I am not from Minot. In fact, I was not too happy when the military stationed us here as you may remember from my post: “You Are God Alone”  The climate change from Okinawa, Japan to Minot, North Dakota was a major shock. I still can’t believe that we got our First Snow!… in October! And since coming here many of my family and friends have heard me say that I am still waiting for God to show me why he brought us here. To be honest, I am still not sure why he did and I may never know. But, I know that he sees the bigger picture and I know there is a reason.

We have been living here for almost a year now and God has blessed us. We have found a great church, Minot First Church of the Nazarene, where I sing on the worship team and teach the 2 & 3 year old Sunday School class. We have met some great friends who will always be close to our hearts. We have found a great school, Montessori of Minot, for Kendal. I have found a great job at Joan’s Hallmark in the mall. I am still running my home businesses, Heart Treasures Boutique and Juice Plus. We like the people and the town but hate the cold weather during the long winter.

Over the last few weeks, many of you have probably heard in the news about the historic flooding that has devastated Minot, North Dakota. I have not blogged about it yet because so many people were already doing so. Now it seems like there is not much news coverage. I don’t think that people (who don’t live here) fully understand what is happening here.

It started with our heavy winter snow fall and heavy spring rains which caused flooding of farming fields and roads.

Photos I took on May 1st. [Photo 1: Snowfall on May 1, 2011] [Photo 2: Flooding of Highway 83 north of town & south of MAFB]

The precipitation also caused already full dams in Canada & North Dakota to get way too much water. The dams scheduled water releases in order to control the water. Several homes were evacuated due to the first set of water releases. Many of those homes were damaged beyond repair but a lot of the evacuees were able to return home. Unfortunately, original water projections were inaccurate so more dam releases were scheduled to let out a whole lot more. This caused mandatory evacuations for approximately 11,000+ people. The people of the town rushed to get their belongings out of their homes. The town built dikes that originally would have worked but would not be high enough for the new water projections. People worked around the town in an effort to stop the river as much as possible. Although the town worked hard, it wasn’t enough.

Photos I found on other local sites: [Before & After of the street near the library heading towards the lowest point in the town.]

Photos from NASA: [Photo 1: May 16, 2011 “Before”]  [Photo 2: June 25, 2011 “After”]

The 2011 Minot flood statistics have far surpassed the previously recorded flood records for this town. This flood brought in double the water that came in the famous flood of 1969. The town and surrounding areas, including Minot Air Force Base, was placed on a boil & conservation order for water. Meaning we have to boil the water before using it to eat or drink and we have to limit our use of water to necessity. No washing vehicles, watering lawns, or filling kiddie pools. Many places have had the boil order lifted but we are still to conserve water as much as possible.

Photos I found KX News Facebook Fan Page: [Boat tour on June 26, 2011]

Now that the flood waters have started to recede, some evacuees have been able to go home to see the damages. Armed with masks, boots, and gloves here is what they are coming home to:

Photos I found KX News Facebook Fan Page: [Homes destroyed by water and mold/mildew.]

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So, how can YOU help Minot?

Here are a few ways you can lend a helping hand:

Photos I found KX News Facebook Fan Page:

Vote for Oak Park in the America’s Favorite Park Contest sponsored by Coca-Cola! Help rebuild our largest park which has been destroyed by flood waters. Oak Park is now in 2nd Place!!! (We were in 14th place yesterday afternoon!) Type in area code 58701. Vote as many times as you would like to vote between now & September 6th. If we get to 1st place we will win $100,000!

Send Box Tops & Soup Labels to help rebuild Minot schools! We have LOST 6 schools to the flood here in Minot, North Dakota! This is an incredibly simple way that anyone can contribute from all over the country and all it costs is postage! Send them to:

Erin Edgerly
15 Vista Dr.
Minot, ND  58703

[Photo: One of the schools under water. You can see that the town tried to save it but the barrier they built was not high enough.]

Donate to the Minot Red Cross! As of July 2, 2011, the Red Cross had provided (total for North Dakota with majority for Minot area):  2,868 overnight shelter stays, 17,329 meals and 70,063 snacks, Emotional support to 1,089 people and health services to 852 people, Deployed more than 385 volunteers locally and from across the country to support the operation. [Photo: Red Cross trucks in Minot.]

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Fortunately, the people of Minot, ND have rallied together and have supported each other through this crisis. The majority of evacuees have been staying with friends or family around the area. Even in the devastation glimmers of hope peek through on occasion such as the following flag which was torn from a flagpole and ended up on this tree instead of on the ground:

Or these words remaining on the wall of a destroyed home: “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to Dance in the rain.”

Blessings (with photos of Minot, ND)

by: Laura Story

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering

All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops?
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near?

What if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough

And all the while You hear each desperate plea
And long that we’d have faith to believe

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near?

And what if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us, when darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It’s not our home

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near?

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst
This world can’t satisfy?

And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise?

Blessings CD By Laura Story / INO Records