Terri Schroeder

Last week, as flooding swept across the Texas Hill Country, my phone rang. It was my pastor, Gregg Matte of Houston’s First Baptist Church. He had 325 middle schoolers and dozens of volunteers at Camp Eagle near Rocksprings. The flooding had washed out the only road out. Seven charter buses were waiting to bring them home to Houston, but they couldn’t get through. “Can you help me get these kids out?” My team got to work immediately with Pastor Gregg and state and local officials. What followed was an extraordinary Texas rescue operation. First responders rolled in SHERPs — massive all-terrain vehicles with giant inflatable tires built to cross ground no ordinary truck can touch. The SHERPs drove down the washed-out road. Picked up the campers in groups. Carried them to the firetrucks. The firetrucks got them to the county road where seven buses were waiting to take them home to Houston. Every camper and volunteer made it home safe. Thank you to Pastor Gregg, Judge Rubio, State Sen. Wes Virdell, Texas DPS, the Game Wardens, the firefighters, the bus drivers, and every volunteer who worked through the weekend to bring these kids home. Our office was proud to play a small part. Praise God they’re all home.