Folks need help all over the world. Here are some statistics that outlined what happened earlier this summer in eastern Kentucky.

Thunderstorms, at times, caused rainfall rates in excess of 4 inches per hour. The overwhelming amounts of rain and flooding led to 39 deaths and widespread catastrophic damage. Entire homes and parts of some communities were swept away by floodwaters, leading to costly damage to infrastructure. More than 600 helicopter rescues and countless swift water rescues by boat were needed to evacuate people.

These rainfall amounts occurring in such a short time are incredibly rare: less than a 1-in-1,000 chance for this much rainfall over five days in a given year. The rainfall totals observed between these dates across eastern Kentucky were over 600% of normal. 

An attempt was made to organize a weeklong mission trip to assist homeowners in rebuilding interior walls inside their previously gutted structures. Many had water 3- to 4 feet deep running through their homes. The plea for volunteers went out for three weeks with only two positive responses.

The feeling was that we should not cancel the trip, but do as we felt God was commanding as outlined in 2 John 1:6: “And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.”

On arrival, we met a couple from Indiana with experience in restorations, as we ourselves had little. They took us to the project home, and within an hour, we were joined by four local men and two young men on a work release program. A team of two with no experience was transformed into a team of 10 with a knowledgeable leader!

2 Corinthians 9:8 reminds us that God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

What an encouragement to experience firsthand the joy of being obedient to God’s calling and knowing he is faithful to those who love him.

Foster is past president of the board of directors of Fellowship of Christian Farmers International. He lives in Westfield, Pa.