The former Army Ranger and his wife, Kristy, visited with homeowners and Samaritan's Purse volunteers in the flood-ravaged town of Highland Falls.
Not in 40 years had Dexter Bunte seen such devastation in his community of Highland Falls, New York. Until July 9 the stream that ran by his house was merely a harmless feature adding to the area’s quaint beauty.
Dexter Bunte shares with a Team Patriot volunteer outside his home.
“It was a babbling brook. My kids used to get excited when it would rise a few inches,” he said.
But then it rose catastrophically after 10 inches of rain fell in a few hours. Water spilled off the surrounding mountains in torrents, swelling the Hudson River and its tributaries.
“One minute I looked out the window and there were just puddles. About 30 minutes later, there were three to four feet of water on the street.”
Eventually it came into his house, rising four feet inside.
Bunte shared this story with Edward Graham, chief operating officer at Samaritan’s Purse, and his wife, Kristy, as they arrived in the Hudson Valley neighborhood on July 18 to encourage and pray for homeowners devastated by the storms. The Highland Falls community holds a special place in the hearts of the couple. A former Army Ranger, Graham attended school just minutes away at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Kristy’s father, also an Army officer, taught at West Point, where they lived for many of her early years.
Military Connections
“This is a little bit of a homecoming for us,” Graham told Bunte. “I’m sorry for all the loss and destruction you’ve experienced here. We love this town. We are praying for you. We’re here to serve you because we love you but more importantly Jesus loves you. You are not forgotten. That is why the volunteers come.”
Edward Graham prays with Vietnam combat veteran Dexter Bunte whose Highland Falls home was flooded July 9.
Bunte, a Vietnam combat veteran, is one of several veterans that our Team Patriot and Disaster Relief volunteers have helped in Highland Falls. Our volunteers have been busy since July 14, helping homeowners remove ruined belongings and debris and sharing the love of Christ as they serve in Jesus’ Name. Graham was able to swap military stories with Bunte and share a little about the veteran couples serving at his house.
“My dad watched what combat did to my friends and their marriages, which is why he wanted to help them,” Graham told Bunte, describing the origin of Operation Heal Our Patriots, the Samaritan’s Purse ministry to military couples with at least one spouse injured after 9/11. Team Patriot is an outgrowth of that ministry focused on disaster relief. “These veterans and their wives have gone through many storms in life, so they want to help others who go through that.”
“Jesus loves you. You are not forgotten. That is why the volunteers come.”
Bunte opened up to Graham about his own combat-related struggles, including memories of battle scenes during his time at war from 1967-1969.
Many of Dexter’s belongings were claimed by the flood.
But even as he’s reeling from the ruin of cherished belongings—including many special antiques he and his wife collected together until her death six years ago—Bunte is rejoicing about God’s provision through His people.
“It enforces my faith in God when I see so many people do such good work,” he said, pointing to the volunteers. “There is so much hate and anger out there. This, for me, alleviates most negative feelings I have about humanity.”
Not Easy Work
In addition to meeting with homeowners, the Grahams also encouraged and thanked Team Patriot and Disaster Relief volunteers serving in Highland Falls.
Edward and Kristy Graham visited with Team Patriot volunteers serving in New York.
“God brings us the best people,” Graham told the volunteers. “I know this isn’t easy work. On behalf of my father (Franklin Graham), thank you for being here.”
Graham committed to continue helping the town until the work is done.
We praise God that so far five people have received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior through our deployment in Highland Falls. Here’s a brief account of one of them, as told by one of our assistant program managers:
“One [Samaritan’s Purse] team went to do a small job not really thinking they were needed and wondered why they were even going. Once the chaplains arrived [from the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team] and spent time with the homeowner, everyone understood why they were at this home. After conversation, the homeowner accepted Christ; after praying to receive Christ, her countenance was changed reflecting her change of heart. She didn’t have a Bible until the team was able to present her with one. The homeowner plans on reading from the Bible to her daughter every night.”
Samaritan’s Purse U.S. Disaster Relief is currently deployed in New York and Vermont, as well as Arkansas and Oklahoma. You can find out more about volunteering with us at spvolunteer.org.
