For those of you who live far away from the Joplin tornado tragedy, life goes on.  Perhaps the flooding in the east or the fires in Texas or the 9/11 remembrances are more on the center of your radar than what happened in Joplin way back in May. There is also a point in every human tragedy where people begin to say, “Aren’t they over that yet? Haven’t they returned to normalcy?”  Before our worship services start, I walk through the crowd and give special attention to people who are new AND to people who experienced loss in the tornado. Yesterday I was reminded over and over again that we are not over this yet.  I talked with a man living in a FEMA trailer who is very sad. I talked with a couple who are trying to buy a home and hope to move in sometime in November but there are snags in the process. I talked with a widow who is living with her sister and lost everything. She is waiting for her apartment complex to be rebuilt and that will take more than a year. I walked up to a young couple who lost their rental home and everything in it and said, “How are you doing?” The man immediately welled-up with tears.  Please do not forget us. Please don’t stop praying. We may no longer be front page news, but we are wounded and healing is still many months away.  Our needs at Mission Joplin include nonperishable food, mops, brooms, new blankets and towels and portable heaters. Most of all we need workers who have compassion. Come over and volunteer and help us lift the spirits of some people who are still struggling. We aren’t over this yet. We still need you.