echos from the storm
As you might be able to tell, I'm at a loss for words. I'm not quite sure what to say. Seeing Alana overwhelmed with emotion at our staff meeting yesterday, hearing that people are still locked in storm shelters in Holt without food or water beneath piles we can't find, and the thick blankets covering the windows of my living room windows (still afraid to take them down for safety reasons) are all present realities. The effects of the tornado are not even close to wearing off. New things are surfacing each day. I wonder if the cops have gotten all the guns back that the gangs looted from the pawn shops? That alone would make a huge difference in walking around the city without fear.
Overlooking the city from the DCH railroad tracks last night was .... devastating. I'd seen all parts of the city with my own eyes hundreds of times over the last week but standing there last night, after our second full day of regular work back in the office, was a raw reminder that the tornado wasn't our imagination. The nightmare was real. It'd been a full day since I wasn't overcome by fear and, in an instant, it all came rushing back in. For about 4 days, I felt fearful from the moment I woke up to the moment I went to sleep... I do not miss that feeling....
I suppose I'm writing more for myself than for my supporters... I mean, there's not much at all I know right now. I don't know where the Karls will live. I don't even know if I'll be moving back to Tuscaloosa next year and if I do, I don't know when my support will come in and allow me to move back. I don't know if I'll get to be a part of any of the fall ministry plans we made in our staff meetings the past two days. I don't know how I'll be able to comfortably sit in Georgia after the weekend working on support, knowing that people are still missing. I don't know what our streets will look like a few years from now. I don't know if my house is safe for me to stay at alone tonight. It's really hard to know where to go and... my house wasn't even hit!
But the point I'm trying to get to, is that amidst all of the things I don't know, there is one thing, one sure and solid thing, I know with absolute certainty. "The Lord is at hand." God has not forgotten us. I saw it in the sunrise this morning. I see it as we worship at night at Snow Hinton. Those who lost everything are yelling "God is good." I don't know how or where but I know that God has big plans for this city through methods we definitely do not understand. I know that Jesus is our treasure and only hope, not just for a damaged city but for masses of people who have been and will be searching for security for the rest of their lives. God is just as powerful in the mundane as He is in the chaos. Sometimes it just takes the chaos to get our attention.
Throughout the day as I'm trying to re-establish "normal," I find that all I want to do is be on my knees praising God... desperately, completely, unashamedly, worshiping. Isn't that an odd response? Yes, we want Him to fix our city but even if He did nothing to help our city, He still is good. Instead of this posture of worship, however, I regrettably find myself fixing and planning things, trying to "move on" and not "waste my time" laying around talking to God. But ya know what? I think that's absurd. Praising God is exactly what we need to be doing right now. I'm just going to have to trust that my support will come in even if I take one day to really give myself completely to God.
I don't want to leave Tuscaloosa. A few months ago I was struggling to stay here - feeling lonely and inadequate and like I didn't have a place to fit. But now, I don't even want to go back to Georgia for a few days. I don't think I can handle seeing the rest of the world moved on. Tuscaloosa is in shambles. How can we just move on?
Thats enough rambling for now. All I ask is what I always ask. Please pray. I mean really. Please.... pray. Ask God for healing, ask Him for restoration and hope but, more than anything, I beg you to praise Him.
the juxtaposition of nightmare & hope
We just wrapped up day four of cleaning up the city and I have to say, my friends and I are ex-haus-ted. My legs are absolutely covered in bruises and scratches, my body is completely sunburned (despite the spf 50) , and nearly all athletic clothing I own is completely destroyed BUT, these have been days WELL worth the sore bodies. (If you're wondering how to help, you could definitely send some masseuses our way :) For the past few days, a core group of us has met up at 8 am and headed out in trucks full of waters, groceries, boxes, generators, tarps, and young twenty-somethings ready to rev up some chainsaws. So far we've worked in approximately fifteen different locations, helping families scavenge for belongings, tearing down trees, and hauling the remnants of Tuscaloosa into safe keeping. We've kind of formed a schedule for our day which ends, much to my delight, with climbing into the comfortable truck, and heading to Moes BBQ for some dinner and cold drinks.
