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Gina Huey attended the State College, PA training from June 22nd through 26th of 2006. Within just a few days of her training, there was a need in Wilkes Barre, PA, due to floods, and the call went out to Hope Force reservists in Lewistown and Mount Union. We asked Gina to sum up her training experience and what it was like to immediately be deployed. Here is what she had to say:
"... I don’t know what I expected the training to be like, but what I received far surpassed anything I could have imagined. Everything was Biblically based; it not only prepared me to serve God better in a disaster, it also helped restore my trust in Christians. All the speakers were wonderful!....
The Sunday after training I had the privilege of helping the Salvation Army prepare food to serve to the flood victims in Pennsylvania.... I was also able to see first hand how the Salvation Army works. They are wonderful! I truly believe God has blessed the partnership of Hope Force and the Salvation Army...."
These comments are from recent emails that our reservists have sent to us:
“It truly was a life changing experience for me.... I knew the training would be beneficial to me…[but] my expectations were blown way out of the water…. I have a greater appreciation and desire for living a life of humility and service to others…” (Rhonda --Omaha, Nebraska)
“I feel much closer to Christ and I am working on showing it to others. I feel a calling to do more while I can. It was a good weekend for any Christian. I learned several things I know I can use in daily life. I laughed a little, cried a little (I have fond memories of some of those moments right now). I enjoyed it all.” (Johann –Omaha, Nebraska)
“Thank you very much for everything. I pray I never ever forget this experience. It was extra special for me. The word came alive to me and I felt the entire teaching was excellent”. (Buster, from Pearlington, MS, lost everything in Hurricane Katrina and is now an HFI Reservist serving in the recovery efforts in the Gulf coast)
“We live in Reston in a small, cedar-sided and shingled townhouse development. Early Sunday morning I went out to pick up the paper and was totally shocked to find our neighborhood filled with fire trucks, ambulances, and other emergency vehicles. Across our street, we had had an early morning 3-alarm fire that totally destroyed one townhouse and devastated three others. I felt as if I were living the training we had just experienced with Hope Force… - [and] it certainly brought home all the resultant emotions and physical considerations we talked about -- only on a much too personal level. Thank you for an absolutely wonderful training session. I look forward to working with you soon.” (Lexie –Washington D.C. suburb)
“…We arrived in Pearlington, MS, and I think I can speak for the group when I say we felt overwhelmed. The magnitude of this disaster cannot be comprehended by looking at pictures or seeing it on TV. What the people of southern Mississippi experienced on August 29th had to be truly hell on Earth….” (Kent Knable, Lewistown, PA, HFI Reservist and EMT instructor. Kent repaired roofs and cleared debris with his team.) |
