Church volunteers aid Kentucky flood victims

[Bernard Gui]

https://www.deseret.com/faith/2022/8/30/23329517/kentucky-flooding-hundreds-latter-day-saint-volunteers

This is a remarkable example of the Church's ability to assist quickly and effectively with natural catastrophes. Over a thousand members from surrounding areas including our Lexington Stake and  Richmond Ward have contributed thousands of man-hours and vast quantities of supplies to helping Eastern Kentucky (Hazard area) residents who were devastated by a massive flood. My son Cellisimo and his family participated. Most workers camped at the site and worked for two full days. Hearing their reports of the devastation is heart-breaking.

Besides being a phenomenal display of human kindness and charity, this kind of service is a wonderful answer to critics who poo-poo Church humanitarian aid. I am so thankful for folks who heed the Lord's call to serve others and to belong to a Church where such things happen.

Any comments?

Edited August 31, 2022 by Bernard Gui

[jkwilliams]

54 minutes ago, Bernard Gui said:

https://www.deseret.com/faith/2022/8/30/23329517/kentucky-flooding-hundreds-latter-day-saint-volunteers

This is a remarkable example of the Church's ability to assist quickly and effectively with natural catastrophes. Over a thousand members from surrounding areas including our Lexington Stake and  Richmond Ward have contributed thousands of man-hours and vast quantities of supplies to helping Eastern Kentucky (Hazard area) residents who were devastated by a massive flood. My son Cellisimo and his family participated. Most workers camped at the site and worked for two full days. Hearing their reports of the devastation is heart-breaking.

Besides being a phenomenal display of human kindness and charity, this kind of service is a wonderful answer to critics who poo-poo Church humanitarian aid. I am so thankful for folks who heed the Lord's call to serve others and to belong to a Church where such things happen.

Any comments?

Most of the men in our ward were in Kentucky over the weekend, so sacrament meeting was a little sparser than normal. I feel kind of bad that I didn't get any notification about the service project, but then with my shoulder still recovering, I don't know how much use I would have been.

[Kenngo1969]

44 minutes ago, jkwilliams said:

Most of the men in our ward were in Kentucky over the weekend, so sacrament meeting was a little sparser than normal. I feel kind of bad that I didn't get any notification about the service project, but then with my shoulder still recovering, I don't know how much use I would have been.

Heal well.  

[jkwilliams]

Just now, Kenngo1969 said:

Heal well.  

I'm done with physical therapy but still not back to normal. Thanks for the kind words.

[Kenngo1969]

On 8/31/2022 at 11:27 AM, jkwilliams said:

I'm done with physical therapy but still not back to normal. Thanks for the kind words.

Huh.  Color me surprised.    I didn't think anyone who ever has undergone it ever could be "done" with physical therapy!  Yes, I know there is the "small matter" (my term) of what insurance will cover  ... but leaving that aside for a moment, I thought physical therapy was its own special form of never-ending eternal torture.   I tease my mom because she went to a physical therapist for some sessions after (probably) tearing her rotator cuff, and she reported that the therapist showed her a particular exercise or a movement and asked, "Can you do that?"  When my mom said, "No," the therapist didn't press the issue, and just like that, they moved on to something else.

I told her I feel cheated and that physical therapists must either be getting soft, or they must be going soft on her in her advancing years, because, as a young person, any time I told a physical therapist (aka "physical terrorist" ) "I can't do that," the response always was, "Can't?!  Can't?!!!  Can't??!!!  'Can't' isn't in my vocabulary!  Why is it in yours?!  Listen, I get paid by the hour, and as far as I'm concerned, we can stay here all day and all night until you do that!  Go ahead!  I can wait!" [Therapist folds arms and checks watch ...]

As wheelchair marathoner Curt Brinkman, who won the Boston Marathon with the fastest time ever in 1980* (yeah, I know, I know: but try to push a wheelchair up-hill), said once, "You can't tell a physical therapist what you will do and what you won't.  They're too noble for that!"    

*To that time.  Looking at times for the wheelchair winners since then, it has been bested by quite a bit ... which is absolutely insane! 

Edited September 2, 2022 by Kenngo1969

[Buckeye]

4 hours ago, Bernard Gui said:

https://www.deseret.com/faith/2022/8/30/23329517/kentucky-flooding-hundreds-latter-day-saint-volunteers

This is a remarkable example of the Church's ability to assist quickly and effectively with natural catastrophes. Over a thousand members from surrounding areas including our Lexington Stake and  Richmond Ward have contributed thousands of man-hours and vast quantities of supplies to helping Eastern Kentucky (Hazard area) residents who were devastated by a massive flood. My son Cellisimo and his family participated. Most workers camped at the site and worked for two full days. Hearing their reports of the devastation is heart-breaking.

