Sheila and Drew Chipman
Many people have talked about the destruction and tragedy in the flooding we receivedthis past June, but there has been many opportunities to feel an increase of the Spirit as the Lord has certainly blessed many of our members and many of us individually.
There are a number of experiences that I could relate but I’ll relate one that seems to stick out in my mind. As one of the leadership team at the Foothills School Division, one of my roles is the corporate well-being of the division. During the flood I was tasked with coordinating the use of facilities and resources of the Town of High River and the Province in helping flood victims. Immediately following the flood I spent hours each day at the Emergency Operations Center, trying to help where possible, and trying to get us access to our schools so we could assess damage and begin repairs.
Bishop Hirsche asked me to try and promote Church resources available for cleanup and logistics. I wasn’t very successful. Town and Government officials were focused on safety, cleaning up the streets, and getting the water and sewer up and running so people could return to their homes. The leadership in Town locked down anyone entering the community as they were trying to limit the potential for crime. I was able to help a few ward members who were unable to get into Town to deal with emergent issues: I was able to get into the Kabeary’s insurance business and reset their computers so that they could access their files remotely. I helped Brother Gary Parker into his home to get a work truck that he needed. There were other requests that I wasn’t able to help with that disappointed both those individuals and me.
We were part of the very first group that were able to come in to town. I was able to secure passes for Bishop Hirsche, which enabled him to come into town, to assess the damage to people’s homes, to provide them with support, and to begin the clean-up that everyone was so desperate to get started.
Our home had only a small amount of damage, so we were able as early as the first day back to begin to help our neighbors and our ward members. We had family from all over the province, as well as acquaintances, drive hours to come to High River for a chance to assist people that they didn’t even know. We believe that this spirit of caring for our fellow man has been felt not only by the members of our Ward but by so many of our non-member friends. Hopefully this will lead them to focus more on our Saviour and continued desire to help others.
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Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf: It is your reaction to adversity, not the adversity itself, that determines how your life’s story will develop.
Polly Claydon
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So many times this past summer the flood and its aftermath took its toll on my emotions, on my physical stamina, and on our financial status. Just when I would wonder how I was going to get through it all, a distant friend would send a cheque that just covered an unexpected bill. Or someone would appear at the door with some help or a friendly word, or would phone to see how things were going. Or something in nature would appear that was so beautiful it took my breath away and lifted my spirit. It happened so many times that I could not help but know that God was there for me.
Yet, how soon I can forget. Our beloved old home had sat empty and neglected for five months. We finally got word about the fate of the home, but it left me and my husband bewildered and frightened. How were we were going to afford to fix it up, and what steps would be necessary to do so without facing financial ruin? It was not the answer to our prayers that we had wanted. As we left the meeting with the government officials, I thought to myself, “I guess God didn’t hear my prayers. I wonder if He cares about me. I wonder if He even knows I am here.”
Within minutes of receiving the discouraging news about our house, we turned into a place of business to pay a debt that had been overlooked by the owner. The owner said to us that he had just cancelled it, and we didn’t have to pay for the work owed. I began to weep with thanks. Thanks to the Lord for letting me know that He indeed did know that I was here. He answered through one of his children by prompting them to extend an act of kindness, right at the moment I needed to receive it. I know this man was prompted to do so by the Holy Spirit.
I know that I have a Heavenly Father. I know that He knows me and my trials, my dreams and joys. I know I have a Saviour, Jesus Christ who, because of His atonement, will allow me to return to live with my Heavenly Father. They both love me and are on my side, and send love to me through their children who do their work here on earth.
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D&C 121: 7-9: My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes. Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands.
Angie and Logan Conway
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We were blessed to have been able to take out our endowments together in late April. Getting to this point was a struggle. The adversary was working hard to lead us astray. We were not only preparing to go through the temple for the first time, but we were also getting ready to be married and sealed in the temple. We are both so grateful that through all the trials we came out strong and always felt our Heavenly Father’s love. We are the first children of both families to be married. We are the first generation of both families to be raised in the church and receive the temple ordinances before having children.
We were married on May 10, 2013, in the Calgary, Alberta Temple. We felt a special connection to this temple as it had only been dedicated in October 2012 and we had both been part of the youth celebration as leaders. Our wedding day was remarkable, and although it took months of planning, it was all worth it from the moment we stepped into the sealing room. The events of the day were so delayed and chaotic, but we didn’t mind because the most important part of the day could not have gone more perfect. Everyone we loved was there, and even some we didn’t expect to see. The room was filled with love and support, and we knew in that moment that everything we had gone through, all the good and the bad, all the heartaches, traumas and bad decisions, had led up to this very moment where we would forever be sealed, knowing that we would have children born in the covenant. We stayed strong with the help of our Heavenly Father, our families and our ward family, especially Bishop Hirsche. He constantly told us that he was proud of us and knew that we could make it. We have never been happier, our testimonies never stronger.
