This leisure thing gets old after awhile, but I am still having fun.
Scott got back to the room yesterday at 5:30 and had some emails to send, etc. so I got ready to go out. I wore my jeans and black lace tankini with the new butterfly shirt over the top. I looked great!:) We drove back to the mall and found PF Changs. I had never eaten there and it was a true treat. The atmosphere is plush. We started with fried green beans for an appetizer. Yummy! We only ate about a third before they brought our egg drop soup. Then I had mongolian beef. It was fantastic! I ate the whole thing and every drop of the brown rice. Forget the chopsticks. I was stuffed. I had forgetten that they included dessert in our meal for two so we chose the wall of china chocolate cake. It was half of an entire cake! So good! We walked around for awhile (Dick's Sporting Goods--I wanted one of everything in there) and then went to the movie to see Bridesmaids. Of course we had to get popcorn AND a coke icee. I felt like a giant bloated monster by the time we were done. I may never eat again. Got to bed late.
Today I got up at 9:15. I ordered a small carafe of coffee from room service totally forgetting I have some in the room I can make. What? Make it myself? I am a woman of leisure! But I did need some cream. If this room had a tiny fridge it would be perfect. I ate my breakfast granola and leftover juice from yesterday. Then I set out walking again. I stopped nearby the hotel at an upper end bathroom remodeling shop and got some ideas for the remodel. Then I walked about 10 blocks to Creighton University. I found the main walkway and went to a building that looked like it might have the bookstore. The campus was ok, not as pretty as K-State because the buildings are all different from each other and the walkway is boring and straight. A part of it did have some nice gardens and a fountain. USC is nicer too as is Bethel. The student center did not have the bookstore so I asked directions at an info desk then tried to follow them. He said go straight so I did but there were buildings in the way so I went around them. A long way. I asked two students and found out the building was back where I had orginally started! So I found the bookstore (about the size of Bethel's) and got stickers for our cars. Then I walked back to the Hotel. I walked a total of about an hour and half minus the 15 minutes I spend in the bathroom store.
Back at the hotel I grabbed my work out stuff and water and headed down to the fitness center. I did the stairstepper for 10 minutes then did some sit ups and an upper body workout for about half an hour.
Back at the room, I showered and drank a diet ginger ale from home and ate pretzel chips and cheese. Not much. Then I put on a dress and walked down to the Old Market in search of a coffee shop. I wasn't in the mood to blog or read or facebook so I shopped in a boutique and almost bought two shirts but decided I have spent waay to much money and didn't get them. I listened to some really good sidewalk musicians (guitar, singer, and cellist) and then came back to the hotel. I read and slept in bed wearing Scott's Creighton shirt all afternoon.
Scott got back from class and we set out for Old Market again. Scott is exhausted and was texting to catch up on stuff from home and wasn't terrific company but he tried. We did some window shopping in some very interesting shops including a novelty shop where we both bought journals. Cool. Then we found a restaurant where we could sit outide. I ordered fish and chips. Good and not too filling. We listened to another sidewalk musician and then came back to the hotel. They were serving cookies and milk in the lobby so we had to partake.
Two more days!
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Woman of Leisure Day Two
Slept in til 8:45 this morning. Scott left for his class before 8. I drank my frappacino and put on my walking clothes and set out. I found a fantastic walking trail (will try to put up the picture) amongst the tall downtown buildings and a man made creek. It eventually led to a river walk and around a fancy pond. On a bridge above me, it said Welcome to Iowa so I literally walked to Iowa and back! I listened to Casting Crowns and worshipped as I walked. 70 degrees. I only saw a few people, some were homeless. Homeless people are surprised to be smiled at and greeted. I also checked out the flooding down by the river that they are madly pumping out.
I stopped by Patrick's market again on the way back to the Hotel and bought granola cereal and more Odelle juice and some muscle milk. When I got to the room, I ordered coffee from room service and a bowl and spoon and then ate right on the bed again. (I forgot to mention that Scott and I split a hotel burger and fries in the room yesterday for lunch). I showered and retrieved the car from valet parking (tips are going to add up quickly but I have a new valet buddy). I followed the directions from the checker at Patricks and found the mall all by myself! I went to Old Navy and bought nothing then went to American Eagle Outfitters in search of white jeans. They did not have my size but the next size up worked. They had a ton of summer shirts on sale so I bought three! I also got Scott an orange polo. We'll see if he wears it! Then I saw a Forever 21 and thought, I'm done shopping but Leah loves that store so I will check it out. Well, I couldn't believe it! I was immediately overwhelmed because I loved absolutely everything I saw! They have such colorful prints and tons of choices and they hang them by outfit. I would have bought and worn every single thing in the store! And the prices were so low! I was alternately drooling and fighting back tears--I'm not kidding! This was the garden of eden of clothing stores! I picked out a colorful skirt with black waistband and snaps (too small), a tube dress of flowy, colorful rayon (fits perfect), a thin, gauzy back print butterfly shirt that also fit perfectly, and a flowery summer sweetheart neckline strappy dress with a flowy skirt (fit well). I bought all three peices and only spent $60!
I then found a nail store with mani/pedi on special (cheaper than Walmart back home) and got the full treatment--chair massage, spa treatment, and beautiful nails--a plumy pink or pinkish plum color.
I went back to my favorite market and got a deli grilled ham and cheese, some fruit, and a fancy berry lemonade. I pulled up and dropped the car with my valet buddy and got out with all my mall purchases feeling like a wealthy woman. I tried to take a nap but I was too excited to blog all this so I changed into one of my new tops and walked back down to Old Market. I am sitting in a coffeeshop blogging at this very moment! Stay tuned for the rest of today and Woman of Leisure Day three tomorrow.
I stopped by Patrick's market again on the way back to the Hotel and bought granola cereal and more Odelle juice and some muscle milk. When I got to the room, I ordered coffee from room service and a bowl and spoon and then ate right on the bed again. (I forgot to mention that Scott and I split a hotel burger and fries in the room yesterday for lunch). I showered and retrieved the car from valet parking (tips are going to add up quickly but I have a new valet buddy). I followed the directions from the checker at Patricks and found the mall all by myself! I went to Old Navy and bought nothing then went to American Eagle Outfitters in search of white jeans. They did not have my size but the next size up worked. They had a ton of summer shirts on sale so I bought three! I also got Scott an orange polo. We'll see if he wears it! Then I saw a Forever 21 and thought, I'm done shopping but Leah loves that store so I will check it out. Well, I couldn't believe it! I was immediately overwhelmed because I loved absolutely everything I saw! They have such colorful prints and tons of choices and they hang them by outfit. I would have bought and worn every single thing in the store! And the prices were so low! I was alternately drooling and fighting back tears--I'm not kidding! This was the garden of eden of clothing stores! I picked out a colorful skirt with black waistband and snaps (too small), a tube dress of flowy, colorful rayon (fits perfect), a thin, gauzy back print butterfly shirt that also fit perfectly, and a flowery summer sweetheart neckline strappy dress with a flowy skirt (fit well). I bought all three peices and only spent $60!
I then found a nail store with mani/pedi on special (cheaper than Walmart back home) and got the full treatment--chair massage, spa treatment, and beautiful nails--a plumy pink or pinkish plum color.
