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Home > Fellowship Plaza Apt. A202 |
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Hand in Hand 2017 Campaign
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Last night my wife wishing to watch “America’s Got Talent” hosted by NBC Channel around 8PM in the evening and turned on the TV. While I was finishing my work in the living room, my wife said something else was on the television instead of the usual program.
I said it couldn’t be and checked and it sure was running another show. Usually there is a preview or some sort of warning before they changed programs, but none of that was preset. As a viewer, this was very confusing but this was something that was worth without the warning. This was actually a program of a campaign which I wished other big network stations had hosted.
About 2 weeks ago or so, the city of Houston in the state of Texas was hit by a massive flooding and suffers from the disaster. It was hard to see, as many of the houses were devastated by the wind, and what the wind did not destroy were flooded. It shows how much destructive power the nature holds. Despite the most modern technology and scientific advances, there is nothing to stop the mother nature of her wrath. It shows that even the sturdiest of the buildings, dams and levees, power lines, etc – anything humans have made to safe-house were all flooded and wiped out like paper to water.
All the while this is happening, despite having issues with racial segregation, difference between the poor and wealthy, political differences that rise out of United State, they were all put aside, to unite in the effort of recovery. Despite the severe damages have done by nature, people gathering and working together brought tears to my eyes as I watch all the events unfold before me in the television and leaving me awestruck.
Seeing people stuck from the sudden rising water, rolling their feet and shrinking in fear on the roof waiting desperately for a rescue to come, a mother who is holding her baby dry, trying her might to get out of the water, families waiting in agony as they are safe but their others are not, so many sad things and sympathies I feel, it reminded me of me 46 years ago when I was residing in a rental home in Seoul near Jung Ryang Creek where it was hit with a massive flood.
I had lived near there during that time. Most of the houses’ sewerage had gathered and formed a creek. At that time the bathrooms were not of flushing, but for a vehicle to come along and scoop the people’s excrements out. When my wife was pregnant with her first child, there was a massive rain flood that had hit our town. Knowing that if I had delay staying any longer, my wife and I left with what little thing we could pack up, and took my wife (who was heavy with a child) and left our house in waist deep water to a safer area. However, our look was a mess as we had just come out of sewerage water, but thankfully there was a sustained rain that had washed us away clean. After I took my wife who was tired and taking two different bus routes, we headed to wife’s brother’s home near SaeGum Jung. There were worries about the child to be born, but luckily he was born healthy. That is our first born, Samyeol (Samuel).
Hurricane Harvey had turned the entire city of Houston (one of the major cities of Texas) into a flooding, but peoples burning passion to rescue and help each other were hotter than of the height of the flooding. People all around who were not affected brought their boats, rubber tubes, or anything that is of help to save those stranded by the flooding. Many went door to door to pull the people out of the flooded areas and brought them into safer grounds. Even people from out of state came to rescue efforts as well. Of course, the fire department and the reserve army were involved as well using helicopters and other tools of rescue. It was difficult for most civilians to be able to help without the cooperation from everyone doing something to rescue. But, did the Whites go only after white, Black after black, Asians after Asians? It did not matter of what skin color, race, and wealth, everyone helped. People thanking their rescuers, separated families reuniting, all hugging and in tears made the hellish area fill with the peace of Heaven. It was such an awesome moment.
The next problem however, was where do these flooding victims go?
Turns out on the TV news, some of the families opened their homes so that people can temporarily stay from the rain. At least they can stay some time safely for the time being which was great to see. Of course, the city also opened up schools, indoor sports arena or public buildings as temporary beds for staying. But what about people who have cut off roads and have nowhere else to go?
One elderly furniture dealer owner opened his shop and let people sit and rest on the beds and sofa. However if the victims of the flood sit and sleep, they would be ruined and not be sellable? He told the broadcasting people that if they wish to keep it when they go back home, he would gladly give them away. This kind of sharing and caring made me tear up. How is this even humanely being possible not to be teary at this situation?
Several cities and groups gave clothing to change, food and drinks, and of all needy things immediately in truck loads. Tens of trucks were brought into the places where the victims of the hurricane were staying. One football team even donated out 13 trailer’s worth of daily need items.
While watching the news from our area, several of our cities fire department was dispatched to the area of flooding. Several PG&E technicians were sent also as well. Many people were volunteering via the Red Cross or any other groups to go and help. It was such a proud moment to see what was happening.
Seeing the Flower of Love sprouting from this disaster, I could not stand still. I called the superintendant of the C&MA and strongly suggested that we should do something instead of standing still. After that phone call, I received a message few days later that for the Harvey victims, there would be a fundraiser to gather through unanimous decision from all denominations. I also gathered what precious amount of money I can to send off to a pastor who was of my denomination to be sent off.
Last night, (12th of September) from 8PM to 9PM for an hour, several famous actors, TV announcers, athletes, and many other popular singers were out for a special show.
There were many songs of encouragement in helping those in distress at the moment, and short pleas of helping and of donations. There were hot lines set up in New York, Los Angeles and several other big cities to raise funds, and many were busy gathering the funds one by one. Several of them were very familiar faces who had picked up the phone for the hotline. The amount offering for the donation was unlimited, however a few dollars would be fine from start but up to $25 was more than enough in a paragraph written on the TV.
So how much donation did get gathered?
One of the announcer said a philanthropist had donated 10million. Another famous person had donated a million. Many of the pro basketball athletes also donated $20,000 each as well. Thankfully the NBA also agreed to send as much donation as the players had one together in the donation in matching amount.
One of the Houston’s pro footballers also had sent a huge amount of money as donation. Even President Trump had sent some. About 3 days ago, 4 of the current living presidents, George Bush, Clinton, George W. Bush and Obama all sent out pleas in helping those in need right now.
Last night in the program called “Hand in Hand 2017 Campaign”, it was announced that the total amount of donation was up to $440million dollars in total. However to recover the entire city of Houston, the requirement of money in repairing would be in astronomical amounts. However, people did not just sit and wait for the government to help. Instead they stood their two feet and helped and toiled to gather. What they had gathered and reaped is not of a small amount!
(September 13th 2017)
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Why? 
Hand in Hand 2017 Campaign