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HelpingStudents engage in disaster reliefUBeing part of a team of collegestudents that decided to serve ratherthan be served was a blessing thatI was able to witness." FreshmanJames RLCker Noah DarnellWhen the US. was hicon September 13, 2008, by itsthird largest hurricane, Ike, the Harding studentbody realized they needed to hetp. With over $27billion in damages and over 82 deaths, H urricane Ike ravagedthe coastline, costing many families their homes and ways oflife. Several weeks after the initial damage, over 20 studentsleft for their fall break co serve the people in southern Texaswho were hit the worst by the hurricane and in need ofclean up help.The group worked in conjunction with several otherministry groups from around the Lubbock, Texas, area toclean up the damage, which was more shocking than manystudents thought it would be."] was expecting there to be only a little damage left thatrequired lots of manpower," junior Justin Barrios said. "Butwhen we gOt there, it looked like the hurricane [had] comethrough only three days before."The group put their efforts into picking up branches, clearingdebris, tearing out drywall, mucking out houses, makingminor repairs and praying with the owners of each house.When seeing all the damage that was done, there wereseveral reactions throughout the group."1 didn't expect the graffiti everywhere sa}~ng things like'owner will shoot looters'," senior Alex Cantrell said. ''Thingscan be replaced, but seeing these people's emotions sprayedacross dilapidated buildings was heart-wrenching."Some of the group members were surprised at how realthe situation became once they saw the damaged homesup close.''You don't understand what is reaUy being lost until youare there looking at it aU with your own eyes and seeing whatthese people have lost," freshman Erin Stone said.Although it had been several weeks since Ike hit, dle groupsaid there was still a lot of work to be done. There still remainedcleaning to finish, houses to fix and rebuild and support togive those who lost either loved ones or their homes in thehurricane. Stone said that just the group being there to cleanup helped these individuals who had so little.Although the cleanup work was hard on the students,even harder was the realization that people's entire lives werenow in trash heaps.''1 ('s never easy to throw someone's [belongings) out OntOa sidewalk so that a dump truck can haul it away," sophomoreJonathan Moury said. "lc just reminded me over and overagain that this world is truly not my home."Ultimately, the group hoped their fall break mission gavehope to the hurricane victims."I hope we left them with a sense of security and hope."Stone said. " Hope for the future and for a life after theflood and securi ty so that they would know that Jesus isalways there to hold them when the water starts to pour inaU around dlem. And that no matter what He will be thereto see them through."Christie Cronk and Katie Ramirez"To be at a point in our lives wherewe can afford to go serve those whoare in need is a blessing, and it wasa great opportunity for God to blessthem through us." Sophomore Ky1eCrafts. Noah DarnellThis T-shirt hangs in the tent 'IoItlere dinrer is seNed to th3lf.Cfkers Cf1Oct 16 in south I-'oJston Am:1'g aI of the damage, the sm seMld asa rernrde< that suMvaJ was r...." "",t was mportant Noah DarnellSophomore Marchel Morningstar Sits high up In a treE! v...tlile cuttingdoM1 brokef1lmbs Oct 16 1rere were many faJm ard sr'i trees fremthe starns in the area. Noah DarnellSophomore Rachel Gelpi helps sort thrOU\!1 aJ the rubIJje of "",t USOOto be a home Oct 16 ThIs was a common &ght for the students onthe trip ard made them very thankflj that they were able to MP thesefamvies Noah DarnellStudents gather to say a p-ayer together ak:x"lg Vvrth other resK1ents ofsouth i-txJston Oct 16. Students fClUed ths an 'WI'cpnate ime to thell