The night Hurricane Ida decimated southern Louisiana, Liz Autin thought she was going home to the Lord. The storm was terrifying.
A strong Category 4, Ida slammed into Louisiana near Port Fourchon on August 29, leaving thousands homeless and more than 1 million without power, water and phone service. She was the second most damaging and intense hurricane to hit Louisiana; Katrina was the first.
God called us to send help to our brothers and sisters in Louisiana. We sent a truck to Live Oak Baptist Church in Montegut.
Liz is our contact there. She has been instrumental in getting much-needed help to those in need, especially along the bayou. Despite destruction of her own home, she has selflessly and tirelessly worked, helping residents get FEMA help, supplies, food and spiritual support.
Her main tool? Prayer! She has prayed without ceasing. She cried out to God as the storm ravaged her home. “He told me early in the night, don’t go to sleep,” she recalls. She prayed all through the night. “Right before dawn, I heard that train whistle sound and then a big crash. Then, once it was daylight, I saw that great big tree had split my home nearly in half,” she says.
She continued her faithful praying as she cast her own needs aside to come to the aid of neighbors and people in surrounding areas. “We prayed that God would send an army to the bayou,” she says. People prayed around the world.
Her willingness to be used by God has allowed Him to work miracles. After hitting many roadblocks, frustrations and discouragement, things started to turn around. “I was at the end and that’s where God met me. He told me what to do and things started to happen,” she says. Doors were open and help became available. “When Brother Rick called from the ministry and said they wanted to send a truckload of supplies, it was so encouraging! It’s so awesome to see the hand of God at work,” she says.
She knows we have an awesome God and takes none of the credit for herself. “My prayer every day is, ‘God, don’t let people see me. Let them see Jesus in me.’ I also pray that I see others through his eyes,” she says.
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