Only a month after we were married the big flood hit our town. This was a terrifying experience for both of us. We were held up by each other and our families, never having felt closer to our ward family. We were blessed to have never doubted the gospel or Heavenly Fathers plan, one of the only things getting us through this trying time. Although our hearts ached and our heads were spinning, we knew that regardless of what happened to our home, this was only a worldly sorrow and it would be temporary. We often reminded each other that “this too shall pass.” The only thing that mattered was that we were both safe and together. The more we heard about our town and what our friends were going through, the more we learned about the true importance of being sealed, of humility, service, patience, and most importantly, faith.
In the face of adversity, we found strength by clinging to our faith and doing all the things that most people consider primary answers. We never stopped praying, reading our scriptures,
going to church or attending the temple. Being able to still go to the temple while we were displaced was a tremendous blessing and we felt the spirit so strongly. We were humbled to know that others were praying for us, never having met us. Never had I felt the arms of my Father in Heaven so closely wrapped around me, comforting me and letting me know that everything would be okay.
Angie
I had always known that I married a man of a generous and loving nature. When it came to serving in the town, I especially learned that my husband was a true man of God who was willing to give of his time, strength and spirit to serve our fellow brethren. I felt such a peace, knowing that he was meant to be a part of this time. I have become a stronger person and have learned so many things along this journey. I know that there are many things to learn and I know that with Logan by my side I will be able to overcome much. I know that my Heavenly Father lives and that Christ was sent to atone for each and every one of us.
Logan
I know without a doubt that we were sent to this earth to gain a body and to test our strength and faith. Our true character is defined by our actions. Trials not only test our faith, they make it stronger. I am grateful for every opportunity the Lord gives me to learn through trials, because those are the times when my testimony grows the strongest. Without the constant support and wisdom of my wife, I don’t think I would make as many good choices. With her strength added to my own, I will be able to accomplish a full and happy life and make my way back to our Heavenly Father.
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Elder Marvin J. Ashton: Adversity will surface in some form in every life. How we prepare for it, how we meet it, makes the difference. We can be broken by adversity, or we can become stronger.
The Moxley Family
My husband, Justin, and I received an answer to prayer the week of the flood, an answer we had been searching for quite a while.
Everyone was evacuated Thursday, and that following Wednesday the temple opened its doors to High River ward members who wanted to take refuge and feel the spirit of a session. I was seven months pregnant and rather stressed, and Justin and I were still seeking for an answer regarding Justin's employment. We were running late, we didn't get away on time, the kids were a bit cranky, traffic was silly because of the flooding in Calgary, and I wasn't feeling the greatest. We seriously considered just staying in the trailer for the evening. But we headed out anyways, traffic cleared and we made it in time.
We entered the temple in our street clothes. Justin only had his work clothing and I was wearing a borrowed pair of shorts. Nevertheless, we were welcomed with open arms. Seeing the temple workers with smiles and hugs all around was bliss. They wanted us to be there and couldn't have been more loving. They ushered us down to the baptistery for temple clothing, and we told our story to a couple of temple workers while they got us some clothing. All of a sudden, out of nowhere, Brother Watson, a temple worker, said to Justin, "I have a job offer for you." Right then we were rushed away because the session was about to start.
I assumed Brother Watson knew Justin and was going to ask him about a side job. Justin gets asked all the time to do side work, a deck here, some framing there, and I was sure Justin would turn him down considering all that was going on. After the session was over, I just wanted to go home. I was tired, my feet hurt, my whole body hurt, seven months pregnant, and sleeping in a trailer couch for a week was not very fun. But Justin was insistent that needed to speak to Brother Watson. Justin helped me to a chair and got Brother Watson's phone number from a member of the temple presidency. As we were leaving Justin told me he didn't know Brother Watson. There was no way Brother Watson could have known that we were looking for a new path of employment, or what a hard worker Justin was, how honest he was, or if Justin was even qualified to do the job.The next day Justin called, but the number was disconnected. Justin didn't even flinch. He goggled Brother Watson's name and called a couple of Watsons until he found the right one. After hanging up the phone, Justin had a tentative job offer and an interview with an international company.
Justin and I discussed the opportunity and prayed that if this was what the Lord wanted for us, we would feel calm and reassured about changing jobs. Justin‘s interview was the next day. He was offered the job, and we knew this was the right thing for us. We knew this was our Father in Heaven answering our prayers. Justin started two weeks later.
My mom (Sheila Chipman) is the Stake Choir Leader and had the opportunity to speak to Brother Bennett, the temple president, and thank him for opening the temple to the High River residents during the flood. She told him of our experience with Justin’s job. Brother Bennett then asked "Can I tell you the other side of the story?" He told Mom that Brother Watson had been praying and attending the temple to find a good reliable employee, someone they could train and move up to a leadership position. Justin was the answer to his prayers, just like he was the answer to ours.
In the middle of a natural disaster, with thousands of people praying, our Heavenly Father answered our prayers. It was such a powerful reminder that he knows his children individually and that he loves us.
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D&C 6: 14-15: Blessed art thou for what thou hast done; for thou hast inquired of me, and behold, as often as thou hast inquired thou hast received instruction of my Spirit. If it had not been so, thou wouldst not have come to the place where thou art at this time.
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Andy and Kaly Court
This is a story of blessings and gratitude.