I went back to my favorite market and got a deli grilled ham and cheese, some fruit, and a fancy berry lemonade. I pulled up and dropped the car with my valet buddy and got out with all my mall purchases feeling like a wealthy woman. I tried to take a nap but I was too excited to blog all this so I changed into one of my new tops and walked back down to Old Market. I am sitting in a coffeeshop blogging at this very moment! Stay tuned for the rest of today and Woman of Leisure Day three tomorrow.
Woman of Leisure Day One
Got up Tuesday morning and got showered and finished packing then watched Joyce Meyer as I always do. (I am behind so watch them taped). Today it was about enjoying life and not feeling guilty for not always doing something Spiritual or productive...based on John 10:10. How fitting as I leave for vacation to Omaha with Scott! Scott has a week long class and a hotel and asked me to tag along!
We pulled out of town at 8:45ish and the ride was fairly uneventful. We had a good talk but I also like our quiet time together. We listened to a new Christian group from Scott's ipod--I think it is New World Sun or something like that? I liked it.
We pulled into Omaha about 12:30. We are staying at the Magnolia Hotel in downtown Omaha--an older, elegant Hotel. We have to valet park! So we unpacked in room 435 and settled in. Scott changed and took off for Ceighton about a mile away in the hotel shuttle. I walked about 3 blocks to the Old Market area just to check it out. It is an area a bit larger than aggieville and maybe one slight step up from Aggieville comparable, I guess to Westport in KC. It has tons of restaurants and specialty shops and coffeeshops. I went into a Goodwill store and checked the pricetag of a purse--$28! In the goodwill store! This lets me know I probably won't be shopping here. I went into a retro thrift store and a boutique. I'm not really a boutique person, more of a mall person, actually, I prefer Target if you really want to know! It was hot and sticky and I was tired. I had on my standard summer uniform--gym shorts and a tshirt and I felt out of place so I went back to the hotel. I stopped at a tiny market and bought bottled frappacino, pretzel chips, odella fruit juice and fancy cheese. I love little downtown markets--Leah and I discovered them when we were in New York. They are sort of a cross between a health food store, deli and grocery.
Back in the hotel room, I put on a comfy nightgown, itunes, pulled the curtains shut, crawled under the down comforter, laid back on the down pillows, and napped and read all afternoon. It stormed out and I could hear the rain hitting the window. Lovely! Scott's class went until 7 so I estimate I read and napped 5 straight hours! I even snacked in bed!
Scott came back and we changed (I dressed up this time--new black polka dot skirt and black shirt and heels). We walked back down to Old Market and ate at Spaghetti Works. It wasn't the best meal I've eaten but we sat outside and that was very nice. We walked around awhile--I had to ditch my heels and walk barefoot then went back to the Hotel. We watch Rondo on demand and took turns falling asleep. It finally ended around midnight!
We pulled out of town at 8:45ish and the ride was fairly uneventful. We had a good talk but I also like our quiet time together. We listened to a new Christian group from Scott's ipod--I think it is New World Sun or something like that? I liked it.
We pulled into Omaha about 12:30. We are staying at the Magnolia Hotel in downtown Omaha--an older, elegant Hotel. We have to valet park! So we unpacked in room 435 and settled in. Scott changed and took off for Ceighton about a mile away in the hotel shuttle. I walked about 3 blocks to the Old Market area just to check it out. It is an area a bit larger than aggieville and maybe one slight step up from Aggieville comparable, I guess to Westport in KC. It has tons of restaurants and specialty shops and coffeeshops. I went into a Goodwill store and checked the pricetag of a purse--$28! In the goodwill store! This lets me know I probably won't be shopping here. I went into a retro thrift store and a boutique. I'm not really a boutique person, more of a mall person, actually, I prefer Target if you really want to know! It was hot and sticky and I was tired. I had on my standard summer uniform--gym shorts and a tshirt and I felt out of place so I went back to the hotel. I stopped at a tiny market and bought bottled frappacino, pretzel chips, odella fruit juice and fancy cheese. I love little downtown markets--Leah and I discovered them when we were in New York. They are sort of a cross between a health food store, deli and grocery.
Back in the hotel room, I put on a comfy nightgown, itunes, pulled the curtains shut, crawled under the down comforter, laid back on the down pillows, and napped and read all afternoon. It stormed out and I could hear the rain hitting the window. Lovely! Scott's class went until 7 so I estimate I read and napped 5 straight hours! I even snacked in bed!
Scott came back and we changed (I dressed up this time--new black polka dot skirt and black shirt and heels). We walked back down to Old Market and ate at Spaghetti Works. It wasn't the best meal I've eaten but we sat outside and that was very nice. We walked around awhile--I had to ditch my heels and walk barefoot then went back to the Hotel. We watch Rondo on demand and took turns falling asleep. It finally ended around midnight!
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Friday, July 1, 2011
joplin edited version
I want to blog about this while it’s still fresh in my mind and also to help me process it. I just returned last night about 9:30 from a short term work team to tornado ravaged Joplin, Missouri. Two years ago I helped pick up debris after a tornado demolished a neighborhood here in Manhattan. I then spent two days in Chapman, Kansas that had been almost completely destroyed from the same tornado and also went with a small group from my church to clean up after the flooding in Iowa. All of those experiences had been rewarding, a chance to join with God in his work and service toward others. Although I did do physical labor, God used my counseling skills of listening and compassion to minister to those in crisis after disaster. I knew our church had taken a team to Joplin a few weeks ago but I’d been unable to go. On Sunday, when James spoke during the service about a Principal who had needed to talk after losing two of her students, I felt the little tug on my heart that God so often uses. I went up to James right after the service and said I’d go. I was a little concerned with how my sore, weakish back would do, but I knew God would use me somehow.
Thursday morning I packed up the usual things--long jeans and old shoes and shirt for work, clothes for the evening, something to sleep on and under, toiletries, and not much else. No make up or put together outfits needed. I knew to include ibuprofen, ibuprofen pm, ice pack, ear plugs, my journal and Bible, and trail mix. I’d taken off my finger nail polish, rings, and fancier earrings in anticipation.
During my Thursday morning quiet time, Joyce Meyer preached about attacks by Satan and how he attempts to steal our joy by attacking bodies, possessions, and minds. I Peter 4:12 ”Beloved, do not be amazed and bewildered at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test your quality as though something strange were befalling you.” 2 Cor 4:8-9 “We are hedged in (pressed)on every side (troubled, oppressed in every way), but not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed and unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair; we are pursued (persecuted and hard driven), but not deserted (to stand alone); we are struck down to the ground, but never struck out and destroyed. She said, don’t quit or give up! Keep moving forward! You will be known by your fruit. Suffering occurs when we go through something instead of avoiding it. We build muscle by enduring and bearing up to Satan’s attacks through mental and emotional pain, being hurt, heart broken, ill, rejected, facing criticism, loss. Suffering occurs when we stay where we don’t want to be for the sake of another. Satan wants us to quit, to doubt. We will suffer in this life. God tests our faith. Thursday morning I prayed for other missionaries and wrote in my prayer journal: “Good morning, Lord, and a beautiful morning it is! I’m ready for Joplin, Lord! Let us be a blessing there! Let our team have health, success at whatever you assign, good fellowship, and blessings!”
