A Joplin Journey: Letting Go

4 July 2013

(continued from 3 July 2013)

When the tornado missed Betty Jo's house, God was convicting her about her priorities. And the conviction did make a difference in her life. From that point on, her unneeded shopping and collecting stopped. But she still had all this stuff.

The Lord was not giving up on Betty Jo. He was pursuing her heart, fully desiring to give her back the wholeness that she was lacking. God was telling her that He could bring her life under control. She would, though, have to let go.

It was now almost two years since the tornado had struck Joplin, but she was now ready for help. Responding to God's caring hand on her heart corresponded to a time that students from the University at Buffalo arrived in Joplin. Betty Jo called the organization Mission Joplin which was coordinating with Samaritan's Purse and asked if they would be willing to take her stuff.

Accompanied by leaders from Mission Joplin, I accompanied eight students to Betty Jo's house, not really knowing what to expect. She admitted to us that she was a hoarder, but we really did not know what we would see or what she would allow us to do.

I don't know if you can ever be prepared for what we were about to see. You just need to adapt. As we came into the driveway, we saw the yard had various items scattered about, but the house looked fine enough on the outside. To the right of the house was a six-bay metal garage. As Betty Jo opened the first bay of the garage, it caught my breath. This huge building was full of stuff. All I could say was, "Oh no!"

But here is the thing. She was ready to let go.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Matthew 6.19-21, NIV

One more blog about Betty Jo coming!

A Joplin Journey: Why Not Me?

3 July 2013

(continued from 2 July 2013)

Betty Jo had watched the tornado hop over her house. Realizing that this tornado had spared her, but not her community, she left her home to go be an angel of mercy to those around her. Though she literally saved lives during this time, her activity masked her own imminent needs. 

Betty Jo is a brilliant woman. She has held significant jobs in the banking industry for years, supervising hundreds of employees and millions of transactions. After a series of devastating losses - including divorce and a son with difficult learning issues - her life began to spiral out of control.

She compensated for these losses with possessions. She became a master of bargain hunting and collecting objects on the side of the road. It is not that this is bad, unless you are buying and collecting things for which you have no need. Betty Jo became a hoarder. She knew it was not good. She knew it was not healthy. But she could not find the emotional strength to stop. These "things" were a comfort to her.

When the tornado missed her, her guilt increased. In her mind, she deserved the tornado. Possessions possessed her, but she could not say "no." So many of her friends lost everything, but not her. She still had everything. Her life was full of stuff. And then to make it worse, she could not find the will to let go of objects perhaps other people could use.

Her story is not the typical story regarding Joplin's tornado. But what we found is that God was very much at work in Betty Jo's life. Though she was ready to give up, God found her worth loving and pursuing.

Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
preserve my life according to your word. 

Psalm 119.37, NIV

More of Betty Jo's story to come!

A Joplin Journey: Angel of Mercy

2 July 2013

(story continued from 14 April 2013)

It did not take long for Betty Jo to understand the destruction that was taking place a few miles down the road. She knew she had to help. She hopped into her minivan and headed to Joplin.

On the way, she came across a man walking along the side of the road with a plank as a crutch with the hope to get to the hospital. Neither he or Betty Jo knew at the moment that the hospital had been severely damaged by the tornado and was being evacuated. They did find a triage tent and she left the man there who was more than grateful for her help.

Many days later, Betty Jo would find out that this man's leg was crushed from the hip to the ankle. She was told if that she had not picked him up, he would have most likely died before getting to town.

Later in the day, she stopped by a man laying on the edge of the road. He was being ignored or passed over by so many, because his situation looked hopeless. Many must have thought he was dead. He had a piece of wood that had pierced his face and he was a bloody mess. Managing to get him into the van, she also took him to the triage tent. Again, she would learn later, that she had literally saved his life.

At another point, she came across a family who was in a panic. The tornado had knocked over the chimney and it had fallen on their five-year-old son. Because the ambulance was struggling to get to their location, she offered to take them to the tent or just take the van themselves. This boy, too, would miraculously live.

Betty Jo continued to be an angel of mercy over the next weeks. She looked for those in need and did what she could to meet those needs. At the same time, she was largely ignoring her own needs - physically, emotionally and spiritually. It would have a cost.

Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy;
in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief. 

Psalm 143.1, NIV

More of Betty Jo's story to come!