1 00:00:01,830 --> 00:00:05,440 Speaker 1: It touched so many lives just in that one room 2 00:00:05,500 --> 00:00:09,740 Speaker 1: full of volunteers. And they know what God can do. 3 00:00:10,619 --> 00:00:12,639 Speaker 1: And I believe that God is going to use all 4 00:00:12,680 --> 00:00:16,880 Speaker 1: of us. And if people just be brave enough to 5 00:00:16,900 --> 00:00:21,640 Speaker 1: tell our story, and it gets raw, but I'm living 6 00:00:21,700 --> 00:00:23,660 Speaker 1: proof that God can do anything. 7 00:00:28,230 --> 00:00:30,750 Speaker 2: Welcome back to another episode of On the Ground with 8 00:00:30,770 --> 00:00:33,169 Speaker 2: Samaritan's Purse, where we take you to the front lines 9 00:00:33,229 --> 00:00:35,070 Speaker 2: and behind the scenes of our work around the world. 10 00:00:35,890 --> 00:00:38,150 Speaker 2: I'm your host, Christy Graham, and the voice you just 11 00:00:38,190 --> 00:00:41,269 Speaker 2: heard was Angie. I met Angie when I was on 12 00:00:41,290 --> 00:00:44,390 Speaker 2: the ground in Mississippi after a tornado tore through the 13 00:00:44,430 --> 00:00:47,669 Speaker 2: southern part of the state. Angie was there doing what 14 00:00:47,729 --> 00:00:52,610 Speaker 2: she loves most, volunteering with North America Disaster Relief. And 15 00:00:52,630 --> 00:00:55,710 Speaker 2: I quickly learned that she had a beautiful testimony that 16 00:00:55,770 --> 00:00:58,790 Speaker 2: needed to be shared. She left such an impression on 17 00:00:58,830 --> 00:01:00,770 Speaker 2: me that when I came home, I wanted to hear 18 00:01:00,830 --> 00:01:03,870 Speaker 2: more about how God had changed her life and how 19 00:01:04,050 --> 00:01:08,209 Speaker 2: service changed her. It says in scripture that Jesus didn't 20 00:01:08,270 --> 00:01:11,009 Speaker 2: come to be served, but to serve and give his 21 00:01:11,069 --> 00:01:14,530 Speaker 2: life a ransom for many. And service has the ability 22 00:01:14,569 --> 00:01:18,450 Speaker 2: to change us. God can use serving others to mold 23 00:01:18,530 --> 00:01:21,560 Speaker 2: and shape our hearts to look more like his. And 24 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:24,400 Speaker 2: I was also in Mississippi with Jason Taft, an assistant 25 00:01:24,420 --> 00:01:27,919 Speaker 2: director with North American Disaster Relief. And here is Jason 26 00:01:28,060 --> 00:01:29,220 Speaker 2: introducing Angie. 27 00:01:30,180 --> 00:01:32,660 Speaker 3: So I pull in there and I mean, it's just 28 00:01:32,740 --> 00:01:36,310 Speaker 3: the classic army of orange, like ants on a hill. 29 00:01:36,330 --> 00:01:38,850 Speaker 3: It was so amazing. And I pull up, I had 30 00:01:38,870 --> 00:01:42,650 Speaker 3: to like weave around all this equipment and there's trees everywhere. 31 00:01:42,930 --> 00:01:45,649 Speaker 3: Like what used to be an asphalt road was all dirty. 32 00:01:45,670 --> 00:01:49,100 Speaker 3: I mean, this neighborhood just got really hit hard by 33 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:52,000 Speaker 3: this tornado. And I'm weaving around all these equipment and 34 00:01:52,020 --> 00:01:58,040 Speaker 3: like tree piles. And I see this like thick, gray hair, 35 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:01,620 Speaker 3: like flowing in the wind on top of a mini 36 00:02:01,700 --> 00:02:05,900 Speaker 3: skid steer. This lady was like just crushing it on 37 00:02:05,940 --> 00:02:08,519 Speaker 3: the mini skid steer, like moving trees like I've never 38 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:10,960 Speaker 3: seen before. I was like, who is this person? This 39 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:14,139 Speaker 3: gal is amazing. Like I got to meet her. They 40 00:02:14,180 --> 00:02:17,280 Speaker 3: were so busy that I didn't want to bother her there. 41 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:18,519 Speaker 3: And I was like, Lord, I'd love to meet her. 42 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:22,620 Speaker 3: The next day we're over there. She got off the 43 00:02:22,660 --> 00:02:24,180 Speaker 3: mini skid steer and I was like, here's my chance. 44 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:26,579 Speaker 3: So I walked up to her and I just said, 45 00:02:27,090 --> 00:02:30,359 Speaker 3: I'm Jason. I'd love to hear your story. I was 46 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 3: so impressed with you on this mini skit. I couldn't even, no, 47 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:37,019 Speaker 3: I couldn't do that. I said, what is your story? 48 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:40,880 Speaker 3: And she was like, what she shared, I could have 49 00:02:40,919 --> 00:02:42,200 Speaker 3: never imagined she would share. 50 00:02:43,480 --> 00:02:46,760 Speaker 2: Angie has known about God her entire life, but she 51 00:02:46,820 --> 00:02:50,660 Speaker 2: hasn't always walked with Him and known Him personally. Her 52 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:53,739 Speaker 2: upbringing was hard, and her adult life has been marked 53 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:57,430 Speaker 2: by many trials and disappointments. She told me how she 54 00:02:57,490 --> 00:03:00,710 Speaker 2: first met Samaritan's Purse and how her life began to change. 