Still Standing

Of course the whole nation has been inundated with reports from Hurricane Irene this weekend.

I'd like to share with you something pretty amazing from this massive storm.

As you know if you've been reading my blog for a while, our boys go to Camp Don Lee each year in Arapahoe, NC (which is on the Neuse River).

After Irene made landfall near Cape Lookout, she continued to go up North Carolina through the sounds which are in between the mainland and the outer banks.

Camp Don Lee was greatly affected by the storm, and I'd like to share a few powerful photos that were shared with me yesterday. I did not take any of these photos except for the ones with our children in them.

This is a photo that I took on July 31st this year when we took Brendan to camp. We went out on the pier just before leaving Brendan.

The following photo was taken as Irene made her way up our coastline and caused extreme flooding and storm surge.

Please look very closely at the water. Just to the left of the two prominent poles standing, you can see the cross at the end of the pier. The entire pier is submerged, and the cross appears to be standing on water.

This is what the pier should look like on a regular day...

A tremendous sight to see just how much was underwater.

As Irene moved northeast and "sucked" the water back out with her, this is what was left...

The skeleton of the pier, and the cross - STILL STANDING!!!

Camp Don Lee is a Methodist church camp, and is a non-profit organization. There will be so much work and money needed to repair this camp which is open year round for school students.

If you can, please help by making a contribution through the link below.

http://www.donleecenter.org/contribution.php

When our friend emailed me the last photo, it just gave me chills to see that cross rising from the damaged pier. Just amazing!