PROGRESSION IN GREENSBURG

Things are progressing here in Greensburg. Some think it's quicker than expected.... others think not so much. Dealing with city issues after a disaster are always the same in some respects no matter which city we're in. Things change from day to day keeping homeowners on edge not knowing for sure what is going on or what to do next. Meetings after meetings take place. But things will come together as they always do. Unfortunately it's just one more stressful situation for the community.

I pray that as those of us that are working with the community of Greensburg can bring just a little bit of hope to those that have been through so much since May 4.

My favorite part of working with DRT is spending time with the community as they come in to eat with us at the kitchen and talking with them. They have the need to share their stories and I have the desire to know their story. I want so much to just reach into them and take all the pain away. I also know that many times going through some of this pain can make us grow so I listen, I hug and I pray....I pray that each one of them will reach out to GOD as they go through this time. I can't imagine going through something like this and not having GOD in my life. Those without HIM must feel so empty. Please join us in praying for those that we've been working with here in Greensburg.

Well....it seems to be a normal thing for Kansas, but once again we have severe weather predicted for tonight. We had it last week also and had to make a 1:30 am trip to the ministers house to go to the basement during a tornado warning (nice of him to invite us to a party in the middle of the night, huh?). Sure hope we don't have to do that again tonight.....sure makes for a rough day the next day.
I think I'm starting to feel my age as we spend 14-16 hours everyday working here in Greensburg. Even though my kids think I'm "ancient" ...... I'm really not!! :) Just a little tired right now, but nothing that a good night's sleep won't cure. HOPEFULLY! :)

GREENSBURG, KANSAS COPING

Much is being accomplished in Greensburg. However......if you were just traveling through it wouldn't look that way. We can now basically see from one side of the town to the other since most of the structures have been demolished.

The homeowners along with help from many volunteers have spent countless hours digging through rubble to find what is left of their belongings....just a little something that might help them remember the past. Things that before the storm would have seemed like trash now become treasures as they sift through years of broken memories.

As we are working in the community we are hearing wonderful comments about the outreach of the Mullinville church. We are thrilled to be a part of the relief effort here. The Mullinville church is about 80 in number and full of hard working brothers and sisters who are working daily reaching out to the community.

The tornado moved this house to the middle of the street.

This is the other side of the same house that the tornado moved to the middle of the street. Someone with a sense of humor planted the "Red Dorothy Shoes" and witches hat. :)

Within a day or two I will put some pictures on here showing what it looks like now.

We have been serving hundreds of meals to the community and have been talking to several families who have no insurance. With many working together for the LORD, much can be accomplished! If you are able to help financially in some small way, you may donate online through the website or by postal mail. http://www.churchesofchristdrt.org or

Churches of Christ Disaster Response Team

C/O Melbourne Church of Christ

810 Hollywood Blvd.

West Melbourne, Fl. 32904

VOLUNTEERS--THE LIFELINE

Debris is getting cleaned up.. So far 15, 500 truck loads of debris have been taken to the dump. That is alot of debris!

YOUR MEAL IS NOW SERVED......Volunteers have been very busy working in the DRT mobile kitchen preparing and serving meals everyday in Greensburg to the tornado survivors as well as other volunteers and workers. We are receiving an excellent response to these home cooked meals and hundreds of meals are being served.

Thanks to the volunteers from KENTUCKY, KANSAS, TEXAS, ARIZONA, OHIO, NEBRASKA and OKLAHOMA coming to work with DRT much is being accomplished! Volunteers have helped the survivors dig through their belongings to find pictures, cherished heirlooms, money, you name it....they are helping them find it. They have also been sitting, talking and mainly listening with the survivors when they come to eat. This has been very theraputic for the community.

The volunteers have been also hauling debris to the street, working in fields to remove debris so the fields can be prepared. They've been working in the church building helping with distribution of supplies....they've been very busy....all the while being a shining light to the community in the name of Our Lord.



I'm working on getting pictures for the blog. When I left home I happened to grab the wrong cord that goes from the camera to the computer and the closest Wal-Mart is about 35 miles away. I'm working on making it over there to have a disc made.



There are quite a few people in Greensburg with a sense of humor though. We see signs in front of houses that are all down except for maybe one room with a realtor sign in front that says "OPEN HOUSE" I thought that was pretty cute.

There was a house in the middle of the road when we first got here, someone had put red shoes sticking out from under the house and a witches hat beside it. Perfect for Kansas. I have pictures. Just have to get them on here for you.



These survivors have to keep a sense of humor or life is very difficult to continue on. There is such complete devastation and destruction. Please continue to keep all these in your prayers as well as those of us that are ministering to them.



