in the House of the Lord. When we come to know who we really are, that is when our life changes. I know we are sent to this Earth to become more like our Savior Jesus Christ. The best part is that we are more like Him than we think. We just have to actively seek for those traits that are buried within each of us.
Coming home from the temple was better than the drive there. We could actually see since it was light outside. There were cars everywhere you looked...On medians, in ditches, in the middle of the road. Most roads were cleared but there was still giant lakes of water all around in parking lots and underpasses. That is the terrible thing about Houston. The free way is full of tunneled underpasses that basically fill to the top when it rains. I never fully comprehended the idea of a flash flood until yesterday. Now I get it. It is sad to drive around and know that people lost their lives that night. Just caught in the wrong place at the wrong time with not enough time to get out.
I will attach pictures. Most of mine are taken in the dark so you can't really see it but I had some other sisters send me pictures that I will attach too. But like I said you are seeing more than I ever will.
The other amazing event from this week was F's baptism! Oh it was the best! We had a great turn out and his family was able to be there! Both of them now have an even greater interest in the church and so they came to church on Sunday with him. Working with F has been such a joy. Each day we met with him I could feel his faith and testimony growing. He loves the Book of Mormon and has been reading every day as well. I don't even know how to put into words our experience with him. For the first time I feel like I have helped someone who was truly prepared to receive the Gospel. His confirmation was one of the best blessings I have ever heard. The Spirit was strong and the words were very personal and meaningful. After this whole weekend he said he wants to go home to Sierra Leone so he can share this with his parents and family still living there. He is ready to work and serve and is especially excited to go to the temple so he can do the work for his grandparents. He is a good man!
Well I feel like nothing else we did last week will stand in comparison with what I already shared...plus my fingers are tired ha. We were blessed with an awesome and crazy week.
This week I have felt God's love very abundantly and have increased in faith. How great is this Gospel?! Being a missionary is not an easy experience but weeks like this confirm that this is the best place to be! I am so grateful to be out here.
Enjoy the pictures :)
I love you all very much!
Sister Greaves