I've been staying at the boys' house because the city has been so unsafe lately. All of my neighbors have "You loot, I'll shoot" signs spray pained on the front of their houses and so, since I neither have roommates living here nor a gun, I decided to re-locate. It's been really great to connect with such a random group of folks here and spent the time together. It's like we're becoming a little family :)
With each day, the reality of what just happened becomes more real. As I sat upon someone's front door atop a huge pile of trash yesterday, I surveyed the damage in front of me and was brought to tears because I couldn't count how many houses I saw. The places where people probably fell in love, got into fights, went for refuge, made a sandwich, saved up for their whole lives, brought home their first child, etc etc.... were all indistinguishable heaps muddled together in a mess of turmoil. It wasn't really until two nights ago when I stopped running around that I really sat down, thought about it, and started grieving this situation. I only tell you that because... my house is perfectly fine... I can't imagine how people who were hit feel. Wow... One of the women we've been helping, Model, just moved here two months ago from New Orleans in order to escape the reality of all she just encountered with Katrina. She went back to New Orleans last weekend to get her Mom (so they could live together in Tuscaloosa) only to return to the leftovers of the tornado. A ziplock back of her medical bills was just found... in Birmingham. One of the guy's close friends, a Phi Mu, was just found in a field the other day, thrown from her house down the street. Today I asked a family if there was anything I could do to help them move and they requested I go looking for their son beneath the debris.... Never again in my life do I EVER want to do that again.Can you imagine? I walked around looking for body parts while saying ".....hello?" Guys! That's absurd! I don't know how many total are dead now (I honestly don't think I can take watching the news at the end of the day) but rumor has it that 400 are missing or unidentified... Four hundred. Holy smokes.
The thing is, these piles aren't getting much smaller. When I first walked up and saw everything that happened, I honestly thought it was really sad but that it wouldn't take long to clean up. After working with some of the same families for the past four days though, I'm completely sick of working (and so is my body!) and frustrated at how slow the process is.
Some great news, however, is that a local church (which I visited this morning) is putting up a prayer tent at a park right near McFarland where they will be doing free counseling and prayer. If you've read/heard ANYTHING I've talked/written about this year, it's that I've fallen in prayer for the first time in my life. I cannot wait for it to open up tomorrow because I am so so so eager to hug and love on and pray with broken people who, more than ever, need a hefty dose of some Jesus in their lives.
I savor the moments playing with these beautiful, hopeful children ( if for only a moment to take away from the stress they're experiencing), looking into people's eyes, and seeing the community be real with each other. There are no masks needed in this type of situation. No one has the energy to pretend. I love it and I am soaking up as many opportunities as possible to dive in head-on to these people's hearts. I am so so so lucky to be in Tuscaloosa and a part of this. I've considered going home (to Atlanta) to relax many times but, truly, I don't want to go home. I want to be here. I want to be helping, not because I'm a good person, but because God is surly at work and it's incredible to see.
I know there is more news but... I'm ready to go laugh with some people and forget about the day a little bit. Everything is going to be ok. Tomorrow we're considering taking the day off. Students who all had to leave town (because the University told them they had to) are flooding back in to help. Maybe we'll let all of those fresh bodies go wear themselves out for tomorrow and then we'll jump back in on Wednesday.
Goodnight guys. Thanks for all of your love and texts/calls/emails. If you want to know the best way to help, ship any and everything you can think of to Tuscaloosa ( we need it ALL: gloves, duct tape, tarps, chainsaws, boxes, thick trash bags, shoes, clothes, diapers, toothbrushes, deodorant, and on and on) OR pray (hey-oh) OR come help!
Check out Isaiah 58 around verse 10 and on... and Hebrews chapters 10-12 I think it is... def 11 and 12. That's where we've all been camping out and talking about lately. Good stuff! Love love
quick update
Quick Update:
The news can tell you most of the facts you want to know and everything is so crazy down here it's hard to know what all is going on. Apparently Obama is speaking somewhere here today? That is honestly the least of anyone's priorities today.
I've had more than fifteen people in and out of my house over the past two days, spending the night and using our power/internet. Yesterday morning two of the girls and I woke up and snuck down the railroad tracks (where the cops couldn't stop us) and made it to Justin and Alana's house. Everything was... absolute chaos. Spent the whole day boarding up houses, digging through rubble, salvaging things in plastic bags, and praying for the city. I'm cut up really bad and insulation covered everything so my skin is burning but other than that, I'm safe and sound. A group of us got dinner together last night which, simple as it was, might be one of my favorite memories here. A truck full of us then went out and helped people move for a few more hours. Christie and D came down to look at her old apartment and patch things up. Finally, a small group of people prayed on the quad before the mayors 10 pm curfew was in action.
