I have added few more of my photos from the course to flickr.com. Feel free to look at them and use for good cause.
Look at pictures.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Go My Children....Never Alone
In a couple of minutes, we'll take off for Baton Rouge.
In a couple of days, we'll back in Columbus, Ohio, processing our experiences here.
In a couple of months, God will call me from comfort to the cross--the empty cross.
A song as God's response TO US as we go from this place.
"Go My Children, with My Blessing
Go my children, with my blessing never alone.
Waking, sleeping, I am with you, you are my own.
In my love's baptismal river I have made you mine forever.
God my children, with my blessing, you are my own.
Go my children, sinces forgiven, at peace and pure.
Here you learned how much I love you, what I can cure.
Here you heard my dear Son's story, here you touched him, saw his glory.
Go my children, sins forgiven, at peace and pure.
Go my children, fed and nourished, closer to me.
Grow in love and love by serving, joyful and free.
Here my Spirit's power filled you, here my tender comfort stilled you.
God my children, fed and nourished, joyful and free."
Christ's Shalom be with all who need it (and especially with those who think they don't).
Today, I said good-bye to New Orleans for Jesus,
Adam
In a couple of days, we'll back in Columbus, Ohio, processing our experiences here.
In a couple of months, God will call me from comfort to the cross--the empty cross.
A song as God's response TO US as we go from this place.
"Go My Children, with My Blessing
Go my children, with my blessing never alone.
Waking, sleeping, I am with you, you are my own.
In my love's baptismal river I have made you mine forever.
God my children, with my blessing, you are my own.
Go my children, sinces forgiven, at peace and pure.
Here you learned how much I love you, what I can cure.
Here you heard my dear Son's story, here you touched him, saw his glory.
Go my children, sins forgiven, at peace and pure.
Go my children, fed and nourished, closer to me.
Grow in love and love by serving, joyful and free.
Here my Spirit's power filled you, here my tender comfort stilled you.
God my children, fed and nourished, joyful and free."
Christ's Shalom be with all who need it (and especially with those who think they don't).
Today, I said good-bye to New Orleans for Jesus,
Adam
The Rushing Water
On our first night in Slidell, LA, our group heard from Rose who rushed away clinging for her life on a table amidst the flowing waters from Hurricane Katrina. She survived and is thriving, she continues to share her story and live in the grace of God and within the community of the south.
From the beginning of her story our first night until the end the trip, our group has also been rushed away with the words, stories, pictures, destruction, sadness and hope of life after Katrina. We've been welcomed on this journey by new friends and saints of New Orleans. Our emotions have been consumed, we've been consumed with mile after mile of debris, crushed houses, vacant malls, empty neighborhoods, broken trees, tired faces and bodies, newly planted flowers and trees, stories of strength, humor, and tears of hope and joy.
I missed out on hearing much about Katrina; unfortunately, living out of America for two years caused me to turn a blind eye to events here. Yet, now I can no longer turn away - as a witness to both the destruction and the hope here, my eyes and heart have become a witness.
We look forward to sharing more of our trip with the seminary community and engaging all of you to use your resources and time to help and support the people here.
The waters of hope and relief and rebuilding continue to this day and will for many more years to come - we cannot afford to turn away. May we all continue to be washed and filled with God's love and grace. May God's power to consume our lives carry forth the mission to love and serve others - consume others with the hope, joy and peace needed.
Blessings,
Kim Knowle
From the beginning of her story our first night until the end the trip, our group has also been rushed away with the words, stories, pictures, destruction, sadness and hope of life after Katrina. We've been welcomed on this journey by new friends and saints of New Orleans. Our emotions have been consumed, we've been consumed with mile after mile of debris, crushed houses, vacant malls, empty neighborhoods, broken trees, tired faces and bodies, newly planted flowers and trees, stories of strength, humor, and tears of hope and joy.
I missed out on hearing much about Katrina; unfortunately, living out of America for two years caused me to turn a blind eye to events here. Yet, now I can no longer turn away - as a witness to both the destruction and the hope here, my eyes and heart have become a witness.
We look forward to sharing more of our trip with the seminary community and engaging all of you to use your resources and time to help and support the people here.
The waters of hope and relief and rebuilding continue to this day and will for many more years to come - we cannot afford to turn away. May we all continue to be washed and filled with God's love and grace. May God's power to consume our lives carry forth the mission to love and serve others - consume others with the hope, joy and peace needed.
Blessings,
Kim Knowle
Things in the Air
Last night we heard from an employee of Lockheed Martin who works at the plant that manufactures the external fuel tanks for the space shuttles and his son who was part of the military's air evacuation response to Katrina.
A levy system built around the plant, pumps and some brave souls that weathered the storm, saved the plant and the shuttle program. Had the plant been destroyed, the shuttle program would have grounded to a stop. The international space station would have suffered because there is no other delivery system for the parts needed to finish its construction. Signs of hope that devastating destruction was not total destruction.
Many question the benefits and needs of the space program, I'll not get into its merits here. Just suffice it to say that I'm a fan of the space program and I gave quiet thanks to know that Katrina did not cause a serious set back to the program.
Immediately after the storm, military helicopters were in the air doing rescue work. People were evacuated, some to the convention center. We heard of harrowing experiences. There was no air traffic control. We heard one story of a helicopter trapped on the roof of a building after its weight caused it to collapse.
If the military under orders was taking people to the convention center in its early rescue operations, how did other parts of the government not know until days later that there were refugees at the convention center? I don't have an anwer, maybe the long government reports made after the storm do.
Perhaps the most memorable thing for me durning this session was right at the beginning when a tear appeared as we were told how grateful the people were for volunteers like us coming to help. I hope you have an opportunity to come help and experience that tear for yourself.
A levy system built around the plant, pumps and some brave souls that weathered the storm, saved the plant and the shuttle program. Had the plant been destroyed, the shuttle program would have grounded to a stop. The international space station would have suffered because there is no other delivery system for the parts needed to finish its construction. Signs of hope that devastating destruction was not total destruction.
Many question the benefits and needs of the space program, I'll not get into its merits here. Just suffice it to say that I'm a fan of the space program and I gave quiet thanks to know that Katrina did not cause a serious set back to the program.
Immediately after the storm, military helicopters were in the air doing rescue work. People were evacuated, some to the convention center. We heard of harrowing experiences. There was no air traffic control. We heard one story of a helicopter trapped on the roof of a building after its weight caused it to collapse.
If the military under orders was taking people to the convention center in its early rescue operations, how did other parts of the government not know until days later that there were refugees at the convention center? I don't have an anwer, maybe the long government reports made after the storm do.
Perhaps the most memorable thing for me durning this session was right at the beginning when a tear appeared as we were told how grateful the people were for volunteers like us coming to help. I hope you have an opportunity to come help and experience that tear for yourself.
Proclaiming the Gospel is Job #1
By this time, my head is swirling with so much information, I'm afraid many things are losing their identity as they become part of a composite. I have multiple things I want to touch on in and as we are leaving tomorrow for Columbus I am rushing to add a few more posts to this blog.
As one might expect in a mission as big as the Katrina relief effort there is controversy in its miidst. In some ways it is a storm within a storm. It would seem that much of the relief effort being done by churches is being dictated by the government as it restricts the use of grant money for specific things. It is not allowable to use money or resources from these funds for rebuilding churches and one cannot use the opportunity such work provides to evangelize by sharing the Good News. This is a necessary part of the separation of church and state. One should not have to have religion forced upon them as they receive help. That is an essential part of government funded assistance. Thank God for the government assistance! It is helping so many people.
Yet we were reminded yesterday that the mission of the church is primarily to proclaim the Good News of Christ Jesus crucified and risen. Our acceptance of government grant money has limited the church's ability to carry out this mission. The work of social service is necessary, but should it be done in a way that limits our primary mission? Perhaps churches should not be afraid to stand on their own, trusting in the generosity from members of the Body of Christ and the guidance of the Holy Spirit and forego the government grant money.
Mucked out and rebuilt houses etc. are part of the recovery, but as the Gospel proclaims and we experience in our own lives true healing comes from our faith in Jesus Christ. That is the Good News we must proclaim to a people broken by Katrina.
As one might expect in a mission as big as the Katrina relief effort there is controversy in its miidst. In some ways it is a storm within a storm. It would seem that much of the relief effort being done by churches is being dictated by the government as it restricts the use of grant money for specific things. It is not allowable to use money or resources from these funds for rebuilding churches and one cannot use the opportunity such work provides to evangelize by sharing the Good News. This is a necessary part of the separation of church and state. One should not have to have religion forced upon them as they receive help. That is an essential part of government funded assistance. Thank God for the government assistance! It is helping so many people.
Yet we were reminded yesterday that the mission of the church is primarily to proclaim the Good News of Christ Jesus crucified and risen. Our acceptance of government grant money has limited the church's ability to carry out this mission. The work of social service is necessary, but should it be done in a way that limits our primary mission? Perhaps churches should not be afraid to stand on their own, trusting in the generosity from members of the Body of Christ and the guidance of the Holy Spirit and forego the government grant money.
Mucked out and rebuilt houses etc. are part of the recovery, but as the Gospel proclaims and we experience in our own lives true healing comes from our faith in Jesus Christ. That is the Good News we must proclaim to a people broken by Katrina.
Monday, December 11, 2006
The Winds of Slidel
After a day of cleaning up a pile of trash and priming drywall, we drove by Brett's house that we had mucked out last week and all of the enormous pile of what use to be the inside of his house had been hauled away. A shower, dinner and then a planning session for our presentation at school and I was feeling the stress. I had nearly shut down during the meeting. My nerve endings were sparking and I was ready to crawl out of my skin.
I needed space and some quiet. I do what I often do in times like this, I take a walk. I sing a new song that comes to me as I walk and I commune with the Lord. The breeze was blowing and I extended my hands so that the wind blew across the palms of my hands. That has become a sign of the Spirit's presence with me. Thirty or forty minutes of this and I was relaxed, calm and I was renewed in my call to priesthood.
The winds blow across the globe. In the winds of Slidel this evening, I found peace through the Spirit. Should I have been surprised that the Lord would bring peace in the midst of chaos?
I needed space and some quiet. I do what I often do in times like this, I take a walk. I sing a new song that comes to me as I walk and I commune with the Lord. The breeze was blowing and I extended my hands so that the wind blew across the palms of my hands. That has become a sign of the Spirit's presence with me. Thirty or forty minutes of this and I was relaxed, calm and I was renewed in my call to priesthood.
The winds blow across the globe. In the winds of Slidel this evening, I found peace through the Spirit. Should I have been surprised that the Lord would bring peace in the midst of chaos?
The Humor and the Tears
On Friday the eighth of December, our team was blessed to have a gentleman who works for the judicial court of New Orleans talk to us. By now, the impact of all that we had seen was beginning to take a toll and many of us were beginning to show signs of wear--sadness, weariness and all the other emotions that accompany the realization of such an enormous tragedy.
