While I did not experience any damage myself as a result of the flooding, I was encouraged and uplifted by the stories I was able to hear in church. By hearing the first hand accounts from church members about their experience in such a hard time, I felt joy about what God can do in such circumstances and a peace about the future as my faith grew knowing what God can do in difficult times. I heard stories of communities coming together, of faith coming alive in a way it had not been present before in the lives of people, and of love in the form of people willing to help others in need. It also brought a lightness to life on this earth as people realized they could withstand any disaster because while life is tragic, God is faithful.