JoyUnspeakable

It’s almost 2pm in whatever timezone I’m in now, and we are now on our way home. The GPS says it is going to take 17.5 hours to get there. So, without stops, and assuming the speed limit, that puts us there at 7:30am. But, we will stop for gas at least twice, and we will stop for dinner and breakfast, and we won’t be driving the speed limit. I’m guessing we would arrive in Exton around 10:30am.
It hasn’t rained all week, but it’s starting to drizzle now. It’s been hot – mid-80’s, and breezy. At home, it’s mid-50’s. Quite a difference.
I haven’t seen my family in a week. I was able to call most nights, but the kids were mostly preoccupied with more important things than me. I’m looking forward to seeing the whole family tomorrow morning. Unfortunately, while I can’t wait to sleep in my own bed, I have one (two, including my night in the van) more night away from home. I’m meeting up with my family near Harrisburg for a church retreat with my wife’s great-grandparents’ church. So, I still have another day away from home.

Ok, well, not quite a tornado, but it’s definitely the windiest it has been all week, with winds blowing 20-30mph. Makes it very difficult to get any siding work done. Not only is it scary to be on a ladder, but dust is picking up all over and the long vinyl siding pieces are very difficult to manage in the wind. Buck and I were able to do a few areas outside while Giff and Curt blasted through the last of the painting. We have decided to call it a day. Actually, I guess we can call it a week. I think we will leave this house in good shape for the next crew that comes in. The paint on the walls looks great, and it will be exciting when they put in the flooring and other things. I am a bit concerned at the poor workmanship done on the outside of the house (before we arrived, of course). Hopefully, they will be able to address any problems that may show up before any water damage or anything. I have a feeling they will need a lot of caulk.

It’s our last day working, and we are sending out four guys to finish up what we can on the house. Joel, the ladies, and the kids are going to stay back at the church to get other things done. I think all we really have left to do is finish up the painting in two rooms, and whatever siding we can get done. Then we have to return tools, get cleaned up, get lunch, and get on the road.

I was going through my pictures on my phone, and realized I forgot to post a couple of them.
This first picture is of these colorful painted stars. They are hung all around the town, and we were told they were put up by one of the volunteer groups soon after the tornado. I believe they were made to be street signs at first, but later just became colorful displays that I am sure stood out as a nice blast of color in the middle of disaster. They look nice.
The other picture is of Buck doing some important work.

Today is Sarah’s 13th birthday. We are out celebrating at Lumpy’s BBQ. It’s also our last night here in Joplin. We are still going to put in a half day tomorrow. It’s been a great week.

A landmark here in Joplin is the Praying Hands. I don’t really know the history of it, so I’ll have to Google it later. But, its a statue of huge praying hands. Really cool.

The team with Karen, Joel, Curt, Vi, Sarah, and Brody, we’re able to pretty much complete the work at the other job site. They completed the trench, the dog fence, and the weed whacking, too. Unfortunately, the lady found out that we threw some things out that she wanted, and she had her husband pulling things out of the dumpster for two hours last night. At least she only pulled out a fraction of the stuff that we threw away. I have heard so many stories – a mouse running across Vi’s hands while she was cleaning dishes, Joel looking into the grass and seeing it move from a swarm of spiders crawling away in it, Curt digging up and pouring and gasoline on two nests of fire ants and giving them a taste of their own medicine by lighting the gasoline on fire, the homeowner claiming that a foil pan was her husbands favorite pan and that we couldn’t throw it away. I think the team is very happy to say that their work is done at this house. The yard looks a ton better. Hopefully, they will be able to keep it looking as good as we have left it.

Today, I was on the team who stayed at the house that needed siding and painting. I have to confess, I asked Joel to go to the other place because I just couldn’t handle the work at the other place. Joel was a trooper and graciously accepted the challenge.
Buck continued to work on the siding. Giff continued to repair drywall. And I textured one of the rooms, and then started painting.
While painting, I played some tunes on my iPhone. Of course, my taste in music is vast. From rap, classic rock, alternative, metal, Christian, jazz, and even Christmas music played while I painted away.
During this time, I thought about how much God had provided for us to allow us to do this work. All that has come together with funds, food, transportation, everything. Amazing. I never really understood how people could go on missions trips like they do. But doing work like this, helping those who really need help, hearing the stories from the locals, and being provided for so I can help, it all comes together. Of course, some people have to really sacrifice, like Giff, who is self-employeed and has no income coming in while he is here. I am just taking vacation time, which isn’t that big a deal for me. Although it does stink being away from my family for so long. I wasn’t sure I would feel this way, but I really am looking forward to future missions trips.

This morning, before we started off to our jobs, we took a moment to meet at the park down the street. We were able to get passers by to take our picture. They were thankful that we were here to help.

This map shows the destruction done by the tornado. Eight miles long by two miles high.