We never did hear her name. To Nick and his family, she was Grandma. To her sister Gladys, 101 years old, she was her sister. But to us, on Memorial Day, she took on a special meaning. While so many were off and enjoying a three day weekend, and hopefully honoring those who gave their lives for our country, Andrew and I were in Joplin, assisting the tornado victims. We had worked with Operation Blessing, but this day we chose to go out on our own, there is no limit to the destruction we saw. Driving down a street, no signs, as they were blown away, we saw a group of people starting to clean up this woman's home. It had been leveled, as had the entire neighborhood for as far as we could see, and when we offered to help they accepted.
But where do you start? We decided to find the sidewalk, and then work towards the house, or foundation, as that was all that was left. With two ladies raking and shoveling, we started throwing logs, debris, and wood onto a pile, which someday will be removed. With winds at 45mph, throwing a 2x4 would cause it to sail 8' off course. But we got to the house, and started sifting through the rubble. The owner, Grandma, had been found alive in a shower enclosure, which had then buckled around her. She was OK, but the house was gone. I can't describe the feeling of what we were doing, but at times it felt so helpless, as over 8000 homes, and 300 businesses were like Grandma's home. And it was when Andrew found her kitchen clock, stopped at 5:43, that it hit home-this was somebody's home! And we could not imagine the sheer terror she went through. And at 543pm, her world literally came crashing down around her. The winds, 200 mph, were so strong, that you weren't even sure what you were cleaning from her property was hers. And a true sense of destruction set in, when the smell of a rotting animal was found. 911 was called, and fortunately it was not a body, just cat, and not hers. But the smell of death was everywhere. Add to that some 8000 refrigerators with rotting food, asbestos and fibreglass in the air, and you had to be there. Wood, hay and stubble only glorify it. Just breathing the air sometimes would sicken you. But while we volunteered muscle, others brought by drinks. Two older woman came buy and gave us cold wash rags-a blessing. A man with his young son gave us Otter Pops. We had many snacks, and even some laughs in this somber scene. But Grandma was OK, physically, only God came cure all the other things. And we saw many miracles, just like this one first hand.
So what should you do? What can you do? PRAY! And pray again, this is so far from over, don't even think of rebuilding. How do you clear 72 square miles of ruin? We saw an area 12 x 6 miles just like this. But we also saw so many out volunteering, and assisting neighbors. One house we cleared had us with people from five states-all there because we cared. But you can also support Operation Blessing, and Samaritan's Purse. The many Christian ministries we saw in action overwhelmed any FEMA presence. But you can go to Joplin. Bring a place to stay, as there are no rooms, or motel rooms, or apartments. We slept one night on cots. Bring wheelbarrows, shovels, chain saws, and a desire to help. No pretty boys here. Even a guy nicknamed Princess, was up to waist in debris. Volunteers are needed-NOW!
But be reminded that God is giving us a warning of things to come. And only in Him, will you be safe. And hopefully not here, for as we see Bible prophecies as news, we don't even have to read the Bible anymore to realize times are short.
I will be happy to share with anyone or all our trip. A special time for my son Andrew and I, a time we will never forget. Maybe your next family outing may be to Joplin, where the memories will go beyond Kodak deep, but touch your life forever.
Just some people whose names I can't remember. But we became friends that day on a battlefield called life, in a disaster area called Joplin. What part of being your brother's keeper don't you understand?
5:43pm still happens daily. Andrew and I will never forget that.
love with compassion,
Mike
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