Carol A. Kuhnert

While my husband and I had been enjoying a beautiful Christmas with our family, continuous heavy rains wreaked havoc with all the Missouri Rivers, from the mighty Mississippi to the smaller Bourbeuse River that flows near our house.  On a normal day, it’s very inviting for boating, fishing or swimming, but by the end of December 2015, this quiet little river was rising quickly, and we knew it was imperative to move our belongings to upper shelves in our garages or to a neighbor’s higher ground.

With much help from our family, we did what we could and then packed some things and left for our daughter’s and son-in-law’s house to wait out the flood.  Five anxiety filled days passed before the water receded and we could return home to assess the damage caused by what turned out to be a historic flood.  We were extremely thankful to find that the water had not gotten into our house.  It did, however, nearly reach the ceilings in our garages.  Everything in them was thoroughly contaminated and soaked and would need to be discarded.

Within a week we were greatly blessed when a number of volunteers, family and friends, came to our aid, tackling all the heavy, mud-covered items that were heaped into a huge, mucky, tangled pile inside the closed garages.  The weather was bitter cold and everyone wore raincoats over their winter jackets, as first it was raining, but then it turned into accumulating snow.  Boots, hats and warm gloves completed everyone’s outfit, and all were covered in a generous helping of country mud in no time at all. I can’t say “thank you” enough to all these brave souls!  Since then we have been dealing with the ongoing clean up, de-molding, repair work, etc. while facing the day to day struggles life throws our way.

Flood repairs will continue to take a while, but hopefully I will now be able to have a little time to get back to encouraging others to speak out in support of survivors of clergy sexual abuse and hold the Catholic Church accountable for keeping such dangerous predators in active ministry.  Those abused deserve our understanding and justified support as they try to heal the wounds caused by such evil men and women.