We met at the church Thursday at noon. I sort of knew James and knew he had a lot of experience leading teams with his work in World Hope. I saw Joyce Nelson’s name on the list and knew her well from a previous work mission to South Dakota and summer Bible study groups. I saw Erin Anderson on the list and was surprised as I hadn’t known she attends Westview. Erin and I had kids who’d attended public school together but I didn’t know her well. When we got to the church, Dick Nelson was there and not Joyce as her father had taken ill suddenly. Up walked Greg Mc Henry who I’d known for years raising kids the same age in church. His wife, Tawny, had been in our summer Bible study also. Mike Smith came along--I knew him from a trip to Guatamala 8 years ago and we also sit in the church balcony near his beautiful family. Another young man, Stan, I didn’t know at all and Sue Thieman, a gal a few years older than me, I barely knew. We all prayed with Deb Klutz on the front patio and waited for Richard Bryant. Turns out Richard had been in a fender bender about an hour previously so he wasn’t going to be able to drive. I had known Richard’s family for years also having kids similar ages in the church, but I didn’t know him well. As soon as he arrived, we all piled our things in the work trailer and divided up into Sue’s car and James’ truck for the 5 hour trip to Joplin. Stan, Erin and Mike rode in Sue’s SUV. Greg, Richard, Dick James and I rode in James’ 4 x 4 pick up truck, me in the back between Richard and Dick.
The ride went quickly as Richard and James were both good conversationalists. Its interesting how uncomfortable and awkward you can feel at the beginning of a three day trip (being worried my leg was touching one of theirs) compared to the end of the trip when I felt completely like one of the guys, comfortable, even close (getting teased, holding hands to pray, reaching out for an encouraging hug, sharing thoughts and feelings)….
We drove into Joplin on a route that didn’t take us by any of the destruction. We pulled up to Royal Heights Methodist Church at about 5:30. There were several work trailers like ours and people milling about. The church was not what I expected, older, certainly not a wealthy church. There was a smallish traditional sanctuary and then a fellowship hall that was absolutely filled with donations of clothes and household items, sorted into categories. The other half of the hall had round tables and people beginning to gather for an evening meal. We sort of stood to the side with our belongings and felt like outsiders. James led us down the hall of a Sunday school wing and we put our things in a room where the guys would be sleeping. All the other rooms were taken up with sleeping bags and belongings. James spoke to us for awhile about what to expect and about the three or so other teams that were there. We went back into the fellowship hall and helped ourselves to a really good home cooked meal of roast, potatoes, corn on the cob, rolls and butter and dessert. After dinner, one of the leaders, Nate, kicked a small groups of guys out of a room for Erin, Sue and I to put our things. We put out our air mattresses, sleeping bags and sort of made ourselves at home in what must have been the music Pastor’s office. I grabbed a space by a plug for my cell phone and a chair to put stuff on.
We skipped devotions the first evening and went to look at the work site we’d be going to the next day. I was prepared for seeing the destruction having seen Manhattan, Chapman, and Iowa. The tornado hit a residential area first, about two blocks across, and continued 13.8 miles, taking out a hospital, a high school, middle school, elementary school, businesses, Walmart, Walgreens, Payless, a strip mall, and more residential. The trees had been stripped of all their leaves or were torn completely out. Houses in some areas were just piles of rubble, others were partially damaged, windowless, and all marked with the big x on the front put on by rescue workers to identify victims and suvivors. Most of the cars were upside down or smashed or windowless and dented. Few people other than volunteers were around. It was hard to imagine the people coming up from the basements after the storm and having to walk out. Could they have even known where to go or how far the devastation was? I imagine their first thoughts were of loved ones and how to get to them, how to let them know where they were. I imagined that rescue workers gave instructions. I had already heard stories of people who survived. Many people were injured and many died. I was impressed with the work that had already been done as much of what remained was piles of destroyed homes or homes with tarps on the roofs. Several businesses showed damage but were operating.
We got to first house we’d be working on just as the sun was setting. There was a couple there still working, running a skid loader and picking up debris by hand and putting it at the curb. The house had no roof, apparently a previous team had removed it. The home was owned by Nathan, who’d purchased it after the storm. His home had been one of the low income units owned by the church that was completely destroyed. Nathan had just gotten custody of his 4 children and needed a home so he bought his house with his small settlement and the church committed to helping him fix it up. We looked at the house but it was getting dark. We also drove by another house that part of our team would be roofing.
When we got back to the church, the Pastor was leading devotions. He preached on Isaiah 62, inserting Joplin for Jerusalem. “62Because of Zion I will not keep quiet, and because of Jerusalem I will take no rest, till her righteousness goes out like the shining of the sun, and her salvation like a burning light. 2 And the nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory: and you will have a new name, given by the mouth of the Lord. 3 And you will be a fair crown in the hand of the Lord, and a king's head-dress in the hand of your God. 4 You will not now be named, She who is given up; and your land will no longer be named, The waste land: but you will have the name, My pleasure is in her, and your land will be named, Married: for the Lord has pleasure in you, and your land will be married. 5 For as a young man takes a virgin for his wife, so will your maker be married to you: and as a husband has joy in his bride, so will the Lord your God be glad over you.
6 I have put watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will not keep quiet day or night: you who are the Lord's recorders, take no rest, 7 And give him no rest, till he puts Jerusalem in her place to be praised in the earth. “
He also talked about John Wesley’s Covenant Prayer which was particularly meaningful.
I am no longer my own, but yours.
Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will;
put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by you or laid aside by you,
enabled for you or brought low by you.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things
to your pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
you are mine, and I am yours. So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven.
Amen.
After devotions, the Pastor split us into two groups for debriefing. He said he’d go with one group and asked James to assign someone to the other. James assigned me! I jumped right up willing but unsure. A group of about 10 came into the fellowship hall and we gathered around a table. Before I could get started, someone came in a said that part of their team was leaving and they wanted to say goodbye so they all left. Another group came in and we sat down. I suggested they just talk about their experiences and feelings. They had only worked half a day and so they talked some about their previous experiences.
Day Two
I slept ok considering. The room was cold and I slept on a camping pad with just a blanket over me. People were in the dining area talking and laughing until late. I was reluctant to put my ear plugs in so I could hear my alarm. I got up to use the restroom once and then slept til about 5:30 when I heard someone preparing breakfast in the kitchen. I got up and decided to wash my hair in the sink rather than trek out to the shower trailer. I put on mascara but it was racoon smeared by noon so I ditched that the rest of the time, along with the hair washing. I put on an old pair of jeans, tennis and old shirt that would be cool in the sun. I filled my water jug with ice and water and put on sunscreen and packed my backpack with my work gloves, cash, cell phone, snacks and more sunscreen.
