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God’s Grace during disasters
Summer 2011 - A Season of Natural Disasters and God's grace abounding.
As all Australians would be keenly aware, many parts of Australia were affected by fire, severe rain-storms, flooding and cyclones. Queensland had several weeks of continuing problems, first with the floods, and then Cyclone Yasi in early February.
The LGA News was illuminating: The Queensland Government declared 19 Local Government Areas across Far North Queensland natural disaster zones, caused by cyclone Yasi. The councils identified as being hit by the cyclone includes: Burdekin, Burke, Cairns, Carpentaria, Cassowary Coast, Charters Towers, Croydon, Doomadgee, Etheridge, Flinders, Hinchinbrook, Mackay, Mount Isa, Palm Island, Tablelands, Townsville, Whitsunday Wujal Wujal and Yarrabah.
All these areas included Uniting Church congregations and groups. The ACC National Prayer Network and many other members were united in prayer before this event, with Liverpool ACC based Prayer (Uniting in Prayer) group contributing through material provided for their facebook pages). We give thanks to God for the answers to prayer and the wonderful help and efforts of relief that were provided and are still being provided.
Several Uniting Churches had damage to buildings (mainly roofs, gutters, windows and grounds, including Tully and Mission Beach, Ingham (see below), Townsville (ACC Member and Minister Anne Harley at Mt Louisa House of Praise Church reported water damage and extensive tree damage on their property - see the photos); Aitkenvale, Wulguru (ACC Member), Cairns (ACC has Emmanuel Church as part of its fellowship). Church members were among many in Tully that suffered damage to, or lost their homes. For an overall view of the Queensland Uniting church scene, the Queensland Synod Journey Newspaper website has provided helpful updates and a prayer focus: http://www.journeyonline.com.au/
Difficulties continued after the Cyclone in March with heavy rains causing flooding in some areas, making the clean-up and delivery of services and food more difficult.
ACC has an "ACC group" (a gathering of members) at Mission Beach, Tully and Cardwell within the UCA Parish (Tully and District). This was the local area which suffered the most damage from Cyclone Yasi. There was only one evacuation centre in the area and this was reserved for those in significant need, so unless people left the area they had to bunker down and endure the ten hours or more of the cyclone. The local members have been wonderfully supportive or each other and the community. Services of hope and thanksgiving have been held and they are receiving dedicated extra help from the wider Uniting Church, including recently a special pastoral support weekend. It was encouraging to read the following message on the Tully and District Uniting Church Facebook page:
"Thank you to all of those who are praying for us and our community. Our church has suffered some damage, but still has a roof! We have broken windows, water damage and some guttering damage. Please continue to pray for those in Tully and its surrounding communities as there are so many people who need help. Thank our awesome God for his mercy and grace, as we are alive."
Cardwell - again, the area suffered significant cyclone damage and then some storm surge damage. There was no UC building here, and the Anglican Church is now an outdoor church with the pews (bolted into the floor) the only visible part remaining. This was captured in an startling "after cyclone" photo http://www.heraldsun.com.au/ipad/cardwell-a-sea-of-mud-and-heartbreak/story-fn6bfkm6-1225999818320. For the church before - see http://modernaus.blogspot.com/search/label/Cardwell
Ingham - Shane Kammermann (Minister and ACC Council member) reported "that the town has many damaged buildings, but not as severe as further north. Many trees are down. It is amazing how many missed buildings, or caused minor damage. Some have flattened sheds etc too. Flood levels in the Beamerside and Halifax districts have apparently been the highest for many decades according to some of the old locals. There are many stories to tell of the night, and the noises outside as things disintegrated and came down. We are tired and feeling under it a bit. But we have a house (manse) without damage. The Ingham Uniting building has roof damage and water issues inside. Still waiting for some help to tarp it up and get the inside dry. Minor issues compared to many others."
Innisfail - Members will remember that ACC Member church Innisfail bore the brunt of Cyclone Larry in 2006, so this time they were very relieved, but there is still extensive damage and clean-up and ongoing issues with power and damage caused by debris removal, mainly trees and damage to older and less well-built structures.
Prayers are needed for those who have suffered the loss of their homes, pets and animals, and personal effects. People are continuing to work through all that needs to be done, and pastoral workers report that beneath the surface many people feel overwhelmed and vulnerable, needing strength, love and support to face re-building.
Prayer for farming communities which have suffered loss of crops and the flow-on effect this has in the local area.
Prayer and wisdom is needed for the longer-term for all those in decision-making roles for design, re-building, and also planning for these events, particularly evacuation centres as some areas had inadequate evacuation or the buildings were not reasonable for the numbers of people and those in need, especially the elderly (spending all night in facilities with no bedding, and limited toilets).
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