I’ve been glued to my tv and twitter since yesterday when the news broke and we’ve all held our breath as we saw the images and videos come across our screens. (BTW-it looks as if the person walking in across the street in the image above is carrying a guitar case)
I’ve been talking with my family, who live in Neosho, located 15 miles South of Joplin, and the stories they have been telling me have brought to tears.
Stories like one from the youth pastor in my dad’s church who is also an RN helping with the triage. He told my dad of a 10 year old boy who had a piece of lumber impaled into his abdomen. Other EMT’s and Firemen in my dads church (Abundant Life) have been informing them of the damage.
At 1:30am Monday morning my dad and brother delivered a couple hundred sandwiches with water to one of the shelters in Joplin. Their church, Abundant Life, continues to make sandwiches and collect bottled water to distribute to those who have lost it all.
I was encouraged to hear the director of Convoy of Hope called my dad early this morning to let him know 3 semi trucks were on their way to the area and even took the time to pray with my dad.
As the twitter feed populates with more pics and the news floods websites with stories of heroism and devastation, I feel like a world away as I read the stories and watch my 1 year old boy, sitting in the comfort of my home. The question then arises, what can we do?
What we can do.
We can pray.
That pretty much sums it up.
We can give.
Convoy of Hope is working with the State of Missouri and supplying large quantities of food, bottled water, and other necessities. There are 2 ways we can give to Convoy of Hope.
1) Text CONVOY to 50555 to donate $10
2) or by visiting https://donate.convoyofhope.org/ and donating
Other items that are needed:
- Food/Bottled Water
- Baby/Chldren Supplies: Diapers, Formula, Clothes
- Sleeping items: sleeping bags, blankets, pillows
- Towels/Washcloths
- Soap/Shampoo
- Toothbrushes/Toothpaste
Abundant Life is willing to help collect and distribute these collected items.
We can go.
You may want to go help right now, but it wouldn’t be best timing, unless you are a medically trained person. While the clean-up process will commence, right now the efforts are focussed on search and rescue. In the next couple of days, there will be clean up efforts and groups gathered to help the process begin and start the journey to put Joplin back on its feet. Until then, it is best to get involved by giving.
Abundant Life in Neosho is one of many churches joining the efforts and would be willing to join with you should you want to go. Email me if you would like contact info to join their efforts.
Freshwater Church in Bolivar is also having a meeting tonight at 8:30pm to talk about how people can get involved.
An Opportunity for the “C” Church
It is in times like these when the church is tested & becomes the strongest. Be praying for the “C”hurch in Joplin and the surrounding area, that Christ strengthens and uses them.