Samaritan’s Purse volunteers are hard at work in Laurel County serving grieving people in Jesus’ Name.
Barbara Jones has weathered many a storm in her life—some physical, others emotional, and many spiritual. But, after a deadly EF4 tornado tore through her hometown of London, Kentucky, she initially told her kids she’d had enough and wanted to get out.
“I just want to leave and forget this,” she said. “I’ve got so much to be thankful for, but my heart is breaking for the people around us.”
Local volunteers, also friends and neighbors, were excited to help Barbara after the storm.
At least 19 people across the state died during a violent storm system that spawned multiple twisters across the Midwest.
A House Built on the Rock
Although still grieving, Barbara is focused more now on being grateful that God saved her and is committed to helping others in her community.
When she returned to her house the night of the twister, she saw the tornado had come within a hairsbreadth of her home. Trees were toppled around the property, turning her surrounding yard into a debris field, but not a brick or shingle was out of place.
Volunteers, both local and from out of state, showed up to help the Kentucky community.
“When I got here, there was a family standing on my porch that had lost their home and had nowhere to go. They were soaking wet with rain,” Barbara said. “They were in shock and we just hugged them and cried and took them in and took care of them as best we could.”
She’s continued caring for her neighbors ever since. Her porch is now a catch-all on the corner of an absolutely devastated street. She’s gathered water, food, and hygiene supplies there for anyone who needs them.
Barbara is helping to meet community needs, but she had needs of her own too. That’s why she was so encouraged when she opened her door one morning after the storm and saw 20 orange-clad Samaritan’s Purse volunteers ready to clear fallen timber in her yard.
Large downed trees call for heavy equipment to help clean up.
“Samaritan’s Purse has come to our rescue and it’s been such a solace to be able to talk to the volunteers,” she said. “The people are just so full of God, and so full of love, and I’m so thankful to have them.”
“There’s nothing like the love of God,” she said. “My heart goes out to the families that have lost loved ones. I can’t even begin to imagine. But God, He’s a big God, and no matter what we go through, He can meet our needs and He can comfort our heart.”
A Chance to Give Back
Scores of Samaritan’s Purse volunteers have been at work in Laurel County, Kentucky, since the storm.
Peyton Benge is one of the local volunteers who’ve joined the work. As she pulled up to a home in London and saw the family step outside, she was immediately overcome with emotion. She recognized them. It was Steve and Georgie Petro, the children’s ministry directors from the church where she grew up.
Steve Petro is grateful for the volunteers who cleaned up his yard and tarped his roof after the storm.
“This family is an amazing family. They love the Lord. They serve the Lord faithfully, and they taught me about Jesus,” Peyton said. “Their whole life has been committed to serving Christ and serving others, so being able to serve them was a blessing.”
Steve is from Indiana, so he’s no stranger to tornadoes. Neither is his wife. Georgie has spent her entire life in Laurel County. But they said it was the Lord, not experience, that held them together. Steve and Georgie, calmed and strengthened by their faith in Jesus Christ, said they were unafraid as they sought shelter from the storm in their laundry room.
As the wind blew their front door inward, trees came crashing down, and roofs went flying, they found themselves kept in perfect peace.
Though the storm could cause some to doubt, Steve said, yet “God can take this and turn it for the good. The Lord can use people like Samaritan’s Purse to show the love of Jesus.”
The chainsaw crew makes quick work of fallen trees.
Our volunteers got to work on their property, placing portions of blue tarp that spanned the length of their ripped up roof.
The Petro family feels blessed despite the damage, especially by the hard work of Samaritan’s Purse volunteers. Steve watched awestruck while the team made quick work of removing downed trees, debris, metal roofing, and siding.
Later in the same day, Steve and Georgie were presented with a copy of the Word of God, one they will cherish for years to come. The Billy Graham Training Center Bible, with volunteer signatures all on the inside cover, is a Bible Steve plans to pass down for generations as a reminder of the servants, and God’s provision, who arrived at his home after this storm.
“In the time of tragedy and loss, God showed up,” Steve said, expressing deep gratitude for the volunteers serving as representatives of Jesus Christ. “He showed up with a smile. God showed up with a hug. God showed up with care.”
Leaning on Faith and Friends
Peyton, Barbara, and Steve and Georgie are all grieving friends lost to the storm. These neighbors didn’t even know each other before and now they’re bonded together as some serve and others learn to receive in the wake of disaster.
“Through trauma, through pain, through loss of life, God is there for us and I’m so thankful,” Barbara said. “We’re looking forward to watching God build back this community.”
As Peyton prayed over the Petro family, she also prayed for her grieving town and for the recovery efforts still to come. She hopes that in the midst of the tragedy, God will draw many people to Jesus Christ.
Many Laurel County residents were among our volunteer team serving at the home of Steve and Georgie Petro. They lost much of their roof, but the Petros count themselves blessed by God for His provision and protection.
