I can't tell you how incredible it is to have been a part of what God is doing in the aftermath of the tornado there. I feel such a bond with the people that live there, and with those that don't, but still come out to help the ones that do.The needs are changing daily, but the needs are great as you can imagine. The Forest Park Baptist Church has converted what was their "Bus Barn" into what they have now dubbed "Mission Joplin". They are still asking that people hold off on giving clothing at this time as they don't have the warehouse space.
The items that are currently at the top of the list are:
Diapers
Toiletries
Ladies Feminine Products
Denture Cleanser
Denture Adhesive
Laundry Soap
Queen and King size sheets
Tents, cots & air mattresses
Dishes, pots and pans
Bug Spray
Towels
Cleaning Supplies
I will be dedicating my Check-In piece of luggage to bringing donated supplies. I know that the notice is short, but if you have an interest in giving and/or purchasing some of the above items, and can get them to me by Thursday afternoon, I will be glad to bring them down for you. Of course, limiting it to the smaller, lighter weight items will allow me to bring more and not exceed the luggage weight limits.
You can also order items online and have them shipped directly to the church if you so desire.
Here is a taste of 'heart and soul' of the people who were affected as written by Steve Mertens from Forest Park:
My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest…How blessed you will be. -Isaiah 32:18, 20
"Besides Heaven that God has prepared for His children, Isaiah is speaking here of a spiritual place that lies in the Christian’s heart, mind, and soul which comes from a confident strength in the relationship we have with Him.
These past two weeks I have noticed many people who have lost everything in the tornado, including their homes, have such a resolve and peace about them in spite of their surroundings. They meet needs of their neighbors, help clean debris, and are the first to volunteer to help people they have never met. That’s because they live in a “peaceful dwelling place” and an “undisturbed place of rest” that does not rely on a physical structure, but on a life that is constructed by a foundation of walking with Jesus every day; relying on Him to bring security in their lives. To these people, a home is not a physical place. It is an attitude of the heart and soul that accompanies them wherever they are and encourages all those with whom they come into contact."
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