I promise I'll give more details later but honestly, it is all sooo overwhelming right now. If you would like to ask questions or comment, PLEASE do it here ( on my blog) or via email rather than through phone/text. My phone is in overload and I can't receive important calls/texts about help since my inbox keeps filling up.
Love you all and am so so grateful for your thoughts and prayers. I really really mean that.
Please pray for:
- those that lost everything - whose earthly treasures just flew off into the wind. I'd love to get to tell them today about a treasure in Jesus that doesn't blow away or fade
- for patience with all that is going on. I would love to squeeze some quiet/alone time in to regain sanity so that we can keep helping people
- I'd personally love for a few people to stay in town to keep helping/ hanging out with me throughout the weekend. Everyone is fleeing town ... this is the end of the semester.Classes are done for the spring. No goodbyes...
- For our seniors who are really bummed about no graduation
- For the Karls and Kalynn and a host of other friends who are trying to figure out their next steps. Their lives are cra-zy right now. They have almost nothing left
- For God to give us great places to help right now. The cops keep stopping us from doing anything and sending us to volunteer centers who are telling us to go home. So! We're sneaking through woods and stuff to try and find places to help
- For God to give us great places to help right now. The cops keep stopping us from doing anything and sending us to volunteer centers who are telling us to go home. So! We're sneaking through woods and stuff to try and find places to help
I'll update more later tonight but I just found a place to go help!!! Yay!!!!!!! I'll let you know how you can help later. Today the priority is finding lost people beneath the rubbish and clearing out houses to find people's valuables/bills/paperwork.
the 411 on the karls
Just received an email from Jeff:
I've finally been able to get some concrete information on Justin and Alana Karl's situation. I haven't been able to get to them or get in touch with them as cell service is almost non-existent. I finally received this text a few minutes ago from a student who lives down the street from them: I asked if their apartment is standing, livable, where are they staying, etc. He responded: "No its done. Whole sides of their walls gone. Their stuff is hanging out the side. They're staying at an apt next door to them. Both cars are destroyed." So, it's obviously not good. There are some students who I think have been able to get to them, comforting them. Please pray for the Karl's...it's going to be a long journey of recovery, materially and emotionally. Also, please pray for our team and students...everyone is in shock.
Thanks for interceding for us...
Jeff Norris
Campus Crusade for Christ
University of Alabama
www.bamacrusade.com
_________________________
and! hot off the press! The Karls just tweeted! Finally!
alanakarl: Thanks for the calls and texts. Feeling loved. We are okay. Things can be replaced but not lives. #thankful
justin_karl: Alana, Millie and; I are okay. Thank you for your prayers. Our home is mostly destroyed but God is sovereign and good so thats okay too.
when my world is sharking, heaven stands... though my heart is breaking i never leave your hands
CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE*****
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| One of Tuscaloosa's busiest roads, filled with confused locals. Krispie Kreme formerly on left. |
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| Earlier today I bought CDs in this CVS for student's going away presents... |
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| Where several of my friends live... correction: lived |
tornado hits tuscaloo
Friends & Family,
First of all, thank you so so so much to all of you who have called and text today. So grateful for you.
But! As many of you know a Tornado hit Tuscaloosa today and people all across this city need your prayers. We thought that the tornado only damaged a few small bldgs but as it turns out, the damage is much worse.
First of all, thank you so so so much to all of you who have called and text today. So grateful for you.
But! As many of you know a Tornado hit Tuscaloosa today and people all across this city need your prayers. We thought that the tornado only damaged a few small bldgs but as it turns out, the damage is much worse.
http://www.twitvid.com/4W6PU
http://www.facebook.com/video/
Houses all across the city are leveled and lots of places are really shaken up. Although I realize news is usually exaggerated during these times, this is what I've heard so far:
- One confirmed death although I've heard rumors of many more (who knows) & at least 130 hospitalized
- Windows of the hospital busted out
- Milos, Krispie Kreme, Full Moon BBQ, gas stations, Brunos and a ton of 15th street and McFarland buildings are donezo. In the words of my friend Amy who lives right there "15th street/McFarland is no more"
- A few of our students and friends of our students just lost nearly everything they own.
- I just went to Publix (which was completely jam packed) and since power is out all over the city, there were students buying out the store, doing homework and charging their phones.