But Mike, who was our speaker, was as refreshing as a spring rain. While he had lost all that he had owned and continued to live a FEMA trailer, and while he also was clearly still quite emotional regarding all that he had lived through during the past year, he method of coping with the events of and following Katrina was one of humor. He told us the that he figured that there was little to do but make the best of it and laugh. One could sense, however, that some of his laughter was used to cover pain. More than once, I saw tears on his cheeks, especially when speaking of friends, his home, or his animals.
Mike has family in Dayton, Ohio and that is where he evacuated. What should have been a 14 hour drive became a twenty-six hour drive as it took him 8 hours to go 25 miles as he was leaving the city. He told us that as far north as Kentucky there was "no room at the inn" because all lodging was filled with other Katrina evacuaees. Thus, he had no choice but to continue on for the full 26 hours. He was headed for his sister's home in Dayton, and he told us that when he reached her house, he completely broke down. And yet he laughed!
When he returned to Orleans parish his house was completely demolished and his belongings gone. And yet he laughed.
He was transplanted to Texas for a period of time--no clothes, no personal belongings, no security. And yet he laughed!
I believe that all of us could learn from Mike. Our troubles are so minor compared to what he faced upon his return to his home, yet he didn't whine--he refused to feel sorry for himself. We could all probably learn a healthy lesson of the gift of laughter that Mike demonstrated. God bless you Mike.
Blessings, Mary
"RACHEL"
On December 7th we completed the mucking of the house in Chalmette. One hundred forty feet of destroyed belongings stretched in front of it and we all were in a bit of a daze. Before leaving, we ladies decided to use the hospitality that had been offered by a lady that lived down the street in a FEMA trailer. She had generously offered us the use of her bathroom.
I was lagging a bit behind the others and was not sure which trailer they were in. A woman named Rachel came to the porch of her FEMA trailer and asked if she could help me. (The hospitality in this area is unbelievable.) At any rate, she invited me to use her facilities. Her trailer, which is about half the size of my dorm room at Trinity, had been bravely decorated for Christmas. She had really tried to bring the spirit of the season into her her tiny home. We stood and talked for quite a while and although I could have continued listening to her forever, I thought the team would be ready to leave so I started to go. Before I left she invited me back for a cold drink, a visit or the use of her bathroom any time.
When I got back to the van, the team suggested that we give Rachel one of the quilts that had been made by Lutheran Womens' groups all over the United States. Rachel was just coming out of her home and was walking on a crutch down the street. When we met in the middle of the street, I told her that the quilt was a Christmas gift from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. She just looked at it an tears welled in her eyes. She asked, "Is this really for me?" When I replied that it was she told me that it was the most wonderful Christmas gift that she had ever received. By this time we were both crying and holding on to each other with the quilt crushed between us.
For me, it was the most poignant moment of the trip until that time. The catastrophe that had struck the Gulf Coast personified itself in this woman who had lost nearly all she had. God's presence was truly a tangible thing as I hugged this dear woman--a woman who I will probably never see again. God bless you, Rachel!
Blessings, Mary
"Nails"
On December 6, we continued to "muck" a devestated home--Brett's. Eventually, I was given the task of pulling nails from the studs that had been bared of all sheetrock and insulation. At first, I was somewhat troubled at being given this task--it seemed so trivial! Then I started pulling the nails! Does anyone know how many thousands of nails it takes to put a house together? Well, it takes that many tugs of a hammer to take a house apart. It is also an isolated task--one does not need a helper to pull nails.
Anyway, pulling those nails taught me a valuable lesson. As I stood on the ladder or knelt on the floor pulling nails I was remined of the hope that is usually connected with a simple nail. It is a fastener--a "putter-together", not something that is used to pull things apart. And sitting in this mucked-out room in a house that was no longer a home, it hit me--the nails! Nails were used 2000 years ago for fastening also--but then they were used to fasten our Saviour to a cross. At first glance, to nail a human being to a cross bar of wood seems the very opposite of putting anything together--it is the destruction of a human life. But not in the case of Jesus. Our Lord's nails--just three of them and not thousands--were used to save our world rather than destroy it.
How blessed I felt that I had been asked to do the humble task of pulling nails. Their significance grew with every nail pulled and every nail pulled was a reminder that with Jesus, renewal for everything and everyone is possible. Christ is in the nails.
Blessings, Mary
People Who Are "Little Christs" to Me
The masks, safety suits & helmets have been sanitized. The paint rollers have been rinsed. Our work here is done. And amid all the feelings of struggle, anger, depression, sadness, confusion--the feeling which first comes to mind about this experience is hope & thankfulness.
Not just thankful that in a couple of days I'll go back to a warm, carpeted, food-filled apartment; but above all from this experience, I'm thankful for the friendships & communities that God has blessed me with.
"My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all day long, (Ps. 71:8)."
I praise God for these people:
Nick--definately a new brother in Christ. He has the right jokes at the right time, always keeping the mood in the group light-hearted, but always willing to share a prophetic word. He is a life-loving and caring man of God. Patient with my horrible Euchre skills too (and of course a gracful winner in pie eating contests).
Halldor--It had been a blessign to serve with Halldor these days. He is the most caring, easy-going & gentle man. I can't really remember a time when he hasn't had a smile on his face, let alone get upset at anyone. Halldor is generous in sharing his time for everyone and is always first concerned with others feelings and confidence. Has a great gift at spakling. "Claim your confidence!" Thanks to Halldor, I will!
Tom---Eccumenical relationships can happen! Tom has been great in tolerating our "token Episcopalian" jokes, and once he's "warmed up," it's been hilarious to hear him "fighting back." Tom has great skills in the kitchen, and even though he wouldn't share his collared greems with me, he a great man. I've appreciated his intent on always learning more, and growing in his sense of being a pstor. The Episcopal church is blessed to have Tom.
Kim K.--I had only met Kim a hand-full of times before this trip. Right away, I knew she'd be cool because she went to Wittenberg. More seriously, it has been a blessing to see her quietness give way to smoking me in "parking-lot football." I'm inspired by her compassion and her stories from in the Peace Corps. in The Gambia.
Kim C.---Ahhh, the lone fellow senior! Kim was the really the one person I knew before this trip. It has been great see a glimpse of her as pastor, and not just as fellow-student (which I've seen the last 3.5 yrs.). I'm inspired by her dedication to disaster relief following hurricanes (I think this was her 7th hurricane relief effort). Kimi will make a great pastor as she pursues a Ph.D. Hopefully she won't end up in Nebraska (sorry an insider joke there).
Mary----Anyone could look at the age difference between Mary & me and think she's old enough to be my grandmother, but that didn't happen this week. In these days, Mary really became a sister in Christ to me. Mary has a great passion for people and their stories. She has an enormous heart and is always willing to share the story of Good News.
Bill & Dave---Two "tag-alongs" from Gathsemane (sp?) in Columbus. I'm moved by their dedication to bring the "stories of Katrina" to their congregation (they came to scope out the relief efforts ahead of time). For two older men (age is relative though), they can hang in with the best of us---working when we're all ready to pack in the van & better yet, they make it home on the "late van" from the French Quarters.
Leah--Of the people in our group, Leah is possibly one of the ones who surpsied me most. She is genuinely caring and compassionate for all people (Dancin' Del) and loves to sing their song (even if it isn't aloud--insider joke again). I've appreciated her willingness to "tell it like it is," and her passion to share the Good News with everyone she meets. I've been blessed with some of our talks on theology & sacraments--indeed a great pastor in the making (and she CAN actually sings the Kyrie!).
Pastor Ruth----A caring & compassion woman, and a faithful shepherd. I'm grateful she was my shepherd for this trip. I appreciate her patience (playing with a flat basketball, when maybe we should have been working), and her flexibility. I'm inspired by her stories of world travels & her dedication to help the church grow out of its shortcomings.
Pastor Keener & Pastor Barb (Peace) & Pastor Barb (Grace)-----
"Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you [Lord] are with me, (Ps. 23:4)."
When the waters came, many shepherds left their sheep. When the waters subsided, and the mold began to rise, more shepherds left their sheep. These three shepherds stayed, they stayed when the wolves of fear, depression and anger settled in, and they waded through the dibree of serving a crucifed community---filled with hope of our Resurrected Lord.
I'm anxious about how I'll react when I return to Columbus, it'll take some time to "unwrap" all I've seen & done. But I'm more excited for as much as I've seen Christ crucifed in this place, I know that he has risen!!
How will God use this experience to shape me as a pstor? Only time will tell, but I trust the as God has walked with me through this week, God will lead me on through the devastation & rebuilding of life.
"What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived what God has prepared for those who love the Lord, (1Cor. 2:9)."
Today, I grew for Jesus,
Adam
Not just thankful that in a couple of days I'll go back to a warm, carpeted, food-filled apartment; but above all from this experience, I'm thankful for the friendships & communities that God has blessed me with.
"My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all day long, (Ps. 71:8)."
I praise God for these people:
Nick--definately a new brother in Christ. He has the right jokes at the right time, always keeping the mood in the group light-hearted, but always willing to share a prophetic word. He is a life-loving and caring man of God. Patient with my horrible Euchre skills too (and of course a gracful winner in pie eating contests).
Halldor--It had been a blessign to serve with Halldor these days. He is the most caring, easy-going & gentle man. I can't really remember a time when he hasn't had a smile on his face, let alone get upset at anyone. Halldor is generous in sharing his time for everyone and is always first concerned with others feelings and confidence. Has a great gift at spakling. "Claim your confidence!" Thanks to Halldor, I will!
Tom---Eccumenical relationships can happen! Tom has been great in tolerating our "token Episcopalian" jokes, and once he's "warmed up," it's been hilarious to hear him "fighting back." Tom has great skills in the kitchen, and even though he wouldn't share his collared greems with me, he a great man. I've appreciated his intent on always learning more, and growing in his sense of being a pstor. The Episcopal church is blessed to have Tom.
Kim K.--I had only met Kim a hand-full of times before this trip. Right away, I knew she'd be cool because she went to Wittenberg. More seriously, it has been a blessing to see her quietness give way to smoking me in "parking-lot football." I'm inspired by her compassion and her stories from in the Peace Corps. in The Gambia.
Kim C.---Ahhh, the lone fellow senior! Kim was the really the one person I knew before this trip. It has been great see a glimpse of her as pastor, and not just as fellow-student (which I've seen the last 3.5 yrs.). I'm inspired by her dedication to disaster relief following hurricanes (I think this was her 7th hurricane relief effort). Kimi will make a great pastor as she pursues a Ph.D. Hopefully she won't end up in Nebraska (sorry an insider joke there).
Mary----Anyone could look at the age difference between Mary & me and think she's old enough to be my grandmother, but that didn't happen this week. In these days, Mary really became a sister in Christ to me. Mary has a great passion for people and their stories. She has an enormous heart and is always willing to share the story of Good News.
Bill & Dave---Two "tag-alongs" from Gathsemane (sp?) in Columbus. I'm moved by their dedication to bring the "stories of Katrina" to their congregation (they came to scope out the relief efforts ahead of time). For two older men (age is relative though), they can hang in with the best of us---working when we're all ready to pack in the van & better yet, they make it home on the "late van" from the French Quarters.
