We arrived in Joplin, MO yesterday evening. Me, Monica, Joshua, Joseph, and Ray. About two weeks earlier we were here with a church group and had some amazing experiences and heard some amazing stories. As soon as we were headed home last time we knew we needed to come back. So here we are.
Today we went to church at Emmanuel Baptist in Webb City, said hi to some friends from our last trip here, ate lunch, and then went to check in with Americorps to see what work they had for us tomorrow. They had received a request for some help at a local school with hanging blinds this afternoon so we decided to go ahead and start working today. School starts in a week and there is still much work to be dome to make sure all the students who attended schools damaged or destroyed in the tornado have a place to attend class.
We arrived at the new site of Irving Elementary at about 2:30 PM and began walking around looking for the principal for a work assignment. The blinds were not ready yet, but Ms. Fort, the principal put us to work organizing a room full of books to be given to students during an open house on Tuesday. There is also a room full of clothing and shoes for students to pick up during the open house.
Irving elementary was destroyed in the tornado. The "new" Irving is housed in a 1927 building that hasn't been used for a school in 20+ years, as well as a large modular building constructed by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The principal, staff, USACE, and many volunteers have been hard at work over the past few weeks to turn this old building and grounds (formerly Washington School) into a usable elementary to be opened in just a week. Amazingly, it seems like things are going to work out just fine. Teachers are preparing classrooms, USACE is putting the finishing touches on the modular building, and volunteers are busy doing whatever else is needed to make school happen for the students here. Amazing. I can't put it all into words right now, but I can say that God is working in such visible ways here that it blows my mind.
I think the pictures say it much better than I ever could. Enjoy.
Thanks for sharing. Can't wait for the updates.
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