Joplin ERT BLOG
UPDATE #6
Day 7
David Ledwitz left for home early this morning. Our team is getting smaller.
Danny led our morning devotions, reading and discussing Colossians 4. The discussion included:
V2: Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
V3: Pray for us that God may open a door for our message, that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ.
V4: Pray that we may proclaim the gospel clearly.
V5: Be wise and make the most of every opportunity.
V6: Our conversations are to be full of grace and seasoned with salt. Salt causes a thirst so that those we talk to will desire more.
V17: See to it you complete the work you have received in Christ.
We prayed that the Lord would make known to us the task He had for us today. Fifteen minutes later, as we stood in the breakfast line, a couple standing behind us began telling us about some things they needed to be done around their house. As we listened, we realized the Lord was giving us our assignment for the morning. They needed to cover their damaged roof with a tarp. They needed to remove damaged tree limbs in their backyard, and they needed to cut up a stump that remained in their yard. We had a large tarp. We borrowed a chain saw and went over to complete the task.
In the afternoon, we met with Michael, the Chaplain for the Redings Mill Fire Department. He reported on the progress being made by an organization just starting to minister to emergency services personnel, which is called Responder Life. In turn we were able to fully present the origin and ministry of FFC. He was encouraged by what he heard.
After that visit, we went to a small community east of Joplin, Duenweg (pronounced dun-a-weg) that has a small combined paid/volunteer FD. We talked with several people present and once again presented the ministry of FFC.
Dinner was at the Calvary chapel outreach post at the corner of S. Main and 20th Street. This is a location in the midst of the destroyed area of the city where contact was made with local people, the military, the patrol officers and almost everyone else in town. We met a retired LAFD Engineer, Ron Price, and enjoyed our fellowship with him.
Dan Caldwell's words:
"We picked up some ice cream and went to Fire Station 5. The guys were great, very open and welcoming. The crew that was on duty was the crew that lost their station. They had some incredible stories. One of the firefighters was an ordained minister."
Day 8
Jim Powers got up before the rest of us and left for the airport for his return flight home. We will miss his leadership and humor.
Nathan led devotions this morning. Ron Price joined us as did Casey's cousin, Pat, from Kansas City. Devotions were based on the reading of Matthew Chapter 10. He asked for our comments about the passages that spoke to us.
V19: Do not worry about what you say or how you say it. At the appropriate time you will be given you what to say.
V28: Do not be afraid of those who can kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Be afraid of the one who can destroy the body and soul together.
V32: Whoever acknowledges me before men I will acknowledge him before My Father in heaven.
V42: If anyone gives a cup of cold water to the least of these little one because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.
Discussion and prayer followed seeking the Lord's will for the day and asking Him to reveal Christ through us. We spent the morning east of Joplin following up information that these people were out of the loop for services. We found the farmers in this area were well capable of taking care of themselves physically and had a faith in the Lord and His providence.
In the afternoon, as Jamie and Matt left for the airport to return home, we busied ourselves by finding a home where an elderly couple lived and assisted in cleaning up the debris in their backyard and the next door neighbor's yard.
Ron Price also worked with us.
Jim
Photo Update:
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UPDATE #7
Sunday after church, the team helped a family from Calvary Chapel. They fixed their roof, mowed their lawn, and with the remaining five-member team accomplished a lot.
Ron Price, from LAFD, must have taken this picture. He was part of the team as soon as he arrived in his motor home from California. Five children were crying today (Monday) when the team left Calvary Chapel. Their dad is Shannon, who is heading up Calvary's relief work in Joplin. The kids had such a great time with the guys and hated to see them leave. Once again the Lord touched many lives. The guys showed up and the Lord worked mightily through them. Praise Jesus! Your prayers have made a huge difference.
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