Deadly Tornado

I don't know where to start with this post.  David has frequent meetings in Springfield, Mo.  We drove up there yesterday and returned today.  We were expecting to see the "damage" in Joplin from I-44.  We did see a little, but the massive destruction was further north than we thought.  That situation has been so heavy on our hearts, as I am sure it is with all of you.  We did venture north, just to see.  It seemed wrong to just look, and take pictures, but we did. I really wish we could have stopped and helped someone in someway, but those people were not real visible by the 5th day and we did not get out of the pickup. There were many workers and teams of people with food and clothing, etc. Roads were blocked and the destruction was thick....not a clear path much of anywhere.  I am sure much of the piles in high heaps were cleared from the streets so that help could get to the area.

As we approached the area we saw huge trees on houses and roofs blown off and windows blown out.  Most of the residential streets were blocked off.  Today on the way home, we exited the interstate and took another route.  There is no way to describe the scene.  The damage was just block after block and mile after mile of piled and twisted rubble.  Every direction we looked all that could be seen was complete destruction. In the hardest hit areas everything was just leveled.

There were multiple places set up to help people, but the volume of need looked totally overwhelming.  Like, where are all those people sleeping?  When will they have a stable place to "live"?  How will they survive the terrible loss of loved ones?  I am telling you, many will not without a great deal of faith, prayer, and love from others.  There was a visible outreaching to others there, but the needs looked endless.  These situations do make people reach out and be more giving...but still.  It is so overwhelming!

I am posting some pictures, because a picture speaks a thousand words.  If you are alive today; have a home and a car to drive; groceries in your house; and family to love..........and I could go on and on.....then count your blessings and thank God for it all again and again.

This church was destroyed, but most of the pews were intact.

Every business in this strip mall was destroyed.

This was a huge familiar outdoor sporting store. 

Workers trying to restore the electricity..

Too many mangled cars to count....just everywhere.

There was a Wal-Mart back in there somewhere.

 

 There were more destroyed trees than you can imagine.

Are you feeling thankful yet?

You could tell this was an older part of town.

The wealthy, poor, homes or business...none were spared.

I was struck by the two photos above - both the same photo, but the one just above is just a closer shot.  Notice the guitar, and actually there was a case and a couple of guitars laying there in the rubble.  David noticed the Texas flag first in the picture above this one.

Last, but not least is the large St. John hospital that we heard today is off of its foundation and has been totally evacuated now, and the building will have to be taken down.  

I don't share this to be morbid.  I share this to remember how blessed I am and how blessed you are, and to remember those who have lost so much, but who will recover.  Those people have not been forsaken. 

I saw several cars with writing on the back glass that said, "Bring the Joy Back to Joplin".  I pray that joy will be in the hearts of those suffering people soon.   They need our prayers.