55 00:03:01,690 --> 00:03:08,660 Speaker 1: I met Samaritan's Purse in 2020, January of 2020. We 56 00:03:08,700 --> 00:03:14,100 Speaker 1: had twin tornadoes come to our town, our county. And 57 00:03:14,980 --> 00:03:20,040 Speaker 1: my mother had seen it on the news that they 58 00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:23,820 Speaker 1: were coming to a church in South Haven, Mississippi, and 59 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:28,730 Speaker 1: that they needed volunteers. And so she called and told me. 60 00:03:29,730 --> 00:03:35,370 Speaker 1: And I smarted off to her and said, well, what 61 00:03:35,410 --> 00:03:41,170 Speaker 1: do they know about disaster? They do shoeboxes. When I 62 00:03:41,190 --> 00:03:46,250 Speaker 1: went up there for orientation, I realized that y'all knew 63 00:03:46,350 --> 00:03:52,690 Speaker 1: everything about disaster. And so I asked them. if I 64 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:55,110 Speaker 1: could come back out in the community where I live, 65 00:03:55,130 --> 00:03:59,350 Speaker 1: because we had major tree damage. So I went out 66 00:03:59,390 --> 00:04:03,990 Speaker 1: there and I started running a chainsaw for them and 67 00:04:04,550 --> 00:04:10,350 Speaker 1: just met some amazing women that day. And I decided 68 00:04:10,390 --> 00:04:13,510 Speaker 1: to go back the next day. I went back for 69 00:04:13,510 --> 00:04:18,180 Speaker 1: 10 days and ran the saw for them out by 70 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:24,460 Speaker 1: where I lived. And There was just joy in the 71 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:30,560 Speaker 1: air with the volunteers. It was laughter. It was kindness 72 00:04:30,700 --> 00:04:35,029 Speaker 1: towards the homeowners, toward each other. It was love that 73 00:04:35,089 --> 00:04:38,650 Speaker 1: you could feel. It was almost like an aroma that 74 00:04:38,710 --> 00:04:45,250 Speaker 1: you could smell. I was drawn to the people that 75 00:04:45,290 --> 00:04:50,420 Speaker 1: I was surrounded by. And that's what kept me going back. 76 00:04:51,270 --> 00:04:56,050 Speaker 1: But in the midst of that, I was in active alcoholism. 77 00:04:57,410 --> 00:05:01,490 Speaker 1: And in my private life, I was dying from grief. 78 00:05:03,150 --> 00:05:08,030 Speaker 1: And the 10 days that they were there, I didn't 79 00:05:08,089 --> 00:05:11,570 Speaker 1: drink because I didn't want to feel bad. And I 80 00:05:11,620 --> 00:05:16,160 Speaker 1: wanted to go back the next day. And, um, when 81 00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:21,270 Speaker 1: they left after 10 days, I, uh, fell back into 82 00:05:21,310 --> 00:05:26,570 Speaker 1: my same routine, you know, drinking every day and crying 83 00:05:26,670 --> 00:05:30,530 Speaker 1: every day and just not wanting to be here. And 84 00:05:30,570 --> 00:05:33,650 Speaker 1: so that went on almost for another year and I 85 00:05:33,690 --> 00:05:37,419 Speaker 1: could not pull myself up out of it, uh, the depression. 86 00:05:38,810 --> 00:05:45,040 Speaker 1: And I cried out to God continuously to help me 87 00:05:45,100 --> 00:05:50,200 Speaker 1: not drink tomorrow. So, you wake up tomorrow when it's today, 88 00:05:50,220 --> 00:05:54,300 Speaker 1: you go to the beer store again, caught in a 89 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:58,500 Speaker 1: rut that I couldn't get out of. In the depression 90 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:03,170 Speaker 1: that I was in, I felt like one night, plain 91 00:06:03,210 --> 00:06:06,510 Speaker 1: as day that I heard God say to me, either 92 00:06:06,610 --> 00:06:10,150 Speaker 1: pick yourself up or go out to the cemetery and 93 00:06:10,190 --> 00:06:13,650 Speaker 1: lay down and die. And, um, it got my attention. 94 00:06:15,150 --> 00:06:20,599 Speaker 1: And so I, uh, Google jobs at Yellowstone National Park 95 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:25,210 Speaker 1: and got on there and filled out an application. And 96 00:06:25,250 --> 00:06:28,730 Speaker 1: when I was doing it, I just said, you know, God, please, 97 00:06:28,810 --> 00:06:32,450 Speaker 1: if it's your will, let me get this job. And 98 00:06:32,910 --> 00:06:36,010 Speaker 1: I ended up getting the job. I went to church 99 00:06:36,290 --> 00:06:40,060 Speaker 1: and I told my pastor about the drinking. I told 100 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:46,120 Speaker 1: him about everything. They gathered around me and anointed me 101 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:50,169 Speaker 1: with oil. and prayed for me, and God delivered me 102 00:06:50,230 --> 00:06:50,990 Speaker 1: from alcohol. 103 00:06:51,810 --> 00:06:55,510 Speaker 2: God saved her and freed her from bondage. And this 104 00:06:55,570 --> 00:06:58,890 Speaker 2: was the first step in Angie's journey of healing. Six 105 00:06:58,930 --> 00:07:01,970 Speaker 2: weeks later, Angie showed up at Yellowstone National Park, where 106 00:07:02,010 --> 00:07:04,810 Speaker 2: she worked for seven months. She knew she had to 107 00:07:04,850 --> 00:07:09,850 Speaker 2: get away, distance herself. She got stronger mentally, emotionally, and physically, 108 00:07:10,070 --> 00:07:13,680 Speaker 2: and she rededicated her life to the Lord, totally depending 109 00:07:13,750 --> 00:07:17,140 Speaker 2: on Him for everything. When she returned to Mississippi, she 110 00:07:17,180 --> 00:07:21,260 Speaker 2: began serving with North America Disaster Relief again. And anytime 111 00:07:21,280 --> 00:07:24,120 Speaker 2: there was a disaster within a driving distance, she would go. 112 00:07:24,140 --> 00:07:28,780 Speaker 1: I loved going. I loved the atmosphere. I loved what 113 00:07:28,820 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 1: they stood for. I loved what they did for the people. 