(Blog Disclaimer: This is a blog from us, that is actually not primarily focused on Isaiah. No cute pictures or stories this time, but trust me they're on the way!)
"How high is the water Momma?" These are the infamous words of the beloved man in black, Johnny Cash. Well it was rising whenever he penned those lyrics and it is rising here now in Moorhead, fast and furious. The Red River is getting deeper and deeper, wider and wider. At a normal time the water level flows at 13 feet. Currently it is nearing 23 feet and the most recent predictions say that by Thursday night it will rise and crest somewhere between 40-42 feet. That's worse than the Red River flood of 1997, infamous to those in the Fargo-Moorhead area. In fact, people were told twelve years ago that the '97 flood was a once in every 100 years kind of event. So much for that!!! This flood is predicted to be much worse. For more information on the '97 flood check out this link to the Wikipedia article. Just copy and paste: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_River_Flood,_1997.
So word is getting out throughout Fargo-Moorhead. The flood water is rapidly rising. Flood warnings are all over the TV and radio stations. Warnings that scroll across the bottom of the TV screen are followed by requests for many volunteers to bag sand and build dikes all over the roads and homes that boarder the river. They're desperate. Bagging sand is now open to volunteers 24 hours a day. Businesses are closing so they can waterproof the stores and allow their employees to volunteer with flood prevention. They're actually at the point when colleges (perhaps even high schools) will be closing so that students can get out of the classrooms and help bag sand. Hopefully the students will actually answer the desperate pleas and not just sleep in, play video games or party!
Just this afternoon I volunteered for about 3 hours...shoveling and hauling sandbags. Strangers coming together for the greater good of the community. People of all ages putting the needs of others before our own. Salvation Army and the Red Cross driving through the streets passing out water and food. So many people, whether they realized it or not, answering the call of Christ: "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40). But there is so much left to be done. And the unceasing rainstorms are only making matters worse and much more urgent. In fact, the number of current volunteers is only enough to meet 25% of the need/requests for flood damage prevention. Calie and I (and Isaiah) are not in any danger ourselves; nor is most of the members of our congregation. But not all of them are in the clear, and regardless of whether we know the people or not--there are still many people in need of selfless volunteers. So keep us in your prayers, we're not out of the water yet (pun intended).
Now bring it home Johnny, "Well, the rails are washed out north of town. We gotta head for higher ground. We can't come back till the water comes down, five feet high and risin."
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