Breakfast was coffee, OJ, and oatmeal with brown sugar and raisins. Yummy! At breakfast, I had a “divine appointment” with Arturo who sat down next to me. James had told us about Arturo on the trip down. Arturo was an undocumented illegal alien who’d been living in Joplin when the tornado hit. He needed to retell his story. Arturo had been outside and noticed a cloud that looked too close to the ground. Then debris started hitting his shoulder and back and he saw cars flying around! He ran to the house into the house. His family was in the small bathroom, in the bathtub and clinging to the toilet. Arturo laid over his brother who was holding his neice and nephew. When the storm had passed, the bathroom walls were bent in and there was nothing left of the house. Arturo climbed out and pulled his family out. As he walked down the street amongst the smashed houses, he could hear people screaming. He said he didn’t hesitate, he just started digging through the rubble and put people on his back and carried them to a field and laid them down, then ran back to get more. He said he pulled a woman out of an upside down car. He came across a boy who screaming for his mom so he pulled the mom out and the boy continued screaming and said his dog was still in the house, so Arturo went back into the house and got the dog. When he came out, the boy was smiling. Arturo said everyone was asking about an old lady and he couldn’t hear her screaming but he dug and dug and found her curled up, ok and just waiting, in the kitchen amongst smashed appliances. I asked Arturo how many people he thinks he helped that night and he said “30 or 40”. He said that police and rescue workers joined him and they worked into the night. Arturo had been working along the volunteer teams at the church the whole month since the tornado. He ate and showered there and prayed with the teams, also. I asked Arturo how he was doing, how he was sleeping. He said he dreamt every night of seeing the tornado and hearing the screams but he felt good since he was helping.
We worked hard today. I broke out plaster and lathe and shoveled and swept it into barrels to be dumped at the curb. We raked debris away from the house on the outside so the skid loader could get it. Several other teams joined us on an off throughout the day. I was hot and dirty but it was fun overall.
For lunch, we went to the park where people from New Orleans had come to “pay it forward” by feeding the volunteer teams in Joplin. We had huge pork chops, dirty rice, baked beans and bread. It was spicy and hot and I was hot even though there was a breeze in the shade so I had trouble eating it. Plus I’d been snacking all morning for energy. We sat near two young gentlemen who said they were plumbers from Joplin on their lunch break. One guy was pretty gregarious and he jumped right in when I asked if they’d had their homes destroyed and been home the night of the storm. He said they both lived outside the detruction. The one said he’d gone to the basement just after the sirens sounded and his power went off. After the storm, he’d gone out to his car to try to charge his cell phone and his girlfriend came running up covered in blood and screaming. She said she’d been in Payless when it was destroyed and had walked out and a stranger gave her a ride. She wasn’t terribly hurt but needed stitches so they went to the ER. The guy said the ER was packed and they hadn’t had time to put anything together and there were bleeding people and blood everywhere. There was a guy, he said, who had a bone sticking out of his arm and no one was helping him so he’d insisted and they finally took him back. He helped the others as best he could while they waited. The other guy was pretty quiet but when I asked if they’d lost family, he started talking. He said he’d just been at his friend’s house with the friend, the friend’s wife and two kids. They’d been on the first floor of a three story apartment complex that pancaked and they all died. The guy said he knew just driving by the complex. The guy went on to say that his uncle was a trained mountain ranger with cadaver dogs so he’d spent the whole next week helping recover bodies. I asked if he was ok and he said it was really hard having to write on the dead people’s foreheads. He said they were to find their ID and leave one form with the body, take the second form, and write something on themselves in case something happened to them. He said that they’d found quite a few body parts which were in the process of being identified. The total death toll in Joplin was 152, some of whom died later from their injuries or infection. Some are still missing.
In the afternoon, my back hurt, so I spent the afternoon sitting on the front porch pulling nails out of boards that they can reuse. I did a lot of listening, mostly to my team members who one by one came to talk to me. I listened to Richard who told me about 4 horrible incidents with his daughter while she was deployed to Iraq near people in her company who were killed. I listened to Stan talk about his failed marriage. I listened to a guy from another team talk about being unemployed and almost homeless. We finally cleaned up and left the work site about 5:30.
I immediately grabbed my towel, toiletries, and clean clothes and headed out to the shower trailer. One team had a ministry called “Poured out” that focused on providing water in various forms including a large trailer with 5 showers. The shower felt fantastic even though the small room was so sweltering that I had to towel off several times while getting dressed. Only a few of my team had returned to the church right away and they’d gone back to the park for more cajun food--gumbo. I ate fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, bread and butter and dessert from Culver’s provided to those of us at the church and it was delicious. I journal led while waiting for the rest of the team.
Devotions that evening were from Isaiah 2. 10 Go into a hole in the rock, covering yourselves with dust, in fear of the Lord, before the glory of his power. 11 The high looks of man will be put to shame, and the pride of men will be made low, and only the Lord will be lifted up in that day. 12 For the day of the Lord of armies is coming on all the pride of men, and on all who are high and lifted up; 13 And on all the high trees of Lebanon, and on all the strong trees of Bashan; 14 And on all the high mountains, and on all the hills which are lifted up; 15 And on every high tower, and on every strong wall; 16 And on all the ships of Tarshish, and on all the fair boats. 17 And the high looks of man will be put to shame, and the pride of men will be made low: and only the Lord will be lifted up in that day. 18 And the images will never be seen again. 19 And men will go into cracks of the rocks, and into holes of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and before the glory of his power, when he comes out of his place, shaking the earth with his strength. Pastor Traci talked about admitting we need help, even to God. Its me, its me, its me, O Lord, standing in the need of prayer. All I have needed, thou hath provided. Our circumstances don’t change, but the way we look at them does. When the Joplin people let us help them and we do a little, like clean up their yard, it unfreezes them so they can move on and carry out the rest. We all pretend we are fine, don’t need help, especially at church, pride keeps us from being real or getting to know our neighbor. Unconditional love means taking the time to really care how people are. When people need you, you come. Leaderships is authenticity, humility, repentance. We need to remove our masks and ask God to help us.
I went to bed at 8 and slept til 6--10 hours altogether! Devotions this morning were from Isaiah 42. 10 Make a new song to the Lord, and let his praise be sounded from the end of the earth; you who go down to the sea, and everything in it, the sea-lands and their people. 11 Let the waste land and its flocks be glad, the tent-circles of Kedar; let the people of the rock give a glad cry, from the top of the mountains let them make a sound of joy. 12 Let them give glory to the Lord, sounding his praise in the sea-lands.
13 The Lord will go out as a man of war, he will be moved to wrath like a fighting-man: his voice will be strong, he will give a loud cry; he will go against his attackers like a man of war. 14 I have long been quiet, I have kept myself in and done nothing: now I will make sounds of pain like a woman in childbirth, breathing hard and quickly. 15 I will make waste mountains and hills, drying up all their plants; and I will make rivers dry, and pools dry land. 16 And I will take the blind by a way of which they had no knowledge, guiding them by roads strange to them: I will make the dark places light before them, and the rough places level. These things will I do and will not give them up. Pastor always started with “This is the day the Lord has made” and we answered, “Let us be rejoice and be glad in it.” He said it is about giving God praise in everything. Whatever He intends you to do, do it for His glory. He said we have insurmountable tasks ahead, but there will be a little less to do at the end of the day. He said as we picked up the rubble and release it to the curb, we were to pick up our own issues, worries, concerns, and drop them also. Then we’ll be able to lift our hands more fully to God. We all gathered around Pastor Traci and prayed for him as he is retiring after Sunday--especially a hard time to let go. One of those who prayed said Traci had a heart “as big as Joplin”. So true.
The work today was more rebuilding, more removing of nails and old boards. I had several God moments. One was listening to K-Love and hearing the song, “Strong Enough” by Matthew West when I needed strength. Another was having Richard have the confidence in me to put my up on a ladder and remove the old boards at the very top. While up there, thinking about the text Scott sent saying he was proud of me, it occurred to me that my Dad would also have been proud of me for being up there and being in Joplin helping.