114 00:07:32,900 --> 00:07:36,610 Speaker 1: And I felt like I had been so broken. I 115 00:07:36,630 --> 00:07:39,110 Speaker 1: was so broken when I met them. And a lot 116 00:07:39,170 --> 00:07:42,670 Speaker 1: of times we go to the disasters, the homeowners are 117 00:07:42,750 --> 00:07:47,020 Speaker 1: so broken, you know, and I just felt like God 118 00:07:47,080 --> 00:07:50,380 Speaker 1: can put you back together. I mean, he's sending us 119 00:07:50,460 --> 00:07:54,900 Speaker 1: to help you. And I just couldn't stay at home 120 00:07:54,980 --> 00:07:58,980 Speaker 1: because I felt like they needed help. But number one, 121 00:07:59,300 --> 00:08:02,940 Speaker 1: they needed us to come tell them about God. He 122 00:08:03,020 --> 00:08:05,280 Speaker 1: cared about them, and he saw what they were going through. 123 00:08:05,300 --> 00:08:08,920 Speaker 1: And he had sent this army of people in orange 124 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:13,630 Speaker 1: shirts to help them. Mm-hmm. The more I went, the 125 00:08:13,690 --> 00:08:16,950 Speaker 1: more I wanted to go. I wanted to be a 126 00:08:16,990 --> 00:08:20,200 Speaker 1: part of what they were doing. Everywhere that we went, 127 00:08:21,260 --> 00:08:23,820 Speaker 1: I would be running a saw, but there would also 128 00:08:23,860 --> 00:08:28,840 Speaker 1: be a skid steer, it seemed like, on location. Hey, 129 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:32,860 Speaker 1: let me drive your skid steer. It got turned down. 130 00:08:33,500 --> 00:08:37,030 Speaker 1: Two years ago, our women's ministry was going to a 131 00:08:37,390 --> 00:08:43,580 Speaker 1: women's retreat at Gulf Shores, and a truck and trailer 132 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:46,200 Speaker 1: and skid steer passed us on the interstate. And I 133 00:08:46,220 --> 00:08:48,920 Speaker 1: made a comment. I said, y'all see that right there? 134 00:08:49,260 --> 00:08:51,560 Speaker 1: I said, one day I'm going to have that and 135 00:08:51,660 --> 00:08:55,120 Speaker 1: I'm going to be running it for Samaritans first. And 136 00:08:55,160 --> 00:08:58,679 Speaker 1: so they, you know, sort of laughed and said, Oh Angie, 137 00:08:58,700 --> 00:09:03,020 Speaker 1: that's good. Well, so a couple of days after being there, 138 00:09:03,660 --> 00:09:05,880 Speaker 1: I had run down to the water to get our, 139 00:09:06,140 --> 00:09:09,240 Speaker 1: a couple of our chairs. And while I'm standing at 140 00:09:09,280 --> 00:09:12,530 Speaker 1: the edge of the water, I'd been picking up shells 141 00:09:12,590 --> 00:09:17,429 Speaker 1: all day for my granddaughter. And literally, I see something 142 00:09:17,620 --> 00:09:22,819 Speaker 1: flipping through the water, the wave coming up. And I 143 00:09:22,860 --> 00:09:25,800 Speaker 1: reached down and grabbed it out of the sand and 144 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:27,740 Speaker 1: opened my hand up. And I don't know if you 145 00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:30,920 Speaker 1: can see this. Can you see this? I can. This 146 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:36,010 Speaker 1: is a little matchbox size. It's still. And it literally 147 00:09:36,070 --> 00:09:41,110 Speaker 1: came rolling out of the Gulf of Mexico at Orange Beach, Alabama. 148 00:09:41,980 --> 00:09:44,680 Speaker 1: Right where I was standing and I picked it up. 149 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:46,920 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm opening my hand and I see it 150 00:09:47,780 --> 00:09:52,820 Speaker 1: and I look around. There's nobody inside around and went 151 00:09:52,840 --> 00:09:54,949 Speaker 1: in and I told the group of women that I 152 00:09:54,990 --> 00:09:59,130 Speaker 1: had traveled with who heard me made that that proclamation. 153 00:09:59,200 --> 00:10:02,140 Speaker 1: I told them you know I said you're not going 154 00:10:02,160 --> 00:10:05,420 Speaker 1: to believe this this literally just came rolling up out 155 00:10:05,440 --> 00:10:08,500 Speaker 1: of the waves where I was standing and they all 156 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:11,780 Speaker 1: said basically the same thing and they got a good 157 00:10:11,820 --> 00:10:15,290 Speaker 1: laugh out of it so later that night I'd slept 158 00:10:15,350 --> 00:10:18,870 Speaker 1: with this under my pillow in the bed and I 159 00:10:19,260 --> 00:10:21,400 Speaker 1: I kept turning on the light and looking at it 160 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:25,140 Speaker 1: and holding it and just saying, God, what do you 161 00:10:25,179 --> 00:10:29,280 Speaker 1: mean by this? What are you trying to say? And 162 00:10:29,940 --> 00:10:32,400 Speaker 1: I got up at three and went outside on the balcony. 163 00:10:33,140 --> 00:10:35,260 Speaker 1: And I'd been reading my Bible and I'd been praying. 