Snowy showers left early, making for an easy trip down to Joplin. We met with our team leaders, who took us to the house we will be working on during our stay. The house will be a parsonage for a Baptist pastor, who will be using it as a base of operations in Joplin. When the tornado hit, the men we were working with were in the church next door, which no longer exists.
Our projects today included insulating the home, caulking the windows and doors, and installing sheet rock on the walls and ceilings. It was fun to see how quickly the house was transformed and we’re excited to continue our work tomorrow.
After arriving at Royal Heights United Methodist Church, we enjoyed a delicious feast of pork loin, mashed potatoes and gravy, salad and a spread of desserts, including tasty blueberry fluff, prepared by the hands of wonderful church congregants. Following the dinner, we were able to sit with other mission volunteers and Joplin residents, hearing their stories and gaining a better understanding of how God is building this community in the aftermath of the storm.
We’re looking forward to two more days of cross-denominational domination.
I am the pastor for missions (we call it Impact) at the Lee’s Summit United Methodist Church, just across the state line, and I always enjoy reading about what COR is doing in missions and service.
I have particularly enjoyed what you’re doing in Joplin. I don’t know about you, but it seems as if going to Joplin has ignited a very real passion for disaster response in our church that simply wasn’t there before. We’ve done everything from debris removal to replacing a floor and organizing school supplies, and it has all been so very fulfilling.
We saw nearly a 400% increase in adult mission trip participation, and all I can do is attribute it to the awesome work that the Holy Spirit is doing in Joplin, and through the Body of Christ as it envelopes the people of Joplin with love and compassion. Amen!