MCC-Longview student reflects on his service in Joplin, Mo.

On Friday, July 1, a group of 75 student, faculty and staff drove to Joplin, Mo., to help in the ongoing clean-up efforts there.

One MCC student, Mike Simpson, wrote this short reflection after returning from his day of volunteer service in Joplin:

"It is impossible to describe the full magnitude of the destruction in the city of Joplin. All the many local and national newscasts couldn't prepare me for what I saw down there. As soon as our bus entered ground zero, I was overwhelmed with a sense of sadness and despair.

However, in the midst of all the rubble there were volunteers from all over the country. These people drove for hours to work in a cloud of dust in the sweltering heat to help people that they have never met. Being surrounded by so many of these kind-hearted people is a big relief in a city that has been plagued with so much sadness."

MCC will continue to provide aid to the Southern Missouri town in its recovery from the devastating tornado that left more than 150 people dead and left thousands homeless.