Leah--Of the people in our group, Leah is possibly one of the ones who surpsied me most. She is genuinely caring and compassionate for all people (Dancin' Del) and loves to sing their song (even if it isn't aloud--insider joke again). I've appreciated her willingness to "tell it like it is," and her passion to share the Good News with everyone she meets. I've been blessed with some of our talks on theology & sacraments--indeed a great pastor in the making (and she CAN actually sings the Kyrie!).
Pastor Ruth----A caring & compassion woman, and a faithful shepherd. I'm grateful she was my shepherd for this trip. I appreciate her patience (playing with a flat basketball, when maybe we should have been working), and her flexibility. I'm inspired by her stories of world travels & her dedication to help the church grow out of its shortcomings.
Pastor Keener & Pastor Barb (Peace) & Pastor Barb (Grace)-----
"Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you [Lord] are with me, (Ps. 23:4)."
When the waters came, many shepherds left their sheep. When the waters subsided, and the mold began to rise, more shepherds left their sheep. These three shepherds stayed, they stayed when the wolves of fear, depression and anger settled in, and they waded through the dibree of serving a crucifed community---filled with hope of our Resurrected Lord.
I'm anxious about how I'll react when I return to Columbus, it'll take some time to "unwrap" all I've seen & done. But I'm more excited for as much as I've seen Christ crucifed in this place, I know that he has risen!!
How will God use this experience to shape me as a pstor? Only time will tell, but I trust the as God has walked with me through this week, God will lead me on through the devastation & rebuilding of life.
"What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived what God has prepared for those who love the Lord, (1Cor. 2:9)."
Today, I grew for Jesus,
Adam
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Hope
All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. (Acts 2)
Last week was tough, listening to stories, meeting people, seeing the devastation and the horror of the storm and the flood. I have gone through stages of blaming, anger, and searching for explanations without much success. There is no way of finding a person to blame for Katrina, no way of making a one group of ethnic, age or economic status that the victims fit into. All kinds of people were touched, the only thing that they have in common is being hurt. Unable to deal with my thoughts in English I wrote few posts in Icelandic trying to cope with my emotions and the grief I felt.
It changed a bit yesterday when we met the women from Louisiana Spirit. Suddenly I saw some hope in the midst of this all. The women go from house to house (or from a FEMA-trailer to a FEMA-trailer) talking to people, getting stories, offering help in finding help and filling out forms for whatever. It was great to hear about social service, going out offering and helping, instead of responding only after the 2nd or 3rd appeal. After their introduction we had a day of, playing pool and drinking daiquiris, eating blackened alligator and listening to jazz. Going around in the French Quarter, were everything seems to be alive and kicking, was another beam of hope for this city unlike any other here in the States.
The third beam of hope was today in Bethlehem. After a service in the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in New Orleans we were invited to a Church Potluck. The people in the church brought out chairs and tables, served us soup, meat, vegetables, massed potatoes, pecan-pie, and sodas, and everyone seemed to get enough, and there was plenty left. While I sat there being offered one dish after the other my thoughts went from Bethlehem to Jerusalem, thinking about the church that ate together and had the goodwill of all the people. I felt I was part of that church, and it filled my with joy being asked to take out the trash, being able to be a small part of the generous church, that goes out to give. It was wonderful to be a part of the common church that worships, lives and serves together knowing that everyone is welcome to God’s table.
(Being able to show of some soccer skills wasn’t bad either.)
Righteous Branches
Today's Celebrate includes a picture of a righteous branch arising from a stump. With that picture, today's pastor shared the message of all of us, the people of God, serving as the righteous branch. Could we all be that righteous branch? Could we all be a source of hope and support for others? Could we all provide life and grace to others? The pastor reminded us that too often we look to others, we wait for orders and help to come from somewhere else. Too often we wonder where God works in the world. But, that righteous branch, the seeds of hope, a life-giving spirit comes from each and everyone of us. The message ringing in my ears today emphasized God's anointing of all of us, an anointing to go and serve the Lord and to be God's hands and feet in the world. There has definitely been opportunities for sharing life and love on our trip; each day has been full of opportunities to serve as branches to those in need. Each day we have been privileged to be a branch of listening and care as we share in the stories of those living in the aftermath of Katrina.
And we have definitely not been lacking in our own experiencing of grace and love by God's people. The southern hospitality continued this morning with a potluck - as I sat with members of the congregation I was in awe of their strength and resolve. Story after story I heard of evacuations, loss of belongings, houses and cars, and efforts to rebuild and continue with their life. I sat and listened and they shared their stories - I wonder if they know how much of a righteous branch they all truly are to those of us coming down to the area for a short time and leaving? I wonder if they realize the life and grace they exhibit by simply going on and living their lives to the fullest despite all the struggles and losses?
To continue my rejuvenation today, as we shopped throughout the open air market downtown, I found an African shop. Inside the familiar rhythm of drums echoed, I felt at home. The cashier, a young woman from Dakar, was a part of the ethnic tribe in which I spent two years with in Africa. I spent some minutes grinning from ear to ear and speaking Wollof. As with many African conversations we conversed about my favorite foods, dancing, big butts, what I missed about Gambia, as well as hearing of her experience with Katrina. Her and her husband have continued to work in their shop making a living and being a part of the community. I felt her presence as a righteous branch.
Blessings to you all as you serve as righteous branches and witness righteous branches within your community,
Kim Knowle
And we have definitely not been lacking in our own experiencing of grace and love by God's people. The southern hospitality continued this morning with a potluck - as I sat with members of the congregation I was in awe of their strength and resolve. Story after story I heard of evacuations, loss of belongings, houses and cars, and efforts to rebuild and continue with their life. I sat and listened and they shared their stories - I wonder if they know how much of a righteous branch they all truly are to those of us coming down to the area for a short time and leaving? I wonder if they realize the life and grace they exhibit by simply going on and living their lives to the fullest despite all the struggles and losses?
To continue my rejuvenation today, as we shopped throughout the open air market downtown, I found an African shop. Inside the familiar rhythm of drums echoed, I felt at home. The cashier, a young woman from Dakar, was a part of the ethnic tribe in which I spent two years with in Africa. I spent some minutes grinning from ear to ear and speaking Wollof. As with many African conversations we conversed about my favorite foods, dancing, big butts, what I missed about Gambia, as well as hearing of her experience with Katrina. Her and her husband have continued to work in their shop making a living and being a part of the community. I felt her presence as a righteous branch.
Blessings to you all as you serve as righteous branches and witness righteous branches within your community,
Kim Knowle
Family, Food, and Fine Music
Well, to celebrate our week of 'back-breaking' work, we took off Saturday afternoon for an afternoon and evening on the town. We went downtown to the French Quarter and just had a blast.
The bonus was that my sister, Kristen, who is working right now in Gulf Port, MS came out for a day to hang out. It was great to see her again, and to just run around the city with her and the rest of the gang.
We went from place to place sampling food, drink, music, and locals. One of our crew (who will remain nameless) asked at the VooDoo Museum if they did sacrifices...the poor cashier just picked up her book and told him he could leave nown. He was trying to be funny, but she didn't catch it. He apologized to her, and we all went on.
We at at Ralph & Kacoos which was divine! A bit out of my price range, but God does provide. Our waiter, Ryan was a gift. He was kind, and helpful, but also shared his story with us. At the end of our time there several of us were talking with him and we all held hands and prayed for each other. Ryan - God bless you on your nursing studies and reconnecting with your mum!
Then we went to Preservation Hall - the center of the heart beat of Jazz music. The set I sat in on was superb, and flowing! The clarinetist - Ralph was incredible!!! The mellow tone and the deep penetrating vibe that flowed from the bell....well, it was all it could be!
More to come...
The bonus was that my sister, Kristen, who is working right now in Gulf Port, MS came out for a day to hang out. It was great to see her again, and to just run around the city with her and the rest of the gang.
We went from place to place sampling food, drink, music, and locals. One of our crew (who will remain nameless) asked at the VooDoo Museum if they did sacrifices...the poor cashier just picked up her book and told him he could leave nown. He was trying to be funny, but she didn't catch it. He apologized to her, and we all went on.
We at at Ralph & Kacoos which was divine! A bit out of my price range, but God does provide. Our waiter, Ryan was a gift. He was kind, and helpful, but also shared his story with us. At the end of our time there several of us were talking with him and we all held hands and prayed for each other. Ryan - God bless you on your nursing studies and reconnecting with your mum!
Then we went to Preservation Hall - the center of the heart beat of Jazz music. The set I sat in on was superb, and flowing! The clarinetist - Ralph was incredible!!! The mellow tone and the deep penetrating vibe that flowed from the bell....well, it was all it could be!
More to come...
Tonight, Jesus Served Hush-Puppies
Last night, we a well-deserved and much needed "fun day" in the French Quarters. It was a great time simply enjoying the felllowship of the group & taking a break from seeing and talking about depressing things. The time was refreshing, renewing & renovating. But just when I thought the night couldn't get any better....
I met Jesus.
The entire gang had dinner at Ralph & Kacoos, a restaurant with fine dining & even better service. Our server, Ryan brought us cajun gator and excellent hush-puppies, fresh from the oven. Thoughout the meal, Ryan shared parts of his story; of moving to Maryland, and still dealing with his mother being in Texas, all while trying to get into nursing school. As we were talking on the way out...
I met Jesus.
Martin Luther once said that we are to be "little Christs" to one another, that when we serve others, we are kneeling for the "least of these" and serving Jesus. But all too often we overlook the other half of that imagery, for we're not only to serve others as if they themselves were our Lord, but also that we see Jessu in other people.
Last night, I met Jesus through Ryan.
As Ryan concluded his story, 5 of us sem' reps and Ryan joined together, standing on holy ground right in the middle of the restaurant and held hands and only by the power of the Holy Spirit, we thanked God and prayed for Ryan (I KNOW it was the Holy Spirit because 1. Lutherans do not pray outloud in public and 2. Lutherans really don't pray in the middle of a restaurant).
As we left the restaurant, I was on a "spiritual high." As we sat down for some great jazz at Preservation Hall, the first tune of "That Old Rugged Cross" reminded me just remzrkable our Savior is, holy yet humble.
Yes, that cross is rugged, splintered and bloodied, but the cross is also empty.
God defeated death as a promise that from anything, there can spring new life.
I know Jesus washed feet, but toinight I saw Jesus serve hush-puppies.
Fellowship For Jesus,
Adam
I met Jesus.
The entire gang had dinner at Ralph & Kacoos, a restaurant with fine dining & even better service. Our server, Ryan brought us cajun gator and excellent hush-puppies, fresh from the oven. Thoughout the meal, Ryan shared parts of his story; of moving to Maryland, and still dealing with his mother being in Texas, all while trying to get into nursing school. As we were talking on the way out...
I met Jesus.
Martin Luther once said that we are to be "little Christs" to one another, that when we serve others, we are kneeling for the "least of these" and serving Jesus. But all too often we overlook the other half of that imagery, for we're not only to serve others as if they themselves were our Lord, but also that we see Jessu in other people.
Last night, I met Jesus through Ryan.
