Our Disaster Recovery volunteers are trained, registered and ready to go at a moment’s notice to provide material aid and general support in evacuation and recovery centres. We also perform community outreach activities, partnering with Red Cross to provide information, give referrals and collect relevant information from communities impacted by disasters.
One of our Health Chaplains, Bridget spent time working out of Disaster Recovery Centres in Northern NSW. She talked to flood-affected people, providing a listening ear, words of comfort and the hope of the gospel.
Here are Bridget's reflections from the front line:
"The week has gone so quickly and I'm now home. The Recovery Centres have all been extremely busy every day with over a hundred people coming through. I was able to sit with a large number of people each day and hear their stories. Most appreciated having a listening ear, especially with the long wait to get through to services. The flood in this area was so unexpected for many.
I met a group of Cabbage Tree Island residents first in the Evacuation Centre and later caught up with them again in the recovery Centre. This Aboriginal community may never be able to return to the homes they have lived in for many generations. I had some good gospel conversations with them and gave out copies of Marks Gospel specifically written for their community, which seemed well received.
There were also a number of residents I spoke to from a local caravan park that was totally inundated. The owner wants to close it down so this already struggling community is without long-term accommodation. Many people spoke about how the community was rallying together to help each other. This gave me a few opportunities to speak of some of the good that can come out of adversity and of Christ's suffering and the sacrifices he made for us.
When I had gospel conversations I was able to give out Bibles and tracts to some. I also recommended a local church. A local school Chaplain came for help at the Centre who was a member at that church. I was reassured that people would be welcomed if they were to go.
Thank you for your support in prayer it was much appreciated. Please continue to pray for this difficult and emotional clean up stage. For seeds being sown in peoples lives. Also pray for other Chaplains that are flying up today to assist in the Northern Rivers region."
If you want to support people experiencing emergencies, why not become a Disaster Recovery Volunteer?