War Cry - December, 2012 Page 8

bunch of neighbors I don't know huddled around a radio.
And we did something New Yorkers loathe to do--we
started talking.

We hauled back up the stairs and played Bible Trivia,

lit candles to create a Jane Austen atmosphere, debated
what C.S. Lewis meant by "Mrs. Fidget," ate tuna and
sang "Soon and Very Soon."

Day four we boarded a bus for uptown where we could

get hot water and real food. I've never been more thankful.

This brief brush with our vulnerability is a reminder

that as much as we need to be physically prepared for
these natural disasters, we need a spiritual preparedness
plan first and foremost.

Do we know where our security and hope is found? In

one swoop people lost all they owned. We can't distract
ourselves with work or get the "to do" list accomplished.
Our only anchor, our only hope is in the One who rules
"enthroned over the flood" (Psalm 29).

Today I am ever thankful for our church friends--

we've been flooded with invitations. Thankful for my sibs
and the fellowship we have. I remain deeply in prayer for
people lonely in dark apartments downtown who need the
Lord's touch and human interaction. Thankful for the Sal-
vation Army Emergency Disaster Services workers feeding
and keeping people warm (I never fully appreciated a hot
shower and food before).

But mostly, thankful for the peace of Christ. Growing

up we sang "Don't build your house on the sandy land."
No truer words were spoken: "Build your house upon the
Rock � Jesus."

Ways to Help

WAYS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE ONGOING RELIEF EFFORT

ONLINE

www.salvationarmyusa.org

BY PHONE

1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769)

TEXT-TO-GIVE

Text the word STORM to 80888, confirm donation with the word "Yes"

BY MAIL

The Salvation Army Disaster Services Center
PO Box 1959, Atlanta, GA, 30301
(Make checks payable to The Salvation Army Disaster Services Center)

OTHER

Corporations, foundations and others can call 845-620-7730

VISIT WWW.SALVATIONARMYUSA.COM for updates on the relief effort.

ew York City resident
Marcia Larson, who
serves on the Salva-

tion Army's National Advisory
Board, saw a new side of New
Yorkers during Hurricane
Sandy. Here is an excerpt from
her blog.

I saw something on the faces

of New Yorkers today that I've
never seen before--fear. Sud-
denly million dollar apartments,
iPhones and drinks at the Carlyle
couldn't protect anyone from the
ravages of Hurricane Sandy.

We all crowded on the bus this

morning to escape an eerily dark downtown. It was filled
to three times capacity--but we all just wanted to get out
of there.

That's when I started crying.
Our neighborhood, rebuilt post�Ground Zero, is

flooded. Mannequins from the Abercrombie & Fitch sit in
the middle of Water Street--a visual reminder that our
possessions amount to nothing more than trash.

At first, on Sunday morning, we were all joking about

our Larson Family Emergency Preparedness Plan--Sun
Chips, chocolate and mom's sterno heater to make s'mores.
Then the power went out as we were watching Seinfeld
and suddenly the storm didn't seem so funny anymore.
The water was cut. The gas was cut. No router to get in-
ternet. No phone service.

We stopped tweeting to conserve the juice on our

iPhones, rationed water, hunted down packets of mayon-
naise and realized we were completely and utterly hopeless.

After the water surged up our street we, along with

all New Yorkers, started looking outwards. The guy across
the street pointed his flashlight across the way to see if
there was life on our side. A family on Gold Street lit 50
candles and ate dinner together. Without distractions and
work and TV, New Yorkers started to look outward for
community, assurances that we're not alone.

We grabbed our flashlight and headed eight flights of

stairs to find the "Supa" and our doorman Noelle and a

NOT

SANDY

LAND

WarCryDEC2012_05-08rv3_Layout 1 11/19/12 4:57 PM Page 8