Joplin church trio on way to help local tornado victims

JOPLIN, Mo Jack Wisener and Dave Tresemer lost their homes on May 22, so as they watched the destruction wrought by tornadoes that killed 39 people across five Midwestern and Southern states last week, they shared a similar reaction.

Saturday, I was feeling moved and hurt because I know what these people are going through, Wisener said.

Tresemer said he felt the kind of empathy that can only come from experience.

THREE ON MISSION

By dawn Wednesday, the two and a third member of St. Pauls United Methodist Church in Joplin were on their way to Indiana.

Were familiar with what they are going through, Tresemer said Monday. Its still fresh in all of our minds.

I was getting ready for church [Sunday], and I told my wife [Sharon], Im about this close to going to Indiana. I said, All I need is a little push. Then I saw Jack at church and asked, What are you doing for the next few days? and he said, Nothing. Then I asked him if he wanted to go to Indiana.

Wisener said he didnt think twice: I said yes.

Pastor Aaron Brown of St. Pauls said the congregation immediately began gathering supplies for the mission.

Having been through what weve been through here and all the amazing help weve received, we were just ready to send some people somewhere, so when these guys stepped up, we were ready to get them equipped, he said.

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Joplin church trio on way to help local tornado victims