MAKE A DIFFERENCE - Lawrence Jenkins Jr.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Legend Nominee: Lawrence Jenkins Jr.
It was eerily similar to a scene cut from a movie… standing on his front porch looking out into pure darkness, only the reflection of the night’s moon bouncing upward off the murky water allowed him a few feet of visible distance. Nearby stood his son and daughter, both too young to understand that standing there in that exact moment was their only option. There was no electricity; surrounded by complete obscurity, they were helpless without reception to call for help.
Voices could be heard from far away. The haunting echo in their cries for help confirmed that the aftermath of the heavy rain was severely underestimated. Controlling one’s imagination to prevent thoughts from spiraling out of control after a catastrophe is improbably, though very crucial. The man, along with the entire state of Louisiana were unprepared for the flooding that unleashed over 20 inches of rainfall, March 2016.
Legend truck driver, Lawrence Jenkins Jr. is a 14-year Army National Guard veteran, a volunteer fireman, and father of four. He and his wife, Jennifer own I12 Trucking, LLC; a trucking company established in 2005 (originally LJ’s Trucking) that specializes in the transportation of sod. He also squeezes in time to do landscaping work when possible. Having joined the military on his 17th birthday, his standard of work ethic is well above average, which played to his strengths when he entered the trucking industry pulling tankers. Three years later, he became an owner operator switching to flatbed.
He explains how the profession as a truck driver is a good fit for military veterans, due to the resembling need of service and sacrifices entailed. While serving in the military, time spent away from home is expected, the same goes for professional truck drivers. Lawrence put in his time running over the road at the beginning of his driving career, now he tries to stay out only 1 to 2 nights at a time. The demanding work hours that come with the business and physical requirements of pulling flatbed, both appeal to his previous skillset as a soldier.
“I learned a great deal from my time in the service, it’s somewhat of a military attitude that you embrace. We’re not afraid of doing hard work. We’ll get up early, we will look professional, and don’t mind wearing a helmet or any type of safety equipment – it doesn’t matter. We’ll do whatever needs to be done in order to complete the job at hand. And you can apply that same logic as a truck driver and do well.”
Both careers actively support this country for the better of our people. Both involve a lifestyle that calls upon those closest to them for encouragement. Most importantly, both can inspire generations to follow. The Legend story depicts the life of a loving husband, caring father and friendly neighbor involved within his community. Listening to Lawrence, I begin to understand that he is all of those things because he strives to be. Not for the sake of looking the part, or for recognition, but simply on account of being a genuinely good-hearted human. Although existing as a selfless person who volunteers as a firefighter is still not enough to avoid life’s inconvenient, yet consistent burdens.
AGAINST ALL ODDS
The first flood swept away their camper and Jennifer’s car. It is dated one of the worst natural disasters to hit the U.S., damaging over 140,000 homes. Inside their house, the entire floor held inches of water, damaging every square foot of living space. As the storm passed and torrential rainfall subsided, the stagnant flooded areas slowly began to deflate. Once the water had completely drained, the couple sprung into action. After a full day’s work, Lawrence would help Jennifer tear up the flooring and replace it with plywood – room by room – one day at a time.
Come June, the remodeling process was wrapping up nicely and Lawrence was ready to put the backyard together again. The pool was the main area that their kids and friends all enjoyed, so he was eager to begin there. Wanting to go an extra step, his plan was to put a TV outside for everyone to watch movies at night as they relaxed in and around the pool. Naturally attracted to water, though heightened in numbers due to the flooding, while restoring the pool Lawrence noticed mosquitos were everywhere. In an attempt to deter the annoying insects, he lit a fire hoping it worked in their favor.
The next morning, Lawrence awoke to excruciating pain in his brain and was unable to walk. Immediately rushed to the hospital, he was soon diagnosed with meningitis.
“It all happened so fast. The doctor ordered a spinal tap, but I was so dehydrated I was put under a laser to see if they could find any fluid that way. Next thing you know, they tell us the news and I’m hooked up to different machines. I was in there for a week, my wife and kids had to wear masks around me. The first few days I remember being so weak, it was all surreal. At one point, I saw two white birds perched outside of my hospital window, it was at that point that I thought my time on this earth was coming to a close.”
His loved ones believed otherwise. With their help, Lawrence was able to get up and walk around, introducing his body to movement more each day. Slowly, over time his balance improved and the pounding in his head let up. That Father’s Day he was released to return home with strict instructions to rest as much as possible. A month had passed, and Lawrence was back in the truck, running short trips, but still pushing forward toward a remarkable recovery. Every week he forced himself to try a little harder. After a few more months he was driving full-time, though he noticed a few unusual issues. Such as, his patience stretched a bit thinner than before the diagnosis. Stating,
“I tend to get a little aggravated, I don’t have as much patience as I used to. And my thinking is a little slower. For instance, when I do paperwork, what would typically only take 10 minutes, now takes me 30. Other than that, I’ve fully recovered, but those two things are hard to deal with because neither of them are me. When I get frustrated, I try to reel it in and think of the positive.”
