This past week in the town I have called home for most of my life (at least, the parts I remember), there was a hurricane. We didn’t really expect this hurricane to be that bad. Everyone saw the flash flood warnings, but many treated it like any other Saturday – going to work, doing the weekly grocery run, and even just going to eat breakfast with some friends. However, it was a pretty brutal hurricane. Most hurricanes in this area just bring some rain and some wind and we are back to our normal routine. This one was different. Hurricane Matthew left much wreckage in its path. Lots of roads and homes were flooded – some roads were even washed away. There were families who lost every material thing they owned. Some people are lucky to be alive.

So, the fact that we had a hurricane isn’t what surprised me. The fact that many people were without power for more than 3-8 days didn’t do it either. Not even the fact that we have to wait 2-4 weeks until we get our city water back surprises me. Not the destruction, not the horribly flooded areas, not the 45-minute one-way trip it took me to get to my job. None of that surprised me as much as the outpouring of love I have seen in this county in the aftermath of this hurricane. There has been more love, more compassion, and more empathy than I have ever seen in this county in this time of hurt than I have ever seen in my life.

And it is absolutely beautiful.

We have a lot of construction to work on before we can get back to our normal routine. We have a lot of time before the Public Schools of Robeson County can reopen. We have a lot of work to do. But despite all of that, I want to encourage the people of my hometown to continue to show this outpouring of love even as we begin to rebuild and grow stronger. One thing I have learned in the most difficult of times is that God is in control. He has His hand on this county. He loves us and He will provide for his people.

The song “Eye of the Storm” by Ryan Stevenson is something that has been going through my head during this week. The chorus says:

In the eye of the storm
You remain in control
And in the middle of the war
You guard my soul
You alone are the anchor
When my sails are torn
Your love surrounds me
In the eye of the storm

He is in control in Robeson County. This is neither the first nor the last storm we will encounter here, but God will be with us every step of the way.

That’s all I have for this week!

Sydney