Besides being a phenomenal display of human kindness and charity, this kind of service is a wonderful answer to critics who poo-poo Church humanitarian aid. I am so thankful for folks who heed the Lord's call to serve others and to belong to a Church where such things happen.

Any comments?

This reminded me of another flood two years ago when the church’s effort was also very organized and of great benefit. I was living in Ohio at the time and went up to Michigan with my teenagers. It was one of the most uplifting experiences we had during Covid. 

https://www.thechurchnews.com/2020/5/29/23216312/midland-michigan-flood-helping-hands-disaster-relief

[jkwilliams]

1 hour ago, Kenngo1969 said:

Huh.  Color me surprised.    I didn't think anyone who ever has undergone it ever could be "done" with physical therapy!  Yes, I know there is the "small matter" (my term) of what insurance will cover  ... but leaving that aside for a moment, I thought physical therapy was its own special form of never-ending eternal torture.   I tease my mom because she went to a physical therapist for some sessions after (probably) tearing her rotator cuff, and she reported that the therapist showed her a particular exercise or a movement and asked, "Can you do that?"  When my mom said, "No," the therapist didn't press the issue, and just like that, they moved on to something else.

I told her I feel cheated and that physical therapists must either be getting soft, or they must be going soft on her in her advancing years, because, as a young person, any time I told a physical therapist (aka "physical terrorist" ) "I can't do that," the response always was, "Can't?!  Can't?!!!  Can't??!!!  'Can't' isn't in my vocabulary!  Why is it in yours?!  Listen, I get paid by the hour, and as far as I'm concerned, we can stay here all day and all night until you do that!  Go ahead!  I can wait!" [Therapist folds arms and checks watch ...]

As wheelchair marathoner Curt Brinkman, who won the Boston Marathon with the fastest time ever in 1980 (yeah, I know, I know: but try to push a wheelchair up-hill), said once, "You can't tell a physical therapist what you will do and what you won't.  They're too noble for that!"    

I have to say I was very happy with the physical therapists. One of them was a bit more sadistic than the other, but I found I improved the more I pushed myself. I'm still doing the same exercises I was doing in PT, but I don't have to go in anymore. My range of motion is just about back to normal, but it's the strength part I'm still working on. Considering that I couldn't move my arm without excruciating pain at the beginning, I consider where I am pretty miraculous.

[SkyRock]

I volunteered a few times after hurricanes when we lived within a day's drive of the Gulf of Mexico.  Those were really good experiences. 

[Kenngo1969]

1 hour ago, jkwilliams said:

I have to say I was very happy with the physical therapists. One of them was a bit more sadistic than the other, but I found I improved the more I pushed myself. I'm still doing the same exercises I was doing in PT, but I don't have to go in anymore. My range of motion is just about back to normal, but it's the strength part I'm still working on. Considering that I couldn't move my arm without excruciating pain at the beginning, I consider where I am pretty miraculous.

I'm glad to hear of the improving result.   For all I have derided physical terrorists, I must say that I wouldn't be walking at all, let alone be able to do so relatively free of pain, if it weren't for some dedicated and very competent doctors, nurses, physical terrorists (um, I mean, therapists, sorry ) and other care professionals.  Best wishes to you in your continuing recovery. 

[Bernard Gui]

On 8/31/2022 at 12:42 PM, jkwilliams said:

Most of the men in our ward were in Kentucky over the weekend, so sacrament meeting was a little sparser than normal. I feel kind of bad that I didn't get any notification about the service project, but then with my shoulder still recovering, I don't know how much use I would have been.

Thanks. There are logistical tasks to be performed. Our DIL did that.

[jkwilliams]

Just now, Bernard Gui said:

Thanks. There are logistical tasks to be performed. Our DIL did that.

I would have been happy to help, but they didn’t contact me. 

[Bernard Gui]

Helping Hands.

https://www.facebook.com/samone.ratcliff/posts/pfbid02PTLWzYZcpMwSh2n9rCFB8qApmTyaEGeZVytEMEb4zUfQ1a3unX27bcEeWCoxt5bxl

Edited September 1, 2022 by Bernard Gui