Sarah Keller, a Samaritan’s Purse volunteer, blogs about helping tornado victims in Joplin.

We helped a lady whose whole house was destroyed. As we helped her pick through her things, we just started talking and praying.

She talked about everything that she and her husband had gone through. She just kept saying, “God is good, God is good.”

As I was digging through her books, trying to find anything that was dry, I came across a photo. Of course I had no idea who it was, so I took it to her and she started to cry. “This was hanging on that wall,” she said as she pointed to an open space that now opens up to a field. “It’s a picture of my mother that I thought I would never see again.”

There was not a scratch on it and the glass was still in place. She was so thankful for having that one picture that it made me really think about what matters in my life.

She looked at me and said kids your age take things for granted and are more worried about playing their video games than helping people like us. I said it could have been me needing help and I would want God to bless me with somebody to pray with me if I was in your shoes.

She smiled and said, “God has blessed not just me today but you as well,” and boy was she right. We all forget how quickly things on this earth can be taken away, and very often we don't cherish what we have right here and right now.

After seeing how quickly a person could be left with nothing, it really made me stop and think about how God watches over us. I heard story after story from people who were not angry but so thankful for what they had. They said I have nothing but the clothes on my back, but I'm alive and my neighbors didn't make it.

I pray that I could come back to Joplin and help some more, even if all I can do is hold somebody’s hands and pray with them or listen to their story and smile at the people to give them hope of happiness again.

No matter what, the people of Joplin have changed me more than they will ever know. I will always look at life through a different lens now, one that so badly wants to do what God has called me here to do because I'm following His will.

Samaritan's Purse , United States , Changed by Serving

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