In her 30 years living in Waco, homeowner Alisha Laws had never experienced such an aggressive flash flood as the one that passed through the evening of July 14.
She said she was cooking dinner last Sunday evening when she was startled by water pouring down the hallway toward the kitchen. She then discovered water bubbling violently out of the toilet, spewing into the bedrooms and soaking into the bottom few inches of the sheetrock.
The water only rose, with no way to stop it, until the rain eventually ceased, she said.
The ordeal was an especially difficult experience for Laws, since her husband has Alzheimer's and recently had a stroke. He wasn’t present the night of the flood, as he is currently receiving care in a retirement home, leaving Laws to deal with the aftermath much on her own.
“I really didn't know how I was going to fix all this,” Laws said. “It was just another overwhelming situation to think about and deal with.”
Thankfully, Texans on Mission volunteers were there to help mud out her home, giving her the hope and healing she desperately needed.
Volunteers assisted Laws in sorting through sentimental items that had water damage, including her husband’s magazine collection and music equipment. Miraculously, his electric guitars and amps were spared, which brought Laws much relief.
Despite her struggles, she still thanks God every day for His goodness.
“He is wonderful, and he's got a plan, and that's all I know,” Laws said. “Yes, it’s hurtful and stressful for a while, but I’ve got peace. I’m not worried.”
Following the cleanup, volunteers presented Laws with a signed Bible and prayed together outside her home for peace and healing.
During the deployment, which began Friday morning and shut down on Tuesday, volunteers helped four other homeowners like Laws. They mudded out their homes, removed wet furniture and brought hope by sharing the Gospel message, all free of charge to the affected residents.
Randy Corbin, the TXM site coordinator, said he was proud not just of the physical labor the team performed, but also the love and tenderness with which they embraced distraught homeowners, as several were experiencing issues with getting insurance to cover the damage.
“The volunteers give a lot of time and effort so that they can be a part of this ministry,” Corbin said. “It gives hope and helps to take away the hurt for these people.”
Mark Francis Riley, an on-site volunteer, was one of many on their first deployment with TXM. After having the opportunity to witness to a few homeowners, he said he can’t wait to continue spreading the Gospel and hope of Christ as he continues to serve with TXM on other deployments.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for hands-on ministry,” Riley said. “You're not only learning new skills, you're learning how to respectfully work with people you've never seen before. You're learning how to serve them, and it all dovetails together. I've never seen a mobilization like this.”
Learn more about how to become a trained volunteer and be among the first to deploy when disaster strikes.