T he graphic above, from the U.S. Corps of Engineers, shows the widespread damage from the May 2011 EF-5 tornado in Joplin, Missouri. Beginning about a year after the storm, three teams from Christ Church of Oak Brook* traveled to Joplin to join the effort by Samaritan's Purse to rebuild homes destroyed by the tornado. As with other efforts recorded on this web site, SP gave priority to families that were left with few resources to rebuiild on their own.
..........For this work, Samaritan's Purse was headquartered at Forest Park Baptist Church in Joplin, just north of the impact area. Volunteers were responsible for their own transportation to the SP home base and for their own meals until Tuesday morning of the work week. They were also responsible for providing their own beds, bedding and toilet articles. SP provided everything else, including all tools needed at the work sites. The church, shown in the photo at the right, was where volunteers assembled every day for breakfast and devotions before heading for work sites with a brown-bag lunch. After work, they joined at the church for dinner and a time of sharing.
..........Those volunteers that didn't stay at the church were housed in a modified residence across the parking lot to the south, shown on the left. This residence had three bedrooms and two bathrooms, and the back half of the garage had been converted into a shower room with four roomy stalls and a dressing area. The kitchen area can be seen through the door in the photo below. It was equipped with a coffee maker and microwave for preparing snacks, and the large kitchen table provided a place to assemble because, as can be seen in the photo, the living room had to accommodate several beds.
..........Each of the three CCOB teams has a story to tell of their experiences in Joplin. These stories can be found at the following links: