“I ain’t been to my mamaw’s house for months, until that night. Then we spent 2 days in her attic.”
“Our school still doesn’t have floors.”
“My mamaw’s mom got in the water. My uncle and aunt tried to save her. They all died. We couldn’t find mamaw’s body.”
“My mom had to pack me out because the water was at my neck.”
“We used to ride bikes all summer - the creek took all our bikes.”
“My mom and dad were at work. We couldn’t get in touch with them for days.”
“All our trophies were washed away. (school trophy case)”
“There were things in the water that kept hitting us. Trees were floating past us.”
“I was ok. We just got a little water and mud in the laundry room. But my friends lost their house.”
“I used to practice gymnastic in my yard now it is full of broken glass and metal.”
“I saved my dog, but my cat died in the closet.”
“I heard people screaming.”
“We lost it all. We live in a trailer with a crappy generator. (family of 9) It is really hot!”
“I woke up and it was really dark, and I couldn’t find my mom and dad.”
“I heard water rushing. Things were hitting the house.”
“My neighbor’s house isn’t there anymore.”
“My house was ok, but my brother’s house went down the creek.”
These are just a few of the things I heard last week as we worked at Camp Noah. We were working with kids aged 6-11. To have experienced what they did at such a young age hit me hard. I think going in I was hoping for a VBS type feel. Kids having fun and doing projects. Games and music, etc. But it was very different. I wanted to share a few take aways from my weeks some amazing kids.
Day 1 – You are special - This was very much a get to know you day. We talked about things that make us alike and things that make us different. It could be interest we have, favorite colors, etc. This was a fun day. Very light. We emphasized that we are all special because God made us special. It was a good introduction.
Day 2 – Story day - This was a very emotional day. We worked on storyboards. Each child drew their story or wrote their story. The majority of our time was spent listening and asking questions in small groups. We encountered kids who lost everything and are in new houses or still in temporary housing. We talked to kids struggling with why their friend lost so much and they didn’t. We listened to fears expressed because of what they experienced. We talked about senses. What did you see, hear, smell? This helped them tell their stories.
One of the coolest things was that we had Crisis Response K-9s with us. Each child got to have the dog sit with them as they share their storyboard with us. Kids who didn’t want to share hugged, laid against, or just patted the dog and opened up about what they experienced. We had all but 2 children willing to share their story with everyone. It was one of the quietest times of the week. They respected each other and remained quiet as each had a turn to share.
Here are few of their story boards:
Day 3 – Emotions/ Feelings – This was another hard day. We talked a lot about memories. What do we miss about life before the flood. We worked on make a brick to build a wall of memories honoring people lost during the flood or memories that we had of things that are very different now. I wish I had some pictures of these bricks. Some contained a loved one’s name or picture. Some were pictures of pets lost in the water. Some were pictures of friend that no longer live next door. Some were family homes or activities that will never happen again in the same way.
Talking through these brought with it a lot of emotions. We talked about some coping techniques and what to do when panic, fear, or anxiety overwhelms us. We also talked about things we are thankful for, the first of which is the memories we have. It was also overwhelming to hear these precious kids remember and share thanks.
“I am thankful that my pets were safe.”
“I am thankful for the cat that we found in our house after the flood. We adopted him.”
“I am thankful for our new house.”
“I am thankful God is with us. He saved us in the flood.”
Day 4 – Looking forward with hope – This day focused on a few things. Where do they see good things happening in their community? What talents do we each have and how can we use them to help our family, friends, and community? They have observed people helping each other. They have watched their parents help neighbor and help the community rebuild. They made new friends in their new neighborhood. They have brought and loved new pets in their homes. They have stories of people helping their families as well.
This is one small group’s observations of their community rebuild together. One mom mentioned to our Camp leader that her girls were in much bright moods. They were not complaining as much and they were more positive. So cool!
Day 5 – Wrap up and look to the future – We revisited our talents and thought about what we could use for our future. We talked about steps to move toward our goals. We had a number of police officer and first responders as well as nurses and armed service members. So, we talked about our current choices and how to reach our goals. We also had a couple very special surprises. The community has come alongside our kids and each child went home with a backpack full of school supplies, new shoes, a Walmart gift card, and new bike!! That sure meant a lot to our kids and it was beautiful to see the community bless the kids after all they have been through.