by Delores Topliff

Reality changed what I planned to write this month. I spend spring and summer each year on a farm in central Minnesota and the remaining time in NE Mississippi. Years earlier, I raised my sons in northwestern Canada near the Alaska Highway helping develop two Christian schools and a good small college. We experienced plenty of ice and snow and -60 F twice. Once, I camped out at -20 F to practice survival skills I taught to my school students. What was I thinking? I’ll never do that again!

When Mississippi locals warned me about severe ice/snow storms, I laughed. I’m not smiling now. I’d never heard thunder booms that sound the same as transformers exploding or like breaking, falling trees.

Everything got covered with two inches of ice topped with tree debris, so travel stopped. But people cooperated beautifully, and I’m very impressed.

The heating systems in most homes need electricity to work, so dwellings cool quickly. Without light, as soon as the sun sets, it’s very dark.

Samaritan’s Purse is on the ground here. They talked to me yesterday. Their list is long but they promised to help all who’ve called. The National Guard is here, too, removing fallen trees, clearing debris from roads, and assisting the local and out-of-state power companies all working together. One week later, some rural residences are still without power.

I enjoyed staying five days in a nearby friend’s home who had gas heat and battery-powered flashlights. We celebrated when internet was restored.

Today two men from church arrived with a chainsaw and cut and hauled tree debris to the road from her yard and mine. Saying “thank you” doesn’t convey my sense of well-being from being so kindly cared for.

I’ve donated to Samaritan’s Purse through the years, but didn’t expect to be on the receiving end. Ecclesiastes 11:1 says, “Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.” Jesus has a way of multiplying bread. Lately, I’m finding mine multiplied many times over. Keep your eyes open. I suspect your bread will multiply, too. And perhaps after you eat and are satisfied, there will be enough to give to those around you until they are also filled and have enough extra baskets to pass on.