A group often volunteers from Christ Church spent five amazing days during June in Joplin, Mo. We were there to assist on one of several homes being rebuilt by Samaritan's Purse. Joplin was devastated by a massive tornado on May 22,201 and the destruction was still visibly apparent when witnessed a year later. We left Oak Brook not knowing exactly what we were getting into. The project was not assigned until the first morning of work-to frame a single story home starting from the foundation. Samaritan's Purse assigned us to an expert builder and an experienced volunteer. With their invaluable guidance and hard effort, we accomplished the task. The whole adventure with them was wonderful and rewarding. The work was interestin₉ and challenging, but it was the encounters and relationships that were the most rewarding.

Each day was blessed with several unexpected "surprises" that would brighten our hearts and lighten our hammers. Some of these experiences were: the fellowship/encouragement with other volunteer teams from around the nation; the rejuvenating visit from a group of volunteer high school students from Texas; the joy in attending a dedication of a finished home for a grateful family; the emotional visit from the homeowners to our work site to see walls in place; and the couple with a house in progress that spent the day working shoulder to shoulder with us. A young mother who was driving back to her childhood home in Joplin for the first time since the tornado stopped to express her heartfelt thankfulness for the volunteer work being done throughout the community. The true highlights of the trip were the relationships that made us beneficiaries of the experience. It was truly amazing to see the power of God at work.