 |
| The cross still stands |
I am ok, my family is ok, our home is ok. The house where my mother in law, my sister in law, Debbie and my brother in law Roger lived in is gone. My husband Mike and Debbie, and some days Roger (when he didn't have to word) have been getting the things out of the house as they can and putting them into a storage unit.
So, last night was the first night I was out and saw everything. I took pictures as discreetly as I could, because it seemed such a private and personal thing to take pictures of someones tragedy.
 |
| The back of my MIL's house |
 | |
| The grocery store where Mikes son worked. They are not going to rebuild. |
 |
| My dr's office |
 |
| Across the street from her office |
 |
| People put flags everywhere they could. |
 | ||||||
| Churches and other groups, left cases of water everywhere for whoever needed a drink |
 | |
| Buildings were marked as the rescue workers went through them |
 | ||
| Someone made these street signs so you'd know where you are. |
The rest are just pictures we took, and need no comment.
 |
| The Joplin High School, where the school year ended abruptly. |
♠In times like this, everyone wants to do something to help, but they've asked people to stop sending clothes and personal items. We are overflowing with them and it's started to create a storage problem. If you have things to give, wait a few months, we'll need them then. The best thing you can do is pray.
1800 acres were destroyed, 8000 structures destroyed.
If you need to know specific needs, here are the two Facebook page where you can get up to the minute details.
Many people who didn't have much to lose in the first place have lost everything. Not everyone was a homeowner with insurance to fall back on. Please, pray for these people and check those two FB pages for specific needs.
Pray for the looters to stop. We've had groups of looters coming in from other states, simply for this 'event'. The police are everywhere, and constantly asking to see i.d.'s which no one minds for that very reason. This is the 4th day Mike has worked at his mom's house, trying to salvage what they can, and now they are at the moldy stage and must wear masks.
The most powerful thing you can do is pray. Thank you.
(I am going to visit family in Idaho from May 29 to June 6 and then I'll be back blogging)
Dear Karen:
ReplyDeleteI'll pray for everyone who has to endure this terrible tragedy...and that the looting stops. That just makes me crazy. Like Joplin, the people of Japan suffered terribly after the earthquakes, but there was NO looting. It says volumes to me about the integrity of the Japanese people. Shame on these individuals who come from out of state, no less, to add more suffering to your residents.
Thank God you're ok. I'm so sorry about your family's losses.
God Bless All of You.
xoxo
Donna
Oh my gosh! I am so glad you guys are all right! I have been thinking of you the entire time! I am so sorry for all those other people that weren't so lucky! It must be such hardship to go through, I can't even imagine! My heart goes out to every single one of them!
ReplyDeleteDonna, it astounds me too. Why not put all that energy (and the money to get here) into helping out? Or staying home and paying their own bills, and taking care of their own families by getting jobs. Just really makes me ashamed that they are my countrymen.
ReplyDeleteBridgett, thank you :) There has been so much outpouring of help and support that we've had to say, Ok, no more!! We don't have any more room to put it all, but we will need it later. This will take many months, perhaps years to recover from, and build back up.
What we really need is jobs!!! So many people out of a job, all at once, suddenly. And no where to go look for another one!
But God knows, and He will provide. :)
Oh Karen, I'm so glad you're ok. I thought I knew somebody in Joplin and it was you. Thank God you and your family are safe. It's awful the looting people do when something like this happens. It's just ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteSending love, light and prayers to everyone your way.
xx, shell
Karen, my heart has been breaking for Joplin. The stories are so sad and the devastation is so massive. We have been praying for Joplin since the night it happened. We live in Springfield and often go to Joplin on day trips to antique. I didn't realize you lived in Joplin.
ReplyDeleteThose pictures are just astonishing. Words fail. Its a relief to to hear you and your loved ones are all okay, though I am so sorry about your Mother-in-law's home. It looks like it's going to be a long recovery, but hopefully the cleanup and reconstruction efforts will create some jobs for people who have been put out of work. I am just sickened to hear about the looters.
ReplyDelete