Cafeoutdoors.com: THANK YOU CAFE CANTEEN'ers

EXACTLY FIVE YEARS AGO RIGHT NOW, Hell came to Earth in Joplin, MO. Lives were forever changed -- including my own.

First, Godspeed and God bless to those who perished, those who were injured and survived, and those who lost home hearth and livelihood in the F5 tornado. I also want to recognize the WARRIORS of the Conservation Cafe Canteen who answered the call and went to Joplin following the Sunday night storm. These men and women know who they are, and out of respect for possibly leaving someone out, I won't attempt to list them all. Ditto for the dozens more who came across with Mission Support, money, food, encouragement and more. THANK YOU EVERYBODY! It was a huge TEAM effort and hinged almost entirely on God-given "access" that our little group was blessed with by one Mike Larery. NOT ONLY did Mike and Trina & family open their home to house and feed a parade of misfits, but Mike paved the way for our Canteen to set up in THE primo location @ Joplin Fire House 1. If not for Mike, we would have likely operated out of some driveway. Instead, the guys at House 1 opened their facilities and hearts to the Canteen -- and our efforts to MAKE A DIFFERENCE were tripled or quadrupled, or more. According to FEMA, the Canteen fed 1,000 meals a day for two weeks straight. We did it 100% with donations, so THANK YOU DONORS!

I want to use this opportunity to say personally THANK YOU SO MUCH to every single Cafe'er who helped in any way, large or small. To those of you who answered the call in any way, SALUTE. The entire time we were in Joplin, there wasn't a SINGLE moment of drama, and every single time there was a need or a job to do, somebody stepped up. Every single time!

I do want to give SPECIAL kudos to a wonderful couple who went way beyond the call of duty. Mr. and Mrs. Dave Wagner celebrated their wedding anniversary by working in the Canteen! THAT is dedication, and I will never forget the way the Wagners worked shoulder to shoulder on their day -- helping others.

Joplin tornado outreach was the BEST OF PEOPLE serving others in the WORST OF TIMES.

It was a tragedy and a shame that the tornado ever happened... but the opportunity to step up and serve those shell-shocked folks in the destruction zone and their brave and tireless rescuers WAS AND ALWAYS WILL BE one of THE MOST SIGNIFICANT moments of my entire life.

Joplin changed my life. I know others of you feel the same.

God bless Mike and Trina and family and all who were affected five years ago this afternoon.