The Lundy 5

The topic for this month's FOTR Blog Carnival is volunteering on the road, which we happen to be doing in Joplin MO. Most of us hadn't even heard of Joplin until the devastating EF5 tornado on 6/22/11 . We were on the east coast heading toward Maine and we had a plan. But one of the advantages of living on the road is that we don't have to stick to our plan! From the reports, photos, and videos, we knew there would be a great need for help, and thought it would be a good opportunity for our whole family. Turns out having a whole family would make it a little more difficult. Most organizations wouldn't allow children under 18 to help at all, so it took some digging. Another difficulty was finding the info before we got here. Many places didn't answer calls or emails, so we weren't sure of our plans (or if we'd be able to help at all) until we arrived. Even then, we visited and asked around until we found enough info to give us some options. Fortuna...

More pics from Joplin today. There was a beautiful sunset after our long (10 hour!) day of working. We helped again at the Salvation Army. Lizzy and I sorted and stocked new clothes/shoes. Allen rocked the forklift all day and Josh helped him work outside. Matt helped us, Allen, his new favorite friend Mr. Mel, some very pretty volunteer girls, some customers needing assistance, and pretty much anyone who needed it, or didn't. He was quite helpful getting inside the huge boxes to hand things out. Call me crazy, but there's just something adorable about a man on a forklift. :) After a full day's work, we went with the Godwin family and gave out dinners for Joplin Family Worship Center . The kids have been wanting to hand out food and were excited and full of energy somehow. JPFW provided roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, bread, cookies, and water and sent us to find hungry people. We found some very grateful people working and living in the disaster area. It ...

Celebrating Independence Day in Joplin was quite an inspiring experience! Freedom Fest was held in Landreth Park, where a Louisiana church fed us volunteers a few days last week (steak & gumbo!). We took the kids & Jack the dog and got there just in time to hear Rush Limbaugh. He gave a very encouraging, patriotic speech and had the crowd on its feet. Plus, he brought an entire truckload of his new tea ( Two If By Tea ) to give away! Love him or hate him, the people of Joplin just gratefully said thanks for free tea! Then we were treated to a Joe Diffie concert, with fireworks going off all around. Missourians sure love their fireworks! They've been going off for days, all over the city, from every direction, all night long... (much to poor Jack's chagrin!) The kids also built boats thanks to Lowes , who provided Build And Grow kits, aprons, and safety glasses for thousands of kids! The boat is a flag waver, perfect for the 4th! It was so neat to see so many kids, ...

We got to Joplin on Monday and drove through the city. We'd been reading about the tornado damage , looking at pictures and videos, but nothing prepares you for the reality of it. The tornado was a mile wide, then went for miles, though neighborhoods and businesses and medical buildings. Seeing houses completely gone with even the basements exposed made us wonder how anyone survived at all. It was mile after mile of just unbelievable devastation. This article about St. Johns hospital was hard to read, but we'd wondered what it would have been like inside that hospital during a tornado. That was a car I think. There are a lot of volunteers working all over doing so much, but the job is just so big. For sale by owner... It was interesting to see a play land survived. Built tough for kids I guess! We saw this a few times. No glass left in any window, mirrors broken, duct taped, but they were happily driving down the road, one with his foot sticking out the front windsh...

After working at the Salvation Army today, we drove through town again to take video. It helps you see more than the pictures probably, but it's still nothing like seeing it in person. We'd seen pics and video before we came too, and it definitely doesn't prepare you for the reality. On the edge of the destruction, we found a gas station damaged but still open, and this very cool wall of encouraging graffiti. Loved it!. A 1.5 minute video that shows just a little of the tornado's destruction. Video starting at the front of Joplin's (former) high school. Video of the side view of Joplin's (former) high school. It was also nice to see our friends, the Igel family again. They're here to help out as well.