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"You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat." - Isaiah 25:4a  Living in Nature's PathCuban people must often contend with forces of nature, and the devastation caused by hurricanes is widely known. One only needs to look at the destruction left in the paths of Hurricanes Katrina, Ivan, or Andrew to see the results. A hurricane's storm surge causes sudden floods that can sweep cars away; winds blowing in excess of 100 miles per hour can rip roofs off houses and tear down buildings. Even a small hurricane can lay a town to waste. But hurricanes can also be an opportunity for God's glory to shine through and to demonstrate love and see the body of Christ in action. Banding Together to Brave the Storm Recently, in the mountainous region of Eastern Cuba, villagers scrambled to find suitable shelter from a coming storm, but few homes in the village would provide adequate protection from the hurricane's raging winds. One couple, a village pastor and his wife, opened the doors to their concrete-block home and welcomed villagers to take shelter. People gathered in the home until there was no room left for others. To make room for additional villagers, the pastor and his wife moved their possessions out of the house and into the storm, emptying the home of everything. Villagers kept coming until nearly 200 people were crammed, standing side by side, inside the house with more people huddled outside its walls. The villagers outside interlocked arms and formed a human chain that encircled the house, allowing them some shelter provided by the walls of the home. They clung together for nearly two hours, buffeted by the winds and crying out to their Heavenly Father for protection. When the storm ended, not a single person had lost his life. The Testimony of Unity What a beautiful demonstration of the unity of the body of Christ. Much the way every Christian is called to service within the body of Christ to build it up, strengthen it, and carry out its purpose within the world, |
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the villagers, who alone could not withstand the storm, were brought together in service to the collective body to strengthen it. Through sacrifice and service they were able to stand together under the protection of God and survive the storm. They shared their story with great exuberance–not about the hardship, lost possessions, or their damaged homes–but about the beauty of the unity of brothers and sisters standing together in the face of great adversity. WorldServe invites you to partner with us in providing aid for rebuilding storm-ravaged areas. Donate for Cuban Disaster Relief. Any size gift helps. |
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