Disaster Response: Joplin, Missouri
UPDATE/REPORT JUNE 2: It’s been a long and productive week. There’s never a shortage of people who need to talk, people who want prayer, and of course, people who want a freshly cooked hot meal. Tuesday we moved our operations yesterday to partner with Crisis Response International (CRI) and their camp just on the edge of where the tornado hit. We are setting up our new base at First Community Church. Served 750 meals from there, just as quickly as we could get them cooked the first day we arrived at this site! We also were able to hear the stories and pray for the people. It was a great day. Things are shifting from the emergency response to the rebuilding phase. Not close to being over. It will be years to things are back to normal, what ever that will be.
Two exciting things happened: Tuesday Mark was interviewed by NPR (National Public Radio) and it aired that day! Wednesday Mark was interviewed by WOAI, the San Antonio NBC affiliate, and that aired on Thursday.
click on the following link to see photos: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150191496382296.321760.698682295&l=5c11f2edaa
*Below you will find a note of reflection written by Mark Roye, Director of BnF. Take a minute to read it; we think you’ll find it insightful…..
Tears at 5:41pm – Joplin, MO. This past Sunday, after cooking and serving over 2000 meals, we were happy to return earlier than usual to our host home here in Joplin. We are staying with a very gracious retired couple, Mr. & Mrs. Fulton. Our team decided to spend the evening together and take a break from all the cooking and serving. Our days are usually 12- 14 hours, on our feet, cooking under tents in the hot humid weather of Joplin. We were about to leave our host home when we heard music being playing from a radio; it was a memorial service for the people killed by the tornado in this community of 50,000, being broadcast at 5:41, the time the tornado struck one week earlier. The Fultons, our hosts, were listening to the service, and as I looked at them I could see the pain of loss, and the tears streaming down their faces. A song written by a local musician was playing, and the lyrics spoke of the loss of life and the hope that only God could bring. Mrs. Fulton looked almost embarrassed but soon the embarrassment turned to relief as her tears released some of the pain that was bottled up. She looked at me and said, “ This is the first time I’ve cried.” At the time the tornado hit, this kind hearted couple had over 15 people and their pets in their basement taking shelter. During the tornado they’d taken care of others, offering strength and security in that terrifying situation. Now was a time for them to process their own pain. All there was to do was sit down, and listen to their story of just what happened at 5:41 pm that Sunday evening a week ago. We offered comfort and love the best we could. I have come to realize that words fall short in times like these. What do you say to someone who’s suffered loss or whose loved ones have have lost everything? What do you say to someone whose life has been spared but has lost someone they love? I don’t know what to say. All I have to give is an ear to hear their story and a hug that hopefully conveys the love of God. Truly, it is only God who can begin to ease the pain and bring some kind of meaning out of all the pain and destruction in Joplin. Please pray for the people of Joplin, that the Holy Spirit would meet their needs of their present reality.
Thank you for your support and the trust you’ve placed in us, that allows us to minister to the people of Joplin, Missouri.
UPDATE/REPORT: DAY 1: Cooked & Served 2500 meals today ! We had tons of chicken, sausage, hot dogs and hamburgers- and the best, the pizzas we were cooking on the smokers- all was delicious! The people here are incredible, they aren’t losing hope or happiness despite the devastation they’ve experienced. Looking forward to day 2, thankful for the privilege of serving this community. DAY 2: Up early, purchased some much needed supplies. Cooked at least a couple of thousand meals again today. Thankful to be here, and thankful to those of you who’ve made it possible. DAY 3: After a long day of serving, and a church service in the parking lot, we took a drive in to some other parts of Joplin. Our daughter Ashley had this observation: “Drove through the most devastated area of Joplin in the darkness of the night, it looked and felt like a scene straight from an apocalyptic movie ..military and police at every corner. solid damage and destruction, everything wiped out, debris everywhere, few random, bare trees are the only things standing. So surreal.”
AND THEN: We were on a Regional News Broadcast: (click on link) http://fourstateshomepage.com/fulltext?nxd_id=193247
Mark on the grill. "determined to serve"....
.....and they came to eat
MAY 23, 2011: As we pack our vehicles with needed supplies and hitch our barbecue pit trailers, we go in faith. We go knowing that when all is said and done, we will have served thousands of meals to people whose lives have been forever altered. And, we go knowing that in all we do, our greatest motivation is to bring the love of Jesus to people in the most painful and desperate of situations. We are asking you to pray, and to also consider helping provide the financial resources needed for this team to function and meet the practical needs of the people that are left in Joplin, literally picking up the pieces of their lives. We will need money to purchase food for meals, supplies to cook and serve, and transportation expenses. Our lodging has been provided and thankfully will not be an additional expense. We are well aware that not so long ago, we were asking you to give toward disaster relief efforts that focused on Alabama. We are well aware that in today’s economy many of us feel the need to hang on to our money. But friends, none of can help the timing of these disasters…..and we know that none of us can out give God, and we know that “He will greatly repay.” (Prov 19:17) Give online at www.bnfsa.org via paypal or mail a ck made out to BloodnFire Ministries. Your support can be mailed to BNFsa 21519 Tenore San Antonio, Tx 78259. All donations are tax deductible.We feel like the little boy with a little lunch as we leave for Joplin, and we know our resources and faithful friends, we will be able to feed and encourage many. We know He will multiply our efforts.
