WR answers a hometown girl’s prayer
Published: September 21, 2005
Warner Robins might not be the biggest city around, the most historic or the prettiest.
But I challenge anyone to show me a town with a bigger heart.
Last week, I told you about Sarah Beth Wheeler and her prayer that her hometown would send desperately needed supplies to the Hammond, La. area.
Today, I am going to tell you what the people of Warner Robins did.
Friday about 3 a.m., a truckload of supplies - food, water, baby stuff, etc. - pulled out of Warner Robins. The truck actually went to a distribution center in Pine, La., a little hamlet outside of Hammond that still doesn’t have electricity. Pine is made of up mostly older people. It’s a rural, farming community.
It was in Pine, at the First Baptist Church, that 47,000 pounds of supplies gathered by the citizens of Warner Robins were unloaded about 3 p.m. Friday.
The line of cars had formed long before the truck pulled in.
Sarah Beth Wheeler was there as the truck was unloaded by inmates from a local prison. The inmates had given up their visitation day to help with the distribution of supplies.
People had been asked not to get out of their cars, to remain in them while the supplies were unloaded and sorted. Then a sort of drive-through was set up.
But one man, in his 80s, defied the law officials on hand. He got out of his truck anyway, saying, “I have to tell them, I have to tell them.”
He hung his head on the driver’s shoulder and cried “thank you, thank you, thank you.”
In about six hours, the truck was empty and the supplies had all been given out to people.
Not stored in a distribution center. Given out. That night people in Pine, La., ate green beans, changed diapers, had a sheet to lie on, or were able to wash their hair because of you.
When Sarah Beth Wheeler asked for the prayers of her hometown and that the people of Warner Robins would respond with much-needed supplies, several organizations jumped on board. At Russell Elementary School, where Sarah Beth’s mom, Joan Turner, teaches, staff and students had a special drive. Houston Medical Center employees brought in all kinds of things and allowed their facility to be a drop-off point. Central Baptist church members donated items, sorted and boxed all the donations and packed the truck.
Frito-Lay donated the truck and pallets of Gatorade, water and chips.
And you, to whom Sarah Beth was a stranger, opened your hearts and donated also.
Baby beds, prenatal vitamins, sheets and blankets, food by the sackful. All dropped off at the Pavilion, without any fanfare, without any acknowledgement.
Done only with love in the heart and a sincere compassion for those who are suffering right now.
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me.”
Jesus tells us in the Bible, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”
So with their stomachs a little fuller, their load a little lighter, the people of Pine and Hammond say thanks, Warner Robins.
“Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
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