Mother's Day in Greensburg, Ks.

On Sunday, I flew with three others from eastern Kansas to Greensburg to be a part of the relief effort there. We left in a small single engine plane flying over streams and farms of eastern Kansas and then over the tall-grass prairies of the Flint Hills and finally over the thousands of farms that make up the "Bread Basket" of central and western Kansas. The sight was beautiful with everything green and lush from an early spring. By mid-morning we arrived to the grass landing field of Greensburg at the city's edge. There was no beauty there---the town looked like it had been hit by an atom bomb. The reports on the news casts were true---almost all was destroyed. Had the path of the storm been a mile or so either direction of the city little would have been damaged. To see the destruction, one would have expected hundreds to have died rather than less than a dozen. All the schools, all the churches, the public buildings, the businesses, the homes were wiped out. Of the approx. 850 homes, one report said 8 were unhurt, less than 100 can be made livable again in 90-160 days, the rest are being bulldozed away. People lost all they had.

Enough on the destruction---What I want to tell everyone is that on Mother's Day the community gathered together for the first time. A special service was held in a large tent put up on the edge of town. Over 3,000 attended the Sunday morning service--the town had 1,450 residents. The extra were relief workers, & out of town family members who came to share and show their support. The service was led by all the pastors of Greensburg---a non-denominational effort. Each pastor was given a few minutes to share: one spoke of Job and his suffering and yet his faith in the Lord; one quoted Jeremiah and the plan to build new lives and new homes; one spoke of the story of the Good Neighbor and the help toward the Samaritan; one led the congregation in the Lord's Prayer; one led in repeating the 23rd Psalm. The most moving part of the service was the music, including a quartet that sang with great heart the song "This Land is Holy Ground" and then another sang the song "All is Well with My Soul"---that followed the story of its author who had lost all in his life---his home, his business and his family. There were many hugs of support and many tears, but the most striking story of the service was the unity and strength of the people to come together to pray and worship with an abiding faith in their God. The florists of surrounding communities provided flowers for all mothers before the service and meals to everyone after the service.

I returned home today, Wednesday, reporting that thousands have responded to the peoples' needs. I stayed in a neighboring church basement. That church is overflowing with clothes, food, and materials for the relief. Other churches are doing likewise. Today, over 900 volunteers were present--not counting the hundreds of National Guard troops, business support, government relief workers and hundreds of pieces of equipment. So far, over 6,000 truck loads of debris have been removed in trying to clear lots so FEMA homes and permanent homes can be built. It is estimated that over 100,000 truck loads remain to be removed. It is hoped water and electricity might be restored to parts of the city this week. Workers have come from all parts of the nation and churches from everywhere. Some from Mississippi and Louisiana, who had been hit by Katrina---wishing to return help they received. The people know they are being prayed for and they are thankful. These people are a testament for their faith and their courage. Even though they are in shock, they are determined to move ahead.

The relief team that our group assisted were the Heart-to-Heart International medical team and the United Methodist's Disaster Team, of which my bother is a member. We helped distribute water; assisted the hospital administrator move permanent records to safe keeping in her crumbing building (an employee of 27 years, working on Mother's Day); helped organize a church relief center; assisted in repairs and in getting a business going again. The business owner's wife, father-in-law and single employee were all killed. The owner had a broken knee cap, but was doing pretty well. We felt so lucky and humbled to be able to do just a few things to help.

Anyone interested in helping might best contribute through a financial donation to a charity or church relief organization of their choice, designating it be used toward Kansas relief efforts. For now, there is plenty of food, clothes and volunteers to do the tasks needed Keep praying. Larry Lybarger, a winterbird from Kansas.

Larry Lybarger