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.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
Joplin
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
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Mom visit
Mom came and stayed for a few days--finally talked her into it! I picked up Joel from the airport late Friday night--one a.m.--and we went to Mom's and slept til morning. We got up and she got ready and we jumped in her Lexus and off to Manhattan! I was tired so we mostly hung around on Saturday. We did go to the grocery store and to Hobby Lobby. Saturday night, Mom, Scott, Joel and I went to Coco Bolos for dinner and sat out on the patio. It was a treat! I wore my jeans and my new plaid strapless shirt. We wolfed down the Coco's Q and then I had my usual, the black and white pizza. Yum! At one point, Joel said, "Turn around." I did and there was Julie Reitz--now Beatty! It's been over two years since I saw her! After Coco Bolos we drove around a bit and laughed in the car and then came home. Julie came over and we walked and talked for over 2 hours! It was so great! I love friends that you can pick up right where you left off. (I did the same with Ginger recently too, on the phone). On Sunday, we got up and went to church (without Joel). At two mom and I took Adelle out for frozen yogurt at Orange Leaf. Mom shopped at Bed Bath and Beyond while Adelle and I looked at her facebook. We took Adelle home and then napped and read and relaxed. I made salmon, smashed taters and roasted asparagus for dinner and mom cut up a salad. We watched the Tony awards which Mom seemed to enjoy thoroughly (I mostly read). Monday morning I taught my 11 am water jog class and Mom went to Dillard's. In the afternoon, Joel, Mom and I took Scott shopping. We went to Borck Brothers and fixed him up with a nice, dark grey suit, lavender shirt and tie, belt, and nice black shoes. We even got him some cool jeans! We dropped Scott and Joel off at home and went to Olive garden just the two of us. We sipped wine and ate breadsticks and split an entry. It was fun and special. At home we watched Gulliver's Travels and laughed. Mom and I have a good relationship. I do push her a little sometimes and we confessed that we both work hard at getting along but we love each other very much. I treasure our time together.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Summer etc
I do love summer. Loved having the kids home. Really enjoying teaching my water class. Like the quiet time in the morning and doing basically nothing. (Although it does seem like there is something to do every day--today went to Howie's and the bank and the chiropractor and the city office to pick up a key). I loved going to see Leah this week. Tonight Joel is coming home. His plane is late so I'll get him in the middle of the night and we'll crash at mom's. Then mom is coming here for a few days. I still feel a bit disoriented, like I can't get my summer feet under me, so to speak. Not sure I will.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Lele Slumber party
I love coming to see Leah! We always have such a wonderful time! Got to Newton about 2:45 yesterday. Leah's apartment is amazing. She looked so cute in a ruffly grey t shirt and flowery short flowery skirt. She threw on some long socks and rubber boots and we went out to take care of the bunnies and chickens. It was very hot so she had to give them fresh water and put some frozen water bottles in the pens. The pens are right in the backyard of the house she lives in. She also got water for the chickens and fed them. Put my stuff in the house and took off for downtown Newton. There are a string of shops next to each other that we like to visit. We went to the flea market store and looked around then headed to 10 Thousand Villages and the shop I really like that is a novelty shop. I bought my purse there last year. I didn't buy anything--resisted a sequined key chain that was a bracelet and also a great cell phone wallet since I just bought on last week in Lawrence. Went through the kitchen store and then the health food store and bought sesame sticks and oat bran sticks for snacking with peanut butter. At the thrift store, Leah bought boots and two sweaters and at least two shirts. I got some picture stands for 10 cents each and a cool purse for $1.50! I also bought Leah a shadow box. Went back to Leah's and I put on one of her dresses and off we went to eat. We wanted to go to the Breadbasket but it was closed so we went to Reba's for burger night! It is a fance place to eat but burger night is reasonable! Leah had the Gargonzola burger and I had the special--it had cheese and spinach and red peppers (I took the red peppers off). Leah had the tomato bisque soup and I had the 5 cheese macaroni and cheese:). We then went to Walmart where Leah bought some fabric and ribbon to make baby gifts and I bought a notebook with to do lists and a grocery pad list. I also bought crayons and watercolors because we had craft plans! Leah made a cute headband for her friend's baby and some flowers and I made a painting that I copied the idea from Leah. I also colored some flower stationary. We messed around on our computers and then went for a long walk on the riverfront just as it was getting dark. Its a great place to walk! When we came home, we went next door to Dillon's and got stuff to make strawberry shortcake and then ate it outside on the back porch under the twinkly lights. We went to bed at 11 ish and I actually slept ok even though Leah cuddled me several times in the night:). We slept til 9:30 and it was lightly rainy this morning and much cooler. We took our coffee and granola out on the front porch and watched the rain. I went inside to play with the lonely kitty (Leah's roommates family who lives upstairs are on Bike Across Kansas this week). We then decided to go for a walk so we walked a long way the Other way on the river walk toward Bethel. We stopped at Leah's garden and weeded for about 45 minutes. We were not showered, sweaty, and covered in mud but decided to stop at Mojo's for a cup of coffee and a banana peanut butter chocolate chip scone:). We sat at the table outside and played a conversation game for while then walked home along main street. We took turns showered and I finished my crafts while Leah untangled her key mobile. We were both sad when it was time for me to say goodbye. It was such a great visit! I will add some photos here.
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