Richard patiently taught each of us the tasks he had for us to complete. Many of us had little or no construction experience. I even pounded some nails. I heard Stan say that his Dad hadn’t been a handy man and taught him some of the things that Richard was teaching. Stan and Mike and Richard repaired some rotten flooring and replaced two walls that were damaged. At one point, several large stones fell on Stan who was able to jump back quickly. One grazed his head and one scraped his arm. It could have been MUCH worse.
Lunch was at the high school served by another church group--hot dogs, gaterade, etc. I talked on the phone briefly to Hannah who said, “Its cool you are doing that.” I didn’t accomplish a whole lot in the afternoon. We did take a picture of our hands altogether and put it on face book--the hands of God in Joplin. My sunscreen started to irritate my face so when Sue showed up and offered to take me back to church, I went. We picked up her car that had needed service-- $680 and she dropped me back at the church. I rested and journalled and helped some in the kitchen. Dinner was wonderful--beef and noodles, green bean casserole and chocolate dessert. We debriefed with James. We talked about the 3000 who didn’t have insurance and how could they all be reached and helped. Also, the first timers talked about the closeness of the group and the spiritual high. We can keep the spiritual high going but the closeness of the group will fade when we get back to real life. Got to bed about 10:30.
Sunday morning, last morning, it was harder to get up. Part of getting ready to go work included bandaids on blisters and small cuts. The coffee was wonderful! The fellowship today felt even more special. I felt like one of the guys--lots of ribbing and teasing and affectionate comments. Today we finished up at the rock house. I cleaned out the yucky moldy basement. I discovered where the family had ridden out the storm in the basement. There were mountain dew and pepsi cans and candles. How scary! We all went over to the other house and the guys hurried to finish the roof as a lightening storm was coming.
I played with the neighbor’s puppy who was tied up in back. It looked like they needed to be away and left her there but it turned out they were sleeping in. I had yet another diving appointment with the neighbor. She came out and we started talking and she told me her storm story. She’d been fixing fried chicken and creamed peas and was listening to music. Her Dad called from St. Louis and suggested she turn on the TV. When she did, she saw the red radar and then the swirling red radar. She turned off the chicken and started preparing to go into the bathroom when the power went off and the sirens sounded. The got into bathtub, the 7 year old held the dog, mom held the boy, and the fiance got over the top of them with a mattress over him. When the storm was over, their roof had been lifted up and put back down and all their windows had blown out and people’s debris was strewn all over the house. They said they felt blessed. They checked on the neighbors and discovered a home completely blown up one and a half blocks away. The next block was the destroyed high school that had just been remodeled. She said that they were renting and the landlord was insured. They lived a week without power but decided to stay. Her son stayed with relatives for a few days but wet the bed there and came back. Amy said he continued to wake up scared and wet the bed and she didn’t know what to do. I suggested she have him write a story about the storm and illustrate it and be sure to include his feelings. She said he keeps saying, “this is horrible, mom.” I said to be sure to have him include that. I suggested she have him think of what he would have done with the tornado if he’d had special powers and include that in the book. I said to have him read the book to people every day. Amy said, “That is such a good idea, thank you, I didn’t know what to do!” and she hugged me. I prayed with her and gave her a verse on a card I’d brought. “Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.” Phil 4:12.
Today we prayed in a circle holding hands several times.
Another very cool thing--I got to drive a bobcat! James patiently showed me how. I lifted up the bucket and drove it out of the lot and maneuvered it around three trucks, turned it, lined it up with the trailer ramps and shouted that I wasn’t driving it up onto the ramp. Richard and James waved me forward and I did it. I almost drove it off the other end of the trailer, but thankfully, I didn’t.
Stan had a cool moment, too. He is apparently afraid of heights and conquered that fear by going up on the ladder to pound nails at the very top of the house. Then he climbed right up on the roof of the other house! I took pictures so he’d always remember.
James and I talked and he said he’d talked to Brian about me leading more teams. I’m ready!
We went back to the church, showered, packed and prayed and left in the same cars we’d come down in. Sue’s car was not doing well so they went without air conditioning. They kept stopping on the side to cool it off but it was clear it wasn’t going to make it home. At one point, Sue came back to the truck and James, always the joker, only rolled his window down part way and said to very hot Sue, “I don’t want to let the air conditioning out!” We limped the car to Parsons and made calls. Joyce left Manhattan to come get them, Erin traded places with Richard, and we had dinner at a Mexican restaurant. We all said goodbye. I will miss all of this team--quiet Greg, easy going Dick, baby leader James (the youngest but possibly wisest of all of us), unique Erin(Erin is a woman of contradictions--hard worker, lipgloss, steal toed boots and pink visor), sweet Sue, patient Richard (“crash”), Stan the Bible man, and family man Mike. God used each one of us in unique ways to be a blessing to each other and to the people of Joplin.
Lord, I lift up Joplin to You and ask that You keep them in Your care and provision. Let them continue to heal emotionally and physically. Comfort those who have lost loved ones. Continue to repair, replace and rebuild. Let them experience Your perfect peace. Encourage them, Lord. Restore in them hope. In Jesus Name. Amen
Thursday morning I packed up the usual things--long jeans and old shoes and shirt for work, clothes for the evening, something to sleep on and under, toiletries, and not much else. No make up or put together outfits needed. I knew to include ibuprofen, ibuprofen pm, ice pack, ear plugs, my journal and Bible, and trail mix. I’d taken off my finger nail polish, rings, and fancier earrings in anticipation.
During my Thursday morning quiet time, Joyce Meyer preached about attacks by Satan and how he attempts to steal our joy by attacking bodies, possessions, and minds. I Peter 4:12 ”Beloved, do not be amazed and bewildered at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test your quality as though something strange were befalling you.” 2 Cor 4:8-9 “We are hedged in (pressed)on every side (troubled, oppressed in every way), but not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed and unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair; we are pursued (persecuted and hard driven), but not deserted (to stand alone); we are struck down to the ground, but never struck out and destroyed. She said, don’t quit or give up! Keep moving forward! You will be known by your fruit. Suffering occurs when we go through something instead of avoiding it. We build muscle by enduring and bearing up to Satan’s attacks through mental and emotional pain, being hurt, heart broken, ill, rejected, facing criticism, loss. Suffering occurs when we stay where we don’t want to be for the sake of another. Satan wants us to quit, to doubt. We will suffer in this life. God tests our faith. Thursday morning I prayed for other missionaries and wrote in my prayer journal: “Good morning, Lord, and a beautiful morning it is! I’m ready for Joplin, Lord! Let us be a blessing there! Let our team have health, success at whatever you assign, good fellowship, and blessings!”
