Monday, May 4, 2010, Nashville, Tennessee, 1:28 p.m., D.S.T.~

Dear Journal~

T'is a sad entry that I write.  The church I have been a part of for the last several years is no more:  the building where we had our church has been called a total loss.  Everything inside the church has been destroyed, thanks, in part, to the record-setting flooding that continues to plague our area.

I know that a building can always be replaced, but when one sees the destruction of something we have held dear to our hearts, it is still devastating to see. 

Many of our church members have also lost their homes or businesses to the flooding; most will have to start all over again; many left for higher ground with nothing but the clothes on their backs or a few prized possessions.  I have seen some houses barely survive, but it's only by the grace of God that they haven't been washed away or are still standing.  I am sure that many of these homes have some flooding inside them, but hopefully those who live inside of them can save whatever they can and try to get on with their lives.

Now the business begins, the business of trying to locate a new church building, once the waters recede.  If God wants us to have a new church, then so be it; until then, we will probably find somewhere else to hold our services, even if it's nothing more than a tent or an empty building that hasn't been wrecked by the floodwaters.

I am happy to say most of our church family has weathered the flooding, but many will have to start over, or find new places to live or start their businesses.  Hopefully there will be people who will open their hearts (and wallets) to help those who have been most affected by the massive flooding in our area.

Nashville has been virtually cut off from the world thanks in part to the waters; the waters will continue to rise until the Cumberland crests at over 39', thus, adding to the problem; there is no way of telling just how many people have been killed in the flooding.  More worries, and there's no telling when crews will come to repair the roads or bridges washed away, or to get our power back on.  We have been in the dark since Friday; it's now Monday.  Three whole days of being in the dark.  It is a terrible time we are facing.

I am trying my hardest to be positive:  I am trying to rely on the Lord to get us through this devastating time in our lives; it's hard, though, when I think about our church building being a total loss, and no longer having a church to call home.  It is enough to make me want to give up, but I know I shouldn't; I just have to learn to trust and believe that God will get us through, even during these worst of times.

I am writing this from a Red Cross shelter where the ground is higher; no telling how long I or my family (or loved ones and friends) will be here.  We will just have to take it one day at a time and pray for a miracle for our beseiged city. 

Well, I am starting to cry again; seems that is all I have done for the past three/four days, ever since this crisis began.  Just pray for a miracle for our city, and our citizens; pray for those who have lost loved ones; they are going to need it more than anyone!  We would greatly appreciate it!  Pray we get the assistance we desperately need, so we can start our lives anew and move on!  Thank you in advance!

~Sincerely, Pastor Tim Delcambre', Nashville, Tennessee.  :(