God Helps the Helpers
Wherever there is a need, Convoy of Hope is there, semi-truck in tow. Its fleet
of 18-wheelers allows Convoy to deliver much needed food and supplies to
underprivileged and disaster-struck areas across the United States. The organization
owns nine trucks and hires out many more each year. These trucks
were absolutely essential as Convoy set out to help the victims of Hurricane
Katrina.
During the first full week of Katrina relief, the situation looked grim. The days
were hot and long as people struggled to find basic resources. Ron Showers,
U.S. Outreach Director, says it was as though the people along the Gulf Coast
were ambushed. Roads were filled with debris and trees that had snapped like
pencils. Ron says, “The line of cars was two miles long to get to the Convoy
site. It was at least as long to get to the convenience store—the only source of
fuel in the area.” People would wait in line for hours, turning their cars on and
off to preserve what gas they had left.
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Convoy workers in Picayune, Mississippi, were siphoning gas from semi trucks
to keep the refrigerated trucks running. Without fuel, the ice in the trucks
would melt and essential supplies would go to waste. Over 1000 people were
coming through the site each day looking for assistance, each depending upon
Convoy for those supplies, but workers did not even have enough fuel to drive
to the convenience store. In desperation, the response team looked to the Picayune police for assistance, hoping for leftover gas. When the police had
nothing to offer, the volunteers started praying.
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Faithful as always, God answered the prayers of His servants. That evening, a
man pulled up to the Convoy outreach in a small gas truck saying, “Could you
guys use any fuel?” This New Orleans oil company worker had come to Picayune
just before the hurricane and his truck was trapped beneath a forest of
wind-damaged trees. Several volunteers helped him clear his truck out of the
branches, and he had set out to find someone in need, donating all of the gas
he carried. The gas filled up at least three Convoy trucks, each holding 300 to
400 gallons. This man’s unexpected appearance brought calm to the distressed
volunteers and made it possible for the relief work to continue.
Later, in another desperate situation in Slidell, Louisiana, while Convoy
workers were trying to operate a distribution center for food and supplies, the
trucks were being siphoned again to keep the refrigerated materials cold. Once
more, in answer to the fervent prayers of those at the outreach site, a man
pulled up with drums of gasoline on the back of his truck, graciously donating
over 100 gallons of fuel to keep the Convoy operations running.
Paul Coroleuski, a Convoy Disaster Response Specialist, witnessed both of
these miracles. Each time, God’s miraculous provision inspired hope in both
the volunteers and those they served. Paul says, “It was incredible how, at just
the right time, God rescued us in our times of need.
Information for this story was provided by Convoy of Hope and is used with
permission.
©2007 The General Council of the Assemblies of God. All rights reserved. Permission granted to reproduce and adapt lesson components for exclusive use in the local church. Any other use requires written permission.
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