Raised in the country, Lawrence and his siblings grew up riding bikes on dirt roads, climbing trees, and riding horses. That freedom to be an adventurous kid is the childhood he wishes to pass down to his own children. His parents separated, dividing his time between the two. His father drove a milk truck, which Lawrence recalls riding with him during deliveries as young as the age of 10. His mother raised a full house, babysat other kids, and found work at a local movie store. It was his family’s strong belief in moral values, together with his years in the service that influenced him as a family-oriented workaholic.
“I was raised to do a good job and to the best of my ability. Bringing that mindset into the military reinforced my expectations of how I need to carry myself as a person. Always leaning to the positive in things goes back to how I was raised too. I was taught early on to always appreciate everything and everyone, even on the bad days.”
Lawrence defines the term, success as a means of obligation; his success as a truck driver allows him to care for his loved ones. Taking on the responsibilities of supporting and providing a good life for this family and impacting as many people along the way is all the victory he claims to seek.
ROUND TWO
“God and family comes first for me, I never have bad days. Our family knows what it’s like to lose everything and can handle any bad situation with a good attitude. We met a homeless man 3 months after our flood, who told us a bike may save him from the streets. After leaving him, our kids asked if they could buy him a bike with their money...our new friend Mark had a millionaire smile as he took his gift. A year later, Mark called and said he took my advice and became a truck driver and now has a bed and a job. I believe we can all make the world better, if we stand up and try, and try again when we fail.”
August 2018, business was going well, and Lawrence had planned on purchasing his third truck. It was the 12th, Jennifer’s birthday. He baked her a cake and planned a small get together at the house. The news announcement addressing the storm headed their way were nothing to be alarmed of, so they continued with their celebration. Though this time, Lawrence kept an eye on the water level with a rescue boat and escape plan ready. Water began seeping into the house, immediately the children were loaded into the boat and sent to safety.
Lawrence and Jennifer stayed behind, placing items in the bathtub and on beds out of harm’s way. Within a couple of hours the floor was completely submerged, as the refrigerator began to float. Two feet deep, the couple left too only to arrive back the next morning with over four feet of standing water in their house. There was not a bed tall enough to salvage their belongings. What the first flood didn’t destroy, this one did.
Thankfully Lawrence’s brother-in-law had a camper, all six of them, including a newborn lived in it for 3 months. The day before Thanksgiving, the family moved back into their house. Everything was fully restored a week by the time the Christmas holiday arrived. In finding the bright side of another disaster isn’t easy, but Lawrence found a way. After the downfall dwindled off, back during the flood, he and Jennifer stood outside on the porch with fishing poles trying to make light of the situation. He says, “We pretended like we had ocean front property. Sometimes in the midst of such horrible conditions, you have to try and make the best of things. Otherwise, you’ll just make matters worse.”
Fortunately, the state of Louisiana was also prepped and prepared for another round. The first catastrophic flood, the people affected by the severe storms did not receive the aid needed for such a disaster. Lawrence states that the second flood was handled much differently. Strangers were in and out of his home, Red Cross was front and center, Christian school buses unloaded teenagers ready and willing to assist. People traveled near and far, wanting to be of use in any way. There were search and rescue groups, people tending to the sick, elderly and animals. Communities were united as hope was being restored. Lawrence continues,
“That whole experience was very humbling, it was an emotional time for us – even after what all we had already been through. It was like what you’d see on TV, people were in my house that I didn’t even know. They would just show up and start doing stuff around the house. We didn’t’ get help like that the first time, so losing everything we had in this one we honestly didn’t know what was going to happen next. But the way everyone came together shocked me I’ll be forever thankful!”
While in the stages of recovering from the storm, the children were still required to keep up with their schoolwork. Lawrence explains that a good education is a foundation he feels is extremely important for his kids to have. But to keep everyone from becoming engulfed in the bleakness that confined them to a camper, again he tried to think of ideas to bring happiness into their lives. A friend owned a boat and would take the children out with an inner tube for fun. Attending GATS in Dallas was another way to forget about their worries. He had debated on whether to cancel the trip to the truck show but knew that his family was in need of a getaway.
THE SUNSHINE AFTER THE RAIN
Business had taken a huge increase after the second flood, everyone needed sod. Each year Lawrence sets a new goal, just a little higher than the year prior. They hope to expand I12 Trucking, LLC from his 2 trucks to 5. With 17 years’ experience driving professionally, not including his time operating heavy equipment in the military, Lawrence states that as a truck driver and business owner there are many ways to make an impact in this world. Crossing paths with strangers is the perfect opportunity to show kindness. As an owner of a company, being a positive role model can inspire other to do the same.
His surrounding communities have moved on since the two major floods, the cities are back in full swing. Although Lawrence says the youth and the future of his hometown, Robert, Louisiana still have a long road ahead. With 4 kids, his focus is to help them stay on the right path and out of trouble. His passion to mentor extends outside of his home, to young children all over in need of guidance and to adults that share the same hope for change.
“It’s important right now in this day and time. Every year our community gets worse and these kids are in the thick of it. We need to find ways to keep them away from negative influences. What happens in the future starts with us. Sitting around only talking about making a change for the better is not going to help anything. If everyone would get up and do something – even if it’s just a little at a time – that little bit can make a big difference in somebody’s life. Then, that person can motivate the next person to make a difference too. It’s just finding people to put in the effort.”