We wanted to thank YOU for your interest, support and sacrifices to help the victims of our City, Region, Nation, and International. Many of You are willing to drop everything to go and help (prayerfully, physically, financially, etc) … some knowingly, put their lives and families in danger by doing so! This is a Great Calling, to those He has chosen to be His Hands, Feet and Heart! THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT!
This week we have been presented with yet another disaster, close to home: Joplin, Missouri. Many of you have expressed an interest to help … and some are willing to go ‘yesterday’! The need is great … yet, we need to outline a few points for your consideration, as we plan these upcoming Response Teams.
As you read this, please understand that we are involved in ORR and other local church/organizations, because of our desire to help. If you are like me, and want to be at the disaster site; helping victims within the first 5 minutes … you are in the majority with first responders. As a group and Body of Christ in Omaha, we are accountable for our (re)actions and the resources G-d has blessed us with. So, seeking His Will and Timing … and applying due diligence is our first priority.
That being said … here are a few points why we will go to Joplin – but next week will be the earliest.
Joplin officials put out a request for help. In doing so, first responders, medical personnel and other volunteers showed up: over 5,000 (last estimate) from 9 States! That is over 10% of Joplin’s population. The response is impressive, but it creates a myriad of problems.
Logistically, this amount of people (more every day) is a nightmare for Joplin’s residents. They appreciate the help. But then they are greatly concerned about housing, food, water, electricity and other things that most people/teams need. This amount of ‘helpers’ also creates a safety problem, especially those that are not trained and “need to do something.” Most of these people will NOT be let into the disaster site-which they have blocked off. Only approved Chaplains are being let in, working alongside the approved First responders.
We want to go now … but we are hoping you understand why we cannot this week.
[in 2008, ORR was ready to send a Team to China in the aftermath of an earthquake that killed over 130,000. China would give us visas to attend the Olympics that year, but not to help the victims! This was frustrating … until I was in China a few months later and found out: they officially sent SIX MILLION responders … and 20 MILLION showed up!!] What a nightmare! Can you imagine having too much help? This same problem happened in NY after 9-11.
Well, that is a problem in Joplin … though it will not be the problem in the coming weeks and months!
After the adrenaline and rescue operations (usually the first week) have dissipated (it then becomes a recovery operation) … most of the first responders will leave, and members of other organizations will head home or to the next disaster. Does that end the massive amount of hard work and suffering to those in Joplin? … of course not. It opens a great opportunity for others (like us) to come alongside the Body in the Joplin area and continue the long process of healing, restoring and bringing Hope. This will be a time when the ‘shock’ of everything will settle deep into their hearts and minds … and depression, rebuilding and revaluating their lives takes place.
We believe this will be the right time to respond to this disaster.
We are in contact with churches and individuals from Joplin and surrounding communities. They are willing for us to come and help them! Every day, we get a clearer picture of the unmet needs; and our Brothers and Sisters in Joplin are formulating plans for long-term help.
So, we are working to coordinate Teams … logistics, individuals and areas of greatest need. We will work to help the local residents clear debris … help with the victims (physical, mental, emotional and Spiritual needs) since many had their lives torn and thrown into the next County … spell some relief for the local medical and first responder members, so that they can begin to rebuild for THEIR families. Whatever G-d directs us to do!
Does this make sense to You? Do you understand why we need to ‘stand down’ this week … though we are working to clear a Path (literally and figuratively) for The Body of Omaha to response in a safe, most efficient and timely manner?
It is very hard to wait while we see the suffering and death … but we need to understand: if a Team went down tomorrow, we would stand around [probably on the outside of the yellow tape] and join 100s of others like us, who might be asked every 10 hours to unload a truck of water. Though having water is important, is it the best use of our time, when someone is already doing that? Or … like many others encountered yesterday and today … they were told “thanks, but no thanks” … and sent on their way, because they were not a member of the local/State mutual aid agreements.
If this disaster was in Lincoln or somewhere within 100 miles, our response time would be completely different! We could get to this area within a few hours and possibly save many lives. Joplin is over 350 miles (6 hours) away and almost all volunteer and paid first responders within 150 miles of Joplin RESPONDED! We are needed, but not at this time. This is a time to coordinate Teams, supplies, finances and partner with others from our community with our precious Family in Joplin. We want to be prepared to go to Joplin as soon as possible … which may happen next week or the following week. We are working out the details so that as soon as G-d opens the door … WE ARE THERE!
Thank You for your patience and understanding. We look forward to working with You for the Glory of the L-rd … in Joplin and all around the World! Please continue with your Faithful prayers and intercession.
Blessings and Love in Y-shua’s Mighty Name,
ken g.