- All down the streets are students sitting on the ground by candlelight reading and talking
- Cars have trees through them & phones aren't working
-What's worst, Justin & Alana, my dear friends on our staff team, just sent a text saying that their apartment is awful and "everything is ruined" . Phones are down and they haven't text back all day but as soon as I send this email, I'm going to try and drive over there
- My friend Kalynns house is destroyed
- My house is completely in tact. I have electricity
- I don't think any more tornados will be here tonight (they passed by) BUT they're coming to Atlanta!!!
My guess is that within the next few hours, my house will be full of bustling students, studying for their finals and watching tv, waiting for the electricity to come back to their houses. :) I love my job
Houses all across the city are leveled and lots of places are really shaken up. Although I realize news is usually exaggerated during these times, this is what I've heard so far:- One confirmed death although I've heard rumors of many more (who knows) & at least 130 hospitalized
- Windows of the hospital busted out
- Milos, Krispie Kreme, Full Moon BBQ, gas stations, Brunos and a ton of 15th street and McFarland buildings are donezo. In the words of my friend Amy who lives right there "15th street/McFarland is no more"
- A few of our students and friends of our students just lost nearly everything they own.
- I just went to Publix (which was completely jam packed) and since power is out all over the city, there were students buying out the store, doing homework and charging their phones.
- All down the streets are students sitting on the ground by candlelight reading and talking
- Cars have trees through them & phones aren't working
-What's worst, Justin & Alana, my dear friends on our staff team, just sent a text saying that their apartment is awful and "everything is ruined" . Phones are down and they haven't text back all day but as soon as I send this email, I'm going to try and drive over there
- My friend Kalynns house is destroyed
- My house is completely in tact. I have electricity
- I don't think any more tornados will be here tonight (they passed by) BUT they're coming to Atlanta!!!
My guess is that within the next few hours, my house will be full of bustling students, studying for their finals and watching tv, waiting for the electricity to come back to their houses. :) I love my job
Although Tuscaloosa may be far away from you, this is my home. These are the people my heart beats for and who I get the privileged of working with and praying for all day, every day. If I have learned anything at all this year, it is that prayer seriously, seriously works. The damage may not be nearly as bad as I think it is right now but... it sounds pretty bad. Please just pray, sweet friends. Thanks
"When you walk through the fire, I will be with you. And these waves, they shall not overcome you. For I am the Lord your God. I have called you by name. You are Mine." - Isaiah 43
"You give and take away yet still, Lord, I will say, Blessed be your name."
march april newsletter
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subway sona and the love that transcends
It was ten o'clock pm.
The lights of the subway quaked with every bump upon the corroded track below,
the car empty except for our team; silent, stretched out in empty seats, exhausted, half-asleep
and one girl in the back, the darkness barley cloaking the wheels turning in her head.
She stared out out into the distance, her short hair fixed tightly against her head, legs crossed daintily with big boots fixed at the ends, hands in her lap, piercings reflecting every change of light in the turbulence.
Sona.
She was the unique type you know, the kind that makes me jealous,
the kind that makes we want to turn my home into a commune and play base guitar
the kind that hates 'the system' but in a gentle sort of way
the kind that takes delight in walking to the beat of her own drum- oblivious that other drums are even beating
There was something sweet about her and the Lord would not let me shake her off my mind.
He would not let me go to sleep on that subway.
So I glanced back, searching for some source of conversation,
some gem to breach the silence & get a glimpse into her mind.
I wanted to know what she was staring at. I wanted to know her story. I wanted to know her name.
I scanned and schemed and talked to the Lord, manipulating my way out of doing anything at all.
Then I saw it.
A beautiful tattoo on her wrist.
Bingo.
We love to talk about our tattoos.
And I wanted to hear about hers.
Before my flesh convinced me otherwise, I was up, across the train, and, face to face with the object of my curiosity.
"Your tattoo is beautiful!" I cooed. "Do you mind if I see it?"
It was a cage with an open door
the "I know why a Caged-Bird sings" kind of thing
"Freedom" she said. "It's for freedom."
Two more tattoos and a few laughs later, I was fixated. I knew with certainty that the Lord was going to do something in her- that he wanted me to tell her about Jesus. And so I did.
She wanted to know why we were in New York;
a Brooklyn native now working in the city and trying to untangle her ambitions,
she was curious and inviting.
She wanted to know how Christians felt about her lifestyle.
She wanted to know "why Christians hate gay people."
She wanted to know if I felt restricted- giving my whole life to a ' set of laws.'
She cried when she pondered that a man would die for her
and fumed frustration when she considered the rejection she's felt by the church and Christians.