We met at the church Thursday at noon. I sort of knew James and knew he had a lot of experience leading teams with his work in World Hope. I saw Joyce Nelson’s name on the list and knew her well from a previous work mission to South Dakota and summer Bible study groups. I saw Erin Anderson on the list and was surprised as I hadn’t known she attends Westview. Erin and I had kids who’d attended public school together but I didn’t know her well. When we got to the church, Dick Nelson was there and not Joyce as her father had taken ill suddenly. Up walked Greg Mc Henry who I’d known for years raising kids the same age in church. His wife, Tawny, had been in our summer Bible study also. Mike Smith came along--I knew him from a trip to Guatamala 8 years ago and we also sit in the church balcony near his beautiful family. Another young man, Stan, I didn’t know at all and Sue Thieman, a gal a few years older than me, I barely knew. We all prayed with Deb Klutz on the front patio and waited for Richard Bryant. Turns out Richard had been in a fender bender about an hour previously so he wasn’t going to be able to drive. I had known Richard’s family for years also having kids similar ages in the church, but I didn’t know him well. As soon as he arrived, we all piled our things in the work trailer and divided up into Sue’s car and James’ truck for the 5 hour trip to Joplin. Stan, Erin and Mike rode in Sue’s SUV. Greg, Richard, Dick James and I rode in James’ 4 x 4 pick up truck, me in the back between Richard and Dick.
The ride went quickly as Richard and James were both good conversationalists. Its interesting how uncomfortable and awkward you can feel at the beginning of a three day trip (being worried my leg was touching one of theirs) compared to the end of the trip when I felt completely like one of the guys, comfortable, even close (getting teased, holding hands to pray, reaching out for an encouraging hug, sharing thoughts and feelings)….
We drove into Joplin on a route that didn’t take us by any of the destruction. We pulled up to Royal Heights Methodist Church at about 5:30. There were several work trailers like ours and people milling about. The church was not what I expected, older, certainly not a wealthy church. There was a smallish traditional sanctuary and then a fellowship hall that was absolutely filled with donations of clothes and household items, sorted into categories. The other half of the hall had round tables and people beginning to gather for an evening meal. We sort of stood to the side with our belongings and felt like outsiders. James led us down the hall of a Sunday school wing and we put our things in a room where the guys would be sleeping. All the other rooms were taken up with sleeping bags and belongings. James spoke to us for awhile about what to expect and about the three or so other teams that were there. We went back into the fellowship hall and helped ourselves to a really good home cooked meal of roast, potatoes, corn on the cob, rolls and butter and dessert. After dinner, one of the leaders, Nate, kicked a small groups of guys out of a room for Erin, Sue and I to put our things. We put out our air mattresses, sleeping bags and sort of made ourselves at home in what must have been the music Pastor’s office. I grabbed a space by a plug for my cell phone and a chair to put stuff on.
We skipped devotions the first evening and went to look at the work site we’d be going to the next day. I was prepared for seeing the destruction having seen Manhattan, Chapman, and Iowa. The tornado hit a residential area first, about two blocks across, and continued 13.8 miles, taking out a hospital, a high school, middle school, elementary school, businesses, Walmart, Walgreens, Payless, a strip mall, and more residential. The trees had been stripped of all their leaves or were torn completely out. Houses in some areas were just piles of rubble, others were partially damaged, windowless, and all marked with the big x on the front put on by rescue workers to identify victims and suvivors. Most of the cars were upside down or smashed or windowless and dented. Few people other than volunteers were around. It was hard to imagine the people coming up from the basements after the storm and having to walk out. Could they have even known where to go or how far the devastation was? I imagine their first thoughts were of loved ones and how to get to them, how to let them know where they were. I imagined that rescue workers gave instructions. I had already heard stories of people who survived. Many people were injured and many died. I was impressed with the work that had already been done as much of what remained was piles of destroyed homes or homes with tarps on the roofs. Several businesses showed damage but were operating.
We got to first house we’d be working on just as the sun was setting. There was a couple there still working, running a skid loader and picking up debris by hand and putting it at the curb. The house had no roof, apparently a previous team had removed it. The home was owned by Nathan, who’d purchased it after the storm. His home had been one of the low income units owned by the church that was completely destroyed. Nathan had just gotten custody of his 4 children and needed a home so he bought his house with his small settlement and the church committed to helping him fix it up. We looked at the house but it was getting dark. We also drove by another house that part of our team would be roofing.
When we got back to the church, the Pastor was leading devotions. He preached on Isaiah 62, inserting Joplin for Jerusalem. “62Because of Zion I will not keep quiet, and because of Jerusalem I will take no rest, till her righteousness goes out like the shining of the sun, and her salvation like a burning light. 2 And the nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory: and you will have a new name, given by the mouth of the Lord. 3 And you will be a fair crown in the hand of the Lord, and a king's head-dress in the hand of your God. 4 You will not now be named, She who is given up; and your land will no longer be named, The waste land: but you will have the name, My pleasure is in her, and your land will be named, Married: for the Lord has pleasure in you, and your land will be married. 5 For as a young man takes a virgin for his wife, so will your maker be married to you: and as a husband has joy in his bride, so will the Lord your God be glad over you.
6 I have put watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will not keep quiet day or night: you who are the Lord's recorders, take no rest, 7 And give him no rest, till he puts Jerusalem in her place to be praised in the earth. “
He also talked about John Wesley’s Covenant Prayer which was particularly meaningful.
I am no longer my own, but yours.
Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will;
put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by you or laid aside by you,
enabled for you or brought low by you.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things
to your pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
you are mine, and I am yours. So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven.
Amen.
After devotions, the Pastor split us into two groups for debriefing. He said he’d go with one group and asked James to assign someone to the other. James assigned me! I jumped right up willing but unsure. A group of about 10 came into the fellowship hall and we gathered around a table. Before I could get started, someone came in a said that part of their team was leaving and they wanted to say goodbye so they all left. Another group came in and we sat down. I suggested they just talk about their experiences and feelings. They had only worked half a day and so they talked some about their previous experiences.
Day Two
I slept ok considering. The room was cold and I slept on a camping pad with just a blanket over me. People were in the dining area talking and laughing until late. I was reluctant to put my ear plugs in so I could hear my alarm. I got up to use the restroom once and then slept til about 5:30 when I heard someone preparing breakfast in the kitchen. I got up and decided to wash my hair in the sink rather than trek out to the shower trailer. I put on mascara but it was racoon smeared by noon so I ditched that the rest of the time, along with the hair washing. I put on an old pair of jeans, tennis and old shirt that would be cool in the sun. I filled my water jug with ice and water and put on sunscreen and packed my backpack with my work gloves, cash, cell phone, snacks and more sunscreen.
Breakfast was coffee, OJ, and oatmeal with brown sugar and raisins. Yummy! At breakfast, I had a “divine appointment” with Arturo who sat down next to me. James had told us about Arturo on the trip down. Arturo was an undocumented illegal alien who’d been living in Joplin when the tornado hit. He needed to retell his story. Arturo had been outside and noticed a cloud that looked too close to the ground. Then debris started hitting his shoulder and back and he saw cars flying around! He ran to the house into the house. His family was in the small bathroom, in the bathtub and clinging to the toilet. Arturo laid over his brother who was holding his neice and nephew. When the storm had passed, the bathroom walls were bent in and there was nothing left of the house. Arturo climbed out and pulled his family out. As he walked down the street amongst the smashed houses, he could hear people screaming. He said he didn’t hesitate, he just started digging through the rubble and put people on his back and carried them to a field and laid them down, then ran back to get more. He said he pulled a woman out of an upside down car. He came across a boy who screaming for his mom so he pulled the mom out and the boy continued screaming and said his dog was still in the house, so Arturo went back into the house and got the dog. When he came out, the boy was smiling. Arturo said everyone was asking about an old lady and he couldn’t hear her screaming but he dug and dug and found her curled up, ok and just waiting, in the kitchen amongst smashed appliances. I asked Arturo how many people he thinks he helped that night and he said “30 or 40”. He said that police and rescue workers joined him and they worked into the night. Arturo had been working along the volunteer teams at the church the whole month since the tornado. He ate and showered there and prayed with the teams, also. I asked Arturo how he was doing, how he was sleeping. He said he dreamt every night of seeing the tornado and hearing the screams but he felt good since he was helping.
