Heart Goes out to Joplin

Just weeks ago these streets of Joplin were filled with homes just like ours, and in those houses were scrapbooks and pictures and family heirlooms and warm clothes and comfortable beds... and within minutes it was taken from them and this is all that remains.  We took a 30 minute break the day we were there and drove through the area and I did get these pics from the window of our car. It didn't feel right to get out and pilfer through the piles of rubble. I can't even imagine what these families are going through. My heart goes out to them. I feel like if I were loaded I'd help as many of them  as I could to try and rebuild their homes and replace their cars.. the only thing we knew to do was to go and volunteer to work for a day. We didn't really know who to help or what we would be doing, but Thursday we went to Joplin and prayed on the way there that we would be able to be of use to them for the day...

 We pulled into the first church parking lot we found after entering Joplin. Forest Park church. They directed us to the Samaritan house set up on location to direct volunteers to various places. We ended up in the Lowe's parking lot down the road where Jackson Brothers and Tyson were set up serving free lunch and dinners to anyone that showed up to eat.. Throughout the course of the day we helped on an assembly line to make over 1,000 lunches for workers and tornado survivors that came through. We met several wonderful people from different parts of the area that were there volunteering their time as well. We heard stories of survival, some tragic and some heart wrenching... On the short drive around the area we noticed something that I think is an incredible act of humanity.. People were there from all walks of life, offering their individual service or trade.. vendors were on site donating their food items, while people with smokers were there cooking it, one guy was set up offering free tire repairs (due to the nails and debri this was much needed)... Through the heart ache of not understanding why natural devastation occurs it was uplifting to see that there are still so many people in the world that are willing to give their time and sacrifice their own comforts to serve others in time of need. An EF5 tornado is NO joke... It will take this community many years to rebuild all they have lost. This could take place anywhere and happen to any one of us.. To me, it's an eye opening example of why it is so important to live life right, be humble, and thank God for everything in this world that matters, our salvation and our family.