Look for the Helpers

Hello friends, this is Amy Kraber writing on the blog today, as Lianna’s family has been without power or water for most of the week after the storm and she’s been unable to be on the computer. I’m so happy to help! That was a big storm on Monday! I hope you are okay and safe and have the things that you need.

My family also didn’t have any electricity for two days this week. We used things like a camping stove and flashlights to cook and see in the dark. Our neighbors helped us cut up the tree branches in our yard, and we shared our generator with them so they could have a little electricity for their refrigerators. Now that our neighborhood has electricity and the things that we need, we have started helping people beyond our neighborhood get the things they need. Our community is coming together even now to help people get water, batteries, medicines, and things to fix their houses.

Sometimes, when something scary happens (like the big storm on Monday), it’s helpful to look for the people who are helping. The people who are helping their neighbors aren’t just giving their neighbors “things,” but offering them love, kindness, and hope. I’m reminded that Jesus told us that it’s important to love your neighbor, and that love, kindness and hope are just a few of the things we feel when we invite God to come close.

I wonder where you’ve seen helpers this week? I wonder if you’ve been a helper this week? I wonder where God could be in the aftermath of this storm?

When things are feeling scary look around for the helpers! That's what Daniel Tiger and neighbors do!

If you’re still feeling anxious about the storm this week, I want you to know it’s okay. When I was anxious I found myself revisiting the very first blog post we made after we stopped being able to meet in our building: Finding Peace When We Feel Worried. I was reminded that we can invite God to be with us when we're feeling afraid, and that inviting God to be close to us helps us experience God’s peace, love, and hope.

If there are still things your family needs after the storm, or if your family needs help with something, please let us know.

Otherwise, we’re going to continue our Summer of Wonder series and spend an extra week wondering at all of the animals in our world! You might enjoy this live camera of brown bears catching salmon at a waterfall in Alaska:

Or this Great Dane puppy nursery live camera:

There are many more live cameras at www.explore.org to view anything from animals to the ocean to the northern lights (live!) and wonder at our world. You can also see lots of amazing videos on our Summer of Wonder: Animals playlist. I hope you’re noticing lots of amazing things in the world around you this summer!

P.S. Don’t forget to send pictures or 3-second videos of things you’ve noticed to Lianna for our Summer of Wonder video compilation!