After the floods in Valencia, I saw God’s love reflected in many people

We experienced something we could never have imagined. That day, 29 October, the water didn’t fall from the sky at all, it came all over the ground. I live in a detached house and when we realised, we were flooded, the garage up to the ceiling and the first floor about 70 cm.

The garage doors burst and the terrace swelled up like a balloon. We got the cars out but they were also washed away. We tried to save what we could, thinking that the water would not get too high, until we found ourselves in the attic trying to call ‘112’ because some neighbours were in the park opposite climbing a tree. But the emergency services were overloaded and there the telephone network was almost not working.

Those were anxious moments, experienced as if it were a movie. At the time, my children and I were at home, my husband had gone to Valencia and was unable to return. When we were there, without electricity, without telephone or data and unable to do much more, my daughter suggested reading a Psalm from the Bible and praying for those neighbours who we eventually learned were rescued.

The next day it was all mud, mountains of destroyed cars and devastation, we went out into the streets not knowing what to do and where to start. We thought that the authorities, the army, etc. would come to organise and help, but it wasn’t until the third day that anyone showed up, so we had to organise ourselves as neighbours.

We were without water, electricity and gas for several days. But from the first day, many brothers and sisters in the faith and friends came to help us. They brought coffee every morning, food, tools, messages of encouragement, prayers, and they removed mud. Also, thanks to people we did not know before, who helped us without any obligation or connection. Some of them were able to stay with us for some nights. So much generosity! I will always be grateful.

Seeing so much devastation caused by nature, I thought, how can I convey that the Lord was there? I heard a phrase that helped me: 2God does not produce the catastrophes but is with us in the midst of them”.

We were able to see this through the many hands, feet and hearts that showed us their love. We know that the source of love is God himself. God is love and as His creatures we can reflect this love to others. A love that gives without expecting anything in return.

Susana Pérez, resident of Picanya (Valencia).