Thursday, April 12, 2012

 Raj is in the back ground with the camera crew.  He is a big time reporter for Glen Beck and very popular with the girls:)
 Raj interviewing some of the kids about their service.




 Planting trees today
 This is one of the city workers giving us proper instructions on planting a tree. 

 My New buddy Dina and her dad planting trees.

 Shellie presenting the Pastor with the stain glass piece I posted earlier.




 Rhenda planting a tree. (Quilt maker)
 Rhenda and Big Dave



 Crazy Shellie Sue Sue




 Reporter Raj getting his hands dirty...



 Camera crew eating cup cakes!!





Wednesday, April 11, 2012



 Joplin cemetery..We planted several trees where many of the victims were buried. Below the cemetery shows a Osborne entrance and a Parkway entrance.  One is where the "blacks" were buried and the other side is where they buried the "whites."  Of course, that was several years ago.  I forget I'm in the south...Crazy stuff...
 

Tornado swept this home off its foundation, along with many others.
More homes destroyed in the tornado


Empty fields where homes use to sit...If you look close at some of the pictures the only thing left are foundations and twisted trees.
 This is Rhenda...She is the best.  One of her many talents is quilting and she is incredible!  This is one she is working on now that is approximately worth 4,000 dollars...Holy crap...Camille we are taking up quilting:)  No for serious....She is very gifted and a sweetheart to boot..

Rhenda Again!!!
This is made of Glass and metal.  Marilyn Poe is the artist.  (Read story below)
This is a letter written by Marilyn Poe.  She is part of our Israel group that did not make it.  However, she sent a piece of her art work that represents many things.  The star of David on the right that rep. our trip to Israel.  The cross that represents Joplin and the eagle that has exactly 36 feathers which represents all of us from Israel.  I think I sent a picture, from my last post, of a cross that stands high in a field.  It was the only thing left from a church that once stood there.  The community used it as a landmark because nothing was left...This piece of art work will be given to the pastor at the church to show our love and appreciation, along with many other things.  Please read the letter if you can..
There is a tornado bunker above this photo...

Monday, April 9, 2012

Joplin

 First of all....The photos you are about to see give no justice to what it all really looks like in Joplin.  I have never witnessed so much destruction in my life and I hope I never do.   There's blocks where you  can't see anything because it's flattened the entire town.  I've also spoken to people that have lost everything, including their families.
 The entire Hospital was destroyed


 This cross was the only thing standing from a church that was completely swept away.


 All the homes on this block were gone except for the foundations.
 New Creation Church where many of us are staying. 

 Some of my peeps (people) in the kitchen cooking dinner.  GREAT FOOD!!!
 Shellie Sue Sue..friend from Israel

 Basement of the church...It is also used for shelter during tornadoes.

 Taylor..Tay Tay...Shelly's boy who found a dog.  He has become our mascot and is so freakin cute..Look at that face...the dog.
Taylor is going on a mission in 4 months..Great Kid.
 Projects!!


Home we are working on...Planting some trees tomorrow...



I am having a great time.  Wish you were all here:(