pray for flooding

[Judy N.]

I know there are many prayer warriors out there...so please be in prayer for those of us in the Midwest experiencing historic flooding. Here in Iowa City the floodwaters are expected to go over the reservoir spillway Tuesday and then flooding will be totally out of control. The city has been sandbagging all day. For over 20 years we went to a large church here and it was flooded in the big '93 flood, inaccessible for almost 3 months. They are doing Sonworld and their VBS starts tomorrow. The main road to the church has already been closed for several days so I am wondering after a very raining Sunday (there aren't words to describe the rain we've had here today, the radio announcer said this is like "Biblical"....hmmm) if they will even be able to go through with their VBS. They are borrowing my Flora Rose costume. They canceled their 3 Sunday a.m. services today and just had a worship service yesterday at 4:30. About 10 years ago we moved from that church and got involved in a new church plant. That church was started in an former U Of I warehouse that was flooded out in '93 and had been vacant for about 5 years. It may take a few days of water coming downstream, but I am really wondering whether our church will flood too! Our VBS is in 2 weeks The National Weather Service says this flood will be worse than '93. Please pray for the community to see God's hand at work even amidst this trial. It has all been distracting to say the least . We have been glued to TV, radio, and computer as we see our state going through this crisis.

[TrinityJen]

I am praying Judy - for all affected.

[Sherri in GA]

My church was flooded in '94, so I can relate. I'll definitely be praying too.

[Judy N.]

Thanks for prayers, in the last few minutes, I've learned the spillway will be breached tonight at midnight, we are also going to start putting up everything on tables at church. I can't decide if I should load up all the VBS stuff and get it out of there in case it becomes inaccessible or also if we should re-locate or re-schedule! Maybe this will get our VBS some free publicity! God works in mysterious ways!

[nana]

Judy, I have been thinking about you. You have been such a blessing to me. My prayers will be going up for you too. We have had lots of wind damage, trees down, machine shed blown away, but luckily, we don't have flooding to worry about. God bless. Nana

[Mari-Jo]

I'd get all your VBS stuff loaded up and out just in case. We work long hard hours to put VBS together. I would do it. Preparedness is good! You'll be wishing you had listened to the "inner tugging" if you don't. Besides, sometimes this IS how God communicates with us!

[Judy N.]

Thanks for prayers...Nana...you know what I'm talking about! And it is thundering and lightening as I write this at 2 a.m. Today our congregation worked hard and everything in our church was moved up off the floor... by about 2-3 feet, or out of the building. I loaded up all my VBS stuff into 2 cars. I agree, Mari Jo, it is too much work to take a chance on it. We may have to postpone our VBS. I had been gradually filling up 2 classrooms with VBS props and supplies. Then I had to sort and and stack all my other CE stuff... huge job, exhausted, but we had an absolutely magnificent double rainbow after a storm tonight! Our GOd is an awesome God!

[Judy N.]

I sense many of the VBS directors are in the thick of VBS prep and not spending much time on the boards, but I thought I would do a quick update on the flooding here. Our church will be vacated tomorrow. I was part of a committee to find new space today... it was a little disappointing as we may now be displaced 4 months. We will meet in a public library for a while, we will postpone VBS until Aug. One good thing that may happen is that when we have our VBS we may get some extra publicity. I will be interviewed on the radio tomorrow to tell the story about our flooded church.
But I also want to let everyone know how incredibly severe and historic this flood is. In the midwest, we sometimes get overlooked by national news media. but believe me, this story will be getting a lot of coverage in the next few days. Nearly the entire state of Iowa is flooded, and at record levels. Downtowns have been evacuated in some of our larger cities, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Cedar Falls. Iowa City will not get the crest until next week! Another larger city, Mason City has been without water and now power, Entire towns have been completely surrounded. Many, many farmers have not even gotten a crop in, it is hard to imagine what that means. That will be the next big story. This has all happen so suddenly, the rainfall amounts are just incredible. We thought we'd survived the worst winter since 1879 (for Iowa City) as well as a late and wet spring and then almost overnight we moved into to a truly incredible flood event. We have also had wind and tornadoes and of course the tragic loss of young boyscouts. The flood waters will not dry soon, and people will begin to mourn the loss of beautiful parks and buildings and more, Please pray that there will be an outpouring of people seeking God through this.

