JOPLIN-TWO MONTHS LATER

The past couple of weeks, I have spent time in an area that we called home for approximately 16 years. Ron and I made our first home together just a few miles from here.

This is Joplin High School. Notice that most of the letters in "Joplin" are missing, but someone used tape to remind us that there is always "Hope".

There are flags everywhere and it reminds me that people still take care of each other.

This is a bit further down the same street. Most of the street signs are gone, so there are street names painted on the traffic lights and pavement in some areas.

This sign says a lot to me...

About a block over from the sign above were two groups of people. Each group was there to begin the rebuilding of some one's home. As you can see, the foundation was all that remained... but then, that is a good place to start!

The trees that are left, have begun to sprout new leaves.

Across the street from the fireplace shown above, was a "safe room" still standing.

The tops of the culverts had blown off. Thankfully, someone put plywood over the holes to prevent anyone from falling into them.

A baby crib.

In the same area as the baby crib, but looking a different direction down 20th Street.

What appears to be a little girl's pink sleeping bag near the ground and other bedding in the top of the tree.

Near the High School; food and drink for those in need. Several of the marquees in town also say "free food and drink".

When life seems completely askew, with no hope in sight, sometimes if we will move our focus,

we will see that in spite of the thorns, there is promise of a new beginning. Maybe not quite like we had hoped or planned, but a new beginning non the less.

On the hill above St. John's hospital, where our younger daughter was born, there was another flag at the base of a sturdy tree.

On Rangeline, the main thoroughfare North and South near Walmart. Someone had probably had lunch at this table not too long before the storm.

I spoke to a young lady this morning who, along with her husband and young children, were near the Walmart store when the tornado hit. They had just arrived when they saw the wall cloud coming. Thankfully, there was a man in the nearby apartment complex standing in his doorway and allowed them in to take cover.

In the midst of the rubble, there are signs of hope and rebuilding, everywhere.

Near Walmart, was a Dollar Tree store. The same young lady that I spoke of earlier thought that some of her family was in this store when the tornado hit. Thankfully, they were not still there, but had gone to a family member's house, nearby.

I looked at this pole with debris wrapped around it a dozen times or more in wonder at the force that could do such a thing.

Some remnants of the flooding.

Mattresses in the most unusual places.

I want my heart to always be tender toward people and their needs, that I could be of help and comfort how ever possible.