Shortly after Jonathan and Danny left their work on the multi-purpose building for the day at Martin, a storm came through that area. National Weather Servicemen who visited later said that at least seventeen tornadoes had been spawned by this storm. Winds estimated at 80 mph swept through, and this is the picture Pastor Poff sent Jonathan.
The guys had worked so hard.
gDay after day.
Braces. Crystal's boyfriend Ricky (in the red shirt) helped on the days he was here.
Now the wind had blown metal sheets around parts of the building and snapped temporary bracing.
Jonathan got several guys, vehicles, and ratchet straps and ratchets together, and they started working to right the disaster.
Someone took this picture of all those straps fastened to various vehicles or a trailer. Little by little, over the course of a few hours, the guys got the building pulled back upright. The Lord had not alllowed it to be badly damaged.
Two days later another storm, just as damaging, was forecast in about the same area--between Martin and Mission and beyond. The possibility of tornadoes was forecast, as well as bad hail, damaging wind again, etc. The native community in Martin shut down about 3 o'clock and went home to wait out the terrible storm that was supposed to come.
In Mission, President Keith Lavery and fire crew made sure the tornado siren was in working order.
And everyone held his or her collective breath.
Only to have nothing happen.
Absolutely nothing.
North of us that evening lightning streaked through the sky over and over, but hardly a drop of rain landed on us.
No wind caused any damage in Martin.
No tornadoes happened in Mission.
The fire station siren could remain silent.
I think the whole world is in God's hand, and that night it seemed He decided that the devil had done enough damage to the unfinished building in Martin, and He said, "That's it, storm. Stay north of the interstate."
And it stayed.
Praise the Lord that He's in control!
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