I’m sure most of you remember the terrible flooding that happened here in Colorado in the beginning of September. Mostly northern, near Boulder. The Stake up there did as much as they could, but then enlisted the surrounding Stakes for help. Our Stake was responsible for 20 volunteers on certain days to go up and man dumpsters; to make sure folks weren’t disposing hazardous waste, just regular damaged goods.
One Monday in September, we received the email that our help was needed that day. My first thought was to get up there, then I started to rationalize how difficult it would be to get up there, be there for a 4 hour shift, then come home. Kids needed to be picked up at different places, at different times, and I didn’t see how I could make it work. Thanks to a wonderful friend, she offered to do it all for me so at least one of us could go up.
I headed up to Boulder, got my yellow Helping Hands vest, got my assignment, and headed out to monitor 3 of about 36 dumpsters in the area with another gal from the Stake. We had one person dispose something. Meanwhile, between two dumpsters we walked a neighborhood checking out some pretty devastating areas. A simple, small creek that had run through it had become a raging river growing 10 times in size, reaching and running through dozens of homes and almost completely washing the banks near a bridge. One couple we talked to, the Andersons (bless their hearts) had been away during the evacuation. They came home to 6 feet and 8 inches of water in their basement. Their sweet cat that would scurry to the basement when she was afraid, didn’t make it out. They found her body a week later. This couple – in their 60s, was out salvaging their clothes trying to clean the mud of them. They lost half the space of their house and so many things that they stored in their basement. They recognized our yellow vests and expressed so much appreciation for what the folks in the yellow vests had done for them the entire week before. They had some LDS youth come – they called them the bucked brigade, forming in a line scooping the water out of their basement.
They invited this gal and I into their backyard to see everything they had pulled out of their basement. Their entire yard was filled with mud and water soaked possessions. It was quite the sight. They had a lot of work ahead of them. Not needing their flood insurance for over 31 years, they had canceled it just months before. It was heart breaking. One home we saw, their house was in the middle of the river – rushing right through their basement.
Although the water had receded a lot, around every tree – that had stayed upright, had debris and branches wrapped around them. It seemed inappropriate to take pictures of actual homes.
Two weeks after I had opportunity to go up to Boulder, our dear Primary President organized a service project for our Primary kids. Ward members donated items, the kids gathered and sorted and loaded up a truck that the Primary President would take up to Boulder herself. The kids loved it. I loved seeing them in the same yellow vests. In just over an hour, the truck was loaded and ready to go.
I adore these Primary children. The Sunday before this project, they sang their hearts out in their Primary Program and did me proud. They touched hearts with their beautiful voices and shared the gospel and their testimonies through song. It was so touching. That same Sunday I was released as the Primary Chorister and called back into Relief Society. I loved my time with them each week. Wonderful, wonderful kids. Truly Helping (little) Hands.
