Oil in the Waves!

My Cousin Dylan - Sticky oil sticks to his fingers
Coils of material called Booms are used to soak up oil as it reaches the shore.

These workers rushed to a location where oil is washing up on the shore. They are carrying a line of poms (looks like cheerleader pom poms) to soak up oil.

A want to cry as I post this photo of black water washing upon the land.

I write the post with a heavy heart.

My family has been vacation in Gulf Shore, AL since I was about eight years old. We have so many wonderful memories here. When we heard about the oil spill, we considered canceling our trip, but I didn't want to miss out of our family time. You see my brothers families, my Aunt and Cousin, and Grandparents and my Parents all attend.

I am not sad that we kept our trip as planned, but I am greatly saddened by what I have seen today.

The Water:
Around 3:30pm, we were sitting out on the deck watching the boys swim in the pool. You cannot get into the ocean right now. That has been such a strange site. No one is swimming in the ocean. No one is surfing. No rafts. Hardly anyone walking along the coast line.

Anyway, we looked at the ocean and all of the sudden a huge dark wave surfaced. Miles of oil filled water take the place of the beautiful white capped waves of years past.

The Workers:

There are many workers on call ready to rush out to where the oil is spilling onto the shore. Safety personnel drive around in mules (little cart like vehicles) filled with Booms and supplies to help with the clean up. I spoke with a Safety worker today and he told me his job is to help make sure the oil spill workers who actually get into the water are kept safe. They rotate the employees out about every 10-20 minutes. They were yellow boots or full yellow suits depending on how bad the area of clean up is. I am looking at three workers in full yellow as I type. There are also many boats out on the water and helicopters in the air. I imagine they are looking out for the oil and assisting in the clean up efforts. It is so sad.

The Smell:

There is a faint smell in the air similar to fresh asphalt being laid along the highway.

I know that no matter how bad this may be right now, God is in control. He knew about this event long before it happened and he has a plan and a purpose for how it will turn out. He could have stopped it, but we have free will and this just had to happen even if we don't understand it.

Just as God brought his people out of Egypt, just as he rescued David from the Lion's Den, just as he gave us a Savior, Jesus Christ who died on the cross for OUR sins, he will rescue us from this disaster. I hope we will humble ourselves and turn towards him during this difficult time just as God instructed Solomon and the people of Israel many years ago.

2 Chronicles 7: 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.