By Eleanor L. Colvin, Communications Director

Some day, we’ll speak of it all as a thing of the past…but for the people of Eastern Iowa,

the disasters of 2008 are still here.

This sentiment from the “Bringing Hope to the Heartland” video reminds people of the long road of disaster recovery. Members of the Texas Annual Conference cabinet and 15 District

Connectional Ministry (DCM) members recently walked a few steps on that road with those struggling to recover in America’s Heartland.

In the spring of 2008, tornadoes  tore through Northeastern Iowa. Then, in June, historic flooding sent the state’s major rivers and small streams beyond their banks. The Texas Annual Conference cabinet made a commitment at that time to help out.

“We promised them that we’d come up and help them with flood recovery,” said North District Superintendent Rev. Bill Taylor. “Then, Hurricane Ike happened; so, we weren’t able to fulfill our commitment.”

Texas Conference Treasurer, Dr. Elijah Stansell helps build a new closet inside a damaged home.

But October 15-18, annual conference pastors and cabinet members made good on that year-old promise. Bishop Julius Trimble of the Iowa Annual Conference said at the beginning of the recovery video that “as time goes on, TV shows the newest disaster. Volunteers are drawn to the freshest crisis—wanting to help those in need.” So, having a team of 26 show up long after the news cameras are gone, is indeed a blessing. Rev. B.T. Williamson, director of the Center for Clergy Excellence, and Taylor were hopeful that the mission trip would be a multi-faceted blessing.

“We wanted to continue to encourage a culture of missions in our annual conference,” said Taylor. “There’s relational piece – allowing people to get to know the cabinet on a level that they usually wouldn’t get to know them, by working with them in a different environment.

And, we’re supporting the connection by reaching across conference lines and jurisdictional lines.” The Texas team worked in Iowa’s second-largest city— Cedar Rapids—which at one point was 14 percent under water. In Cedar Rapids alone, 5,390 homes; 1,133 businesses and 486 non-profit organizations were flooded. This doesn’t include damage sustained in the small, rural communities surrounding the city.

“The simple truth is: our communities will not recover without your help,” the video states, and concludes with, “The flood was big, but our God is bigger.” The Texas team helped show the people of Iowa just how big, wide and inexhaustible the love of God is.Serving alongside the cabinet were: Revs. Patricia Bergfield, Amanda Davis, Lillie Ferrell, Christie Hale, Becky Hand, Hazeline Jackson, Janice Kerlee, Paige Martin, Tommy Myrick, Stacy Pell, Bob Pierce, Ann Spears, John Stephenson, David Urban and Kristin Watts. All participants are second-year probationary elders or deacons in the TAC.