[Earl]

So, one of our young men at church has gone home.

He had just finished his junior year of high school. Got his license two months ago and was taking a road trip to Penn. to visit family with his best friend.

When the tornado's hit, we were worried as they were about that point in the trip. I knew the boy but not his friend. Lanze (the boy from church) is a strong Christian and wanted to bring his friend to meet family in PA and was hoping to also get his friend to meet Jesus along the way. they left 2 days before the tornado and were to be gone about 6 weeks total.

My heart sank when we saw the first coverage of the storm. I was on the phone with his family. They were feeling un-easy but hoped they had passed the area but couldn't get them on their cell's.

Tuesday they found the boy's car in a ditch in Joplin. Lanze's friend was in the drivers seat, He had died. the car was almost cut in half, the passenger seat was empty. The family thought "maybe he was out getting food and Lanze is at the motel"...maybe this, maybe that. maybe anything.

Wed they got word that a boy about his age was found in a field 1 mile away - wearing tan Dockers and one nike shoe. the other foot was missing. He had also been decapitated. They famly's father was in Joplin looking for his son with his (the fathers) brother. They heard about the body and asked to try to identify the body. the Gov. has taken charge at this point and said no, we will run DNA and blood to get ID's and then you can claim the body. Late this afternoon we got positive ID the partial body in the field is Lanze. The worst part is, they still have not found the missing parts of his body.

I don't know what to say. Such a violent death. I pray his family gets through this. Lanze was a straight A student. An Eagle scout. Wonderful man and disciple for Christ. I hope he was able to bring his friend to Christ so they can both be in Heaven together.

Out of respect for the family, no last names but please pray for Lanze and his family. I'm not sure his mother can handle this. She is fragile to begin with.