As Ryan concluded his story, 5 of us sem' reps and Ryan joined together, standing on holy ground right in the middle of the restaurant and held hands and only by the power of the Holy Spirit, we thanked God and prayed for Ryan (I KNOW it was the Holy Spirit because 1. Lutherans do not pray outloud in public and 2. Lutherans really don't pray in the middle of a restaurant).
As we left the restaurant, I was on a "spiritual high." As we sat down for some great jazz at Preservation Hall, the first tune of "That Old Rugged Cross" reminded me just remzrkable our Savior is, holy yet humble.
Yes, that cross is rugged, splintered and bloodied, but the cross is also empty.
God defeated death as a promise that from anything, there can spring new life.
I know Jesus washed feet, but toinight I saw Jesus serve hush-puppies.
Fellowship For Jesus,
Adam
See Spot. See Spot Run.
Ask any of my friends and they will tell you I'm not a real pet lover. I've always thought my lifestyle was not conducive to having a pet. They can be awfully expensive and another responsibility that just ties you down. I've often questioned people's attachment to pets as if they were misplaced emotions better given over to human relationships. I never really understood the love people have for their pets.
Then came all of the Katrina stories involving pets. People overjoyed to find pets waiting for them at home weeks after they had to evacuate without them. People kept company by pets while they waited to be rescued only to be told they had to leave their pets behind. People twho crated their pets and headed out of town, perhaps leaving behind some other valuables because they didn't have room for them. People organized to feed pets found abandoned after the storm. People organized in attempts to reunite pets with their owners. People adopting pets who had lost home and owner. People who lost lives trying to save a pet or in staying in place because they could not bear to leave their pet behind.
You know I still don't understand it, but I do see that there is something there that I need to try to understand. The relationships are real. Perhaps people like me are the reason we are so disconnected from our environment these days. Perhaps if we shared the joy for other creatures of God's creation like these pet owners we wouldn't be facing so many environmental problems.
Perhaps I need to get a pet, most likely a dog. Perhaps the words: "See Spot. See Spot run." that helped me learn how to read 41 years ago can now teach me something new.
Then came all of the Katrina stories involving pets. People overjoyed to find pets waiting for them at home weeks after they had to evacuate without them. People kept company by pets while they waited to be rescued only to be told they had to leave their pets behind. People twho crated their pets and headed out of town, perhaps leaving behind some other valuables because they didn't have room for them. People organized to feed pets found abandoned after the storm. People organized in attempts to reunite pets with their owners. People adopting pets who had lost home and owner. People who lost lives trying to save a pet or in staying in place because they could not bear to leave their pet behind.
You know I still don't understand it, but I do see that there is something there that I need to try to understand. The relationships are real. Perhaps people like me are the reason we are so disconnected from our environment these days. Perhaps if we shared the joy for other creatures of God's creation like these pet owners we wouldn't be facing so many environmental problems.
Perhaps I need to get a pet, most likely a dog. Perhaps the words: "See Spot. See Spot run." that helped me learn how to read 41 years ago can now teach me something new.
No Pain No Gain
No I'm not Superman, and no I haven't sat idlely by watching others do all the work (though I am a good supervisor!) My muscles ache just like everyone else's.
The kind of pain I'm talking about is that of an emotional kind. I was beginning to have doubts about myself because my emotions were rather flat. I wasn't particularly angry or depressed. I don't remember tears flowing. Others seemed to be more easily touched than me. Was something wrong?
Two sleepless nights and trips to the sanctuary for prayer later, I finally realized that the experience was actually touching me very deeply. The swirl of stories and images in my mind constantly replaying like an old 8-Track tape (perhaps some of you remember these or have seen one) kept me awake as my mind tried unsuccessfully to figure it all out; to make sense of things.
After a day of mucking out, after moving stories, I have been moved to prayer in the sanctuary. I must have been moved somehow in those times, if my immediate response afterwards was to spend intimate time with the One who can make sense out of it all. Seeing the Lord in those telling stories or those being served led me directly to personal conversation with Jesus. I have been able to share my story with Him and the Holy Spirit has strengthened me for the days yet ahead.
I would say now that my pain is great and I have gained a lot.
The kind of pain I'm talking about is that of an emotional kind. I was beginning to have doubts about myself because my emotions were rather flat. I wasn't particularly angry or depressed. I don't remember tears flowing. Others seemed to be more easily touched than me. Was something wrong?
Two sleepless nights and trips to the sanctuary for prayer later, I finally realized that the experience was actually touching me very deeply. The swirl of stories and images in my mind constantly replaying like an old 8-Track tape (perhaps some of you remember these or have seen one) kept me awake as my mind tried unsuccessfully to figure it all out; to make sense of things.
After a day of mucking out, after moving stories, I have been moved to prayer in the sanctuary. I must have been moved somehow in those times, if my immediate response afterwards was to spend intimate time with the One who can make sense out of it all. Seeing the Lord in those telling stories or those being served led me directly to personal conversation with Jesus. I have been able to share my story with Him and the Holy Spirit has strengthened me for the days yet ahead.
I would say now that my pain is great and I have gained a lot.
Friday, December 8, 2006
When Jesus Gets Peed On
Tonight, we listened as a man told his story; of working for the Federal government in New Orleans and then his insideious exile to the North. While this man's testimony was moving, he shared a video with us of a woman's witness to the events in the convention center after the evacuation. I listened as this woman talked of women being raped in the bathrooms, of having to sleep on the floor soaked in urine because people stopped using the non-working restrooms; and then how eventually the people on the upper level started to urinate wherever they could, and literally urine rained on this woman. I must admit that after this woman's testimony, I didn't hear another word from our speaker. And quite honestly, while this man shared how laughter helped him to "go onward," the more jokes he told, and the louder everyone's laughter became, the less I wanted to laugh. The more the anger & bitterness rose up in me.
The crucified Christ came, and took hold of my heart, and took me where I did not want my mind to go.
All week, I've written blogs along the lines of "Behold I am making all things new." Yes that is true, but I (before this trip) like many others prefer an empty cross. We, like the disciples prefer to bail out and show up (or not) to the empty tomb on Easter. We do not like Good Friday, and we do not want to be around when the temple curtain is torn in two, and when it rains urine on people who have just been forced from their homes.
Emmanuel, "God with us." I know God is with us; in our good times and in our bad times, but what does that REALLY mean? What does it really mean that when women were being raped, and child molestors were roaming freely, and people were being peed on--Jesus was/is with them?
What does it mean that when it seems like no one loves us--when we even give up on ourselves, Jesus is standing in the utter silence saying, "Here I am child, have no fear."
Indeed, our hope is found in The God who uses death to overcome death. God has risen above the storms, turmoil, confusion and utter human failures of planning, government, and manipulation.
Through Jesus Christ, God coomes to be with us, but even more than that; Jesus comes to kneel down lower than our lowest. Jesus gets beneath the muck-saturated carpets, below the foundation of gutted homes. Jesus stoops beneath the ugliness of humanity while helpless people are raped and abused.
Jesus stoops beneath the puddles of urine in the convention center.
What if we were /are to stand with Jesus as it "rains pee" down on us?
The truth is, I know I can not do it. Simply hearing the woman's account through a VHS tape left me shaken, seeking refuge.
Indeed, I can not stand with the woman while it "rains," but by the power of the Holy Spirit, one day, maybe I could stand with this woman. But untili then, I cry out "Abba! Not my will, but your will be done!" Trusting that God will hold me up to be able to kneel beneath the filth, the ugliness and the puddles of urine in this world.
Here I stand, I can do no other!
Lord, help me to kneel beneath it all."
"Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death--even death on a cross, (Philippians 2:5-8)."
By the way, today we painited for Jesus,
Adam
The crucified Christ came, and took hold of my heart, and took me where I did not want my mind to go.
All week, I've written blogs along the lines of "Behold I am making all things new." Yes that is true, but I (before this trip) like many others prefer an empty cross. We, like the disciples prefer to bail out and show up (or not) to the empty tomb on Easter. We do not like Good Friday, and we do not want to be around when the temple curtain is torn in two, and when it rains urine on people who have just been forced from their homes.
Emmanuel, "God with us." I know God is with us; in our good times and in our bad times, but what does that REALLY mean? What does it really mean that when women were being raped, and child molestors were roaming freely, and people were being peed on--Jesus was/is with them?
What does it mean that when it seems like no one loves us--when we even give up on ourselves, Jesus is standing in the utter silence saying, "Here I am child, have no fear."
Indeed, our hope is found in The God who uses death to overcome death. God has risen above the storms, turmoil, confusion and utter human failures of planning, government, and manipulation.
Through Jesus Christ, God coomes to be with us, but even more than that; Jesus comes to kneel down lower than our lowest. Jesus gets beneath the muck-saturated carpets, below the foundation of gutted homes. Jesus stoops beneath the ugliness of humanity while helpless people are raped and abused.
Jesus stoops beneath the puddles of urine in the convention center.
What if we were /are to stand with Jesus as it "rains pee" down on us?
The truth is, I know I can not do it. Simply hearing the woman's account through a VHS tape left me shaken, seeking refuge.
Indeed, I can not stand with the woman while it "rains," but by the power of the Holy Spirit, one day, maybe I could stand with this woman. But untili then, I cry out "Abba! Not my will, but your will be done!" Trusting that God will hold me up to be able to kneel beneath the filth, the ugliness and the puddles of urine in this world.
Here I stand, I can do no other!
Lord, help me to kneel beneath it all."
"Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death--even death on a cross, (Philippians 2:5-8)."
By the way, today we painited for Jesus,
Adam
How to scare a raccoon.
We all sat helplessly tonight being sucked into Mike Smith's world of hurricanes, cats, pink flamingos, FEMA trailers, and political madness. Mike Smith, a man who sounds as if he's smoked 2 packs of Marlboros a day for the last 35 years, showed up toting a brown paper grocery bag. There is nothing spectacular about this man, his khaki and olive plaid shirt did nothing to hint at his hidden charisma. His ginger mustache blended in with his oversized square frame spectacles, which all blended into the background of middle class, 40-something, white American-male. But don't let his gentle facade fool you. This man knows a thing or two about living, and what shyness he may first exude is quickly squashed by the sweet southern lisp of his passionate storytelling.
Now I am a romantic at heart, and I was Mike's most willing victim tonight. His story begins with his Exodus out of Egypt (New Orleans), which on the morning of August 29th (the day Katrina hit), took him more than 26 hours of straight driving time to reach the promise land. For Mike and many like him, escaping New Orleans was like slow mental torture. Stuck on the interstate for 7 hours moving only 25 miles, watching people defecate out of the sides of their car windows, drinking beers out of their trunks and all the while seeing the encroaching blackness of the storm swell up in the rear-view mirror.
Mike was one of the "lucky ones;" if you can call losing your home lucky. He was alive, living in exile with all the other hundreds of thousands of New Orleaneans and Mississippians- waiting for the return home from Babylon; waiting to reach the promise land, which ironically was the very land all were trying to escape. And the promise land for all the natives here is pock marked with thousands of white boxed trailers, scattered tree limbs, piles upon piles of trash and refuse, broken glass, roaming cats and dogs, empty buildings, construction barrels and bobcat cranes... etc- the land of milk and honey (shrimp and crawdads) is a desolate land of poverty and homelessness.
