Samaritan’s Purse is helping flood victims in Jesus’ Name as residents recover after devastating floods across the region.
When John Vivona stepped out of bed that morning, he was shocked to find himself standing ankle-deep in water.
He ran through the house, turning on lights to see what was going on. But there was nothing he could do—water from the Guadalupe River was already surging into his home.
For the second time in only a few years and in communities hundreds of miles apart, Samaritan’s Purse helped John Vivona clean up his home after storms.
It had only been six months since he’d moved to the area and into his, now, flood-damaged house.
“This is it—this is all I have,” he said.
The next day, he set to work pulling up floorboards and cleaning up the water that was trapped underneath. But at 64 years old and with ongoing health conditions, including a history of heart attacks, he knew that overworking himself was putting his life at risk.
Volunteers removed molding floor boards and many ruined valuables from John’s home.
“It’s hard for me as a [former] Marine to reach out for help for anything,” he said. “But I can’t do this alone.”
When he heard that Samaritan’s Purse was deploying to Kerrville, Texas, he immediately contacted our disaster relief team. He was happy to know that help was coming soon. This wasn’t the first time he’d received help from our volunteers.
Blessed by Volunteers Serving in Jesus’ Name
About two years ago, a devastating tornado destroyed John’s property in North Carolina, which is where he had been living before moving to Texas.
Floodwaters filled many homes in the region.
Our volunteers helped him clear debris and fallen trees out of his yard. He was grateful he could count on Samaritan’s Purse to help him get through the shock of yet another natural disaster.
Volunteers removed moldy flooring and sheetrock. Most importantly, the team also covered him in prayer.
“Father God, John’s been through a lot, and we’re here to help,” prayed volunteer Bob Lindeman. “We thank You for everything that You’ve given us, and we know that You’re giving us Your love and support right now.”
He was overwhelmed by the love the team demonstrated through their work and the comfort they offered.
“I get teared up when I think about it—normally I can stay in pretty good control of my emotions, but they were a Godsend then, they’re a Godsend now,” he said.
John is now going door-to-door, encouraging his neighbors to reach out to Samaritan’s Purse for help.
“I can’t say enough good things about this organization,” he said. “They say, ‘We’re here to help,’ and they mean it.”
Disaster Strikes Two Hours South
After 11 years, Joseph and Jacqueline Ayala had finally saved up enough money to buy a manufactured home.
They had planned to live on the property next to Joseph’s parents in Batesville, Texas. His parents’ home is where they had been living with their 1-year-old daughter until they could afford a place of their own.
Volunteers helped Joseph and Jacqueline Ayala clean out their newly purchased home, flooded just days before they were scheduled to move in.
And that day had finally arrived. So, they bought new furniture. They decorated the walls. And they dreamed about the memories they’d soon make together in their own home.
Then, a week before move in, they received a warning that the Leona River—less than 500 feet away—was in danger of overflowing. But this was nothing new, and usually nothing that alarmed Joseph. He had grown up there and was used to experiencing minor flooding when the tides rose.
But then he heard about the damage the river caused 20 miles north in Uvalde. He feared that they were facing a very different experience than he had in his younger years.
He stayed up that night waiting for news.
Some of the family’s belongings were salvaged but many were damaged beyond repair.
Then it came. A neighbor posted on Facebook at 2 a.m. warning people to start evacuating. Joseph woke up his wife and told her to take their baby to the car. Then he woke up his grandmother, who lived next door.
By the time the family was ready to leave, the water had risen to their knees. Before pulling away, the couple watched muddy water stream into their new home.
“We work so hard for everything, and it just got washed away,” Jacqueline said. “It took us years to finally buy something brand new for ourselves, and it’s gone.”
The property and both homes were under water. They drove away and all the memories replayed in their heads of Sunday family gatherings and their daughter’s first holidays. The place where they had lived all those moments was now four feet under water.
They found themselves driving through a surreal scene. The blaring flood warning sirens. The search and rescue boats. The water that beat against the car.
“It was truly horrifying. It was something straight out of a movie,” Jacqueline said.
Praising God for Providing at Just the Right Time
When the waters subsided the next day, they returned to survey the damage. Both homes had taken severe hits. Their new home, closest to the river, had been knocked off the cinder blocks that raised it above typical flood levels.
Volunteers encouraged the family from God’s Word and presented them with a special Billy Graham Training Center Bible signed by the team at the completion of their work.
The waters had risen up to the level of the kitchen stove—nearly five feet above the ground. Their furniture was falling apart, the floor was caked with mud, and only a few of their belongings were salvageable.
They desperately needed help.
We praise God that the next day, Samaritan’s Purse volunteers arrived to help. They sorted through belongings, removed waterlogged furniture and appliances, and ripped out moldy sheetrock and insulation.
“There’s no way we could have done the amount of work on our own,” Jacqueline said. “It’s a huge blessing because we didn’t know where to start.”
Joseph and Jacqueline are still grieving their loss, but they are grateful for the love shown to them by our team and for the reminder of the hope that is rooted in Jesus Christ.
“God always provides—every single time. There have been so many instances where we were in a rut and didn’t know what we were going to do, and it worked out somehow,” Jacqueline said. “I know it’ll work out. I just don’t know when, but it will.”
Please pray for the many hurting residents in the area and for our disaster relief teams as they continue to help homeowners recover from the devastating floods in the Kerrville and Uvalde areas. Pray also that many would experience hope and new life in the Lord Jesus Christ as our volunteers serve in His Name.
