Today is Wednesday, November 22nd, 2017; Karen's Korner #3693

Last weekend our church denomination hosted an International Conference on Missions at Peoria, Illinois. It was a four-day event. I traveled there with our former minister Tim Platt and his wife for two of the days. We were able to take in two worship sessions, three workshops, and experience about 200 booths promoting missions/ministries around the world.

One hour-long workshop focused on dealing with disasters and was led by International Disaster Emergency Services (www.ides.org,), a Christian organization based in Indiana, which our church supports at a small amount monthly. Individuals add $$ if there is a disaster some place in the world they want to support.

Here a couple of points for the presentation:

* The key to successfully navigating a disaster is to BE PREPARED.

* Know who your disaster coordinator is and what his/her phone number is. (Clarion doesn't have one. We are tied in to our county - Wright County, I learned after I returned home).

* Use that disaster coordinator or some aid organization to learn how you can help, if you have the time to volunteer. Don't just show up some place. Know ahead of time when you are needed and where you are going, before you travel. (i.e. not much could be done in Houston for a week until the water receded).

* Sixty percent (60%) of all goods collected, are never used. There generally are not enough volunteers to distribute a truck load of teddy bears or to sort used clothing, etc. Or to pair up goods with those needing the items.

* Fifty percent (50%) of all injuries connected with a major disaster come after the emergency (glass cuts, stepping on debris, etc.; think about the clothing you might wear!)

* Money is the best gift, but study who you would support with $$ ahead of time, much sure your money is well-invested and you get the best 'bang for our buck'.

Reflecting on 'being prepared for disasters', I thought about our physical, emotional, and spiritual lives. If we live long enough - disasters are on the way. Job losses. Financial reverses. Marriage failures. Broken family relationships. Deaths.

So how do we prepare?

By learning to lean on God to get us through those 'disasters'. If we learn to trust Him in the good times, we will be ready to trust Him in the bad ones.

"Trust the Lord, completely;

don't ever trust yourself.

In everything you do, put God first,

and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success."

~ Proverbs 3:5 & 6 LAB

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