[nana]

Judy, I'm still praying for you. Keep us posted. Nana

[Judy N.]

Thanks to everyone for your prayers. Flood problems left many of us without internet since I wrote my last post. We got back on line yesterday afternoon, Monday June 17. Thursday, June 12, we evacuated our church in Coralville. (Iowa City/Coralville are just one big connected town.) We didn't quite get all of children's ministry stuff out, it was on the last load as it was going to a different storage area. About 3 hours later, when the church was unoccupied, a nearby railroad track dike broke and sent 4 feet of water into our church. It continued to rise for the next few days, possibly reaching 6 feet based on numerous accounts and aerial photos. Our former large mega church has been featured on CNN and Fox. It is a total loss. Our current church has not gotten a photo, other than the roof, in the paper or on TV yet. It is also a total loss. We will never go back there for worship or anything. My daughter was married there just last November, so we feel sad in several different ways. When we went on the hunt for warehouse space last Weds., we found one place that could work. The pastor didn't get to see it, so I called the realtor back to ask him to put us at the top of the list, he said he would. Pastor called him several times over next few hours and days, no response, now it is being rented to a car dealership, that was a big disappointment, that we couldn't take him at his word at such a difficult time, we're told churches have a bad reputation in the commercial real estate world because we act so slow. I am still hopeful that in a few weeks that could still work out. There are hundreds of businesses displaced so everyone needs space. We are in a small library space right now, but that is very temporary. I was reading the parable of the wise and foolish man the other day, and the next chapter, Matthew 8:18, is about Jesus not having a place to rest his head. That is where our church is right now. Jesus is asking us to not worry about going back and burying "our dead"... but it is really hard right now. The church is the people and the Holy spirit at work, but right now it is hard to even get "the people" together.

In the meantime, On Friday, June 13, on the east side of the river in Iowa City, we got the word from the city that my husband's veterinary clinic would also flood. We frantically got a crew to help us evacuate that building! Down to the doors and new water heater. (we are just outside the 500 year flood plain, so we don't have flood insurance) The crest would come in two days and rain was also expected. Throughout the weekend we had time to do some sandbagging and diverting of rain run-off. We worked to the point of exhaustion. My husband Dave did a prayer walk around it and as we were ready to evacuate on Sat. night we also had a prayer time with another employee as tornado sirens wailed in the background. I am so grateful to say that by Sunday pm we knew it wouldn't flood. The expected rains went to the south of us, and the crest was a full foot lower as it came downstream, partly because of the broken dikes that took off some of the pressure along the way. Our business is in total chaos right now, but we can get that back within a week, maybe two. We are very fortunate compared with many others. We took our first drive last night to see some of the other flooded areas and it is very bad. Hard not to feel a lot of sadness right now. But I know God will be at work.
The last bit of bad news is that it may be as late as Oct. for flood waters to go down here to start the rebuilding as we are in the flood control plain of the upstream dam and reservoir. That is where our faith we will be really tested. Talked to pastor this a.m. and the only way we can do VBS is to find a place to rent for a few days, but where and when. We had 95 % of the prep done and I couldn't wait! Now... well...pray that I can trust God and that our church can begin to reach out to our community in new and different ways. Thanks for your support. I will be praying for your VBS's.

[TrinityJen]

Judy -

My heart and prayers go out to you and your community. I can not imagination what you are going through.

May God's Love and Grace shine in your life.

[sfhines]

Judy,

My prayers are with you and I'll request the children in our VBS say a special prayer for you this week.

Please keep us posted.

