Sloane and Kobe Nourse

On September 28, 2022, the country and the world watched as Hurricane Ian made landfall on the southwestern coast of Florida as a massive Category 4 storm. For our family, that day was especially terrifying — our grandchildren, Sloane and Kobe Nourse, were in the direct line of the storm, on the barrier island of Fort Myers Beach. What they witnessed as Ian tore through their tight-knit community was unimaginable, and what they found when the water receded was worse: homes flattened, vehicles destroyed or gone altogether, and lives lost.

God spared our grandchildren that day, but the road to recovery is a long and difficult one. While they are rolling up their sleeves and beginning the process of clearing debris, stripping drywall, and eliminating black mold, their home will remain unlivable for months if not longer. The cleanup and restoration will continue even as they continue their jobs as essential workers in their community. FEMA and their insurance will only cover a fraction of what is necessary to recover.

We hope you’ll join us in lifting up this wonderful young couple who’ve been presented with such a devastating start to what should have been an exciting time at the beginning of both their marriage and their professional careers, and that you will continue to keep them in your prayers.

With love and gratitude,

Vic and Ruth Bazzoli