Are You Prepared? DAWN LEWIS


Women’s Ministries President


 we would need to leave our house, we can easily pack the totes into a vehicle and know at a glance how many months of supplies we have. Now, don’t go thinking we are dooms-


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few years ago, my husband told me he thought we should think about prepping. I had no idea at the time what he was talking about. He explained that it meant we would begin a storehouse of items such as food, wa- ter, and medical supplies. He had been watching some YouTube videos on the subject, and he showed me some as well. We also looked at scripture which sup- ported this idea. Proverbs 6:6-11 states, “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in sum- mer and gathers its food at harvest. How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little fold- ing of the hands to rest and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.” We really focused on the idea, and I began picking up extra grocery items such as dry beans, rice, canned fruits and vegetables, and bottled water. We also began shopping at bargain stores         - searched online about other items that may be good to gather. We found check- lists that helped us inventory what we had and what we needed, how long items would last, and the best storage options. We bought shelving units for our base- ment and storage totes. I decided the best way for us to store our supplies would be one month of items per tote. I recorded in a notebook what is in each tote and also placed a list in the top of each tote. Each tote contains items for food, shelter,


day preppers, but we have a sense of se- curity in our home should a disaster or other event occur that would either force us to stay indoors or force us to leave our home. We are also prepared to be able to help our neighbors as Philippians 2:4 sug- gests, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” We have even been able to put our pre-


paredness to the test. A few years ago, a derecho - a severe windstorm - came through our city during the hottest part of summer. Our town was without power for many days. Thanks to our prepara- tions, we were able to use our generator to supply power to our refrigerator, freezer, window air conditioner, coffee pot, and sump pump by using a rotating system. We were able to take my in-law’s frozen foods and add them to our freezer so they didn’t suffer loss. We made coffee for the neighbors daily, supplied them with a cup of ice, and offered them a cooked meal each day. It is amazing what you can cook on a camp stove, grill, and in a


crockpot! We have a gas water heater, so we were able to have hot water and with the generator, we were able to cool one room in our house. We continue to work on our preparedness efforts regularly. Now instead of stockpiling bottled water,  and we use it every day. We check our canned food rations and rotate as things near their use by dates. We also keep         supplies, emergency food rations, water,  has become a way of life for us. This does not just apply to being phys-


ically ready with our supplies, but we must be spiritually ready. We must be aware of opportunities for Satan’s decep- tion. We must study the Word and pray daily. We need to learn God’s voice so that we are ready to listen. As Mark 13:32- 33 points out, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.” Though that text refers to Christ’s second coming, I be- lieve we can apply it to situations such as war or natural disasters as well. We feel safer and know we have what we need and that we have enough to share with our neighbors.


Knowing, loving, serving, Jesus ARPWM March/April 2020 19


Women’s Ministries


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