WHEN GOD CHANGES OUR PLANS

 

How many times in your life have you made a plan only for God to then completely change the direction you thought you were going. As humans, we crave control. We love to know what’s going to happen next. However, the best stories often come when God rewrites our path.

This proved to be true for a group set to travel this past January. They had planned to go to Puerto Rico on a mission trip. Just days before their trip was set to depart, Puerto Rico changed their Covid-19 policy and added a 10-day quarantine to anyone that enters the country. For a 10-day mission trip, this would mean that the group had to stay in quarantine for the entire trip. They were forced to cancel their trip to Puerto Rico and had two options, cancel the trip or reroute to a different location…

Less than four days away from departure, this group decided to reroute somewhere else. They received word that there was help needed in Mayfield, Kentucky. Back in December, Mayfield was hit by the single deadliest tornado outbreak in the month of December in U.S. history. The group decided this would be their new destination. You can only imagine the frustration when this trip had to cancel its beautiful sunny Puerto Rico trip to the freezing temperatures in Kentucky. Disappointed was an understatement. 

Upon arrival, the destruction was overwhelming. The tornados traveled over 200 miles across Kentucky, leaving devastation in its path. There were countless numbers of people left homeless, and who lost many of their families and neighbors in the tornadoes. The team was able to help sort through the rubble, clean homes and neighborhoods, leaving a bible behind everywhere they went. They sorted through piles of rubble finding both keepsakes and trash, but most of the time they couldn’t see a difference between the two. 

 
"How do you determine what is valuable to someone else? 
Family photos were ripped and muddy. Family bibles were 
open and torn apart, and that's all they had left." 
- Beth Andersen, Costa Rica Coordinator and Trip Guide.

They met a woman named June and were able to sift through piles of rubble saving a few things that were special to her. June mourns the loss of her house, most of her possessions, and five dear neighbors. Next, they helped an older gentleman that lives alone clear out his garage, the only building left standing on his property. 

The devastation was a lot for these travelers to digest. They were ecstatic when they would find a ripped family photo or a remnant of a keepsake. The weather conditions in Kentucky at this time were frigid. Every home, or pile of what used to be home, was covered by a layer of snow. 

 
"It was cold, we had six layers on, it had snowed, 
it was muddy, but it didn't matter. We didn't care. 
Everybody wanted to help. Being able to help these 
people and hear their stories was life-changing."
- Beth Anderson.

In one day everything that these people had was taken away from them. These homeowners didn’t know where to start. How do you repair this kind of destruction alone? The group spent days helping clean up. Not only were the homeowners impacted deeply by the help of the group, but the group was impacted even more by the stories of the homeowners. The community of Kentucky showered the volunteers with so much gratitude. They were thanked at every location they stopped at and even had a meal paid for. The amount of work that they were able to accomplish in just a few days was unreal. 

"When we work together we can move mountains, 
and we moved mountains." 
- Beth Anderson

We can work, move mountains, and help a lot of people. But the most important thing is to be the hands and feet of Jesus. To show them that there is hope, even amidst all the devastation. By the end of the trip, it was clear that God wanted this group in Kentucky, not Puerto Rico. Despite their disappointment in changing their long await Puerto Rico trip, they decided to let God take control and lead them where to go next. By doing this, they allowed God to bless them and the people of Mayfield, Kentucky. 

"There is a lot of devastation, 
BUT there is a lot of hope" 
- Beth Anderson.

It is estimated that it will take three or more years to fully clean up the destruction caused by the tornadoes. Join us in praying for everyone impacted by the tornadoes. If you’re planning a domestic mission trip, consider traveling to Mayfield, Kentucky to help continue the disaster relief. Contact your Tour Specialist today – (888) 341-7888 or email info@travelje.org!