- - Moore & El Reno, OK - - Hit by an EF5 Tornado on May 20th, 2013. This was particularly bad as it hit two Elementary Schools. The tornado claimed 24 lives, including 10 children, and caused billions of dollars in damage. We prepared to go support those impacted with prayer, comfort and rebuilding on trips beginning in March 2014.
Mission to Moore in March.....2014 Expecting warm weather as the Omaha crew headed south.... Heavy snow from Wichita south made it a slow, white-knuckle kind of a drive, then upon arriving in Oklahoma City we found an immobilized city. The ice and snow was an especially unwelcome sight for our friends who drove up from Redeemer Lutheran in Austin, TX!
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As we arrived in Oklahoma City, a city paralyzed by ice, we scrambled. Weeks of planning to split into specific work groups and outreach teams then join with non-profits on Day 1 were now thrown out the window. We as organizers took this as God's reminder that He is in charge not us and He had other plans for us. We broke into groups, prayed and listened, then were lead to go places and help people we would have never met. This alone was a great lesson for all of us to be humble, listen and follow, leading us back to Proverbs 3:5-6...Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take .......and He did.
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Moore - October 2014 We teamed up with Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland County and from an Outreach perspective we assisted the people at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. The amount of service they provide is unbelievable. No snow, No hail, No sleet, No Freezing rain..... OK we will be going back! Look to be part of our next Mission to Moore in March which runs March 8 through the 13th!!
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Moore - March 2015 - We had an awesome week in Moore, Oklahoma from March 8-13.
Thirty-six people converged on Moore, as our team came from Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Texas. Other than a damp Monday, we had sunny skies and great temperatures the rest of the week. We broke into five teams for the week and worked at three home building sites in completely different phases of construction for Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland County. We partnered with Rebuilding Together of Oklahoma City to fully renovate the bathroom of one home and made it handicap accessible. Another team did community outreach through the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma in both their food resource center and food pantry. On Wednesday afternoon some of us cut off a little early to visit the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum... 2015 marks the 20th anniversary of the bombing. |
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Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland County had some big needs to be met. One team devoted their week to framing a house as they drove up to a concrete slab on Day One. The rain on Monday caused a bit of shuffling however the rest of the week was beautiful. Meeting the families who will move in and hearing about their day May 20, 2013 really gave meaning to our work.
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Two other Teams helped Habitat as they worked on a home that was getting close for the homeowners to move in and another home that had just gotten the drywall up and finished. Someone learned how to run a mixer for a 5-gallon paint bucket and added a little excitement to Day One. These two homes are very close to Plaza Towers Elementary where 7 children died.
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We were able to assist Rebuilding Together of OKC with a full bathroom remodel and make the home handicap accessible. We learned just how much "fun" removing a tub and concrete mesh on shower walls can be! A big bonus was meeting members of their Capitol View Neighborhood Association and seeing how they are stepping out to revitalize their inner-city neighborhood.
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Several people worked with the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma they worked at both the Distribution Center and the Food Pantry assisting people who came in for assistance. They are a vital part of the community as they prepare thousands of meals for kids through the Backpack Program.
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