We worked hard today. I broke out plaster and lathe and shoveled and swept it into barrels to be dumped at the curb. We raked debris away from the house on the outside so the skid loader could get it. Several other teams joined us on an off throughout the day. I was hot and dirty but it was fun overall.
For lunch, we went to the park where people from New Orleans had come to “pay it forward” by feeding the volunteer teams in Joplin. We had huge pork chops, dirty rice, baked beans and bread. It was spicy and hot and I was hot even though there was a breeze in the shade so I had trouble eating it. Plus I’d been snacking all morning for energy. We sat near two young gentlemen who said they were plumbers from Joplin on their lunch break. One guy was pretty gregarious and he jumped right in when I asked if they’d had their homes destroyed and been home the night of the storm. He said they both lived outside the detruction. The one said he’d gone to the basement just after the sirens sounded and his power went off. After the storm, he’d gone out to his car to try to charge his cell phone and his girlfriend came running up covered in blood and screaming. She said she’d been in Payless when it was destroyed and had walked out and a stranger gave her a ride. She wasn’t terribly hurt but needed stitches so they went to the ER. The guy said the ER was packed and they hadn’t had time to put anything together and there were bleeding people and blood everywhere. There was a guy, he said, who had a bone sticking out of his arm and no one was helping him so he’d insisted and they finally took him back. He helped the others as best he could while they waited. The other guy was pretty quiet but when I asked if they’d lost family, he started talking. He said he’d just been at his friend’s house with the friend, the friend’s wife and two kids. They’d been on the first floor of a three story apartment complex that pancaked and they all died. The guy said he knew just driving by the complex. The guy went on to say that his uncle was a trained mountain ranger with cadaver dogs so he’d spent the whole next week helping recover bodies. I asked if he was ok and he said it was really hard having to write on the dead people’s foreheads. He said they were to find their ID and leave one form with the body, take the second form, and write something on themselves in case something happened to them. He said that they’d found quite a few body parts which were in the process of being identified. The total death toll in Joplin was 152, some of whom died later from their injuries or infection. Some are still missing.
In the afternoon, my back hurt, so I spent the afternoon sitting on the front porch pulling nails out of boards that they can reuse. I did a lot of listening, mostly to my team members who one by one came to talk to me. I listened to Richard who told me about 4 horrible incidents with his daughter while she was deployed to Iraq near people in her company who were killed. I listened to Stan talk about his failed marriage. I listened to a guy from another team talk about being unemployed and almost homeless. We finally cleaned up and left the work site about 5:30.
I immediately grabbed my towel, toiletries, and clean clothes and headed out to the shower trailer. One team had a ministry called “Poured out” that focused on providing water in various forms including a large trailer with 5 showers. The shower felt fantastic even though the small room was so sweltering that I had to towel off several times while getting dressed. Only a few of my team had returned to the church right away and they’d gone back to the park for more cajun food--gumbo. I ate fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, bread and butter and dessert from Culver’s provided to those of us at the church and it was delicious. I journal led while waiting for the rest of the team.
Devotions that evening were from Isaiah 2. 10 Go into a hole in the rock, covering yourselves with dust, in fear of the Lord, before the glory of his power. 11 The high looks of man will be put to shame, and the pride of men will be made low, and only the Lord will be lifted up in that day. 12 For the day of the Lord of armies is coming on all the pride of men, and on all who are high and lifted up; 13 And on all the high trees of Lebanon, and on all the strong trees of Bashan; 14 And on all the high mountains, and on all the hills which are lifted up; 15 And on every high tower, and on every strong wall; 16 And on all the ships of Tarshish, and on all the fair boats. 17 And the high looks of man will be put to shame, and the pride of men will be made low: and only the Lord will be lifted up in that day. 18 And the images will never be seen again. 19 And men will go into cracks of the rocks, and into holes of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and before the glory of his power, when he comes out of his place, shaking the earth with his strength. Pastor Traci talked about admitting we need help, even to God. Its me, its me, its me, O Lord, standing in the need of prayer. All I have needed, thou hath provided. Our circumstances don’t change, but the way we look at them does. When the Joplin people let us help them and we do a little, like clean up their yard, it unfreezes them so they can move on and carry out the rest. We all pretend we are fine, don’t need help, especially at church, pride keeps us from being real or getting to know our neighbor. Unconditional love means taking the time to really care how people are. When people need you, you come. Leaderships is authenticity, humility, repentance. We need to remove our masks and ask God to help us.
I went to bed at 8 and slept til 6--10 hours altogether! Devotions this morning were from Isaiah 42. 10 Make a new song to the Lord, and let his praise be sounded from the end of the earth; you who go down to the sea, and everything in it, the sea-lands and their people. 11 Let the waste land and its flocks be glad, the tent-circles of Kedar; let the people of the rock give a glad cry, from the top of the mountains let them make a sound of joy. 12 Let them give glory to the Lord, sounding his praise in the sea-lands.
13 The Lord will go out as a man of war, he will be moved to wrath like a fighting-man: his voice will be strong, he will give a loud cry; he will go against his attackers like a man of war. 14 I have long been quiet, I have kept myself in and done nothing: now I will make sounds of pain like a woman in childbirth, breathing hard and quickly. 15 I will make waste mountains and hills, drying up all their plants; and I will make rivers dry, and pools dry land. 16 And I will take the blind by a way of which they had no knowledge, guiding them by roads strange to them: I will make the dark places light before them, and the rough places level. These things will I do and will not give them up. Pastor always started with “This is the day the Lord has made” and we answered, “Let us be rejoice and be glad in it.” He said it is about giving God praise in everything. Whatever He intends you to do, do it for His glory. He said we have insurmountable tasks ahead, but there will be a little less to do at the end of the day. He said as we picked up the rubble and release it to the curb, we were to pick up our own issues, worries, concerns, and drop them also. Then we’ll be able to lift our hands more fully to God. We all gathered around Pastor Traci and prayed for him as he is retiring after Sunday--especially a hard time to let go. One of those who prayed said Traci had a heart “as big as Joplin”. So true.
The work today was more rebuilding, more removing of nails and old boards. I had several God moments. One was listening to K-Love and hearing the song, “Strong Enough” by Matthew West when I needed strength. Another was having Richard have the confidence in me to put my up on a ladder and remove the old boards at the very top. While up there, thinking about the text Scott sent saying he was proud of me, it occurred to me that my Dad would also have been proud of me for being up there and being in Joplin helping.
Richard patiently taught each of us the tasks he had for us to complete. Many of us had little or no construction experience. I even pounded some nails. I heard Stan say that his Dad hadn’t been a handy man and taught him some of the things that Richard was teaching. Stan and Mike and Richard repaired some rotten flooring and replaced two walls that were damaged. At one point, several large stones fell on Stan who was able to jump back quickly. One grazed his head and one scraped his arm. It could have been MUCH worse.