164 00:10:35,380 --> 00:10:37,380 Speaker 1: And I was holding this skid steer in my hand. 165 00:10:38,420 --> 00:10:41,459 Speaker 1: And I was sort of just rolling it over and over. 166 00:10:42,580 --> 00:10:46,559 Speaker 1: September will be two years since this rolling out of 167 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:50,699 Speaker 1: the oceans. And I am now a team lead and 168 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:56,160 Speaker 1: an equipment operator. And I have this in my pocket 169 00:10:56,360 --> 00:11:00,840 Speaker 1: all the time. And whenever I get nervous or scared 170 00:11:00,900 --> 00:11:05,280 Speaker 1: or intimidated, if there's a big bunch of volunteers out there, 171 00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:08,300 Speaker 1: I just put my hand in my pocket and I 172 00:11:08,320 --> 00:11:10,740 Speaker 1: hold on to it. And I just say, Holy Spirit, 173 00:11:10,760 --> 00:11:13,219 Speaker 1: please take control and help me do a good job 174 00:11:13,260 --> 00:11:18,890 Speaker 1: and keep us safe. God's amazing. I mean... Crazy desire 175 00:11:19,010 --> 00:11:23,850 Speaker 1: for a grandma. What a crazy statement for me to 176 00:11:23,890 --> 00:11:27,590 Speaker 1: make in the backseat of that car. But here we are. 177 00:11:27,610 --> 00:11:30,089 Speaker 1: I mean, I was on the skid steer when I 178 00:11:30,130 --> 00:11:30,710 Speaker 1: met y'all. 179 00:11:30,750 --> 00:11:31,010 Speaker 2: Yes. 180 00:11:31,929 --> 00:11:34,790 Speaker 1: Who would have ever dreamed it? And I feel like 181 00:11:34,809 --> 00:11:37,189 Speaker 1: I am living a dream. I'm having the time of 182 00:11:37,270 --> 00:11:42,819 Speaker 1: my life. I just celebrated five years of sobriety. Praise God. 183 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:48,100 Speaker 1: And I celebrated it on purpose. At the ice storm deployment. 184 00:11:48,960 --> 00:11:52,400 Speaker 1: And they celebrated with me. A lot of them know 185 00:11:52,420 --> 00:11:57,600 Speaker 1: my story. And I'm a different person. I'm an absolutely 186 00:11:57,860 --> 00:12:00,260 Speaker 1: different person. And I don't know if you can see 187 00:12:00,300 --> 00:12:02,260 Speaker 1: my shirt. Can you see what it says? I can. 188 00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:06,710 Speaker 1: God can. He can do anything. He can pull me 189 00:12:07,090 --> 00:12:12,670 Speaker 1: out of that pit that I was dying in. And 190 00:12:12,730 --> 00:12:16,620 Speaker 1: put me... Put me up there with Samaritan's Purse where 191 00:12:16,660 --> 00:12:20,660 Speaker 1: we do amazing things that I'm such an amazing part of. 192 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:25,130 Speaker 1: I'm not amazing. I'm a part of this amazing organization. 193 00:12:25,150 --> 00:12:29,610 Speaker 1: I mean, I've been to Hawaii to the fires. I've 194 00:12:29,650 --> 00:12:34,530 Speaker 1: been to Alaska for a church built. I've been all 195 00:12:34,670 --> 00:12:39,480 Speaker 1: over from Iowa to Texas to everywhere, North Carolina, for 196 00:12:39,510 --> 00:12:42,700 Speaker 1: the disasters. Who would have ever thought this little grandma 197 00:12:42,740 --> 00:12:49,400 Speaker 1: from Mississippi traveling around everywhere with such an organization, helping people, 198 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:53,679 Speaker 1: telling them what God has done for me and that 199 00:12:53,720 --> 00:12:55,240 Speaker 1: He can do the same thing for them. 200 00:12:55,260 --> 00:12:59,400 Speaker 2: I love that service was the catalyst that the Lord 201 00:12:59,580 --> 00:13:02,900 Speaker 2: used to change Angie's heart. And now she gets to 202 00:13:02,940 --> 00:13:05,320 Speaker 2: serve all over the country. She gets to share her 203 00:13:05,380 --> 00:13:10,020 Speaker 2: story with homeowners and other volunteers. Jason shared more about 204 00:13:10,059 --> 00:13:12,230 Speaker 2: what it was like to meet Angie in Mississippi. 205 00:13:12,970 --> 00:13:16,810 Speaker 3: And she said, well, in 2020, a storm came through 206 00:13:16,850 --> 00:13:21,230 Speaker 3: northern Mississippi where I live. And you all responded. And 207 00:13:21,290 --> 00:13:27,050 Speaker 3: I was so moved by this team of Samaritan's Purse people, 208 00:13:27,550 --> 00:13:30,600 Speaker 3: what she said, and the orange and the way you 209 00:13:30,620 --> 00:13:33,760 Speaker 3: guys came into our community, like it, it was, it 210 00:13:33,780 --> 00:13:38,210 Speaker 3: was amazing. And she said, but I was an alcoholic 211 00:13:38,990 --> 00:13:42,790 Speaker 3: and I was in a really bad place. And I just, 212 00:13:43,750 --> 00:13:45,710 Speaker 3: I wanted to figure out like, how could I help 213 00:13:46,510 --> 00:13:49,320 Speaker 3: in this response? But like, I have a problem. And 214 00:13:49,530 --> 00:13:52,140 Speaker 3: she said, well, I decided I'm going to get sober 215 00:13:52,179 --> 00:13:54,960 Speaker 3: for 10 days and I'm going to go and see 216 00:13:54,980 --> 00:13:57,720 Speaker 3: if they'll allow me to volunteer if I'm sober. And 217 00:13:57,760 --> 00:14:03,730 Speaker 3: we did. And, 10 days straight, she served and she 218 00:14:03,770 --> 00:14:06,530 Speaker 3: got after it. And through that process, she said, I've 219 00:14:06,590 --> 00:14:10,890 Speaker 3: never met people like your people, the grace, the love, 220 00:14:10,910 --> 00:14:13,429 Speaker 3: the acceptance, the way that they, I just felt like 221 00:14:13,590 --> 00:14:16,250 Speaker 3: these are my people, but I'm not one of them. 222 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:20,940 Speaker 3: And within that 10 day span, the gospel was shared 223 00:14:20,960 --> 00:14:25,400 Speaker 3: with her. She gave her life to Christ, totally walked 224 00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:29,760 