From Cindy's Heart

Update from Linda Larson--After the Hurricane

9:58 AM, Oct. 7, 2005 .. Posted in Hurricane Katrina Relief Updates .. Link

Good Morning Dearies!

Here is an update from Linda Larson that I just got in my email. Hope you enjoy!

Love,

Cindy

Hey Cindy -

Well we are still hanging in there, Ed will be driving back up from Biloxi on Thursday to spend a few days with us- we can hardly wait we miss him so much - the break will do him good - he has spent the week dealing with Air Force stuff and the rest of the time he has been at the house - the insurance told him that we needed to remove all the walls in the lower part of the house that was under water - to stop the mold and damp spreading - so he and a collegue have been busy doing that - pretty hard work - in the heat and humidity. Still he got it done. He sent me a photo, the house looks very odd with all the walls opened up on the inside. The insurance adjuster saw him yesterday - they have to go away and make up an estimate for the amount they will pay to fix up the house - they said it would take a week or two, then we have to find a contractor who will work with the insurance and work within their price range - because we have nothing extra to pay them with, so we cannot have anyone who may get creative with the price.

Regarding the contents, that was ok - because we had the flood insurance, they depreciated everything by 20% and then gave him a check for the rest. We are a bit out of pocket - but we have enough to replace most of our important and necessary things for a home, and that is a blessing. The rest does not matter - as long as we have the basics, and each other that is what is important - God always provides in his own way.

The insurance man told my husband he was very shocked at how many people did not have the flood insurance - and how hard it was for them now. We know that our neighbors up and down the street did not have it because they told us - they were all asking why we had it as the insurance had told them they did not need it in our area - my husband told them it was because I insisted on it because I had a feeling we needed it, so he did it to shut me up!! He said it was the best $200 he has ever spent. I know it was a God thing. Anyway, we are so grateful that we decided to get it, it has saved us from complete ruin. I feel so sad for all those who did not and who have lost everything - that is so awful and all I can do is pray for them.

Ed told me tonight he heard from the Air Force that we should hear in the next 5-10 days where we will be going next - so that will be a relief. I just want to be able to tell our precious girls where we will be going, so that we have something to plan for. They have taken it all extremely hard - and I think it will take a long time for them to feel safe and secure again. I can tell by their lack of interest in anything and the things they write, when they can be bothered to write - it is all very gloomy - I spoke to a doctor on the base and she said it was normal for now - if it goes on for months, then it could be a problem. Our prayer is that once we find a place to live, wherever the Air Force sends us, that they will start to feel better and more at peace. In the meantime, we are talking a lot, walking, reading, watching some good old movies and drinking lots of tea. They draw and write in their personal journals and write stories - some of them quite dark - the doctor told me not to be concerned because they are getting their feelings out on paper and that will pass as well, but she said it is a good coping skill to have. It is at times like this that I am grateful that I have them at home and not in school. They would really be suffering in school now - everything would be unfamiliar.

As it is we can lead gentle lives and come to terms with things in our own way. Ok, we don't have a big squishy couch anymore, but the couch we have is good enough and the tea we drink is wonderful, my beloved mother sends me our favorite from England on a regular basis so that we don't run out. Life is far better for us than many others, and when the blues start getting to me, I just remind myself of that and read a devotional or look at a Bible passage and I feel better.

We also had a wonderful package come from a family in Portsmouth, New Hampshire thanks to your Blog. They sent us some wonderful books for the girls to read, and some binders, paper, scrapbook things etc - it was such a joy and really cheered us up. Nicci and Chloe immediately started to read the books and have been enjoying them and we are using the other things as well. The lady wrote me a lovely letter and one of her daughters wrote the girls - they were very pleased and are writing back. When Ed gets back I will write a huge thank you to them - he was so touched he wants to sign the letter and asked me to wait until he got home, so that is what I will do. People are good, and I am extremely grateful - the girls were very pleased with the books and they had not read any of them before - so it was perfect.

Cindy, I do hope that people are reaching out and donating to your cause and helping you take things down to the needy in Mississippi - it is so important. I hope people are not getting jaded - the need is great down there - my husband tells me everyday on the phone about how grim things are for so many. I do NOT include myself or our family in that - we still have so much to be thankful for - but so many down there do not. There were many struggling people in Biloxi before the hurricane, this can only have made their plight even more desperate now. I hate that the elderly and children are having to live in those conditions down there - if we who have so much feel the pain and loss, how must they be feeling, when they have nothing left.

It is a wonderful thing you are doing and I wish I could help - rest assured my prayers are with your ministry and all those who are doing similar things - I hope that you are getting a lot of support. I will never forget this experience and I will also never forget how it feels to be wrapped up in a disaster - consequently I will always have an empathy for those who suffer in disasters in the future, and I hope that one day I will be in a position to help them - for now the prayers must suffice.

I am loving all the books you sent, I am loving listening to you reassure me on your CDs that the fact that we are not at the moment doing "school" will not turn the girls into total illiterates - thank you for the gift of you and your ministry. I wish you all the very best on your trip to your families area of Mississippi and I hope that you are able to help many.

Hey, I love your book on tea and the recipes - you are the first person who has a recipe for scones the same as we make in England - I was really impressed with that - I made a tea booklet last year for our church youth group, just pages stapled together, but the similarities between my pamphlet and your booklet were amazing. Yours was far more professional, and more in depth - I shall send you a copy of mine, as I have a couple of recipes on mine that you may like. Anyway, anyone who likes tea is a friend of mine! Do take care of yourself on your mission trip and I will let you know how we are doing and when we have news.

God bless you and we love you like we know you - lots of hugs n stuff

Linda

Philip. 4:6-8
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Want to ADOPT Linda and Her Family???

Nowwwww...Linda says that they are doing fine...BUT! What do you think? Anyone want to just bless them to overflowing like I do? Well, HERE is your chance! If you have been looking for someone to personally adopt for ministry AFTER the Hurricane, join us in blessing them!

I happen to believe that suffering is God's chance to blow us all away with how HE RESTORES. He doesn't give us enough to "make-do" or even what we had before...He gives us hundred-fold for the trouble! Just reading this email from Linda moves on my heart to tell me WHY? If MY heart is moved with such deep compassion, how is GOD'S HEART moved? WOW!

Soooo, want to be His hands? Heart? Love? Just email me and I can send you her address for you to send any cards, care packages, or goodies to them. Won't this be fun?

Email me at: Cindy@CindyRushton.com

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