[nana]

Judy, I know it is almost beyond comprehension what you have been going through the past weeks. But living here in Iowa, I am fully aware of the devastation that people are suffering. If there is anything that I can do for you as far as our decorations are concerned, feel free to let me know. Mine are not as beautiful and imaginative as yours and others that have been posted, but you were a blessing to me when you loaned me your stuff, I would surely be willing to offer ours if you can use them. My mind keeps going back to the scripture "God works all things for good for those who love Him". It's hard to see what He has in store for you, but you can count on it to be good!"
Nana

[stephsmith]

Judy,

Our VBS had a prayer time for all of those suffering in Iowa. My family is all from Iowa, I have cousins, etc. in and around the Cedar Rapids/Columbus Junction and Des Moines areas. My parents are in Fulton, IL. We will be thinking about all of you in this time.

Stephanie Smith
Bethlehem, PA

[Judy N.]

Thank you all so much for your prayers, I can't wait to share them with our kids when we finally do have VBS! Some things really improved today, but many roads still closed and still under curfew. We made great progress at our business as well. We see many others worse off than we are! Stephanie, just curious, it's such a small world, do your parents go to an RCA church in Fulton or know the Ken Dykstras? Nana, I still have stuff you can borrow! We saved all the VBS stuff!

[Mari-Jo]

I am so glad you were able to save all your VBS stuff! Is it possible to work with another area church and combine your VBS efforts for the kids? I know that up here in Michigan, I am certain that if you came to our church and asked if you could hold VBS in our church hall because yours is "gone" that your request would probably be met with positive attitudes. May God Bless all your efforts!

[Judy N.]

I had a little trouble going on this site for a while as I watched the excite build for so many of you as your VBS drew nearer and nearer. I was (and am still) mourning all the changes to our church and the potential "loss" of our VBS. It has been a rough month in many, many ways, for our church, but also community. People came from across the state to help gut our building, we did it as a favor to our landlord and are very uncertain that we will ever move back in there again. But God has answered many prayers and more importantly is leading our church in a whole new direction! We will be in the public library for a few more weeks, then we move to a theater in the mall. We will use a children's party business next door for our nursery and children's church. We are hopeful we will reach some new people in this new location. The difficult side is that EVERYTHING is still in storage and spread all over town. The copy machine is set up at our church secretary's house, but I'm not going to go over and disturb her everytime I need copies! It is little things like this that are really challenging. The next good news is that the same mall with the theater is going to let us use a very large empty storefront for our VBS! FREE!!!! I just went out today to sign the papers and such. I will have to do a lot of adapting, but I think we can make it work! Your continued prayers are VERY much appreciated. I am so inspired by the wonderful photos that are being posted by so many of you!
Blessings!

[jruckman]

Judy,
When will you be holding your VBS? Do you want or need decorations? I'd love an excuse to drive to Iowa City!
Janet

[Judy N.]

Your response is very much appreciated and I would love to take you up on your offer! Our VBS is Aug. 11 to 14 from 6 to 8 p.m. I do have a lot of decorations ready, but the one major thing I hadn't done yet before the flood was to do the backdrops. But I would be open to anything/ ideas because the space we are renting is laid out so differently from our church space. (For example, we won't be able to have individual classrooms now and I had the decorations all ready for those areas.) I will email you soon!
Judy

[TrinityJen]

I know God has the time planned for your VBS and it will be wonderful and a time of celebration. I hope He leads you to the time, place and people that will make it happen.

If there is way I can help by e-mail let me know!

[nana]

Judy, I am so glad things are working out for you, even though it surely wasn't what you had planned. Our VBS starts on Sunday, and I will also have some back drops (for the sanctuary, Wild West World, and Doubloon Lagoon) which you are welcome to. They are painted on sheets and wouldn't be difficult to mail if you want them. With your talent, I know you will come up with something awesome, no matter what!
Nana

[Judy N.]

Thanks Nana!
IT will be at Sycamore Mall if you are familiar with that mall here...in the old Ben Franklin location. I will keep in touch! We have a meeting tonight.
Judy

[Judy N.]

Thanks to everyone who has been praying for us! Thanks to the two directors who offered leftover decorations! You are great! We look like we are all set now! Please keep us in prayer as we start our VBS Aug. 11 to the 14th. It's going to be an interesting ride!
In Christ,
Judy

[nana]

Hey Judy, I am anxious to hear how your VBS went.
Nana