Faith, Grit, and Floodwaters: My Week in the Texas Hill Country Recovery Effort
- Sheri Walls
- 20 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Not all adventures are glamorous. Some test your strength, your faith, and your ability to keep going.
A Whirlwind Few Days
The last few days have been an emotional and physical whirlwind. I almost didn’t write about them — they’re not upbeat, but they are real.
I fulfill my heart and my purpose when I help people in whatever way they need. In my everyday career, I help families finance their largest, most emotional purchase. I help them turn a house into a home, create memories they’ll cherish for a lifetime, and find a safe place to grow.
But over the last few days, I met people recalling very different kinds of memories — some joyful, others filled with pain. Some were seeking the closure they needed just to take the next step and rebuild their lives.
This is the work no one wants to do — but it is work that desperately needs to be done.
Old Friends, New Purpose
I had expected to spend most of my time with my Esperanza bestie, Jaim, and her friend Matt B, serving as runners for recovery operations after the July 4th floods in the Texas Hill Country.
On Wednesday, we met for dinner at Valeria in Boerne (if you haven’t tried the Belgian fries with truffle sauce — you are missing out). Jaim finally met her Godson, Marshall, for the first time since my grandmother’s passing in 2012, when he was just 1½ years old.
Jaim is one of those friends you pick up with right where you left off — no daily check-ins required. Seeing her laugh and smile again was the most joyous thing.
Chainsaws, Sweat, and Meme’s Orders
Thursday morning, I was up before sunrise gathering much-needed supplies. I now know more about chainsaws, chains, and hydraulic fluid than I ever thought I would.
We arrived at base camp, greeted by Meme — the sweetest woman with the steeliest resolve. She gave us a quick tour, filled us in, and put us straight to work.
One of our first tasks: unloading and reorganizing a 48-foot tractor trailer full of supplies that had been relocated due to reflooding. Some items had been damaged, others needed to be staged for delivery to a warehouse.
It was Texas hot — humid, sticky, and suffocating. For a moment, we all thought, what have we gotten ourselves into? But with a little elbow grease (and a bobcat with forks), we got it done.
Back at camp, we set up tents for food, drinks, gear, medical aid, and even a prayer space. We also helped Meme create a written plan so she could get some much-needed mental rest.
Low-Flying Helicopters and Harsh Realities
Friday began before sunrise again. We immediately noticed military helicopters flying lower — a CH-46 and Apaches were now a constant presence.
It was blistering hot, and teams in the field needed cold water, electrolytes, and pickle shots. Amy, Jaim, and I loaded up the ATV and headed out.
The reality of the work hit hard when we delivered supplies to two women on horseback, part of a search team taking a brief rest while recovery operations happened nearby.
We drove along the Guadalupe River and saw the full magnitude of the flood’s destruction — debris fields, destroyed land, and the heavy silence of loss.
The Weight of Closure
We met a Texas woman named Melonie — nicknamed “Feral” — stuck on a tree but fully capable of handling it herself. We moved on to reach the main group of volunteers: a determined force of men and women working with urgency to bring closure to families.
Some were searching for lost friends. Others simply couldn’t sit at home watching the news anymore.
The hardest story I heard came from a camp counselor burdened by a heartbreaking decision. As someone who has survived major trauma, I know the long road to healing. I also know God can mend even the most shattered lives — though it often takes longer than we wish.
A Prayer for the Hurting
That day, multiple families received closure. Volunteers wept. Hearts broke. And yet, the work continued.
May God give you the serenity to walk forward
and the comfort in memories to look back.
May He give you the hope to dream and the
peace to remember.
May He lay His hand on you when you are
asleep and watch over you when you are
awake.
May He bless your life with happiness and give
rest to your grief.
May God be your unbreaking shelter and Rock.
May God bless you and keep you.
– Amen
The Unsung Heroes
This recovery effort was made possible by nonprofits and volunteer groups who worked quietly, without fanfare:
Mercy Chefs
Intrepid C.A.R.E.
TEXSAR
United Cajun Navy
Samaritan’s Purse
Centerpoint Volunteer Fire Department
The Boerne Rotary Foundation
If you feel called to donate, I promise your gift will be put to good use.
Your Turn
Have you ever volunteered during a natural disaster?
Share your story in the comments — let’s inspire more hands and hearts to help.
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