Speaker 3: away from her past and Now she started her own 225 00:14:29,820 --> 00:14:33,110 Speaker 3: painting business so that she can just set that down. 226 00:14:33,150 --> 00:14:37,030 Speaker 3: Whenever a disaster hits, she's like, I'm going. And so 227 00:14:37,590 --> 00:14:40,310 Speaker 3: I'm standing there and Edward's like chatting over here. And he, 228 00:14:40,930 --> 00:14:43,109 Speaker 3: he wanted to mention something about her being awesome on 229 00:14:43,130 --> 00:14:45,630 Speaker 3: the skid steer. And I go, you need to tell 230 00:14:45,650 --> 00:14:48,550 Speaker 3: them your story. And she's like, really? I mean, she 231 00:14:48,590 --> 00:14:50,479 Speaker 3: was kind of shy. I said, yeah, he needs to 232 00:14:50,530 --> 00:14:53,980 Speaker 3: hear that. And then she shared it with everybody. And 233 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:57,110 Speaker 3: people had been working with her for days and, Not 234 00:14:57,170 --> 00:14:59,370 Speaker 3: knowing who this gal is with the amazing gray hair 235 00:14:59,390 --> 00:15:01,510 Speaker 3: who's just like on the Smitty skid. And they were 236 00:15:01,530 --> 00:15:04,620 Speaker 3: all like, whoa. So to me, it was like, it 237 00:15:04,680 --> 00:15:08,420 Speaker 3: just encompassed everything. Like we weren't, this wasn't even about 238 00:15:08,440 --> 00:15:11,100 Speaker 3: the homeowner. Like this was about somebody who six years 239 00:15:11,140 --> 00:15:14,900 Speaker 3: ago was, had an encounter with our team, gave her 240 00:15:14,920 --> 00:15:17,180 Speaker 3: life to Christ. And now it's like, it's like a 241 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:20,950 Speaker 3: full circle story of like somebody who received help from 242 00:15:20,990 --> 00:15:23,729 Speaker 3: Samaritan's Purse and is now the one who's like, I 243 00:15:23,790 --> 00:15:26,260 Speaker 3: can't wait to go out and actually serve because of 244 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:29,020 Speaker 3: what happened to me. And I was like, I will 245 00:15:29,060 --> 00:15:32,740 Speaker 3: never forget her. Um, and I just, that, that will 246 00:15:32,760 --> 00:15:35,140 Speaker 3: stick with me all the years I've been in ministry. 247 00:15:35,160 --> 00:15:37,570 Speaker 3: That's one of the most powerful stories to me of 248 00:15:37,610 --> 00:15:40,210 Speaker 3: like what God can do. We think we're going to 249 00:15:40,290 --> 00:15:42,530 Speaker 3: respond to all these things, which we are, and we're 250 00:15:42,570 --> 00:15:45,710 Speaker 3: doing incredible work, but you, he's always doing something else 251 00:15:46,150 --> 00:15:49,760 Speaker 3: behind the scenes that sometimes you just need to find 252 00:15:49,800 --> 00:15:53,070 Speaker 3: out like, what is someone's story? And, I'm standing there 253 00:15:53,090 --> 00:15:55,930 Speaker 3: in that yard and I'm looking around and there's the homeowner, 254 00:15:56,330 --> 00:15:59,730 Speaker 3: there's our team, there's our volunteers. I'm like, every person 255 00:15:59,790 --> 00:16:01,710 Speaker 3: here has a story. They're all here for some reason. 256 00:16:01,750 --> 00:16:03,860 Speaker 3: And I'm like, I can't imagine if we all had 257 00:16:03,890 --> 00:16:05,360 Speaker 3: time to just find out like, well, why did you 258 00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:08,460 Speaker 3: come out here today? The stories we would hear would 259 00:16:08,480 --> 00:16:10,920 Speaker 3: just be so cool. So I just love that we 260 00:16:11,060 --> 00:16:16,560 Speaker 3: at Samaritan's Purse are providing this platform for people to serve. 261 00:16:17,340 --> 00:16:20,160 Speaker 3: Like there's just so many ways that you can get involved. 262 00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:23,000 Speaker 3: And to me, it's like, here's a gal who just 263 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:25,700 Speaker 3: needed 10 days to be sober to have an opportunity 264 00:16:26,500 --> 00:16:29,340 Speaker 3: to serve and to hear the gospel and respond. 265 00:16:29,860 --> 00:16:32,400 Speaker 2: I mean, she really made an impact on Edward and I, 266 00:16:32,450 --> 00:16:34,730 Speaker 2: and we walked away just blown away, A, by her 267 00:16:34,770 --> 00:16:36,990 Speaker 2: skills on skid steer. I mean, she just can rip 268 00:16:37,010 --> 00:16:40,290 Speaker 2: that thing around. But you're right, her testimony. But had 269 00:16:40,330 --> 00:16:42,370 Speaker 2: you not have asked, you know, we might not have 270 00:16:42,390 --> 00:16:45,990 Speaker 2: heard that. But even people listening thinking, I'm not handy. 271 00:16:46,310 --> 00:16:48,310 Speaker 2: I can't use a tool. I can't do anything. Well, 272 00:16:48,750 --> 00:16:51,160 Speaker 2: do you have a story? Do you have the ministerial presence? 273 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:54,080 Speaker 2: Can you just sit with somebody? Angie talked with me 274 00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:56,100 Speaker 2: about the people she has met while serving. 275 00:16:57,040 --> 00:17:01,490 Speaker 1: Everywhere we go, I meet people that are volunteering with 276 00:17:01,510 --> 00:17:04,330 Speaker 1: Samaritan's Purse, and they've got a story that's very similar 277 00:17:04,369 --> 00:17:08,890 Speaker 1: to mine, that they were broken when they met Samaritan's Purse. 