Tornado in Alabama

On Sunday, March 4th, Sweet Home Alabama took a deep hit. The community suffered through a fatal F4 tornado, and they have been left to clean through the rubble and loss of life. 

As missionaries, we were able to have the sacred opportunity to travel to a badly affected area and help a bit in the cleanup efforts. 

As I stood there and surveyed the absolute wreckage, I couldn't help but feel a sense of shock at seeing the neighbors so at peace and love one with another. They embraced each other as family so perfectly, it cannot be described in writing. We were surrounded by many other faithful Christian denominations, and we were all working side-by-side to help restore what we, as men, could. However, we all knew the same truth: only God could restore everything that had been lost. 

I could feel the Spirit of God touch my heart deeply as I watched time and time again the love that these neighbors had for one another. I realized, more fully, the meaning of a favorite hymn:

"As I have loved you,
Love one another.
This new commandment:
Love one another.
By this shall men know
Ye are my disciples,
If ye have love
One to another."

It doesn't take a tag to love, nor does it take a particular Church to help out our neighbors. As Christian's, we all have the same calling: to love one another. 

I know God sent His Only Begotten Son as the Savior. He is the only one that can ever help us fully heal, and He is the only one that can ever understand our grief and loss. I love Alabama, and could never fully express all I have learned from these absolutely wonderful people. May God be with them all!