Day 4 Video Blog

late night worship

some of the team joining together for some late night worship!

had a little fun too!

Fun in Joplin!

(From left to right, top to bottom) 

After a hot and exhausting day full of shoveling rocks and placing rock walls, the team decided to have some fun in the water! What you can't see in this photo, though, are the three diving boards that occupied most of our time -- and cheering. 

After the pool (next photo) the local youth group invited us to their youth time, allowing us to play a game with them and listen to the wonderful message their pastor Cody had to speak.

 The next photo is a snap-shot of all the boys hanging out at the pool. Around the table, we played a game of Cups in where each person followed a certain rhythm that ended in passing the cup. 

The next two photos on the right are of the diving boards -- make sure to congratulate Charlie, Duncan, and Dakota for doing belly-flops off of the highest diving board! 

Last but absolutely not least, in the bottom left is a picture of Manny and Kim posing with their 'Happy Anniversary' cake; we were all so glad that they could share their special day with us here in Joplin.

By Kristin Hancock & Megan Adams

The boys talk about the trip!

Audrey's Blog!

Today was our third day in Joplin. It was one of the hottest yet, and it's only supposed to get hotter the rest of the week! We have been working on landscaping at a house of a family with an incredible story. They were driving home from their son's graduation during the tornado and their car was picked up and moved. When they "landed" a piece of sheet metal had gone through the middle of the back of their car. The thirteen year old daughter had a cut on her leg through to the bone. The thing that got me was Monday she told us that she was collecting money for victims back in the Springs effected by the fire. It was amazing to see that even with all the work they had to do on their home she was willing to put others before herself. Every day her younger sister, who is probably 7, comes and gives us all cold towels to cool off with, she is so sweet! It is amazing to see the hope and faith the people of Joplin have.

 

{some girls working on landscaping}

It's been amazing to see our group come together. Even though there is not always work for everyone and people sometimes get frustrated, we come together to get things done. Yesterday a retaining wall we were building started to tip back, and within a matter of minutes everyone got up there and put rock and dirt behind it until it was supported.

 

{some of the retaining walls we've completed!}

Monday we took a tour of the town. The hospital, or what is left of it, is still standing, no windows left, and half of the building and the parking garage are gone. The site of the old high school is completely leveled. The sign of the high school used to say "Joplin High School" and in the storm the J L I and N  were torn off. Someone came up and put letters H and E up on the  sign so it now says "Hope".

 

{we dug a hole, Nathan fit inside}

I am really excited to see what else God has in store for us the rest of the week, and what other opportunities we will have to show God's love to this community.

Audrey Brewster

Work Day 2

Today we split up into two teams. 10 people worked really hard on painting a garage. The rest of us worked moving rocks, building a retaining wall, and cleaning areas to get ready for landscaping. The team worked together so well! It was over 100 degrees out most of the work day and no one complained. Everyone took care of each other & were always ready for the next job. 

Towards the end of the day, some of the crew was working on getting to a stopping point with the bigger retaining wall. Suddenly, the wall began to lean backwards. A few leaders and students jumped behind the wall and pushed it up while the rest of the crew worked quickly, effeciantly, and selflessly to back fill and build up support! The team moved an incredible amount of heavy rock and dirt in an incredibly short period of time. I was honestly amazed at how they worked together and how much they accomplished to keep that wall standing! 

This was a great day of work and unity! We are so proud of our team!

-Manny & Kim

Maggie

We've been serving this family. Their house was completly wiped out. One of the daughters was seriously injured and spent along time in the hospital. They also have 9 year old twins. Yesterday while we were working the girl, Maggie would come out and just kind of watch us. Today she was watching and then she ran inside and got towels soaked in ice to give us to help with the heat. Then Christ mentioned soemthing about music and she ran inside again and brought out a radio so we could have music. I thought that was really thoughtful. At one point she even helped carry bricks to the retaining wall we were working on. Kim even had to yell out that Maggie was doing more work that they guys & that we needed to get back to work! 

I thought it was really cool because she didn't have to come out and do that stuff. She could have just stayed inside, in the air conditioning and done whatever a nine year old girl does. I guess it was just a way for her to say thank you for everything were doing.

- Narrated by Grady Brewster