When Hope Rises Above the Floodwaters

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34:18)

When disaster strikes, the immediate response is a flurry of emergency aid and national attention. But when the headlines fade and the cameras leave, the real, grueling work of long-term recovery begins.

This is the calling of HEART Response Ministry. Just weeks ago, a dedicated team of volunteers (pictured above) traveled to the Texas Hill Country, not for the initial cleanup, but to fulfill our commitment to the rebuilding phase. We didn't come just to haul debris; we came to hang sheetrock, install new floors, and restore the hope that was washed away, all while building deep relationships and wrapping people in the unwavering love of Jesus.

The red debris in the tree marks the height of the water during the flood

The True Impact: More Than a New Floor

The heart of our mission is revealed in the stories shared across kitchen tables—or in this case, next to gutted living rooms. Volunteer Don Mertz captured the initial joy of the work, recounting how Joan, an 84-year-old resident, began to dance when told the HEART team was there to install the new flooring in her bedrooms. This simple act of receiving a floor, after months of crisis, was a momentous step toward reclaiming her home.

Joan lives with her husband Dave, a 98-year-old WWII veteran, and hearing their survival story was a poignant reminder of why we stay.

The couple recounted the terrifying early morning when they woke to waist-high water. The floodwaters had crashed through their back door, smashing Joan’s baby grand piano to pieces. They barely escaped, grabbing their dog and climbing onto a pergola shelf outside as the water rose to their chest. They waited there for six hours until a neighbor found them. Dave, who had gone to bed unclothed, was rescued and wrapped in the American flag from the pergola—a powerful image later shared by news outlets.

A Conviction Stirred: "Is Anyone Going to Come and Help Us?"

While the entire team was moved by their tale, the emotional centerpiece for many was a simple thought that haunted Joan in those hours of silence and shock.

Volunteer Jim Nye shared his takeaway: "They sat in silence and Joan stated that her only thought was 'is anyone going to come and help us?' This thought played over and over in her mind."

Jim realized that this wasn't a haunting, but a conviction stirring deep within him: “...to step up, step out, and seek those in need. I hope that I never forget the fear and desperation that came with those words.”

This is the HEART Difference. We show up to answer that question, "Is anyone going to help us?" We are the hands and feet of Jesus, ensuring no one is left to struggle alone in the long road of recovery.

Bedroom, finished!

Building on the Rock

The team, including volunteers Jay and Connie Bjoin, worked diligently, laying beautiful new Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) in the bedrooms. In a moment of quiet faith, the team upheld a special tradition: writing scriptures on the subfloor beneath the LVT. Every finished bedroom now rests on a foundation of God's Word, a powerful symbol that these homes, and these lives, are being rebuilt on the rock of hope.

The team left Texas having laid foundational hope, working alongside local partners from ministries like Somebody Cares and Broken Yoke. The work ensures that families like Dave and Joan are one giant step closer to moving out of temporary housing and finally returning to a true sense of normalcy.

This volunteer trip, marked by new floors, deep conversations, and the planting of scripture, is one piece of a much larger, ongoing commitment. It is the direct result of the generosity and prayerful support that was first highlighted in our initial post.

As of October 2025, HEART has sent 9 semi-trucks (and counting) filled with materials & supplies, and multiple teams of volunteers, to the Texas Hill Country to sustain the long road of recovery. Our focus remains on delivering tangible aid and the unwavering love of Christ, one shipment and one handshake at a time.

Join the Long Haul

The emotional and physical toll of a disaster doesn't end with the cleanup. People like Dave and Joan are still waiting for many pieces of their lives to be restored. Your willingness to serve or give is the answer to that agonizing question, "Is anyone going to come and help us?"

How You Can Partner with HEART:

1. Volunteer: Can you use a hammer, a paintbrush, or just have a heart ready to listen? Join us on a future impact trip. Your skills, and your presence, are the heart of this ministry. Visit our Volunteer page to learn more.

2. Donate: Every dollar funds the next truckload of supplies, the next sheet of drywall, and the next finished room. Support our Disaster Relief Fund today to help us continue this critical, life-changing work. Donate now >>

HEART Response Ministry is committed to walking alongside communities until the job is done. Your generosity and service ensure that hope not only survives the flood but is visibly rebuilt, one floor and one scripture at a time.

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