God Unites and Places His Hand Over Family throughout one of the Deadliest Tornadoes in U.S. History
True Story of My Precious Family in Joplin, MO:
“Families that Pray Together, Stay Together – No
Matter Where They are and No Matter What Storm Rises…”
Many of our family members live in Joplin, Missouri
where the deadliest tornado in over half a century struck the United States. As
the storm erupted forcefully, we became frantic for our cousins, aunts and
uncles and grandfather’s safety.
Imagine everything in its path being utterly destroyed by a raging
tornado. From the midst of a harsh and violent storm, this story shows the
power of God’s protection.
For our cousins Preston and Sherry and family, it seemed like an ordinary
weekend with the exception of a lake getaway. Being able to spend both Saturday
and Sunday there proved rare. Their oldest son just graduated high school and left
for his senior trip that weekend. Their oldest teen daughter and younger son
stayed home and walked to the park where their church held a picnic. When the event
ended, they travelled with their grandmother to her house south of town. Though
these family members appeared scattered on this particular weekend, the family
prayed together and God had His hand upon one each of them.
As late that afternoon, a 200-mile an hour, EF5 brutally-destructive
tornado hit Joplin, widening to a mile across and ripping devastatingly through
streets, homes, parking lots, businesses and everything in sight.
As Preston
and Sherry left the lake, they began getting phone calls inquiring about their
safety. They didn’t realize the seriousness of the situation until they arrived
in Joplin discovering they couldn’t even drive to their house. When they
finally arrived, they found their home nearly demolished with the roof gone,
all windows broken and an utter disaster remaining. Entirely
unlivable, they spent the next seven months gutting the interior, and rehabbing
inside and out. They stayed with family at first, then they lived in hotel
rooms and in a rental home for many months. Yet God protected them individually
from the storm, and also from the trauma experienced by many. With
the help of God and a lot of hard work, they were able to move back home in
January.
Preston and Sherry’s family story testifies to God's grace in keeping us
free from the storm. God has power to protect His sheep no matter how deadly a tragedy
may be.
According to CNN,
the tornado that struck Joplin killed about 160 people and injured more than a
thousand. The storm damaged or destroyed 7,500 residences and 500 businesses,
displaced 9,200 people, affected 5,000 employees and generated three million
cubic yards of debris (from the city of Joplin).[1]
We hear of
such tornadoes, earthquakes and tragedies around the world and in our own
country. Devastation covers the television screen and our newspapers. We feel
the pain of those who are suffering. Whether locally, nationally, or
internationally, we are called to pray for and “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians
6:2).
The
city of Joplin estimates that over 130,000 volunteers turned out after the
storm and over the course of a year’s time to help families rebuild in Joplin. [2] Praise God for His sheep
helping others, sharing Jesus’ Mighty Love as God intended. None of us would be
here without the life-giving, grace coverage of our almighty God.
[1]
http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/22/us/joplin-tornado-anniversary/
[2]
http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/17/us/impact-joplin-tornado-anniversary/
