Rolling up our sleeves

Little can be salvaged if it's been soaked by the water and mud.

"There's sludge everywhere. We're shoveling ten centimetres of mud from that classroom," said one volunteer at Milpera State High School. He'd been using a wheelbarrow to transport the mud to growing piles outside. A Bobcat would come pick it up later.

Similar scenes are no doubt playing out across several suburbs in Brisbane following flooding last week in Australia's third largest city. The Brisbane River peaked at 4.46 metres sending water into homes, schools and businesses. Now armies of volunteers are helping with the clean up. I've learned this is the Aussie way - everyone pitches in after a disaster.



Plants coated with mud



My YWAM class of 20 people travelled to a neighbourhood down near the Brisbane River to see how we could help. We didn't have to look very far. Even while we were walking towards the school at least two cars pulled over to ask if we wanted water or a drink. Brisbane residents were driving with coolers strapped in the front seat to hand out refreshments to volunteers. It was so overwhelming and kind. 

Also remarkable was the amount of mud lining plants and trees. Everywhere the water had touched was now caked in a grayish-brown layer. In some places it reached part way up a tree. In other places, gobs of still wet mud looked like it was pouring down the road towards the gutter.



The waterline at Milpera High School was 1.8m

 We ended up at Milpera State High School in Chelmer suburb. It was swarming with volunteers. Some were digging mud out of classrooms. Others were washing down any surface that needed it. We were assigned to wash the windows in a row of downstairs classrooms. School is supposed to start next week. Even a white board in one class reminded students at the end of term last year that they needed to be on time for the new school year. Now it's unclear when that day will come.

"We've been going for 12 hours a day for the last few days," said Matt Arnote, one of the men leading the clean up at Milpera State Secondary School. When I told him that more people from YWAM could come help with the clean up he said there was weeks' of work ahead.

We spent about two-to-three hours at the school washing classroom windoms, and it felt like we barley made a dent in the clean up. But at least we made some difference.

Because the YWAM base is in a hill-top suburb we were largely unaffected by the recent flooding. We are truly blessed, and now we can be a blessing to others.

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There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land. Deuteronomy 15:11 (NIV)

There are always going to be poor and needy people among you. So I command you: Always be generous, open purse and hands, give to your neighbors in trouble, your poor and hurting neighbors. Deuteronomy 15:11 (Message)