278 00:17:09,270 --> 00:17:13,970 Speaker 1: And God has put them back together the same as 279 00:17:14,030 --> 00:17:17,320 Speaker 1: He did me so that we can go out and 280 00:17:17,380 --> 00:17:21,110 Speaker 1: help people. And so there's a lot of us with 281 00:17:21,150 --> 00:17:24,770 Speaker 1: Samaritan's Purse that God has healed and he's put us 282 00:17:24,830 --> 00:17:28,360 Speaker 1: back together. And now he is using us to go 283 00:17:28,630 --> 00:17:33,220 Speaker 1: out and tell people, hey, we were broken just like you. 284 00:17:33,560 --> 00:17:37,040 Speaker 1: It may not have been a storm, but our lives 285 00:17:37,119 --> 00:17:40,899 Speaker 1: were out of control storm. He healed us and he's 286 00:17:40,940 --> 00:17:44,209 Speaker 1: put us back together and healed. You wouldn't believe the 287 00:17:44,270 --> 00:17:48,050 Speaker 1: stories that we hear out there, you know, from the volunteers. 288 00:17:48,390 --> 00:17:52,450 Speaker 1: I gave this devotion and at the end of it, 289 00:17:52,630 --> 00:17:56,260 Speaker 1: I told people, which a lot of the room was 290 00:17:56,320 --> 00:17:59,080 Speaker 1: my friends. I said, there's somebody sitting at your table 291 00:17:59,140 --> 00:18:02,239 Speaker 1: right now. This was after breakfast before we go out 292 00:18:02,280 --> 00:18:04,699 Speaker 1: to the jobs. I said, there's somebody sitting at your 293 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:08,460 Speaker 1: table right now that is just as broken as I 294 00:18:08,500 --> 00:18:11,320 Speaker 1: was the first time that I volunteered. And I said, 295 00:18:11,630 --> 00:18:14,389 Speaker 1: get to know your team members, get to know them 296 00:18:15,670 --> 00:18:18,929 Speaker 1: and pray for them. And we dismissed, and it was 297 00:18:18,990 --> 00:18:23,050 Speaker 1: a mighty, the atmosphere there that morning in the fellowship 298 00:18:23,070 --> 00:18:27,060 Speaker 1: hall where we were eating was, you could feel God 299 00:18:27,220 --> 00:18:32,000 Speaker 1: so strong there. When we dismissed to go get our 300 00:18:32,020 --> 00:18:33,800 Speaker 1: stuff to go out to the trucks and go to work, 301 00:18:34,200 --> 00:18:37,440 Speaker 1: this young man that was about 23 years old, his 302 00:18:37,520 --> 00:18:41,919 Speaker 1: first time ever to volunteer with Samaritan's Purse, He comes 303 00:18:42,180 --> 00:18:46,179 Speaker 1: running up to me and puts me in this bear hug. 304 00:18:46,740 --> 00:18:49,300 Speaker 1: And he is sobbing so bad you can hardly even 305 00:18:49,340 --> 00:18:53,060 Speaker 1: understand him. And he's, that's me you're talking about. I'm 306 00:18:53,140 --> 00:18:56,919 Speaker 1: struggling with drugs. And he was a first-time volunteer. And 307 00:18:57,760 --> 00:19:01,620 Speaker 1: so we got chaplains together. We got other team members together. 308 00:19:01,640 --> 00:19:05,139 Speaker 1: And we prayed for him. That boy's broken. He's as 309 00:19:05,280 --> 00:19:08,490 Speaker 1: broken as I was the first time I came. And 310 00:19:08,530 --> 00:19:11,670 Speaker 1: then before I could get all my stuff and get 311 00:19:12,050 --> 00:19:16,390 Speaker 1: out to the truck to leave, I guarantee you 20 312 00:19:16,390 --> 00:19:20,040 Speaker 1: to 25 people that were sitting in that room of 313 00:19:20,119 --> 00:19:23,800 Speaker 1: almost 100 came up to me and said, that's my 314 00:19:23,859 --> 00:19:28,000 Speaker 1: story you told. It touched so many lives just in 315 00:19:28,060 --> 00:19:33,960 Speaker 1: that one room full of volunteers. And they know what 316 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:37,020 Speaker 1: God can do. And I believe that God is going 317 00:19:37,040 --> 00:19:40,280 Speaker 1: to use all of us And if people just be 318 00:19:40,420 --> 00:19:44,550 Speaker 1: brave enough to tell our story and it gets raw, 319 00:19:45,770 --> 00:19:50,340 Speaker 1: but I'm living proof that God can do anything. You're 320 00:19:50,359 --> 00:19:52,940 Speaker 1: never for him to put you back together. 321 00:19:54,020 --> 00:19:56,380 Speaker 2: Thank you for being so vulnerable and sharing so much 322 00:19:56,400 --> 00:19:59,240 Speaker 2: of your story. But what you said about, you know, 323 00:19:59,290 --> 00:20:01,990 Speaker 2: he uses us when we're brave enough. I think, yes, 324 00:20:02,109 --> 00:20:04,890 Speaker 2: brave enough to be curious and ask questions and then 325 00:20:04,910 --> 00:20:08,570 Speaker 2: brave enough to open up and be vulnerable. I think community, 326 00:20:08,710 --> 00:20:11,139 Speaker 2: when we're struggling, we just want to isolate, right, and 327 00:20:11,160 --> 00:20:14,500 Speaker 2: be by ourselves and use whatever dependent. We all have 328 00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:16,359 Speaker 2: a different vice, right? I mean, there's so many different 329 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:20,270 Speaker 2: things that we do. mask our sorrow with. But I 330 00:20:20,310 --> 00:20:22,970 Speaker 2: think you're right, stepping out and serving and being brave 331 00:20:23,010 --> 00:20:25,590 Speaker 2: enough to come out even when you're broken, especially when 332 00:20:25,609 --> 00:20:27,859 Speaker 2: you're broken. I love how you shared that. And I 333 00:20:27,910 --> 00:20:30,619 Speaker 2: thought of 2 Corinthians 1, 3 through 4, it says, 334 00:20:30,760 --> 00:20:32,580 Speaker 2: praise be to the God and Father of our Lord 335 00:20:32,619 --> 00:20:35,240 Speaker 2: Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of 336 00:20:35,280 --> 00:20:38,369 Speaker 2: all comfort. who comforts us all in our troubles so 337 00:20:38,410 --> 00:20:40,710 Speaker 2: that we can comfort those in any trouble with the 338 00:20:40,750 --> 00:20:43,950 Speaker 2: comfort we ourselves receive from God. I love so many 339 00:20:43,970 --> 00:20:45,889 Speaker 2: things of what you shared, but I just am thinking 340 00:20:45,910 --> 00:20:48,109 Speaker 2: of people listening that think, I could never serve. I 341 00:20:48,130 --> 00:20:51,010 Speaker 2: could never volunteer. I'm not handy. I can't do anything. 