TULSA - In recent months the country has seen a lot, but Green Country has not forgotten its neighbors in Texas still suffering from the devastation Hurricane Harvey left behind.
Eight to twelve hours a day, that's how long students spent hammering, drilling, tearing down and rebuilding a different family's home each day for a week.
“The thing that changed (me) the most is really learning the stories of the people there.”
ORU Senior Alex Mills saw a lot of it through a lens.
His passion for story-telling taking over.
But his work didn't exactly reveal the story the group expected to tell.
“It just hits harder once you’re actually there, because you realize that people lost everything," said ORU Freshman Jose Barajas.
Homes in shambles.
“There’s 20 people living in a two bedroom house.”
The work draining, and eye opening.
“You’re taking a sweater out, or taking a picture out, and you’re seeing this family picture, and you see them outside with nothing.”
Heads bowed, they reached ou to strangers, giving them the love they would want or need if it was them.
“It struck me every single day we were there what a blessing and honor it was to be able to help these people in any way we could," said ORU Senior Jessica Collier.
Alex's lens capturing just how contagious the Houston Strong spirit is.
Not just physically, but emotionally.
“The one thing I’ll take away from it for sure is really being able to understand people who are determined to get back the life they used to have.”
His favorite photo embodying hope in the midst of a storm.
“Through all the disaster and the pain they were going through they were willing to stay and rebuild, and get back on their feet.”
Taking with them a new perspective, a new definition of strength, but the same belief in what faith and a smile can do.
ORU made the following statement about its students.
"Being Spiritually Alive and Socially Adept are two of the ORU student learning outcomes. The students who went to the Houston area to help hurricane victims fit that perfectly. They wanted to minister the love of Christ to those impacted by the storm and be responsible citizens. We believe they accomplished both while serving there over Fall Break. All of our students are ready to serve when needed."
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