OUR HEARTS ARE WITH IOWA

To our sisters and their families in Iowa, we want you to know our hearts and love are extended to you at this horrific time. Our editor Julie has family living there and we asked her to share her thoughts with you all. This is her message:

With all of the weather-related tragedies that have recently hit the State of Iowa, we are deeply moved towards those adversely affected by them. We want you to know that we are saddened by all of these recent events, and our thoughts and prayers are turned to you and to your families, at this time.

The latest news reported that the Governor of Iowa has declared 83 of 99 counties as disaster areas.

On a personal note, I have family and friends living there – especially in Cedar Rapids. The house where I used to live and where my daughter was born and raised, is completely flooded.

Many members of our own Church have homes and businesses that are affected. Many, many more will not be able to return to work for some time, as their offices/businesses are closed, due to the flooding.

I am sure that the Church and its members will pour their service into these devastated areas, just as they did with the Hurricane Katrina victims and affected areas. Many of these Iowa families did not have flood insurance. I pray that aid will be forthcoming speedily, as I heard a remark made that some aid and funding may be reserved for the hurricane season.

The clean-up of the mud and muck are something that I can definitely relate to, as my roots are in Louisiana. Flooding in Iowa is not as common an occurrence (thank heavens).

What a powerful reminder to the rest of us from our beloved Prophets to be prepared, to have our food storage and water supplies. What peace and comfort we have the counsel of our leadership. This particularly hit home with me, when I saw and heard the panic in non-member families, who were in shock that their worlds had catastrophically deteriorated so quickly and they were so unprepared. Those who did not have to evacuate were rushing to stores and buying up food, water, and supplies.

If we are not prepared, we need to start preparing now. There is no need to panic…just to be prepared.

Let us, as sisters, also join together in any way we can to reach out to each other during these times. If we are unable to do anything else, we can always pray.

Julie Lowe
Editor – LDSWA Magazine