Friday, May 7, 2010, Breaux Bridge, Louisiana (last night here), 6:24 p.m., D.S.T.~

Dear Journal~

Johnathon here.  I'm afraid I'm not doing too well.  Healthwise, yes; not so much mentally.  See, I am worried:  my home city (Nashville) recently got hit by a devastating flood when several days of heavy weather caused the Cumberland River to overflow its banks and swamp a good part of the city.  I am worried about our house, and I am worried about my friends.

I am glad to say the family is well (we were here in Louisiana when it happened); we were supposed to leave to go home a week ago Wednesday, but then we heard about the nasty weather, so we decided to wait a few days. Maybe it was a good thing, or else we could have gotten caught up in all that mess.

I have seen the pictures of the devastation on my computer, and it's nothing short of heartbreaking.  The image of the Grand Ole Opry House getting flooded was probably the saddest picture of all.  That makes me concerned because I don't know if the Opry will go on, and I am worried because we don't live too far from the Opry.

Last I heard, over 12 people died as a result of the flood; there's a distinct possibility that more bodies might be found in the wreckage, thus, adding to the death toll.  I hope the ones who perished weren't people I knew!

I also heard that our home church (Christ Community Assembly of God) got devastated; now we don't have a church to call home.  I'd gone to that church for the past ten years, since I was seven; I was seven when I'd accepted Christ into my life.  Now it's gone, and I don't know what's gonna happen.

I do know this, though:  Rebekkah and her family (as well as Kendra) are okay, but Kendra and her family lost their home; they are now considering moving back to California (as is Rebekkah).  They can't take too much of the severe weather; it's been a bad spring, only made worse by the Nashville Flood of 2010.

The local tv stations had a telethon the other day to raise money to help Nashvillians get back on their feet; and the Salvation Army, Compassion Interanational, the American Red Cross, and other agencies have been descending upon Nashville to try to give her a helping hand during this horrible time.  Even President Obama has promised to send aid (though I am happy he did this, I just don't like him; never did, never will).

People are coming together:  celebrities, governmental people, dignitaries, and common folk.  They all want to help in any way they possibly can.  I know I (and my fellow Nashvillians) will appreciate it!  It's going to take months, probably even years, to get Nashville back on her feet, back to her former glory!

I don't know when I've cried so much like I've done ever since finding out about the flooding (and then seeing the damage the floodwaters left behind).  It's been a horrible time for me and my family because we don't know about our house, or if it is even still standing, and if it is, if it had any damage.  That's probably one of the worst feelings a person can have!

Well, I am crying again, so I am going to go.  I will write in here again soon; say a prayer for me and my fellow Nashvillians!  I (and they) would greatly appreciate it!  Thanks in advance, and may God bless you!  Pray our house is okay, and pray we have a safe trip back from Louisiana!

~Love, your friend, Johnathon Irwin-Allen Denver.  :(