Joplin tornado update

As some of you may remember, I mentioned that I had a few relatives in Joplin that we hadn't been able to contact. Tuesday was the first day my uncle and 2 of cousins were able to get into Joplin to try and find my great aunt Helen. She is 72 and lived alone about 2 blocks from the hospital that took a direct hit.
 
They made it to her house and it was gone, and didn't appear that anyone who was inside could have survived. The searchers told them nobody was found in the house during the initial search. They searched again and nothing. They checked in at the Red Cross Center and they had no info on her, so they left their contact info if she showed up and started out of town. My uncle decided to check into the church she attended to leave word there also. Aunt Helen was sitting with a crowd of other people inside the church.
 
When the tornado hit, Helen was at home alone and heard the sirens and went into her bathroom and closed the door. The tornado took her house clean to the foundation, including the walls around the bathroom and the bathroom door was sheared off halfway down to the door knob. She sat there for another 6 or 7 hours in the dark, when her preacher walked between two broken wall studs and shined a flashlight on her, and said "Helen, come on dear", and led her through the rubble and took her to the church. He and others from the church had gone looking for elderly members from the church. 
 
My 2 other cousins who live in Joplin were on the other side of town when the storm hit, and they are fine.
 
Thanks to everyone for the good thoughts.
 
Randy

I'm speechless. I guess a prayer is in order for all those who suffered and are strengthened by this event.

Wow, Randy, she's one lucky lady.  Glad she made it through such a terrifying experience.

wow - what an incredible story, Randy!  praise that she survived that ordeal!

Good news indeed!  I hope there are many more stories like that. 

My continued thoughts and prayers to your family and everyone affected in Joplin--and now Oklahoma. 

Thanks for the update Randy. Stories like this put in perspective what is most important -  our loved ones.

The power of the wind is obvious in what gets destroyed by the wind.

The power of God is obvious in what doesn't get touched by the wind.

The Lord works in ways we cannot comprehend...

That Paster is a wonderful shepherd who looks after his flock...