photos from the ground

In the bucket of Big Brutus shovel; Jim at the helm; Our tornado victor speakers.

"I know now they will be fine..."

Our last day on the ground. Maureen and I finish up at the school district; they are grateful for our help. Their Accounts Payable had been on pieces of paper and they now have a full general ledger; not as exciting as getting the power turned on, but helpful nevertheless. The fellas along with Terry and Megan were able to finish up Rhonda's house, wire Pamelas house, and work their way through several tons of downed trees for an 86 year old farmer. Very satisfying work. Last night, seven tornado victors (the term they prefer to victims) met with us and told their stories. Downed power lines, no communication, barriers to getting around. From Melynn, in the ER that night,"I don't know what a war zone is like, but that's the only way I can describe it." They all talk of anxious hours trying to find each other. They re-iterate and add butterfly stories. Cathy's nephew said his daughter told him she saw butterlies help him hold the bathroom door shut where they took shelter, and it was the only room left standing. Another story of a 4 year old found several miles away in a field, unharmed, telling rescuers an angel picked him up and carried him there. Goosebumps abound. They end by telling us of their gratefulness for volunteers, and tell us they are worried for our fires. It is very helpful to hear first hand. We ended our work with a picnic at Cunningham park, designed as a tribute to volunteers. Then on to Big Brutus, the largest electric shovel in North America. Largest anything makes these guys happy, but they crawl all over the bucket -- capable of holding six cars-- and sit in the drivers seat for pictures. Will load final set of pics from home. Six a.m. Departure, headed to smoky Denver and our own disasters. Last time we were still stunned as we left; this time is different. There has been so much improvement, we know they will not need us again. They will be fine, and we were part of it. Stay tuned.

Cliff and his mad chainsaw skills

Cliff makes use of his cha insaw, bandanas, and cowboy hat.

What a difference a little electricity makes

Mike and Dustin finish off the junction box at Rhonda's house Megan and Terry show off the piece of drywall that Jim installed in 2 minutes (yes, they said it was the blink of an eye) and they mudded. The room should be finished tonight Jim and his mad saw skills

"Butterflies held down my feet"

Maureen and I were up early and over to the Joplin School District to volunteer. I've been corresponding with their volunteer coordinator for about a year. Last week he fortuitously sent out a call for volunteers for this week, needing folks to help with office work, clerical jobs, data entry, mindless stuff that we are well suited for. The guys back at Rhonda's and Duenweg actually got to sleep in a bit longer, but back out, courageously facing the 103 degree heat index. I admire their devotion to mission as I go to the school district air conditioned office. The head of volunteers for the school district gave us "his story," talking of the hard road back for the school system. He, too, emphasized leadership and preparation. We asked him why he thought the volunteer effort continued at such a pace when other disaster areas talked of dwindling volunteerism within weeks. He thinks it is partly due to the media's coverage, which shared the carnage but also showed people cleaning up and moving on. (We think it's also partly because Joplin is easy to get to from just about anywhere.) Regardless, our job today -- writing thank you notes to hundreds of donors from all over the world-- made it clear that generous nature is not limited to working in the sun. It is amazing -- children from Worcester, Massachusetts sending in $17.65 from going door to door selling koolaid; an organization in Utah sending thousands of dollars "to keep the high school band going," individuals sending thirty or forty or a hundred dollars -- the pile was high. It was the sort of task that is a twelve-year old boy's nightmare, but I have great penmanship so it was right up my alley. We talked about whether the guys would rather be cooler and writing thank you notes or hot and using chainsaws. I'm guessing I know but we'll ask tonight. Eight of their 16 schools were demolished, yet -- as you may have seen on the news -- they were determined to start school on time and they did. We asked if the rebuilt High School would be named "Hope High School," from the i conic photo in front of the old school. "No," Dale told us. "We talked about that, and decided that would be a reminder of a tough time, of the past. We are about Hope, but we are not Hope High School. We are Joplin High School." A statue of a butterfly stands in the lobby. Dottie told us the story, and Dale repeated it, of pediatricians and counselors sharing stories of totally unrelated children -- toddlers, little ones who would not have contact with others -- telling stories of "butterfly people" who held them down during the storm. "Butterflies held down my feet," a four-year old told her pediatrician. Another: "The closet door kept flying open, and the butterfly person, closed it back for me." There is a widely held belief here that these children were seeing angels. I choose to believe it myself. Back into the heat, on to a pool party at my sister's house tonight. She tells me she's thrown ice in the pool to cool it down. Nice. Stay tuned.

IIii'mmmmmm meelllting!!

So we hear that Colorado is on fire --and we are truly sorry -- but I believe spontaneous combustion was possible today just standing in the sun here in Missouri. Humidity is as thick as the smoke back in Denver. Arrived last night, Chicken Annies the first stop, to lull these folks into staying. Let me tell you -- last year's folks were more adventurous. Not that many gizzards eaten, much more of an onion ring crowd. Over to Joplin this a.m. Amazing progress! No debris, hundreds of new homes, and hundreds of volunteers--still--waiting when we arrive for orientation. Everyone wants our electricians, and they are palpably excited that we have chainsaws and know how to use them. Half dispatched to Rhonda's house for mudding drywall and rewiring, half to Duenweg to work on fallen trees. Hot work on the best of days and this was a record breaker. Honest, hottest June 25 on record. Lunch with Dottie Bringle, COO/CNO of St. John's. Amazing and inspiring, yet down to earth. Still, tearing up when she looks at the hospital shell across from their temporary offices; as did I. She talks of preparation, leadership, courage. Too long to tell the whole story here, but she has agreed to come to Regis next year and share her story with our students and all of you. We were moved--not the least of which was the brief respite in air conditioning. On the way out I stopped by the VP of Mission who was briefly my boss in the nineties. She gave me a cross carved from the marble from the floor of the chapel. It will have a cherished spot on my desk; stop by and see it next week. Back to the farm for tacos, and to the neighbors for pie. Body temperature dropping below triple digits, brain functioning returning. Stay tuned.

Here I go again

Time for another adventure. Or perhaps an ordeal. Sometimes there is very little distinction between the two. Heading back to Joplin on Saturday, with 13 other generous hearts and brave souls. Please note for the record I warned them about the humidity. Stay tuned.