Amish help their own rebuild after deadly storm

WINDSOR, Mo. -- When Jerry Yoder, his wife and three sons emerged from their cellar in western Missouri moments after last Sunday's deadly tornado had passed, he faced a range of emotions.

Among them were thanks to God that his family was all right, followed by awe that winds could do so much damage in such a short time, and then, a feeling of being overwhelmed at the huge job of putting his farm, and his life, back in order.

But Yoder, who is Amish and operates his 72-acre farm without modern conveniences, didn't have to worry about contacting insurance companies or waiting for adjusters to tell him what his farm was worth.

It wasn't long before members of his religious community, about three miles east of Windsor, began arriving to see how they could help. A short time later, more came from even farther away.

There were immediate offers of a place to stay, food and labor to begin putting his farm back together.

The helpers immediately began to remove rubble, pick up and dispose of dead livestock and help Yoder with plans to rebuild.

On Monday, even before all the debris could be hauled away, construction began to put the upper story and roof, and the room addition, back where it belonged. Others began putting a roof on the section of the barn that Yoder would rebuild.

Members of the Amish community and several Mennonite families living nearby were busy Wednesday when their workforce more than doubled with van-loads of Amish men from Daviess County, Ind., arriving to lend a hand.

Yoder said he was thankful for and humbled by the help from his fellow church members.