Mesook Gho is one such person. She and her husband are Christian Reformed World Missions missionaries based in Japan. Gho is in Michigan for a short time visiting with her daughter. She plans to return to Japan in August. 

During the storm, several trees blew down around the home where Gho was staying, and she was not able to get them removed on her own. To help her, World Renew DRS sent a Rapid Response Team to “We cut up three large, tall trees that were lying on the ground and removed lots of debris, including smaller tree limbs and branches. With a lot of hard work and a Bobcat, we finished up the job in two​ ​ days” said Lois Hecksel, a World Renew DRS rapid response leader.

World Renew DRS, headquartered just a few miles from the initial touch down location of the tornado, has been cleaning up toppled trees and participating in recovery planning sessions since the day after. 

“We are committed to working with city officials and other organizations involved in the recovery,” says World Renew DRS Director Ron Willett. “There ​are many people who will need help. We are in the process of determining our next steps, finding out who needs help rebuilding and what reconstruction might look like.”

To help homeowners rebuild, please donate today to Michigan Tornado 2014 at worldrenew.net/giveDRS or by calling 800-552-7972.

If you are interested in volunteering in the future, please contact [email protected] or call 800-848-5818.