As we drove through our town to our house, we saw train tracks which looked as if a giant had picked them up, twisted them like a Twizzler, then dropped them back down on the ground. Houses were twisted on their foundation. Boats beached, feet and feet of mud. The mud was everywhere.
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Our house was orange. Extensive repairs would have to be made for it to be habitable. It was unbelievable how the water had moved everything around so much! We found items from one room end up in a different room. All our furniture was moved around and covered in mud. Some items already had mold growing.
One friend described it something like this: "You see pictures in the news of the devastation, and you think, that's so sad. Then you see it in person and you realize that the devastation doesn't stop at one house. It is house after house, block after block of mountains of garbage piled high on peoples' lawns and on the street. Dirt everywhere, the air thick with it. There are no words to describe the feeling of absolute chaos, and the magnitude of the aftermath. And I'm just a spectator, I didn't live through it like you guys did!" Yes. This is our life right now. Dealing with the aftermath.
My heart was breaking for all my friends and neighbors, people who were in worse shape than we were, friends who still couldn't get into their homes because they were still under water. We came to learn that there were many shades of red. Red could mean anything from extreme damage and will take extensive repairs, to uninhabitable and condemned.
We sat late one night and cried many tears with a dear, dear friend. Her house was red. In any normal circumstance, we would be the first to be there to help her. But since we were victims, too, we couldn't do all we wanted to help our friends and neighbors. That was hard. I still cry about that.
Cleanup efforts continue. We will be in various stages of cleanup for a long time. But we are getting through it. It will take time. It will take effort. It will take love. This isn't the end. This is the beginning of a new kind of life for us (whether we want it or not, but we're going to ride it through).
The help we had in the week of the big cleanup was a miracle. Our volunteers were friends old and new, and strangers too. Friends, who couldn't physically come out and help, took items to try to clean and salvage. In our haste, we had forgotten one photo album from Andy's childhood and two or three small albums from mine. Sadness. But a good friend took Andy's album of photos, cleaned them as best she could, then took them to be digitally restored. Amazing. A friend, who worked all day gutting our basement, took home bags and bags of nasty LEGO. She cleaned them and returned them! Unbelievable. Many friends took things to clean. Many friends came to help clean. Absolute God-send.
In all of this, I have cried more (and continue to shed tears) for the generosity of friends, family, and perfect strangers, than I did for the loss of our material possessions. Such love and caring these people showed us. So willing to help. We could not have done it without them.
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Elder Neal A. Maxwell: Mortality presents us with numerous opportunities to cope with those of life's challenges which are common to man. In addition, there are also our customized trials.... If endured well, ‘all these things’ can be for our good and can ‘greatly enlarge the soul,’ by excavating the soul we are promised an enlarged capacity for joy.
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The Wickhorst Ladies
We had many spiritual experiences in 2013. As we went through the trials and headaches, we found peace. We learned to hold on dear to those who are in our family (even our ward family ) and never forget to thank the Lord.
As a mother, I got to see the rewards of staying consistent with my girls this summer. Though they had birthdays, Christmas, and other events that weren’t quite the same as they had been in the past, they always remained strong. My girls, now more than ever, watch out for each other and have learned patience with each other. No matter what is given to my family, I know that if I as their mother stay strong, we will pull through. I hope this is something they keep with them for years to come.
Floods, fires – in the world we sometimes don't always have warning! We have these spiritual floods in our lives all the time, and I have been blessed to know that we will be safe. Keep your head up and cling to the Lord, and know that there's always an end. Cherish what's really important.
So in this flood as I lost all my "stuff," the Lord blessed me a hundred times more. I get to keep my eternal family, and this I will always be grateful for. I know the Lord Loves us now more than ever!
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Alma 7: 11-12: And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh
how to succor his people.
Michael Willoughby
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Three years ago my wife Amy was downstairs sitting in her glider chair, and our daughter Bella (who was one year old at the time) was standing against the sectional couch beside her. Bella was cranky, so Amy pacified her by giving her her wedding ring. Two minutes later the ring was gone. We searched for it to no avail. We concluded that Bella swallowed it.
Three years later the flood of 2013 comes, and our basement is a war zone, furniture moved and rearranged all over the place and tossed out into the yard. The Helping Hands are at our place to clean the basement out. That evening I get an impression that I should search the couch for the lost ring. After our afternoon break the next day, I start looking through the furniture that has been tossed into the yard. I clear items from off the sectional, which is upside down, and heft one end high enough to toss it over the pile. It lands with a loud bang on the road. As I drag that section of the couch to the driveway, my brother-in-law, and my sons Spencer and Joey, come over to see what I’m doing.
I cut the top cushion, and lift away one small piece of fabric. We all look in and what do we see? Amy’s wedding ring, sticking out from under the frame of the couch and between the fabric they staple to the bottom. I reach in with tentative hands, pick up the ring, wash it off, and make my way inside the house.
On bended knee, I ask Amy to marry me all over again. She is struck silent for a few seconds, but eventually she says yes. Talk about a miracle.
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Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin: The next time you’re tempted to groan, you might try to laugh instead. It will extend your life and make the lives of all those around you more enjoyable. *
