In October 2022 Rochester experienced one of their worst floods in history. A year on, the town is still trying to recover from all they have lost. This is Joel’s story.
Joel and his wife Ellie, along with their five children, call the historic town of Rochester, Victoria, home. Their tranquil life took an unexpected turn in October 2022 when floods struck just as the family had embarked on a renovation project. Unfortunately, they were not covered by insurance during this crucial period of rebuilding.
Despite the setback, Joel’s resilience gave hope to his family. Taking matters into his own hands, he tirelessly worked on reconstructing their home, allowing them to return earlier than many others who were navigating the complexities of insurance. Reflecting on those initial moments back in their home, Joel remarked, “When we first got back into our home, no one was back in; it was a ghost town, eerie, and we felt a bit guilty.”
Joel with some of the Samaritan’s Purse volunteers who worked on his home.As Joel took on the monumental task of rebuilding, he later realised the magnitude of the challenge. While the entire town was grappling with similar issues, he needed assistance beyond what he could manage alone. While speaking to a flood recovery officer about the work he was planning during the Christmas break, Joel was directed to Samaritan’s Purse.
The arrival of Samaritan’s Purse at Joel’s property marked a turning point. The volunteers remounted the family’s front fence, dismantled a damaged shed, and restored order to the front yard. Through these seemingly small acts of kindness, Samaritan’s Purse lifted a significant burden, granting Joel the precious gift of time with his family during the approaching Christmas break.
Joel expressed his gratitude, acknowledging the efforts of the volunteers. “I had planned to work over the Christmas break myself to take down the shed, sort the front yard and the fence, and now it’s just done. I can spend a bit more time with the kids. I thought there was definitely a few days’ work there… [it is] just unbelievable, what the volunteers have done, they’ve all done such a great job.”
Now, more than a year since the devastating floods, Joel and his family are among the many still navigating the arduous path of recovery. “As you would have seen, there are a lot of people just beginning to get work started in their home. There will be a lot of people who still won’t be in their home for a second Christmas,” Joel noted. Please pray for the town of Rochester and for the ongoing work of Samaritan’s Purse, dedicated to restoring not just homes but the lives of those profoundly impacted by the floods.