She skipped her stop and decided to take the long way home so we could keep talking.
She had a story- a deep, intricate story of experiences and hurt and a need for love just like the next subway stranger.
And I told her about Jesus.
and I told her about a fierce love- a love that is selfless and selfish all at the same time
a love that will fight for you if you let it.
I told her how God feels about her lifestyle & her reckless, full-on pursuit sin.
I told her how God feels about gay people,
and all people, for that matter.
I told her that the world is empty and she's been digging herself in a hole....
... not the kinds of things you normally tell a stranger....
And her stop came.
And she got up. And she rushed to the subway door.
And just when I felt like I'd said too much,
she turned at looked at me in desperation
"Please tell me your name. I have to facebook you.
I have to talk to you.
I have to know more about this Jesus.
He doesn't sound like anything I've ever heard before."
Today she added me on facebook and she wants to talk. I about jumped through the roof.
Please pray for Sona.
I have a weird feeling that God is going to use her for really big things.
empire state of mind
Although we stayed in a hostel in Brooklyn during Spring Break, we also were able to do a TON of fun things throughout all the Burroughs: Carnegie Deli, Broadway Shows, Bryant Park, Union Park, Times Square, Central Park, Tiffany's, Empire State Building, traveled near Coney Island, went to a Knicks games at MSG and shopped in China Town and Little Italy (where I got to be the personal purse shopper for the moms of nearly every guy on the trip- I felt so rich!). The former Bama Crusade directors (Clay and Lynn & their two little girls ) invited us over to a spaghetti dinner in their home on the East Side, too! We attended Tim Keller's church (Redeemer), mastered the subway system, and wore our feet down to the bone. I really, really enjoyed getting to know these students better!
Most importantly, however, three of our students were able to sneak onto a movie set (with Leah Michelle, Ashton Kutcher, Taylor Swift, and about a zillion other celebrities) and will be making their big movie debut before you know it!
new york
This Spring Break our staff and 8 students met up with Mississippi State, UGA, College of Charleston, & the New York Crusade team for seven days in the Big Apple! For two of the days, we were divided into teams of four and sent onto campuses throughout New York where we began spiritual conversations, took surveys, and shared the Gospel with as many students as possible. One day we packed sack lunches, divided into new groups of 3-5 and ventured throughout Manhattan to share a meal and our faith with the homeless. The conversations we had were incredible and the practice the students received for sharing their faith with their friends was invaluable. And let me tell you, these Alabama students blew my socks off! Every time I turned around, one of them was talking about Jesus to a stranger on the subway, cashier, cab driver, customer in a restaurant - anywhere and everywhere! What's even more surprising is that, prior to the trip, almost none of them had presented the Gospel to their friends, much less strangers! The conversations were so natural, so genuine- I could not help but overflow with pride that I get to be associated with such amazing folks. Seriously.
snow ordinary night
January Newsletter
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Exodus 18:19-23
This morning I read the most wonderful verse pertaining to this business of dividing up students and being strategic in disciple-making:
Exodus 18:19-23
19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. (Deal! I'd LOVE some advice on what to do!) You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. 20 Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. (Ok, so not just teaching them but living it out with them too)21 But select (note* character traits) capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.(whoa! these students are expected to make a BIG impact!) 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. (Yesss! Thank God! This is a great idea!) 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.” Love it.
Also: Judges 7:2-8 & Acts 6:1-7,
Also: Judges 7:2-8 & Acts 6:1-7,
Learning a Structure that Works: Making Disciples
1. Continuing to grow in my understanding and practice of prayer
2. Developing a new, smarter strategy for discipling students
For the past several months, that's all I seem to do. Play with ideas, rearrange my meeting schedule.... all in attempt to get a better look at how Jesus mobilized His followers out into the world. Well! Great news! I think I have it figured out! (For the time being, at least!) I wrote each of the 36 girls I've been working with onto index cards & spread the pile across my bedroom floor. I selected five girls who will be my primary focus this semester, those who are most hungry for information and guidance, and then grouped all of the remaining students in pairs or groups of three. This way I can meet with several girls at once! They can feed off of and challenge each other, not to mention maximize my time! So far its' going really well! It was through prayer, Jesus' model of discipleship, and guidance from my staff that I've begun this plan.
Please pray that God would use these discipleship groupings to encourage my students- helping them see their need for growth and outreach on Bama's campus! What I need is hungry students, girls who come to me with ideas and initiative. It will be those kinds of students who can really make an impact in this town.
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