Lora Samuelson will give a presentation at the adult bible class Sunday June 19. A little summary of her trip follows:

I went with a group of 23 other people from KS, MO, NE mostly.  The House of Hope has two orphanages – one that has been existence for several years and one that was built after the earthquake.  The original HOH has 17 children living and going to school there and the newer HOH has 43 children.  The HOH organization also built a school up on the mountain for the children living up there – they used to walk about 2 hours each way to attend the school at the original HOH.  Our focus on this trip was to do health checks, conduct interviews, hand out shoes, clear brush and plant a garden and fruit trees.  We got most of those things accomplished, but it was difficult to work with all the children wanting our attention!  The little girls just want to be held and cuddled, while the little boys loved playing soccer with the young men and women in our group.  The children in the orphanage are very well cared for – have clean clothes, shoes, and all are going to school.  Many of the children in the surrounding village don’t have shoes, alot cannot afford to go to school.  They always ran to meet us when our bus pulled up and followed us to the orphanage everyday.  I’ll never forget their sweet, happy spirits!  It was difficult to communicate because the kids speak French Creole, but if I started singing a song – they would start singing it in their language.  Hearing those little voices sing “Jesus Loves Me” was better than any rock concert!  Sunday worship in Haiti was about 2 hours and the Holy Spirit was present in such a powerful way!  The kids from the village walked about a mile to attend and everyone wears their very best.  The people love to sing and they worship and sing with their whole heart.  I loved my time with the children and people of Haiti – it was so hard to say good bye.  I hope and pray that the the Lord makes a way for me to go again.

To God be the glory!

The May 22 devastating EF-5 tornado that hit Joplin will have a very lasting impact on us all for a very long time.  It definitely has impacted the lives of at least four of our families here at Good Shepherd who lost their homes on that very warm Sunday evening:  Steve & Karen G., Jordan K. and baby Ezekiel, Sharon R. and David & Nancy W.  We are so very thankful that you are safe!!!

Immanuel Lutheran, in Joplin, suffered some damage to the parsonage, the school, and to the church.  At least 34 families from its congregation lost their home or suffered major damage.

Peace Lutheran, whose house of worship was totally destroyed, had 12 families directly affected by the storm.

We are thankful to each and everyone of you who has given of your time, your money, and your prayers to help support the relief effort.  All is very appreciated, important and needed!  Please continue to keep all volunteers, law enforcement and medical personnel in your prayers.

There is more to be done.  Pastor is coordinating the efforts for the outside clean up of the families affected, along with Lutheran Disaster Relief, a division of Lutheran Church Charities. If you can help with this large undertaking, please call the church office, 358-1325.  Help will also be needed in the Resource Center that is set up at Martin Luther School.  In addition, meals are served there each day and they can always use help with serving and clean up.  Preparation of food is also a great need.  Contact the church office to find out when you can help in that area.  Lutheran Disaster Relief is also taking monetary donations.  If you would like to help in this way, make your donation to Good Shepherd and we will see that it goes to the right place to help those affected in Joplin.

Other avenues to search for information about how you can help is to go to rebuildjoplin.com or call AmeriCorp by dialing 2-1-1 on your phone.

We will still be here when many of the long distance volunteers, the media, etc, have gone home.  This is our home.  We are here for the long haul.  May the Lord continue to bless our labors, so that through them, all will see God’s love, and the love we have for our neighbor.

With God, we know we will be OK!

— Copied from the June Newsletter

Our prayers go out to all those affected by the tornado that hit Joplin on Sunday evening.

Click this link to the Immanuel Lutheran Church Joplin tornado page for information from our sister congregation in Joplin.

Click this link for information about Peace Lutheran Church in Joplin that was destroyed by the tornado.

This is a piano tribute by Kyle Dickey: