Joplin ERT BLOG
Lt to rt back row: Danny Caldwell - Santa Monica FD, Jamie Zuker - San Diego FD, Casey Clark - Fresno City FD, Jim Haney - Santa Clara FD, Matt Laurin - LAFD, Jim Powers - LA County FD. Lt to rt front row: Nathan Welch - Fresno City FD explorer, David Ledwitz and David Weimer both from Prosper, Texas FD. Tomorrow (Monday) LAFD members Craig Poulson and Patrick Kitrantnee will join the team.
UPDATE #1
For this trip, God impressed upon me Psalm 105:1-5 that we are to ...Make known among the nations what He has done...Tell of His wonderful acts... and remember the wonders He has done. So I will tell what He has done that you may give thanks to the Lord.
En route to the Reno airport I (Jim Haney) was anxious that the search camera, which had been donated to this team for use in Joplin, would add a large charge to the airline bill. I was intending to ask if AA would waive the fees for the camera. The Lord reminded me that I was to be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and petition present my requests to God, and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. With that in mind I went to the ticket counter. The agent said that unless I was flying as part of a registered team with AA she could not waive the fees. Since our team was built over several days, each member purchased his own ticket. I gave her my card and she charged for the camera (two very heavy cases). When she had the paperwork done she asked again what type of equipment was in the cases. I explained it was a technical rescue TV camera designed to probe into collapsed buildings to find trapped people. She then looked at me and said she was voiding the charge for the bags, a $160 dollar value. Later as I thought about the transaction, I thought about the $160. AA charges $25 for your first bag, $35 for your second bag and $100 for the next bag. I realized then that not only did she waive the fees for the camera (2 packages) but she had also waived the fee for my personal bag as well. Jesus showed Himself true to His promises and this was only the very beginning of the trip.
In the Dallas airport, our team really began to form at the gate for the plane to Joplin. As Jamie and I were discussing what had happened in Reno, a lady, sitting three seats from us, overheard us talking about the Lord and said she was excited hearing our discussion. She then related how the Lord had preserved her son and his family during the storm, a real intriguing God story. On the plane to Joplin, I began sharing the morning's story with a lady from New Zealand. She asked for the reference for the verse the Lord had given me (Phil. 4:6). She pulled out her travel journal and wrote down the reference. This then started a Bible study that eventually spread to six people sitting on the left side of the plane and lasted the entire 1 1/2 hour trip — all because of the directions from Psalm 105:1-5 to make know His wondrous acts.
Once in Joplin, we met with the two firefighters, both named David from Prosper, Texas. They drove up in two pickups. Our team of 9 guys went to Calvary Chapel, Joplin, where we will be staying. We immediately got involved with helping the people sort and pack three semi truck trailers with donated goods. After dinner we went to the Joplin Emergency Operations Center and contacted a Deputy Chief there and told him of our intentions to help both physically and spiritually in any way we could. At first he was cautious but after talking with us for a few minutes he asked if we would pray for his firefighters on an ongoing basis because they had been through so much. Of course we agreed. Our contact with Joplin firefighters has been very positive.
Sunday morning devotions were from II Peter 1:1-15. Starting from verse 12-15 we looked at how important Peter thought the information that he gave was, that even after his departure, "you will always be able to remember these things." What things? Verses 1-11: Jesus' divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him. He has given us precious promises so we may participate in His divine nature and escape the corruption of this life.
Going on, Peter gives an escalating list of attributes we are to seek. Add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Discussion and a lot of prayer completed our morning time.
Our afternoon was spent putting up two large circus type tents to be used for the next few months to feed and minister to the people of Joplin. In the evening we got our first look at the destruction, which was really overwhelming.
Tomorrow (Monday) we will be volunteering to work with the fire department and see what the Lord has in store for us. We are all doing well and expect to be joined shortly by Craig and Pat driving from California with all our tools. Thank your for praying. You are a major part of our team.
Jim Haney
UPDATE #2
Craig Poulson and Pat Kitrantnee from LAFD began working with ERT on Monday. Since they drove from California, they were able to bring the needed tools. The news is there are lots of ticks where they are working. Please pray for the team's health and safety. Monday night the guys were having dinner at Joplin's FS #1. Our prayer is that the Joplin firefighters are encouraged!
These pictures from ERT's first search and recovery assignment were downloaded from Nathan Welch's Facebook site. He noticed a book just sitting on the rail amid all the destruction. Upon closer inspection, they discovered it was an open Bible, which survived in the midst of the storm! Quoting from Isaiah 40:6-8, Peter reminds believers that everything in this life—possessions, accomplishments, people—will eventually fade away and disappear. What is permanent is the Word of God and our eternal life in Christ! "As the prophet says, 'People are like grass that dies away; their beauty fades as quickly as the beauty of wildflowers. The grass withers, and the flowers fall away. But the word of the Lord will last forever.'" 1 Peter 1:24-25
David Ledwitz from Prosper, Texas enlarged FFC's logo banner and placed it on his truck for his drive to Joplin, Missouri. He and David Weimer, also from Prosper, met the rest of the team, who flew in on Saturday.
UPDATE #3
Tuesday morning another team picture was taken before David Weimer from Prosper, Texas headed for home. Jim Haney said they prayed for his safety and thanked the Lord that David was able to serve the Lord with them. Lt to rt top row: Jim Haney, Pat Kitrantnee, Craig Poulson, Jim Powers. Middle row: Jamie Zuker, Casey Clark, Matt Laurin, Danny Caldwell. Front row: Nathan Welch, David Weimer, David Ledwitz. Please pray that the Lord's purposes will be accomplished through each of these firefighters' lives.
This morning started off with devotions led by Casey. He shared the story of David and Goliath and how David, through his formative years and his shepherd days, formed the skills he possessed to accomplish God's purposes. Casey pointed out that his father probably taught David how to use a sling to protect the sheep. Sitting hour after hour he could have dealt with the boredom by slinging stones around him at various targets, each day improving his skills. As he used his sling to protect the flock, he gained confidence in its ability to drive away or eliminate predators. At the same time he learned to trust in God and develop a strong faith in the Lord's abilities to intervene in his life and help him accomplish God's plans, especially for the nation of Israel. Thus, when God called on David to stand up to Goliath on behalf of the nation of Israel, he was physically, mentally, and spiritually ready to be used of God.
In the same way, God has been molding each one of us by the skills He has given us, by the experiences He has placed in our lives, and by the faith we have exercised throughout our formative years and until now. We may start out stumbling and weak in faith, unsure of our steps. But the more we gain knowledge of the Lord and how he works all things together for our good, if we love Jesus and are called according to HIS purposes, the more He can and will use us. We are experiencing His guidance and teaching each day.
We were involved in more searching and sniffing today. We found out this afternoon, that in one of the areas we searched yesterday, they used heavy equipment to remove a brick wall and found a body under the wall. Because of the location under the wall, the cadaver dogs failed to find the body and it was hidden from our sight by the brick wall. There had been no noticeable odor in the area.
This evening, we raised two more circus tents at the Calvary Chapel Church site. We're growing a bit weary but are up for the daily challenges and especially the ministry opportunities that arise.
Jim Haney
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