In Awe of Him

Like I said before in the last blog, we are in awe of God and how things have been coming together so well in the past weeks. Let me tell you what has happened in the last two days!

As you know, Joplin, Missouri has suffered a devastating loss from the deadly tornado. Thinking about this, while sitting at my desk at the office, my mind kept going back to my experience during Hurricane Katrina. I remembered how every day, the postal service would bring bags of letters from Americans all over the country, who had taken the time to express their condolences and try to offer some encouragement to the survivors of Katrina. These letters meant the world to the residents of the shelter! They would re-read them all throughout the day. 

So, I thought, "why couldn't AHOPers do that for the people of Joplin?" So I started making phone calls. I probably made about 10 calls before I reached the State of Missouri. I spoke to their Emergency Management Authority and found out where the Joplin shelter was. 

So I put the information on facebook so AHOPers could get started on their letters and cards. 

WELL....today at staff I explained what I did the day before. During which Josh gets a phone call from Shoes 4 the Shoeless (S4TS). We had worked with Shoes 4 the Shoeless about a month and a half ago. Great organization by the way! 

Anyhow, Kris from S4TS calls and says she received a call from a Missouri State Senator. He says that he had heard of S4TS and wondered if they could send shoes for the survivors of the tornado. THEN, Kris thinks of Xenia and how it would be cool if we could send letters and cards, along with shoes and socks!!!??!??!!! 

Wait a sec.....did she read my facebook status from yesterday??!! Come to find out, NO SHE DIDN'T!! Josh says, "Well I think Natalie is already working on that!" That's GOD showing up again!!


Her thought process was that Xenia residents know what it's like to lose everything in a tornado and could offer some real encouragement to the residents of Joplin. 


ISN'T THAT CRAZY HOW THAT WORKED OUT?! Now, in addition to sending the letters and cards, we will be sending water, shoes, socks, tooth paste and tooth brushes to the people of Joplin! Everything will be delivered on TUESDAY of next week!


I'm so amazed how GOD orchestrates things! I'm IN AWE at His GREATNESS!

Keep on REACHin'! 

~Natalie