Storms And Promises

42 years ago this past week an F4 tornado tracked on the ground for 3 hours through northern Missouri and southeastern Iowa destroying the little town of Wright, Iowa. This past Thursday morning heavy rain, strong winds, and large hail, went through several of our communities in southern Iowa. Thanks for the picture Brad.

Damage ranged from leaning to flattened crops, to totally stripped by hail, to flooded acres.

                              

I'm going to break my own rule of last names today for you who enjoy "Dutch Bingo". Cornelius and Nellie Boender had 12 children. 2nd born William was born in Holland. At 16 years old he was to go to court for kicking a dog. He chose instead to come to America. My great-grandparents in this picture look like a storm must have went through their vegetable patch in Holland. 😊

Bill Boender married Christine DeVries. They had 10 children. 2 of their sons were Samuel and Harry. Sam married Wilma Nunnikoven. Harry married Bynie Rus. Sam had 3 children including Stanley. Harry had 6 including me (Steve). Stan married Lila Menninga and had 4 including Justin. I married Jan Ferguson and had 6 including BJ. Justin married Michelle Kuntz and had 3 boys including Noah. BJ married Cassia Leaverton and had 5 including Gideon. Noah married Samantha and have 2 including Tyson. Gideon married Emily Sytsma and have 2 including Ella.

Why the long boring genealogy? Because last week, on the same Sunday, at the same church, 7 generations later, two little Boender children, Tyson and Ella, were dedicated to God. We sang "The Blessing" where the chorus says, "May His favor be upon you....And your family and your children, and their children, and their children".

I have no idea of the status of all the offspring of Cornelius and Nellie. I do know the number is in the thousands. I do know however that God has been faithful. And in the last 125 years, His favor has been upon the 7 generations of those I mentioned today. Below grandkids ranging from kindergarten through 6th grade are taking the blades off of Grandma's mower so Grandpa can sharpen them.

Monday afternoon, after helping with jobs, the younger grandkids went swimming while Grandpa was lifeguard.

There have been plenty of storms over those last 125 years. Some downright tough. Yet through it all God is always by our side. The older grandkids all have work of their own now. Elijah is taking the JD8420 and going to mow road ditches. Ethan is heading for his dump truck to haul rock.

Wednesday evening I hurried home with the skidloader and mower before an approaching storm. As I stepped out to open the shop door a lightning strike hit the ground just behind me. The crash was deafening. The flash of light was blinding. I could still barely smell sulfur the next morning. Our electricity flashed. Jan's house windows rattled. She ran out in the rain to see if I was still moving. I thought, Wow, that was close. Then I thought that was God's presence in the storm. He was in Jan and my storm last summer when we were both diagnosed with health issues. And in our storms, He says, "I will never leave you or forsake you".