Funding is needed to continue here in Kansas as well as funding for upcoming 2007 storms. You may do so online through our website http://www.churchesofchristdrt.org or by postal may to:



Churches of Christ Disaster Response Team

C/O Melbourne Church of Christ

810 Hollywood Blvd.

West Hollywood, Florida 32904

ENCOURAGING

This is the word that comes to mind as I think of all of you who are so giving of your time and resources to help those in Greensburg, Kansas. You have prayed, hauled trailers, put together care packs, sent funding, loaded trailers, you've pulled brush and debris, cooked meals, cut down trees, sat and listened with an understanding ear to the disaster survivors...the list goes on and on. Thanks to John McGuire and his son for getting one of our supply trailers where it needed to be and then loading it :)

We are so appreciative to Luther and Patty Honey for making sure our shower and kitchen trailers got out here to Kansas from our Florida base site.

We've been very busy and have had some terrific help in the kitchen. Today we served a total of about 125. The number has been increasing daily as people find out we are serving food. You have to remember NO ONE lives in Greensburg right now. There is an 8:00 - 8:00 curfew and EVERYONE including homeowners have to be out. So we are serving food to homeowners who come in to work on their property, county and city workers, volunteers, etc.



We've also been having a great response in volunteers coming in to haul debris to the street, help people go through their belongings, cut down trees, etc. Many families are being helped and hearts are being touched.

I write this section with a heavy heart. Today Mark was talking to a man who had stopped by for dinner. He had a broken knee cap and damaged leg, as they were talking to him they learned that his injuries were sustained by a guardrail coming through the house. The guardrail had killed this man's wife as it came barreling through the house. This man is in great emotional pain as you might imagine, PLEASE, take a moment right now and pray for him.

It is volunteers like many of you who make a difference in the lives of people like these. Please continue. DRT is here to make a difference....to show the LOVE OF JESUS. If you've done any of of the things listed in the first paragraph (and I'm sure I've left out many things) then....."YOU" are part of the team and we're thankful you are.
We're getting responses about help with the computer for Starla. If you are able to help, please email me at disasterrelief@hotmail.com

Stay tuned for more updates....

I'M LEARNING FROM THE PEOPLE OF KANSAS

You've seen the pictures..... you've heard the news reports....but until you are actually here on the ground walking among the tangled belongings strewn through what was once the town of Greensburg it isn't real. Even being here and seeing it in person it doesn't seem real. Mark and I have been doing disaster relief for 15 years and seeing the total devastation is still mind boggling.

The people we've met here in Kansas are so appreciative of any assistance, actually they usually tell us, "help someone else first, there are others that need the help more than I do" when we know they need it just as much as anyone else. I can't tell you how many times we've heard people say that and we've only been here a short time. It just makes you want to help them all the more. You can tell the people here are used to being the ones giving and not receiving, I just tell them that they are depriving someone else of the blessings of giving so please allow others to reach out and receive that blessing by helping them. They understand then and with a smile they will accept the help.

Jerry and Starla live in Greensburg. They lost their house, vehicles and all their belongings. Not only this but Starla had a framing business in downtown Greensburg and lost her business as well. Through all this, Jerry and Starla are putting GOD first. They have agreed to allow DRT to set up our relief effort on their property. Their property became top priority to make this happen and the heavy equipment was brought in today to tear down the house, etc. along with volunteers to clean up after them. The site is now ready for our kitchen and trailers, etc.
WE NOW HAVE SOMETHING WE'D LIKE TO DO FOR THEM...... Starla also lost her computer in the storm. If you can help with the purchase of a new computer so we can surprise Starla, please let us know.

GREENSBURG, KANSAS

We have a team preparing to leave for Greensburg, Kansas. From the information we have received so far there have been 10 families in the church there who have lost their homes and all of their belongings. As you can imagine, the church and the town is still in shock.
DRT will be taking the 30' mobile kitchen, 1st response tool trailer, supply trailer as well as RV's for volunteers to stay in.
I can hear you asking yourself, "I wonder what I can do to help"............. Well, I'm glad you're asking :) We do have some suggestions.

1.We are in need of drivers to help pull some of the above trailers to the Greensburg, Kansas area. The mobile kitchen is a gooseneck and is located at our coordination site in High Springs, Florida as well as the pull behind RV's that are needed. The 1st response and tool trailer are located in Troy, Ohio.

The following are the types of volunteers we are anticipating needing very soon upon our arrival in the Greensburg, KS. area.

Cooks
Counselors
Clean Up Crews

Please keep watching this blog as well as the website for further information.
If you are able to help in any of these ways please sign up on the website.

Please keep those affected by this disaster in your prayers as well as those that will be ministering to them.