Dear God, It's All Gone











This is what my hometown of Greensburg, Kansas, used to look like. It's a small, rural town in Southwest Kansas. Last night, a tornado swept through the town, killing at least 7 people, and destroying most of the town. (News reports are saying 90% of the town was destroyed or damaged.) Every church in town, including the one my parents and my sisters' family attend, was either severely damaged or destroyed. The roof of the small hospital collapsed. My family lives a few miles north of town, and none of them were injured. Three family members worked in Greensburg, and will be dealing with the devastation left behind. Thankfully, several relatives and friends are known to be safe. I'm sure more details will come out as time passes. Right now, they are evacuating the entire town (what's left of it), for people's safety, and to enable safety and rescue efforts to go forward.

Please pray for Greensburg, Kansas, my family, and the surrounding community. How do you rebuild an entire town?

The picture below is just one of many showing the devastation. My heart is broken. (The link is to one of the latest articles.) Greensburg Tornado

Comments

John said…
You're in my thoughts and prayers. I'm confident in the strength of character and the determination of the people of Greenburg. You'll build a better place for tomorrow.
Bless you all, make us proud.
May 05, 2007 1:19 PM
Joni said…
Thank you so much. It's hard to be sitting here in Ohio, knowing people I love and care about are going through such a difficult time. But knowing other people are praying really helps!
May 05, 2007 1:59 PM
Zoe Brain said…
Joni, this is going to sound terribly cruel, and it breaks my heart to say it.
But people's lives are what's important. Everything else is ephemera, yes, even your favourite picture, or the photos of you at the prom. They are nothing compared with the lives of those you love.
Now please steel yourself before you look at these pictures. Apart from the grain silos, Greensburg isn't there any more. Even the water tower is gone.
Your folks are OK, and for that I'm terribly grateful. I just hope the loss of life is low.

Greensburg will be rebuilt, of that I'm sure. I'm Australian, but I know it takes far more than a mere monster tornado to keep Americans down. I know you've lost something from your childhood though, and words can't help there. Just know someone cares, Ok?

HUGS!!! Zoe
May 06, 2007 7:18 AM
mythusmage said…
How do you rebuild a whole town? First you clear the ground.

Lots to do girl. Whatcha got to put in the Never Ending Soup? :)

@Zoe,

What are you doing commisserating with disaster victims when you've got an infection to get cleared up?
May 07, 2007 12:55 AM
Anonymous said…
Everyone I've talked to here in central NY has the people of Greensburg on their minds and in their prayers. My mother is from KS, around Marion and Lawrence, so you have a a special place in our hearts.

I have no wisdom to impart. Sometimes we just have to go through things to get past them.
But I can tell you from personal experience that God will be with you as you go through them.

Eliza from Westernville
May 07, 2007 10:51 AM
Joni said…
Thank you all for your prayers.
May 07, 2007 2:39 PM
Banshee said…
In April of 1974, a tornado wiped out almost all of Xenia, Ohio. And it was rebuilt -- mostly within a couple years. What man has done, man can do.

What's more, Xenians afterwards made a specialty out of giving Red Cross help to other towns in need, and helping other towns prepare for disasters.

Our thoughts and prayers here in Ohio are with you. And I bet there are also some Xenians out there by now!
May 09, 2007 4:23 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Let Me Tell You About Another Man

Image
Several years ago, I wrote a post to honor my dad Vernon.  I shared the story of his time in Korea. I did my best to share his heroism with my readers.  I wanted the world to know what an amazing man the simple farmer from Kansas truly was.  I wanted to honor my hero. This past week, I lost my "other" dad.  My father-in-law, Keith, passed from this life to the next.  It has been a difficult time, to say the least.  Let me introduce the man who became Dad Johnson to me almost 36 years ago. I briefly met my husband's family on our college campus.  Little did I know that two years later, I would again be introduced to them, but this time as their son's girl friend.  Keith (my husband) and I were traveling to Michigan to begin our summer internships.  His family graciously met us in Terre Haute, as we had left Springfield, MO, in the wee hours of the morning.  From the moment we made acquaintance, I was wrapped in their love and joy.  T...
Read more

Journey Struggles

Over the past few weeks, I have been reading a forum which deals with issues in the church with which we were formerly affiliated. I won't go into detail. What I will say though, is that there are a lot of hurting people out there who need your prayers. What does this have to do with me personally? A lot of those people are my friends, and brothers and sisters in Christ. There is this "thing" inside me that can't stand it when those I care about are mistreated, lied to, or in some other way wronged. It's that part of me that wants vengeance . Wow. Did I use that word? But it's true. I want the erring party to repent, yes. But I also want to see them do some groveling and major "making of things right". And that thing inside me is like a mother bear protecting her young: you hurt someone I love, and I will attack! Shocking, isn't it? Most people who know me think I'm this gentle, meek person. I've been accused of being a "goody two s...
Read more
The journey began as a child, in my heart desiring to "know Jesus"...it continued as I sought to know Him more, to live for Him...it went along as I followed His call on my life...as I married, and had kids...as we ministered in various ways and places... Today, our journey is leading us to a place I never thought it would take, and the path is a bit scary. (Okay, a LOT scary, at times!) These are just the thoughts of a sojourner. You're welcome to come along.
Read more