A Tornado...But Not A Tornado...But Like A Tornado

Eli wasn't able to write this week. A land hurricane went through Belle Plaine Iowa on Monday. Eli and his companion Elder Harris were on their way to the church just as it was starting. It got really bad and they were told to stay at the church building. They ended up being stuck there for a while with no electricity and no food as they waited for things to settle. 

This was the worst storm Iowa has seen in 22 years. There were 115 mph winds. Houses were crushed, cars were damaged, trees and telephone poles were ripped out of the ground. Following the storm it took Eli and Elder Harris 30 minutes to find their house as they drove behind tractors that were clearing the trees and debris from the streets. They came home to find windows broken in their mud room, their car port destroyed and no power. They have not had power or cell service since and don’t expect power to return for at least another week. Their food spoiled and they have been eating cold canned food, taking cold showers, using a flashlight for light and washing their clothes in the sink. (Eli said he’s had worse times in West Africa!) The gas stations are all out of gas and people have been stealing generators.

This is how someone from the Mission Office described it to us in an email, "As I am sure you have all heard, we experienced a derecho (pronounced duh-rhay-cho) that traveled across the middle of Iowa on Monday.   Being from the western US, as I am assuming many of you are, I had never even heard of a derecho before I found myself in the middle of one so I will explain.  It is a windstorm that has tornado force winds which travel in a straight pattern instead of a circular one.   A storm has to be at least 265 miles long and about the same distance wide to qualify as a derecho and not be just a windstorm.  This one certainly qualified.  Sustained winds greater than 60 mph with almost continuous gusts up to 100 mph swept from eastern Nebraska across the center of Iowa and into Illinois for almost an hour.   We are hearing estimates that 1/3 - 1/2 of the corn and soybean crops in Iowa are gone.   Of course thousands of trees were broken off, taking out windows, roofs and power lines in the process.   Immediately after the storm 250,000 people were without power, internet or cell service.   Utility crews have been working round the clock and we are down to about 10,000 people who are still without services as of today, 4 days after the storm.  Several small, rural towns may not get power back for another 2-3 weeks."

Eli and Elder Harris are the only missionaries in Belle Plaine. Their area was hit worse than any other part of their mission. They were able to get to the mission home to check in. Their Mission President was going to have them stay with others in Iowa City but Eli told him they would be fine… “this was actually like the bush in Sierra Leone but a lot nicer… they could handle it!” Elder Harris was looking at Eli like he’s crazy and thinking speak for yourself!! President gave them some non perishable food and added extra funds to their account. Everyday since they have been working from 9am to 9pm clearing debris, chopping trees, raking and helping wherever needed. There have been several older people and single women they have been especially helpful to. They will be missing their zone “movie day” activity this week to continue with the clean up. There is so much to do. Their bodies are sore and they are exhausted but healthy and safe.