PERRYTON, TEXAS — Samaritan’s Purse volunteers are working tirelessly to help residents restore their damaged homes and to bring comfort to aching souls after a deadly tornado laid waste the Texas Panhandle town of Perryton.

Derek Drum:

We took a direct hit in the city of Barrytown. The tornado itself went six miles in 11 minutes.

 Kenia Ramirez – Homeowner:

We heard a loud bang that shook the house and that’s when a huge antenna landed on our living room. It was so violent. You lose your home in the blink of an eye while you work for so many years.

Dee Ann Samples – Volunteer:

It was just like being hit in the heart, especially when we find out that the trailer park is just gone.

Man – Samaritan’s Purse:

Samaritan’s Purse is here on the ground in Perryton, Texas where an EF2 tornado ripped through the town causing loss of life and devastation like these people have never seen before.

Dee:

We did have end up having three fatalities and I knew the two women. One of them I had known most of my life. When you hear things like that you wonder why.

Derek:

There’s there’s nothing more just shocking than walking away from it and then beginning to realize how lucky you are.

Daniel Gerardo – Samaritan’s Purse:

The Bible tells us to love God with all heart mind and soul and he also tells us to love our neighbors as he has loved us. So we’re here to love our neighbors, comfort them, love on them, let them know that God loves them.

Man:

In the middle of all of this destruction and all the chaos that has taken over the lives of these citizens, we’re seeing Kingdom work accomplished. We’re seeing God rebuild hearts and lives. We’re seeing hope restored in a time where things seem hopeless.

God’s in control. He had his hand over us and I’ve just been clinging on that.

Dee:

I’m so thankful Samaritan’s Purse came here. It has been a great blessing because these homeowners didn’t know what to do. We don’t know what to do and we know you know what you’re doing. It’s a blessing.

They have done an amazing job and they’re working together as a team. They’re helping us clean up because it has been overwhelming for us.

Dee:

We are a community in recovery. It’s going to take a very long time. We need the prayers. We need prayers for strength and for peace and perseverance.

Derek:

So just pray for Barrington. We need prayer in this community.

Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has helped meet the needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God’s love through His Son, Jesus Christ. The organization serves the Church worldwide to promote the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Samaritan’s Purse International Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) program is committed to meeting the critical needs of victims of war, poverty, famine, disease, and natural disaster. We stand ready to respond at a moment’s notice whenever and wherever disaster strikes. The DART specializes in providing water, food, shelter, and medical care while sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.

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