So, 15 months later, Mike is back. He is working and doing well- enough. What is so impressive about this man is not that he is one of those Katrina victims, but that he has chosen laughter to ride out the storm. Sure, none of this was funny at first, and the loss of it all is still tremendously burdensome on the souls of these people. But part of the spirit down here is to say "stick it to you 'll" and that's where the laughter comes. It is funny because none of this makes sense. There is no logic in the human mind to put together the enormity of the loss and ensuing confusion and frustration. A whole generation of people have been washed away- is that possible?
So how do you get the nail out of your car tire? Well somehow it involves buying flood insurance.
How does one scare away a raccoon? -
Mike was sitting on the stoop of his FEMA trailer last summer- in the heat of August cooking a slab of ribs. Now if you've ever been in one of these trailers, you know that there is not enough room to fully wipe your own ass let alone cook a meal comfortably in 105 degree heat- with a 100% humidity.
We learned quickly down here that rats have taken over. What the city has lost in human population, it has compensated for in rodent population. "It's like there was a war and the rats are saying "we finally got the houses!"
That August night, Mike was cooking his ribs and a curious raccoon came upon him, wanting a portion of the meal. Mike, helpless and weaponless began shooing away the creature with his only defense, the barbeque tongs. The animal was not dissuade and became even more so intereseted in the goings-ons, when barbeque sauce started flying everywhere. Creeping closer, Mike became truly frightened and grabbed the closest thing he could find that didn't have any food on it, a pink flamingo.
When Mike moved into his FEMA trailer 6 months prior to this Raccoon Ribfest- his coworkers sent him a token of their love- a box full of pink flamingos- to inaugurate the white trash FEMA trailer existence. Perhaps he didn't appreciate it then, but on this night the pink flamingo did more than bring down the property value in that neighborhood.
"Swish... Bop!" The hollow pink plastic cavity of the bird's belly landed squarely on the masked face of the raccoon, and off it ran, scittering away to the next trailer- one of the 30 down the street.
This is one of Mike's many stories. He is a Katrina Man, a son of the hurricane covered in the mud, muck, and the seaweed and slime, telling a story of a people trying desperately to survive. When the governmental agencies fail, when the social service agencies stop working, when the church doors close, when the Zanex and prozac stop cutting it, when the lines at Mc Donalds just get too long... there is always laughter. It is their way of saying "screw you, I am going to survive this shithole of a life I now live."
Perhaps this isn't the most reverent prayer, perhaps praying through laughter isn't too productive, but there is healing there. God is in that laughter for all of us saying "Yes my Children! I didn't want this for you either, let's get through this together. I am going to be with you the whole time making this better." And for Christians, we can laugh a little more heartily at life because we have seen the glimpse of the better life, we know what is coming for us. So even when we are all bogged down in the rats and mold, fighting life away with lawn ornaments, we are able to look ahead and laugh away the present... saying "Yes Father! I want what you've got to give! Let's get to making this better!"
Leah Whitaker
Now I am a romantic at heart, and I was Mike's most willing victim tonight. His story begins with his Exodus out of Egypt (New Orleans), which on the morning of August 29th (the day Katrina hit), took him more than 26 hours of straight driving time to reach the promise land. For Mike and many like him, escaping New Orleans was like slow mental torture. Stuck on the interstate for 7 hours moving only 25 miles, watching people defecate out of the sides of their car windows, drinking beers out of their trunks and all the while seeing the encroaching blackness of the storm swell up in the rear-view mirror.
Mike was one of the "lucky ones;" if you can call losing your home lucky. He was alive, living in exile with all the other hundreds of thousands of New Orleaneans and Mississippians- waiting for the return home from Babylon; waiting to reach the promise land, which ironically was the very land all were trying to escape. And the promise land for all the natives here is pock marked with thousands of white boxed trailers, scattered tree limbs, piles upon piles of trash and refuse, broken glass, roaming cats and dogs, empty buildings, construction barrels and bobcat cranes... etc- the land of milk and honey (shrimp and crawdads) is a desolate land of poverty and homelessness.
So, 15 months later, Mike is back. He is working and doing well- enough. What is so impressive about this man is not that he is one of those Katrina victims, but that he has chosen laughter to ride out the storm. Sure, none of this was funny at first, and the loss of it all is still tremendously burdensome on the souls of these people. But part of the spirit down here is to say "stick it to you 'll" and that's where the laughter comes. It is funny because none of this makes sense. There is no logic in the human mind to put together the enormity of the loss and ensuing confusion and frustration. A whole generation of people have been washed away- is that possible?
So how do you get the nail out of your car tire? Well somehow it involves buying flood insurance.
How does one scare away a raccoon? -
Mike was sitting on the stoop of his FEMA trailer last summer- in the heat of August cooking a slab of ribs. Now if you've ever been in one of these trailers, you know that there is not enough room to fully wipe your own ass let alone cook a meal comfortably in 105 degree heat- with a 100% humidity.
We learned quickly down here that rats have taken over. What the city has lost in human population, it has compensated for in rodent population. "It's like there was a war and the rats are saying "we finally got the houses!"
That August night, Mike was cooking his ribs and a curious raccoon came upon him, wanting a portion of the meal. Mike, helpless and weaponless began shooing away the creature with his only defense, the barbeque tongs. The animal was not dissuade and became even more so intereseted in the goings-ons, when barbeque sauce started flying everywhere. Creeping closer, Mike became truly frightened and grabbed the closest thing he could find that didn't have any food on it, a pink flamingo.
When Mike moved into his FEMA trailer 6 months prior to this Raccoon Ribfest- his coworkers sent him a token of their love- a box full of pink flamingos- to inaugurate the white trash FEMA trailer existence. Perhaps he didn't appreciate it then, but on this night the pink flamingo did more than bring down the property value in that neighborhood.
"Swish... Bop!" The hollow pink plastic cavity of the bird's belly landed squarely on the masked face of the raccoon, and off it ran, scittering away to the next trailer- one of the 30 down the street.
This is one of Mike's many stories. He is a Katrina Man, a son of the hurricane covered in the mud, muck, and the seaweed and slime, telling a story of a people trying desperately to survive. When the governmental agencies fail, when the social service agencies stop working, when the church doors close, when the Zanex and prozac stop cutting it, when the lines at Mc Donalds just get too long... there is always laughter. It is their way of saying "screw you, I am going to survive this shithole of a life I now live."
Perhaps this isn't the most reverent prayer, perhaps praying through laughter isn't too productive, but there is healing there. God is in that laughter for all of us saying "Yes my Children! I didn't want this for you either, let's get through this together. I am going to be with you the whole time making this better." And for Christians, we can laugh a little more heartily at life because we have seen the glimpse of the better life, we know what is coming for us. So even when we are all bogged down in the rats and mold, fighting life away with lawn ornaments, we are able to look ahead and laugh away the present... saying "Yes Father! I want what you've got to give! Let's get to making this better!"
Leah Whitaker
"I feel like I owe it to others to give back."
Our speaker tonight, Mike, shared humorously and honestly of his story and the story of countless others who endured, survived and are still living in the aftermath of Katrina. After a day of painting and helping create the living space for future LDR volunteers, we spent the evening listening to Mike. Through it all I feel compelled to share the story of all of us Trinity students and the stories of so many people down here. With hope, Mike shared his desire to help others as he has been similarly helped in his life with clothing, money, support and friendship.
Over and over again we've been informed of the devastation and catastrophe that has occurred here in the south - our minds are full of statistics and facts that boggle the mind. We have pictures of people, families and animals struggling for survival, living amidst debris and clinging to anything that is of some kind of normal. However, tonight, Mike laughed, we laughed.
I left the speaker again full of sadness but more importantly, full of hope. It was a hope rooted in his ability to continually reach out to others amidst his own need. There was a hope for the future as we heard of others coming to strangers and neighbors in a spirit of camaraderie. And there is hope in our group as we are here sharing with each other, living in community, witnessing the destruction and finding the joy and spirit of giving within ourselves and those living here in the New Orleans area.
So, Mike is an animal lover - because of the support he received regarding his own animals and housing situation, he has dedicated some of his time and energy to volunteering at a local animal agency working to reunite animals and their owners. One simple act by one person rippled to another so that many more can take part in the sharing and caring.
I'm reminded of my last night in my village in The Gambia: sitting outside for dinner with the women, one girl turned to me and told me to look at the moon. She commented that the next day when I would not be in village with them, during dinner, I was to look at the moon and remember that the same moon shining over me then was the same moon shining over them as well. We all live under the same moon - and as I'm living and working in New Orleans for this short period of time, I can look to the moon and know that the same moon shines here as in Ohio. When I arrive back home, distance may separate me but the moon still shines. All us Trinity folk feel compelled to share the story of the people of New Orleans. We share the same moon. Next time you happen to be outside and under the beauty and light of the moon, remember your neighbors and fellow humans under that same moon. Remember the times of pain or sadness when you received hope and then share that hope with others.
Peace,
Kim Knowle
Over and over again we've been informed of the devastation and catastrophe that has occurred here in the south - our minds are full of statistics and facts that boggle the mind. We have pictures of people, families and animals struggling for survival, living amidst debris and clinging to anything that is of some kind of normal. However, tonight, Mike laughed, we laughed.
I left the speaker again full of sadness but more importantly, full of hope. It was a hope rooted in his ability to continually reach out to others amidst his own need. There was a hope for the future as we heard of others coming to strangers and neighbors in a spirit of camaraderie. And there is hope in our group as we are here sharing with each other, living in community, witnessing the destruction and finding the joy and spirit of giving within ourselves and those living here in the New Orleans area.
So, Mike is an animal lover - because of the support he received regarding his own animals and housing situation, he has dedicated some of his time and energy to volunteering at a local animal agency working to reunite animals and their owners. One simple act by one person rippled to another so that many more can take part in the sharing and caring.
I'm reminded of my last night in my village in The Gambia: sitting outside for dinner with the women, one girl turned to me and told me to look at the moon. She commented that the next day when I would not be in village with them, during dinner, I was to look at the moon and remember that the same moon shining over me then was the same moon shining over them as well. We all live under the same moon - and as I'm living and working in New Orleans for this short period of time, I can look to the moon and know that the same moon shines here as in Ohio. When I arrive back home, distance may separate me but the moon still shines. All us Trinity folk feel compelled to share the story of the people of New Orleans. We share the same moon. Next time you happen to be outside and under the beauty and light of the moon, remember your neighbors and fellow humans under that same moon. Remember the times of pain or sadness when you received hope and then share that hope with others.
Peace,
Kim Knowle
From our speaker tonight, Mike Smith
"Okay so I have a nail in my tire, which is common these days, as my coworker is on her sixth tire nail. All the debris and roofs and houses being torn down: lots of nails around.
Firestone downtown said to have my car there at 7am but they couldn't promise it would be done in tow or three days. Also, they recommended getting in line around 6am, that waiting until 7am wouldn't work. In fact, he said, most people are getting there around 5:30am and waiting until 7am.
