“Cabana City” is the neighborhood I grew up in. We weathered lots of hurricanes in our small home. The neighborhood is just a block in from the river and we would flood often. I remember helping my mom cut carpet out of our home more than once. But we never experienced more than a few inches of water in our home. Each time was months of concrete floors until new carpeting or flooring was put down.

BUT WE NEVER experienced what happened with Hurricane Ian. This community had 4 feet of water in their homes. That’s a total loss of just about everything. And these are small, old, historic homes. The ceilings are low. There are septic tanks that fill up when it floods. And the people are generally poor or elderly. The entire contents of their home are on the curb, and the resources for them to rebuild are not as easily accessible as in more affluent neighborhoods.

My best friend drove through last week and looked at our old homes. She said everything was to the curb. I can’t bring myself to drive by yet, but my heart is grieving for them. A loss like this for people already living in poverty is beyond devastating.

But slowly and surely just like everyone else, they will recover. It may not look as pretty as other recoveries.

You may not see insurance adjusters or roofing companies or general contractors.

But you will see people trading work and side jobs. You’ll see neighbors who lay flooring showing up to kick carpet on Saturday evening and working for meals, beer, and good conversation.

You’ll see owners pulling owner contractor permits and people working together to redo roofs.

You’ll see church painting parties painting homes for people.

They will rebuild. They will recover. It may look different.

Last week, a dear friend reminded me that we all weathered the same storm, but we weren’t in the same boat. Some had yachts and some had canoes.

That is truth, AND yet we ALL have a good, good Father who is with us through all things. And He draws near to all who call on Him regardless of status.

Dear Heavenly Father,

We cry out on behalf of the oppressed, hurting, and those struggling with hopelessness of how they will recover and rebuild. Lord, meet them in their moment of need and provide in supernatural ways. Lord, I pray for this community to meet with You in the supernatural and be healed, delivered, and set free from a spirit of poverty. Lord, open their spiritual eyes to recieve You as their personal Savior, Deliverer, and Providor. Lord, I pray for REVIVAL for this community. Lord, I cry out for ALL their needs to be met. Physical, emotional, and spiritual. In Jesus’s Name, Amen.

Blessings, Recovery, and Provision,

In Jesus’s Name, Amen.

Vanessa Lynn