Lunch was at the high school served by another church group--hot dogs, gaterade, etc. I talked on the phone briefly to Hannah who said, “Its cool you are doing that.” I didn’t accomplish a whole lot in the afternoon. We did take a picture of our hands altogether and put it on face book--the hands of God in Joplin. My sunscreen started to irritate my face so when Sue showed up and offered to take me back to church, I went. We picked up her car that had needed service-- $680 and she dropped me back at the church. I rested and journalled and helped some in the kitchen. Dinner was wonderful--beef and noodles, green bean casserole and chocolate dessert. We debriefed with James. We talked about the 3000 who didn’t have insurance and how could they all be reached and helped. Also, the first timers talked about the closeness of the group and the spiritual high. We can keep the spiritual high going but the closeness of the group will fade when we get back to real life. Got to bed about 10:30.
Sunday morning, last morning, it was harder to get up. Part of getting ready to go work included bandaids on blisters and small cuts. The coffee was wonderful! The fellowship today felt even more special. I felt like one of the guys--lots of ribbing and teasing and affectionate comments. Today we finished up at the rock house. I cleaned out the yucky moldy basement. I discovered where the family had ridden out the storm in the basement. There were mountain dew and pepsi cans and candles. How scary! We all went over to the other house and the guys hurried to finish the roof as a lightening storm was coming.
I played with the neighbor’s puppy who was tied up in back. It looked like they needed to be away and left her there but it turned out they were sleeping in. I had yet another diving appointment with the neighbor. She came out and we started talking and she told me her storm story. She’d been fixing fried chicken and creamed peas and was listening to music. Her Dad called from St. Louis and suggested she turn on the TV. When she did, she saw the red radar and then the swirling red radar. She turned off the chicken and started preparing to go into the bathroom when the power went off and the sirens sounded. The got into bathtub, the 7 year old held the dog, mom held the boy, and the fiance got over the top of them with a mattress over him. When the storm was over, their roof had been lifted up and put back down and all their windows had blown out and people’s debris was strewn all over the house. They said they felt blessed. They checked on the neighbors and discovered a home completely blown up one and a half blocks away. The next block was the destroyed high school that had just been remodeled. She said that they were renting and the landlord was insured. They lived a week without power but decided to stay. Her son stayed with relatives for a few days but wet the bed there and came back. Amy said he continued to wake up scared and wet the bed and she didn’t know what to do. I suggested she have him write a story about the storm and illustrate it and be sure to include his feelings. She said he keeps saying, “this is horrible, mom.” I said to be sure to have him include that. I suggested she have him think of what he would have done with the tornado if he’d had special powers and include that in the book. I said to have him read the book to people every day. Amy said, “That is such a good idea, thank you, I didn’t know what to do!” and she hugged me. I prayed with her and gave her a verse on a card I’d brought. “Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.” Phil 4:12.
Today we prayed in a circle holding hands several times.
Another very cool thing--I got to drive a bobcat! James patiently showed me how. I lifted up the bucket and drove it out of the lot and maneuvered it around three trucks, turned it, lined it up with the trailer ramps and shouted that I wasn’t driving it up onto the ramp. Richard and James waved me forward and I did it. I almost drove it off the other end of the trailer, but thankfully, I didn’t.
Stan had a cool moment, too. He is apparently afraid of heights and conquered that fear by going up on the ladder to pound nails at the very top of the house. Then he climbed right up on the roof of the other house! I took pictures so he’d always remember.
James and I talked and he said he’d talked to Brian about me leading more teams. I’m ready!
We went back to the church, showered, packed and prayed and left in the same cars we’d come down in. Sue’s car was not doing well so they went without air conditioning. They kept stopping on the side to cool it off but it was clear it wasn’t going to make it home. At one point, Sue came back to the truck and James, always the joker, only rolled his window down part way and said to very hot Sue, “I don’t want to let the air conditioning out!” We limped the car to Parsons and made calls. Joyce left Manhattan to come get them, Erin traded places with Richard, and we had dinner at a Mexican restaurant. We all said goodbye. I will miss all of this team--quiet Greg, easy going Dick, baby leader James (the youngest but possibly wisest of all of us), unique Erin(Erin is a woman of contradictions--hard worker, lipgloss, steal toed boots and pink visor), sweet Sue, patient Richard (“crash”), Stan the Bible man, and family man Mike. God used each one of us in unique ways to be a blessing to each other and to the people of Joplin.
Lord, I lift up Joplin to You and ask that You keep them in Your care and provision. Let them continue to heal emotionally and physically. Comfort those who have lost loved ones. Continue to repair, replace and rebuild. Let them experience Your perfect peace. Encourage them, Lord. Restore in them hope. In Jesus Name. Amen
Joel
Joel is home for the summer and I am really enjoying his company. Today he was laying on the couch cuddling Rex and I told him he couldn't go back to LA, he just needs to complete his degree online and stay home. He said that isn't going to happen. I dread him going back knowing this is the last summer he'll be home, the last time he'll live at home, really. I have been mommying him extra this week because when I got home from Joplin, he was really sick. The poor kid laid in his bed in his dark room for 6 days! We took him to the doctor on Tuesday and it is bronchitis and he started on antibiotics. He's doing better today, he actually left the house for a few hours! He's been putting his face over water boiling on the stove with a towel to steam his lungs and try to get the rest of the crap out. My poor baby. My plan to deal with Joel going back to school this time is to fly out to see him mid semester.
Joel is easy going, easy to get along with, low maintainance. He hasn't always been, but is especially so after his return. I think he appreciates us more, certainly his mama, more. He talks to me more than he ever has. He jokes around with me and it makes me feel like I'm in with him (he used to joke more at my expense). Joel is really smart and plays a lot of video games while he's here. I like watching TV with him and going to Chipotle. I think he gets as excited as I do about Chipotle! I feel like Joel enjoys being around me, too. Rex loves Joel almost as much as he loves me! I like Joel's friends, too. I haven't seen a whole lot of them this summer as they all live in apartments now and Joel goes there to see them. Other than being sick this week, Joel hasn't spent tons of time at home this summer, but when he has, its been good, really good. I like how close the kids are, too, it was awesome the week they were all here. I really hope we get to go to Wyoming as a family to get more Hannah time and 5 time.
Joel is easy going, easy to get along with, low maintainance. He hasn't always been, but is especially so after his return. I think he appreciates us more, certainly his mama, more. He talks to me more than he ever has. He jokes around with me and it makes me feel like I'm in with him (he used to joke more at my expense). Joel is really smart and plays a lot of video games while he's here. I like watching TV with him and going to Chipotle. I think he gets as excited as I do about Chipotle! I feel like Joel enjoys being around me, too. Rex loves Joel almost as much as he loves me! I like Joel's friends, too. I haven't seen a whole lot of them this summer as they all live in apartments now and Joel goes there to see them. Other than being sick this week, Joel hasn't spent tons of time at home this summer, but when he has, its been good, really good. I like how close the kids are, too, it was awesome the week they were all here. I really hope we get to go to Wyoming as a family to get more Hannah time and 5 time.
Monday, June 27, 2011
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