So a friend recommended a Shell station uptown, so I drove there at lunch, but they were bulldozing some houses, so I got stuck in traffic for one hour.
When I got to the Shell station, they said they had 15 cars with nails in tires ahead of me, but that I could probably pick up my car on Friday if I wanted to leave it there.
So on the way back I stop at McDonalds and parked to go into the lobby because the drive thru line was backed into the street, about 20 cars deep.
The sign on the door said "Dirve Thru Only."
(The problem is there are no laborers, because there's no place to live.)
So I get back in my truck and to to the Burger King because the drive thru didn't look too bad. The lobby was packed. I get into the drive through lane, and there's a sign that says, "Drive Thru Closed - Lobby Only."
So I decide to skip lunch today and go back to work, and my cell pone rings. It is my neighbor telling me that the FEMA trailer next to us was broken into and cops were everywhere and they arrested two guys from Nicaragua who don't speak English. They were debris removers but they had been fired.
So I called Circuit City because a security company recommended a security system you could rig on the FEMA trailers for only $300. They said they had sold out of them becasue of all the FEMA trailer break-ins, but I could put my name on a list and they should have them in six weeks.
So I called my insurance company to make sure everything in the trailer would be insured and they said no, you had to get a new "Certificate of Elevation" for flood insurance on the FEMA trailer. I said I didn't care about flood, that I wanted theft coverage. They said they were onloy doing umbrella type policies on FEMA trailers because most of the inhabitants had received SBA lons and therefore required flood insurance.
So I called a company that does flood elevation certificates on FEMA trailers and they said I need to pay them $400 up front, and they would have the certificate ready to be picked up in about 8 to 10 weeks.
This is how you deal with a nail in your tire in the New New Orleans."
Mike Smith - 3/13/2006
Firestone downtown said to have my car there at 7am but they couldn't promise it would be done in tow or three days. Also, they recommended getting in line around 6am, that waiting until 7am wouldn't work. In fact, he said, most people are getting there around 5:30am and waiting until 7am.
So a friend recommended a Shell station uptown, so I drove there at lunch, but they were bulldozing some houses, so I got stuck in traffic for one hour.
When I got to the Shell station, they said they had 15 cars with nails in tires ahead of me, but that I could probably pick up my car on Friday if I wanted to leave it there.
So on the way back I stop at McDonalds and parked to go into the lobby because the drive thru line was backed into the street, about 20 cars deep.
The sign on the door said "Dirve Thru Only."
(The problem is there are no laborers, because there's no place to live.)
So I get back in my truck and to to the Burger King because the drive thru didn't look too bad. The lobby was packed. I get into the drive through lane, and there's a sign that says, "Drive Thru Closed - Lobby Only."
So I decide to skip lunch today and go back to work, and my cell pone rings. It is my neighbor telling me that the FEMA trailer next to us was broken into and cops were everywhere and they arrested two guys from Nicaragua who don't speak English. They were debris removers but they had been fired.
So I called Circuit City because a security company recommended a security system you could rig on the FEMA trailers for only $300. They said they had sold out of them becasue of all the FEMA trailer break-ins, but I could put my name on a list and they should have them in six weeks.
So I called my insurance company to make sure everything in the trailer would be insured and they said no, you had to get a new "Certificate of Elevation" for flood insurance on the FEMA trailer. I said I didn't care about flood, that I wanted theft coverage. They said they were onloy doing umbrella type policies on FEMA trailers because most of the inhabitants had received SBA lons and therefore required flood insurance.
So I called a company that does flood elevation certificates on FEMA trailers and they said I need to pay them $400 up front, and they would have the certificate ready to be picked up in about 8 to 10 weeks.
This is how you deal with a nail in your tire in the New New Orleans."
Mike Smith - 3/13/2006
Thursday, December 7, 2006
3 Trucks of Trees and a Lot of Debris
I am so proud of the seminarians on this trip for all the hard work they have done and with a spirit of willingness and cooperation. It has been a Godsend to have two members from Gethsemane with us, too. They have some engineering skills and have helped us on numerous occasions to know what to do and how to do it. Lugging the huge living room carpet to the curb was a real group effort. From smashing up a bathtub, to removing insulation and a million nails they have worked in the muck without a complaint.
Yesterday in the neighborhood where we were mucking out a house a crew of tree removers was at work. I saw 3 big truck loads of tree limbs and stumps cut and sawed and hauled away. That was three truck loads out of thousands. There are few trees left standing. How hot the summer will be without the shade of trees and bushes on people's patios and avenues. The number of trees still down or just now dying is staggering. And so many trees left standing are half the height they were before the storms.
There are so many parallels to the exile in Exodus or the fall of Jerusalem and people living in diaspora. The shell of a city remains, but where have all the people gone? Some are rebuilding because they didn't have flood insurance and can't take on a second mortgage. Miles of apartments are emptied out. Boats are still on top of levees or along the road. Houses that once stood on the bayou on stilts are gone, but miles of wooden stilts stand sillouetted against the horizon. A few businesses are opening up each week. Fireman and schools are in FEMA trailers like the people who have gotten them to live in. Those trailers are so small. Some have had walls cave in. Others leak. Others stand in a field along Highway 59 never delivered.
I wish every church in America would send a crew to work on at least one house.
Students and church groups seem to be the ones doing the most. We only saw government workers working on bridges, levees, and demolition crews in the poor 9th ward.
Tomorrow we will paint walls at a Lutheran Disaster Response Center being built to house volunteers for years to come.
By the way, we are eating some great food. That hasn't changed. A member of the church who is a political science retired prof from LSU invited us for jambalaya on Monday. Their house was not flooded but they lost 50 trees in their yard that backs up to bayou/swamp. He showed us pictures of the mama alligator who laid 53 eggs in his compost heap. They were carefully removed and 43 of them hatched. Mama Gator was relocated, too. Life in the south, oh my!
We are all well and looking forward to the speakers we have lined up over the weekend.
Peace, Pastor Ruth
Yesterday in the neighborhood where we were mucking out a house a crew of tree removers was at work. I saw 3 big truck loads of tree limbs and stumps cut and sawed and hauled away. That was three truck loads out of thousands. There are few trees left standing. How hot the summer will be without the shade of trees and bushes on people's patios and avenues. The number of trees still down or just now dying is staggering. And so many trees left standing are half the height they were before the storms.
There are so many parallels to the exile in Exodus or the fall of Jerusalem and people living in diaspora. The shell of a city remains, but where have all the people gone? Some are rebuilding because they didn't have flood insurance and can't take on a second mortgage. Miles of apartments are emptied out. Boats are still on top of levees or along the road. Houses that once stood on the bayou on stilts are gone, but miles of wooden stilts stand sillouetted against the horizon. A few businesses are opening up each week. Fireman and schools are in FEMA trailers like the people who have gotten them to live in. Those trailers are so small. Some have had walls cave in. Others leak. Others stand in a field along Highway 59 never delivered.
I wish every church in America would send a crew to work on at least one house.
Students and church groups seem to be the ones doing the most. We only saw government workers working on bridges, levees, and demolition crews in the poor 9th ward.
Tomorrow we will paint walls at a Lutheran Disaster Response Center being built to house volunteers for years to come.
By the way, we are eating some great food. That hasn't changed. A member of the church who is a political science retired prof from LSU invited us for jambalaya on Monday. Their house was not flooded but they lost 50 trees in their yard that backs up to bayou/swamp. He showed us pictures of the mama alligator who laid 53 eggs in his compost heap. They were carefully removed and 43 of them hatched. Mama Gator was relocated, too. Life in the south, oh my!
We are all well and looking forward to the speakers we have lined up over the weekend.
Peace, Pastor Ruth
Incomprehensible...
We have finished the mucking. And you know, even though we have done it - it all doesn't make sense. Truly, as I was hammering the tile floor of the shower, or ripping the lighting fixtures down from the ceiling, pulling nail after nail, and sweeping each room for the hundreth time I don't have a word to say. What can one say - except get down here!! Send money!! Keep praying!! Send food, clthing, blankets!! Write your senators/congressperson, president, governors, mayors, bishops, who ever has ears. Make sure that they do not forget the current hell that is the devasted areas destroyed by Katrina and Rita.
The statement, "They should be over this. " Or "They should be able to take care fo themselves." Or "The government officials screwed it up, let them fix it." Just don't hold water. You cannot even imagine your entire life and world destroyed - you whole house, and your belongings. But also your neighbors, the local stores, the factory where you earned your income, the post office, the police station, the schools. EVERYTHING! It is not just as simple as rebuilding a house. It is rebuilding a life, a city, a county, a world.
And until this area (and truly all areas affected by other disasters - natural or human-made) are rebuilt, and back to life - none of us, as fellow citizens of this planet and children of our Creator God can sit back and a do nothing. In fact, we are called all the more to do something - even just pulling out a few nails in the final stretch of a muck-out. This is what we are called to do. Let's get up and do it! Together and by and in the grace of God!
Whew...and I thought I had nothing to say! (Those of you who know me, knew that couldn't be.)
Kim Conway
The statement, "They should be over this. " Or "They should be able to take care fo themselves." Or "The government officials screwed it up, let them fix it." Just don't hold water. You cannot even imagine your entire life and world destroyed - you whole house, and your belongings. But also your neighbors, the local stores, the factory where you earned your income, the post office, the police station, the schools. EVERYTHING! It is not just as simple as rebuilding a house. It is rebuilding a life, a city, a county, a world.
And until this area (and truly all areas affected by other disasters - natural or human-made) are rebuilt, and back to life - none of us, as fellow citizens of this planet and children of our Creator God can sit back and a do nothing. In fact, we are called all the more to do something - even just pulling out a few nails in the final stretch of a muck-out. This is what we are called to do. Let's get up and do it! Together and by and in the grace of God!
Whew...and I thought I had nothing to say! (Those of you who know me, knew that couldn't be.)
Kim Conway
99 Drywall Nails on the Wall
99 (x1000) drywall nails on the wall, 99 drywall nails on the wall. pull one out let it drop to the floor, 98 (x1000) drywall nails on the wall. . . Its a song similar song to "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall", but with a few more verses.
Today we finished our mucking out experience. A once beautiful house, ripped by hurricane winds and flooded with canal waters now stands stripped to the studs. Doors and windows out or open now offering hospitality to the next likely guests, copper thieves who will strip the house further of all its copper pipes.
Now stuctural engineers will inspect the house for soundness (and it will probably pass) and then a new owner for the present one plans to sell will rebuild and renovate and out of death will come new life.
Without faith one might find only despair and devastation here, but with faith one sees resurrection signs everywhere. Faith brings hope that all that has been brought low might be raised up.
Tom Fehr
Today we finished our mucking out experience. A once beautiful house, ripped by hurricane winds and flooded with canal waters now stands stripped to the studs. Doors and windows out or open now offering hospitality to the next likely guests, copper thieves who will strip the house further of all its copper pipes.
