Joplin

We came up to MSSU and Joplin Monday (yesterday) to finish packing and check in with everyone who is going on the trip.  As you probably know, much of Joplin has been devastated by a savage tornado that hit here Sunday evening wrecking St. John's hospital, the Wal-Mart, Builders Square and the high school.  MSSU is the shelter for those who have been left homeless.  We haven't seen much of the devastation because it is cordoned off but many people we encounter, including several students going on the trip with us, have lost everything and even have lost loved ones.  So, it's a difficult time for many folks here. 
We leave for the Springfield airport at 1:30 today and our plane leaves for Atlanta at 4:30.  From Atlanta we fly to Paris, leaving at 11:30 p.m. and arriving in Paris tomorrow early afternoon.  We have plenty to keep us entertained on the flight including movies and tv shows downloaded on our new little computer, and several books downloaded onto my Nook.  The first thing we do in Paris, after checking in to our hotel (maybe a little nap?) is take a boat ride down the Seine.  We already have our tickets.  I've read that the Eiffel Tower is beautiful at night.  This will be the last post, I think, until we get to Paris.
We are wondering if ash from the Iceland volcano will be a problem for our flight over, or maybe even our return flight . . . . . hmmmmm.... That's it for now.