342 00:20:51,150 --> 00:20:53,870 Speaker 2: But can you comfort someone? Can you sit and weep 343 00:20:53,890 --> 00:20:55,890 Speaker 2: with someone? Can you listen to their story? Have you 344 00:20:55,910 --> 00:20:57,119 Speaker 2: had pain and affliction? 345 00:20:57,540 --> 00:20:57,760 Speaker 1: Yes. 346 00:20:58,100 --> 00:21:01,000 Speaker 2: Then you can come serve. So I love what you 347 00:21:01,020 --> 00:21:03,200 Speaker 2: shared because I think, yes, coming and being a part 348 00:21:03,220 --> 00:21:05,709 Speaker 2: of these teams, it changes you. And I love how 349 00:21:05,730 --> 00:21:08,430 Speaker 2: you said the ministry isn't just for the homeowner. It's 350 00:21:08,490 --> 00:21:12,780 Speaker 2: for all the other volunteers. It's for community. There's just 351 00:21:12,820 --> 00:21:15,560 Speaker 2: so many different facets of ministry. So when you say 352 00:21:15,600 --> 00:21:19,440 Speaker 2: yes to serving, you have no idea who God has 353 00:21:19,480 --> 00:21:21,590 Speaker 2: in store for you to minister to, right? I mean, 354 00:21:21,650 --> 00:21:25,750 Speaker 2: you've been able to comfort and encourage our volunteers, our homeowner. 355 00:21:26,050 --> 00:21:28,449 Speaker 2: So I'd love for you to share. Yeah, I was 356 00:21:28,470 --> 00:21:31,880 Speaker 2: going to ask. With your background, you know, have there 357 00:21:31,900 --> 00:21:34,220 Speaker 2: been people that you've met that you've been able to 358 00:21:34,260 --> 00:21:37,070 Speaker 2: comfort them with your story and encourage them and allow 359 00:21:37,090 --> 00:21:38,139 Speaker 2: them to not feel alone? 360 00:21:39,830 --> 00:21:43,629 Speaker 1: We did a job in Perry, Florida, over in a 361 00:21:43,670 --> 00:21:47,950 Speaker 1: very rough part of town. And we had a guy 362 00:21:48,170 --> 00:21:51,850 Speaker 1: come over that was sleeping in a tent in someone's 363 00:21:51,869 --> 00:21:56,890 Speaker 1: yard out there. And just being around him, I could 364 00:21:56,950 --> 00:22:01,560 Speaker 1: tell that he was a drug addict. And so he 365 00:22:01,619 --> 00:22:04,760 Speaker 1: watched us work all day and he talked to us 366 00:22:04,920 --> 00:22:07,429 Speaker 1: and we talked to him when we had the chaplains, 367 00:22:07,470 --> 00:22:10,310 Speaker 1: you know, they came out and we introduced him to 368 00:22:10,330 --> 00:22:14,010 Speaker 1: the chaplains. He got saved and we were with him 369 00:22:14,030 --> 00:22:16,409 Speaker 1: all day because we were working right there where he 370 00:22:16,450 --> 00:22:20,170 Speaker 1: was living in the tent all day. And so, you know, 371 00:22:20,190 --> 00:22:23,760 Speaker 1: the chaplains prayed with him. He got saved and he, 372 00:22:23,970 --> 00:22:27,010 Speaker 1: we invited him to come to church, suffer with us. 373 00:22:27,460 --> 00:22:30,790 Speaker 1: And so he, He rode his bicycle almost five miles. 374 00:22:32,050 --> 00:22:35,590 Speaker 1: He didn't have a driver's license. But that aroma that 375 00:22:35,650 --> 00:22:39,500 Speaker 1: I told you that I was drawn to, he wanted 376 00:22:39,880 --> 00:22:42,859 Speaker 1: the same thing that I wanted when I met Samaritan's 377 00:22:42,900 --> 00:22:47,020 Speaker 1: Purse volunteers. We were laughing. We were cutting up. We 378 00:22:47,060 --> 00:22:50,040 Speaker 1: were working hard. He couldn't help us work because he 379 00:22:50,060 --> 00:22:55,850 Speaker 1: hadn't gone through orientation. But we were right in the 380 00:22:55,869 --> 00:22:58,780 Speaker 1: middle of where he lived in his little tent. And 381 00:22:58,820 --> 00:23:03,560 Speaker 1: so we got permission and he came to supper and 382 00:23:04,100 --> 00:23:09,920 Speaker 1: he rode his bike every morning to come. He did 383 00:23:09,960 --> 00:23:14,670 Speaker 1: orientation and he was drawn to us. A hard worker. 384 00:23:15,310 --> 00:23:19,909 Speaker 1: But he had struggles. But I believe he wasn't doing 385 00:23:19,990 --> 00:23:23,210 Speaker 1: any kind of drugs those, I think he volunteered with 386 00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:25,980 Speaker 1: us a couple weeks. And they would even, you know, 387 00:23:26,020 --> 00:23:29,350 Speaker 1: let him come and And eat supper with us sometimes. 388 00:23:29,670 --> 00:23:33,590 Speaker 1: And the church had a shower there. And he could shower. 389 00:23:33,970 --> 00:23:38,909 Speaker 1: And he wanted what we had. He wanted it. And 390 00:23:38,990 --> 00:23:41,450 Speaker 1: so we got to minister to him that whole entire 391 00:23:41,510 --> 00:23:45,110 Speaker 1: time that he was volunteering. And then when we all 392 00:23:45,150 --> 00:23:48,389 Speaker 1: got ready to leave, it broke him. He didn't want 393 00:23:48,890 --> 00:23:51,810 Speaker 1: to leave. He wanted to go with us. But people 394 00:23:51,830 --> 00:23:56,590 Speaker 1: like that, they see us. then they notice that there 395 00:23:56,650 --> 00:23:59,690 Speaker 1: is something different about us. And I can get stories 396 00:23:59,780 --> 00:24:02,780 Speaker 1: about the bad parts of town that we've been in 397 00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:06,360 Speaker 1: and people that aren't saved that come up and start 398 00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:10,220 Speaker 1: talking to us. And we get to minister to them, 399 00:24:10,480 --> 00:24:11,919 Speaker 1: the chaplain minister to them. 400 00:24:13,040 --> 00:24:15,590 Speaker 2: I want to encourage you to step out and serve. 