Now stuctural engineers will inspect the house for soundness (and it will probably pass) and then a new owner for the present one plans to sell will rebuild and renovate and out of death will come new life.
Without faith one might find only despair and devastation here, but with faith one sees resurrection signs everywhere. Faith brings hope that all that has been brought low might be raised up.
Tom Fehr
Mucking out
I have put a few pictures on my flickr-account. Those pictures are only a small example of the few hundred we have taken last week.
Feel free to look at our house-mucking pictures at:
http://flickr.com/photos/halldor-elias/sets/72157594410184097/
Feel free to look at our house-mucking pictures at:
http://flickr.com/photos/halldor-elias/sets/72157594410184097/
Northshore Ramblers
Every Tuesday a group called the Northshore Ramblers gather in the sanctuary of Peace Lutheran Church to play a little music, catch up on the happenings of the week and to support each other.
This past Tuesday, I had the opportunity to sit back and enjoy 2 hours of bluegrass and folk music with a little Christmas music thrown in the mix. Going aroung the circle, each person would take turns calling out the next song, but not before a little conversation took place. Some of the members were old regulars and a few were recent additions. Some even learned to play in the group.
It was especially moving when one of the old regulars that had moved to northern Mississippi after Katrina stopped in for a visit. He was greated with open hearts. Friends caught up with each other and then someone handed him a guitar and he joined right in calling the next song just as if he had never moved.
That's the way it is here now. Some have stayed on others have had to move on, but there was no bitterness or feelings of abandonment. It's just the way it is. There was joy and melancholly that night. The music expressed both. It was a means of celebration and healing.
This past Tuesday, I had the opportunity to sit back and enjoy 2 hours of bluegrass and folk music with a little Christmas music thrown in the mix. Going aroung the circle, each person would take turns calling out the next song, but not before a little conversation took place. Some of the members were old regulars and a few were recent additions. Some even learned to play in the group.
It was especially moving when one of the old regulars that had moved to northern Mississippi after Katrina stopped in for a visit. He was greated with open hearts. Friends caught up with each other and then someone handed him a guitar and he joined right in calling the next song just as if he had never moved.
That's the way it is here now. Some have stayed on others have had to move on, but there was no bitterness or feelings of abandonment. It's just the way it is. There was joy and melancholly that night. The music expressed both. It was a means of celebration and healing.
Stripping Down
Today, we finished mucking out Bret's house. I was sent up to the attic to remove the final slabs of insulating. As I finished stripping the insulation from the heating ducts, I thought of how "this is the end." As NIck & I demolished the last piece in removing the stairs to the attic, I thought, "Wow, this place is stripped."
What had once been Bret's home, was now a shell of a building. No sinks, no showers, no drywall, no carpet. Just a shell-- stripped, vulnerable and barren.
But that's not the end of the story.
When I finished the attic, the entire group joined in on the clean-up effort. Then finally after sweeping clean the inside, we were finished.
We were finished "preparing hope" for the next family/people who would purchase this home from Bret.
What had been one person's shell of hoplessness, might one day become a great potential for hope & new life for the next inhabbitor.
I thank God for stripping down.
I thank God for stripping me down of my anxieties & prejudices of living with peolpe (few of whom I'd met) for two weeks. God has given me great & new friendships & strengthened old ones.
I thank God for stripping away my perceptions of what is or is not being done down here in "The Big Easy." God has given me the strength & faith to re-submit my papers to Chicago, so that I may submit the Gulf Coast as a perference, especially Disaster Response.
Finally, I thank God for stripping me daily of my sins, my shortcomings, and my growing edges.
Daily God strips me of what I thought I knew as "enough," and provides me with more knowledge, more faith, and more growth.
If only stripping down didn't seem quite so depressing or lonely, maybe we could all enjoy the potential in our lives for God to reconstruct new hope in our hearts, where we once thought nothing else could be done.
Stripping pipes for Jesus,
Adam F.
What had once been Bret's home, was now a shell of a building. No sinks, no showers, no drywall, no carpet. Just a shell-- stripped, vulnerable and barren.
But that's not the end of the story.
When I finished the attic, the entire group joined in on the clean-up effort. Then finally after sweeping clean the inside, we were finished.
We were finished "preparing hope" for the next family/people who would purchase this home from Bret.
What had been one person's shell of hoplessness, might one day become a great potential for hope & new life for the next inhabbitor.
I thank God for stripping down.
I thank God for stripping me down of my anxieties & prejudices of living with peolpe (few of whom I'd met) for two weeks. God has given me great & new friendships & strengthened old ones.
I thank God for stripping away my perceptions of what is or is not being done down here in "The Big Easy." God has given me the strength & faith to re-submit my papers to Chicago, so that I may submit the Gulf Coast as a perference, especially Disaster Response.
Finally, I thank God for stripping me daily of my sins, my shortcomings, and my growing edges.
Daily God strips me of what I thought I knew as "enough," and provides me with more knowledge, more faith, and more growth.
If only stripping down didn't seem quite so depressing or lonely, maybe we could all enjoy the potential in our lives for God to reconstruct new hope in our hearts, where we once thought nothing else could be done.
Stripping pipes for Jesus,
Adam F.
Dude, it's not bologna...
As I was eating lunch today, wondering to myself what kind of meat is actually in the pre-made, and delicious sandwich, I wondered where Jesus would be if he was in New Orleans today. I thought of all the places he might be... would he be swinging a sledge hammer next to me trying to demolish a cast-iron bathtub? or would Jesus be moving concrete blocks in Mississippi? Or would he be sitting in a FEMA trailer just listening (I'm so proud of you Mary!), maybe Jesus would be in the French Quarter doing magical tricks with a cowboy hat turned up-side trying to raise money for a shelter? Or maybe he would be in the ninth-ward living in a mucked out house which acts as a shelter/a pantry/ and a place just to come for help. Just maybe Jesus would be preparing dinner for a group of volunteers, and sharing in conversation. Maybe Jesus would turn his back and say, "It's not one of my gifts"... but I seriously doubt that. Maybe Jesus would turn the lights out in the bathroom while Halldor is still going... probably not, but I thought it was funny! (And Jenny, I know you are reading this, I just want to tell you that your husband is the coolest guy alive; I love talking to him, and having fun with him) Maybe Jesus would be in a FEMA trailer park, where drug and alcohol abuse are on the rise, and where suicides are up 900%.
The truth is, there is just so much that needs to be done here, I just don't know where Jesus would start. But I do know that Jesus is here, and has started. He is with me with every twirl of the sledge, he is with the Neubauer's as they open their home to make volunteers feel welcome, he is with the Common-Ground relief in the 9th ward, he is in Mississippi with Barb and Mary, and he is with those who are making sandwiches with some kind of tasty meat. The truth is, if you help someone help another,(make them lunch, etc.) then you are helping. What New Orleans needs right now, is the help of everyone... And I mean everyone. If you can't come down, send a check, if you can't send a check, send a blanket, if you can't send a blanket, say a prayer.
I know in my times of need Jesus is there, and usually a friend calls me right when I need it or something like that... We had a discussion, we wondered if anyone other than our class was actually reading our blog, and our hope was yes... so if you are reading this, no matter where you are, in Israel or Columbus, Hawaii or the moon... please help out anyway you can. Be like Mary, somehow we need to let the people of New Orleans know that Jesus is with them in their time of need.
Okay, time for the joke of the day... told this morning by someone who will remain anonymous...
A lady is on her way to church, when she falls and rips her dress... she gets herself back up and cleans herself off... she is about to walk in to the sanctuary when she sees an usher, she says,"Is Mass out yet? He replies, "No, but your dress is ripped"....
That's all I got... Peace to all you are reading!
The truth is, there is just so much that needs to be done here, I just don't know where Jesus would start. But I do know that Jesus is here, and has started. He is with me with every twirl of the sledge, he is with the Neubauer's as they open their home to make volunteers feel welcome, he is with the Common-Ground relief in the 9th ward, he is in Mississippi with Barb and Mary, and he is with those who are making sandwiches with some kind of tasty meat. The truth is, if you help someone help another,(make them lunch, etc.) then you are helping. What New Orleans needs right now, is the help of everyone... And I mean everyone. If you can't come down, send a check, if you can't send a check, send a blanket, if you can't send a blanket, say a prayer.
I know in my times of need Jesus is there, and usually a friend calls me right when I need it or something like that... We had a discussion, we wondered if anyone other than our class was actually reading our blog, and our hope was yes... so if you are reading this, no matter where you are, in Israel or Columbus, Hawaii or the moon... please help out anyway you can. Be like Mary, somehow we need to let the people of New Orleans know that Jesus is with them in their time of need.
Okay, time for the joke of the day... told this morning by someone who will remain anonymous...
A lady is on her way to church, when she falls and rips her dress... she gets herself back up and cleans herself off... she is about to walk in to the sanctuary when she sees an usher, she says,"Is Mass out yet? He replies, "No, but your dress is ripped"....
That's all I got... Peace to all you are reading!
Wednesday, December 6, 2006
Mucking is Sacramental
This evening we met with Rev. Rob Moore, an Assistant to the Bishop of the Louisianna/Texas Gulf Coast Synod. He had many great things to say, however one of my beloved "sisters" brought up a question which led to a brief discussion of "What is the role of the church?" "Worship or Social Service?" "Providing food & blankets or distributing the sacraments?"
Now I know any good Lutheran would say "both and," and I know social involvement and worship can both exist....but read on.
Yes, there are 2 ways in which God becomes "tangible" through bread, wine & water, combined with the Word; which give us the clearest "face-to-face" with God.
Yet, consider this....
++ Jesus criticized the scribes & pharisees (leaders of the "church" of their time) for not
"going out" and "reaching out" to the leppers, orphans, blind and the list goes on.
++ Martin Luther attempted to reform the church because it had become too inward
focused, and had neglected the poverty-stricken peasants.
++During this course/mission trip, I've seen with my own eyes how many people have
forgotten about New Orelans and the Gulf Coast--therefore, where might
God be calling us?
Hopefully in the coming months, sometime I will vow at my ordination to proclaim the sacraments and the Word. But what happens when people are too (physically) hungry to receive the Bread of LIfe? What about when people who's lives have been drowned by water, are angry at The One who cleanses with eternal water?
The "bottom line" for me is that we (as the ELCA in my case) can have vibrant & faithful worship, and we can clearly proclaim the Risen Lord through bread, wine, body, blood, water & the Word; but unless people see Christ IN US, they will never step foot into the congregations we serve.
"No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the buschel basket, but on the lampstand and it gives light to ghe entire house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven, (Mt. 5:15-16)."
Yes, people can most clearly see (theologically, not always practical) the Gospel through Eucharist & Baptism. But what would it look like if people saw the Good News of God's endless presence & grace rise above these once flooded streets; by way of some canned goods, by way of "mucking teams," or by simple blankets & gently used clothing?
It can be scary to let God work outside our "boxes" of tradition & theology.
It can be scary to see how through death, God defeated Death through Christ; and how God continues to bring new life to a city & communities once underseige by massive flooding and mucky hopelessness.
It is by God's acting that the sacraments become what they are.
