A young man I know was preparing on Monday evening to ship out the next day from Norfolk, Va., with about 3,199 of his Navy buddies. They were embarking on a long journey from the east coast to the west coast—the long way around, passing Cape Horn on the tip of South America. Their ship, the USS Carl Vinson is a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier which had recently undergone an extensive overhaul in Newport News and was heading for its new homeport in San Diego. Readying the ship began weeks ago and involved loading tons of food and medical supplies. But God knew something that the officers and crew did not.
The crew departed on their trip about the same time the devastating earthquake occurred in Haiti on Tuesday this week. On Wednesday, the Carl Vinson received orders to deliver assistance to the stricken nation, and the commanding officer immediately headed the ship for Mayport, Florida. There they loaded nineteen helipcopters, plus additional personnel and support equipment from five different east coast Navy squadrons—in less than eight hours.
The Carl Vinson arrived off the coast of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Friday, ready to begin humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. It carries exactly the kind of supplies that are needed, including water-purifying equipment and three operating rooms. With landing space for additional helicopters, those on board are equipped to do medical evacuations as well as ferry supplies and people to and from the ship. The aircraft's ability to make a quick response, along with its flexibility and its self-sustaining capability, make it the ideal platform to carry out relief operations in this catastrophic situation. And God knew all this too!
God has not forsaken Haiti. My young friend is one more way I can see that. "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah." (Psalm 46: 1-3)
MaryMartha
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
The Carl Vinson arrived off the coast of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Friday, ready to begin humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. It carries exactly the kind of supplies that are needed, including water-purifying equipment and three operating rooms. With landing space for additional helicopters, those on board are equipped to do medical evacuations as well as ferry supplies and people to and from the ship. The aircraft's ability to make a quick response, along with its flexibility and its self-sustaining capability, make it the ideal platform to carry out relief operations in this catastrophic situation. And God knew all this too!
God has not forsaken Haiti. My young friend is one more way I can see that. "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah." (Psalm 46: 1-3)
MaryMartha
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
Photo of the USS Carl Vinson - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Carl_Vinson_(CVN-70)
No comments:
Post a Comment