401 00:24:16,430 --> 00:24:18,369 Speaker 2: I know it's going to change your heart like it 402 00:24:18,390 --> 00:24:23,090 Speaker 2: did Angie's. And service comes in many different ways. Sometimes 403 00:24:23,190 --> 00:24:26,820 Speaker 2: it's just someone in your path that needs Jesus. And 404 00:24:26,880 --> 00:24:31,600 Speaker 2: we often make excuses. I'm too busy. I'm unqualified. But 405 00:24:31,680 --> 00:24:34,940 Speaker 2: God doesn't need us. He's the one that they're drawn to. 406 00:24:35,420 --> 00:24:38,639 Speaker 2: People are drawn to the aroma of Christ. I want 407 00:24:38,660 --> 00:24:42,619 Speaker 2: to close with Philippians 2, 3 through 8. It says, 408 00:24:42,700 --> 00:24:46,119 Speaker 2: Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, 409 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:50,409 Speaker 2: in humility, value others above yourselves. not looking to your 410 00:24:50,450 --> 00:24:54,010 Speaker 2: own interests, but each to the interests of others. In 411 00:24:54,050 --> 00:24:57,210 Speaker 2: your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as 412 00:24:57,270 --> 00:25:00,710 Speaker 2: Christ Jesus, who being in very nature with God, did 413 00:25:00,750 --> 00:25:03,609 Speaker 2: not consider equality with God something to be used to 414 00:25:03,690 --> 00:25:08,469 Speaker 2: his advantage. Rather, he made himself nothing by taking the 415 00:25:08,530 --> 00:25:12,150 Speaker 2: very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness, 416 00:25:12,830 --> 00:25:15,810 Speaker 2: and being found in appearance as a man. He humbled 417 00:25:15,830 --> 00:25:21,300 Speaker 2: himself by being obedient to death even death on a cross. 418 00:25:21,320 --> 00:25:24,260 Speaker 2: And like the scripture I shared earlier, Jesus didn't come 419 00:25:24,320 --> 00:25:27,380 Speaker 2: to be served, but to serve and to give his 420 00:25:27,460 --> 00:25:30,840 Speaker 2: life a ransom for many. We need to follow his example, 421 00:25:31,520 --> 00:25:34,820 Speaker 2: humble ourselves, and look to how we can serve others. 422 00:25:35,660 --> 00:25:37,620 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for listening this week. If you 423 00:25:37,640 --> 00:25:40,159 Speaker 2: want to get more involved with North America Disaster Relief, 424 00:25:40,520 --> 00:25:46,429 Speaker 2: visit SamaritansPurse.org. Is there someone in your life that you 425 00:25:46,570 --> 00:25:49,570 Speaker 2: could encourage to serve or you think would love to 426 00:25:49,609 --> 00:25:52,030 Speaker 2: be a part of our teams like Angie? It says 427 00:25:52,070 --> 00:25:54,189 Speaker 2: in Hebrews 10 that we are to stir up one 428 00:25:54,250 --> 00:25:57,230 Speaker 2: another to love and good works. And I would be 429 00:25:57,290 --> 00:25:59,790 Speaker 2: thrilled if you would share this episode with a friend today. 430 00:26:00,410 --> 00:26:00,869 Speaker 1: Who knows? 431 00:26:01,410 --> 00:26:03,960 Speaker 2: They might want to get involved. So take a second. 432 00:26:04,260 --> 00:26:04,840 Speaker 1: Just text them. 433 00:26:05,520 --> 00:26:07,619 Speaker 2: I try to do this. When someone comes to my mind, 434 00:26:07,680 --> 00:26:09,560 Speaker 2: I try to pray for them, try to reach out. 435 00:26:10,150 --> 00:26:12,030 Speaker 2: Maybe try to share something that I've learned that they 436 00:26:12,050 --> 00:26:14,909 Speaker 2: would find interesting. So who can you stir up today? 437 00:26:15,450 --> 00:26:19,430 Speaker 2: Who can you be praying for? If you enjoyed this episode, 438 00:26:19,609 --> 00:26:22,670 Speaker 2: search On the Ground with Samaritan's Purse wherever you're listening. 439 00:26:23,270 --> 00:26:26,489 Speaker 2: We release episodes every week to encourage you in your 440 00:26:26,530 --> 00:26:28,560 Speaker 2: walk with the Lord and take you to the front 441 00:26:28,600 --> 00:26:30,980 Speaker 2: lines and behind the scenes of our work around the world. 442 00:26:31,880 --> 00:26:34,340 Speaker 2: From talking with an Army veteran whose life has been 443 00:26:34,400 --> 00:26:39,080 Speaker 2: completely transformed through Operation Healer Patriots, to speaking with our 444 00:26:39,100 --> 00:26:42,260 Speaker 2: disaster assistance response team members on the ground who are 445 00:26:42,300 --> 00:26:47,480 Speaker 2: distributing life-saving supplies after a devastating disaster. Every new episode 446 00:26:47,540 --> 00:26:51,820 Speaker 2: becomes my favorite. Make sure you subscribe. You'll be challenged 447 00:26:51,880 --> 00:26:54,220 Speaker 2: and encouraged in your faith as you hear how God 448 00:26:54,280 --> 00:26:58,590 Speaker 2: is actively changing lives. Again, to find the show, search 449 00:26:58,850 --> 00:27:02,250 Speaker 2: On the Ground with Samaritan's Purse wherever you're listening or 450 00:27:02,310 --> 00:27:06,720 Speaker 2: by going to SamaritansPurse.org slash LifeAudio. Thank you so much 451 00:27:06,750 --> 00:27:08,240 Speaker 2: for tuning in. God bless you.