Karina Petersen reports from the Disaster Relief Volunteer Retreat.

It’s been one disaster after another. In the last two months alone, deadly tornadoes struck southwest Missouri, Alabama and eastern North Carolina. Earlier this year, there was flooding in New Jersey.

Each time, the U.S. Disaster Relief arm of Samaritan’s Purse responded with staff, equipment, and most of all, volunteers.

As the disasters have increased, so have the volunteers. Over 7,300 in Tuscaloosa and 4,000 in Joplin so far, and the number is still rising as we continue to minister in both cities.

Since 1998, we have responded in 117 different locations. Each time, an army of volunteers has answered the call for help.

Recently, more than 400 people from age 18 to 78 also answered the call to the third annual U.S. Disaster Relief Volunteer Retreat. This retreat joined volunteers of the past, present, and future for a time of fellowship and rest, as well as training in order to prepare for future needs.

Different levels of skill and experience resulted in different levels of training. Lessons included everything from roof tarping to chainsaw use to operating heavy machinery.

Carl Martin, a veteran volunteer from Raleigh, first worked with Samaritan’s Purse after Hurricane Katrina. He made 14 week-long trips to southern Mississippi working on mud-outs and rebuilds. Since then, Carl has helped after tornadoes, ice storms, and multiple flood disaster responses.

“I’m here at the retreat to be around like-minded Christian people who are servants at heart and relax a little bit,” he said.

To Carl, it’s like a family reunion.

“I’ve seen people I served with in Kentucky—haven’t seen them in a couple of years. Also, people I served with in Nashville.”

The retreat included advanced training so that people like Carl can be better equipped on the field.

“I’m learning a lot,” he said. “I’m on the site management team. I’ve had assessor training, team leader training, and now advanced chainsaw training. I don’t do this for some ulterior motive. I do it because the Lord is telling me what to do.”

Joan Strombres, from Boyton Beach, Florida, also believes we are supposed to be God’s hands to people in need. But she was reluctant to volunteer with Samaritan’s Purse because she didn’t feel she had the skills to be able to help. The retreat was an opportunity to attend workshops teaching her how to tarp a roof and use saws and other equipment.

“If I can do this, anyone can,” Joan said. “This is exactly what I needed.”

Samaritan’s Purse staff challenged everyone at the retreat to answer the question, “Whatever the next storm is, are you ready to go?”

We encourage everyone to roll up their sleeves and be ready to answer the call whenever disaster strikes.

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