Monday, June 14, 2010

I'm not sure why but I've ALWAYS wanted one of these shirts.  Yesterday we finally got the opportunity to do service and get one (too bad they only came in humongous sizes!)



Church only lasted an hour and then we got to go home and get ready to help out. We went to Delta- a neighboring community- to help with tornado clean up. Thank you a zillion times over, beth, for watching our kiddos! 
 We mostly moved and hauled debris and trees from yards and fields- but we got to talk to a lot of really amazing and grateful people in the area.

We started out here and helped these people clear their property.  This dirt plot is where their mobile home USED to be. It was ripped to pieces and dumped on top of their car (below). They had gotten out- but a dog, three ducks, and two chickens were found inside part of the trailer after everything settled. All were still alive and fine.
 The lady that lived by these trees said that the thunder woke her up (the sirens must be spread out because she said they didn't wake her up) and she got up to go to the bathroom.  While she was in there she said she heard a loud sound and then she said that "God told her to get in the bath tub"- even though she had a safer crawl space on the other side of the house.  She said just a few seconds later the big missing piece of this tree landed on the back and side of the house where the crawl space was.
 We also got to drive around and just see some of the damage. This picture just creeps me out.  The ragged half trees and half house are so scary.  You'll have to enlarge it to get a better look.
here's the house closer up. There is still stuff hanging on the walls!

And this picture feels like it's from a movie.  The great little walkway lined with flowers and nicely trimmed hedges- that lead to NOTHING.  The house is GONE. Totally obliterated.

 The upper right window just looks out to sky now. Half of the back of the house was ripped off.
 Besides helping clean up- it was also just really nice to spend some time without kids. They fed us all lunch and the weather wasn't nearly as bad as anticipated.

8 comments:

Cynthia said...

wow! those pictures really put in perspective of how bad the damage was. I am so glad our church put an activity together to help out.

yaya said...

I have a very healthy respect for tornados! Thankfully your family and area was spared, but my heart goes out to all who lost everything. What a wonderful thing your Stake did in helping yesterday...Brigham Young would have been proud!

Lindsay said...

wow. what crazy pictures. so sad for those people.

M- your favorite said...

WOW! No words!

Delaps said...

I can't even imagine wondering where my house went to. How tragic.

boysmum2 said...

Very proud of you, you deserve that shirt a million times over! And it does not look too big on you. Awesome pictures, but gut renching to see. Well done both of you

dockters said...

Wow! I can't believe those pictures! What a terrifying thing. So neat that you guys got to be part of helping!

Steve and Hailey said...

Jack has been really interested in tornados lately. Your pictures are really crazy! I can't get over how scary it would be. Your previous post about getting in the tub made me realize that it's a BIG deal. You never realize which way a tornado will turn and what it will move. So you got to help out on Sunday? That is really cool! That week I couldn't focus to save my life, I should have come to help clean.