Thankfully God continues to act, guiding us to be who we are--sacramental disciples of God's love in Jesus Christ.
Mucking for Jesus,
Adam
Now I know any good Lutheran would say "both and," and I know social involvement and worship can both exist....but read on.
Yes, there are 2 ways in which God becomes "tangible" through bread, wine & water, combined with the Word; which give us the clearest "face-to-face" with God.
Yet, consider this....
++ Jesus criticized the scribes & pharisees (leaders of the "church" of their time) for not
"going out" and "reaching out" to the leppers, orphans, blind and the list goes on.
++ Martin Luther attempted to reform the church because it had become too inward
focused, and had neglected the poverty-stricken peasants.
++During this course/mission trip, I've seen with my own eyes how many people have
forgotten about New Orelans and the Gulf Coast--therefore, where might
God be calling us?
Hopefully in the coming months, sometime I will vow at my ordination to proclaim the sacraments and the Word. But what happens when people are too (physically) hungry to receive the Bread of LIfe? What about when people who's lives have been drowned by water, are angry at The One who cleanses with eternal water?
The "bottom line" for me is that we (as the ELCA in my case) can have vibrant & faithful worship, and we can clearly proclaim the Risen Lord through bread, wine, body, blood, water & the Word; but unless people see Christ IN US, they will never step foot into the congregations we serve.
"No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the buschel basket, but on the lampstand and it gives light to ghe entire house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven, (Mt. 5:15-16)."
Yes, people can most clearly see (theologically, not always practical) the Gospel through Eucharist & Baptism. But what would it look like if people saw the Good News of God's endless presence & grace rise above these once flooded streets; by way of some canned goods, by way of "mucking teams," or by simple blankets & gently used clothing?
It can be scary to let God work outside our "boxes" of tradition & theology.
It can be scary to see how through death, God defeated Death through Christ; and how God continues to bring new life to a city & communities once underseige by massive flooding and mucky hopelessness.
It is by God's acting that the sacraments become what they are.
Thankfully God continues to act, guiding us to be who we are--sacramental disciples of God's love in Jesus Christ.
Mucking for Jesus,
Adam
Please take a minute to read this--please!
Spending the last week and anticipating the next week that we from Trinity Lutheran Seminary are spending in Louisiana and Mississippi has been a terrific--and a horrendous experience. It has been terrific in that we, as a group, have bonded, worked well together, and learned much together. The horrendous side of the coin is the indescribable devestation that we have witnessed. There are no words to describe blocks upon blocks of flooded and destroyed homes, the marks on the houses indicating the number of dead found there and the faces of the people whose entire lives are now a memory.
Imagine a house--a beautiful house--which had been bought and furnished by a twenty-six year old man six months before Hurricane Katrina. The inside of this house is completely destroyed--furniture, clothing, appliances, carpets, dishes, pictures--all gone. This man talked to us as we were clearing out the house--clearing it out to the bare studs. His grief was palpable as he described his loss, his feelings, and his grief. In front of his house among more than 140 feet of what had been his--a line of rubbish that was eight feet deep. He looked at it and briefly picked up a baseball glove. He looked and looked and it and with tears in his eyes said, "It still smells the same." I asked him if he meant the odor of mold and mildew but he replied that it still smelled of leather. I suggested that he keep the glove but he laid it down and said, "That was in another life."
This type of grief overwhelms the very soul. Please pray for Brett.
Blessings, Mary Molnar
Imagine a house--a beautiful house--which had been bought and furnished by a twenty-six year old man six months before Hurricane Katrina. The inside of this house is completely destroyed--furniture, clothing, appliances, carpets, dishes, pictures--all gone. This man talked to us as we were clearing out the house--clearing it out to the bare studs. His grief was palpable as he described his loss, his feelings, and his grief. In front of his house among more than 140 feet of what had been his--a line of rubbish that was eight feet deep. He looked at it and briefly picked up a baseball glove. He looked and looked and it and with tears in his eyes said, "It still smells the same." I asked him if he meant the odor of mold and mildew but he replied that it still smelled of leather. I suggested that he keep the glove but he laid it down and said, "That was in another life."
This type of grief overwhelms the very soul. Please pray for Brett.
Blessings, Mary Molnar
Creation and Destruction
Many times in my life I've participated in creating things - working with Habitat for Humanity, helping my village in Africa create a library, helping a congregation member with household tasks, etc. Yet, the past few days our group has been wholeheartedly and committedly tearing down a house. We're literally destroying a young man's house. We've slashed and slammed our hands, legs and crow bars into the walls bringing down dry wall and insulation. We've pushed wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow of debris to and from the side of the road clearing out the house. Nails have been removed. Appliances that once functioned are found on the side of the road. Clothes, shoes, dishes, glasses, sporting equipment along with countless other memories are now sitting waiting on the road to be picked up. Each time I bring my hand up to destroy the wall bringing the pieces to the floor, I think about how many times I've worked to create life and security for others; how may times I've contributed to providing hope.
What exactly am I helping to create, what is our group working towards this week? Today after almost finishing mucking out the house, our group was proud of the work we completed. We worked hard - even the LDR lady was impressed with our work ethic and amount we completed in just two days. Tomorrow we'll go back and complete the house - the owner Brett will have a completely gutted house. He'll be grateful to eventually get it sold - relive himself of the burden of his house. Somehow, we've created a little hope for Brett.
Creation and destruction - as you can tell from the blogs, we've really created a community here on this trip. Our community came together to destroy and create anew the hope needed for Bret and others in the area. Yet, I still feel such sadness and annoyance at times for having to be here, for having to destroy due to the destruction already inflicted by Katrina - I keep searching for someone or something to blame. And by virtue of this blog I feel like I need to have some conclusions or theological reflections for everyone - but none here. Maybe that is where all you great Trinity students, faculty and staff can come in with some insights (hint for some people to send some comments our way!)
Peace,
Kim Knowle
What exactly am I helping to create, what is our group working towards this week? Today after almost finishing mucking out the house, our group was proud of the work we completed. We worked hard - even the LDR lady was impressed with our work ethic and amount we completed in just two days. Tomorrow we'll go back and complete the house - the owner Brett will have a completely gutted house. He'll be grateful to eventually get it sold - relive himself of the burden of his house. Somehow, we've created a little hope for Brett.
Creation and destruction - as you can tell from the blogs, we've really created a community here on this trip. Our community came together to destroy and create anew the hope needed for Bret and others in the area. Yet, I still feel such sadness and annoyance at times for having to be here, for having to destroy due to the destruction already inflicted by Katrina - I keep searching for someone or something to blame. And by virtue of this blog I feel like I need to have some conclusions or theological reflections for everyone - but none here. Maybe that is where all you great Trinity students, faculty and staff can come in with some insights (hint for some people to send some comments our way!)
Peace,
Kim Knowle
Technical difficulties
I have tried several times to post additional pictures, because they tell another level of the story. But blogger.com is having technical difficulties and I keep getting a message that says, "Unable to complete your request at this time." This is very frustrating.
But as I sit here grumbling and moaning at 6:15 in the morning, I am quickly called to remember where I am and what I am doing. Posting pictures doesn't mean that my daily needs will be met. There are folks here who rely on places like the Red Cross, Habitat, Lutheran Disaster Relief, Common Ground, and others for their day-in and day-out needs.
Like yesterday, we met a neighbor of the man whose house we are mucking out. She is frustrated. Frustrated that it has taken her so long to get help. Frustrated that she had just retired and can't afford to move anywhere else, but home. Frustrated that the rats and mice don't seem to stop. Frustrated that the "young ones" don't come back and muck up their own houses, while the "old ones" do it themselves. Frustrated that she is one of the few who have returned to rebuild. Yet she opens up her FEMA trailer so that the ladies (and men if necessary) don't have to squat behind fences of empty houses to go to the restroom. She is frustrated, yet she holds on and opens her hand and her home to those who come into her 'wasteland' of an area.
Then there is the 26 year old man whose house we are mucking out. Frustrated that this was his first house that he had bought, just six months before the storm, and had all but JUST finished renovations. Frustrated that he had 'signed-up' with three disaster relief organizations back about eleven months ago (LDR was the only one to call him back). Frustrated that he couldn't get time off of work to come and be with us while we are gutting his home. Frustrated that all of his memories - pictures, diplomas, etc...are gone. Frustrated that his parents who lived 15 houses down the road are still displaced. Yet he reminds us that he and the rest of us get so caught up in "stuff" that we forget about life. Additionally, he told of an 'agency' that had offered to muck his home for $.99/sq. foot, and he was moved by our volunteer time for him, that he donated $250 so that others could benefit from this same service.
SO, the pictures aren't able to load up just now. SO, you might have to wait for a traveling road show, or a one-on-one conversation with me. SO, things aren't going just as I have planned them. In the end - it doesn't really matter. What does is the movement of the Spirit of God down here...the presence of Christ in others...the promise of new life. Patience is a virtue they say...well Lord, teach me to be patient and serve.
But as I sit here grumbling and moaning at 6:15 in the morning, I am quickly called to remember where I am and what I am doing. Posting pictures doesn't mean that my daily needs will be met. There are folks here who rely on places like the Red Cross, Habitat, Lutheran Disaster Relief, Common Ground, and others for their day-in and day-out needs.
Like yesterday, we met a neighbor of the man whose house we are mucking out. She is frustrated. Frustrated that it has taken her so long to get help. Frustrated that she had just retired and can't afford to move anywhere else, but home. Frustrated that the rats and mice don't seem to stop. Frustrated that the "young ones" don't come back and muck up their own houses, while the "old ones" do it themselves. Frustrated that she is one of the few who have returned to rebuild. Yet she opens up her FEMA trailer so that the ladies (and men if necessary) don't have to squat behind fences of empty houses to go to the restroom. She is frustrated, yet she holds on and opens her hand and her home to those who come into her 'wasteland' of an area.
Then there is the 26 year old man whose house we are mucking out. Frustrated that this was his first house that he had bought, just six months before the storm, and had all but JUST finished renovations. Frustrated that he had 'signed-up' with three disaster relief organizations back about eleven months ago (LDR was the only one to call him back). Frustrated that he couldn't get time off of work to come and be with us while we are gutting his home. Frustrated that all of his memories - pictures, diplomas, etc...are gone. Frustrated that his parents who lived 15 houses down the road are still displaced. Yet he reminds us that he and the rest of us get so caught up in "stuff" that we forget about life. Additionally, he told of an 'agency' that had offered to muck his home for $.99/sq. foot, and he was moved by our volunteer time for him, that he donated $250 so that others could benefit from this same service.
SO, the pictures aren't able to load up just now. SO, you might have to wait for a traveling road show, or a one-on-one conversation with me. SO, things aren't going just as I have planned them. In the end - it doesn't really matter. What does is the movement of the Spirit of God down here...the presence of Christ in others...the promise of new life. Patience is a virtue they say...well Lord, teach me to be patient and serve.
Tuesday, December 5, 2006
The Call to be Uncomfortable
Today was a good day.
Today was an exhausting day (physically & emotionally)
Today was a good day.
After days of sitting for hours, traveling in the van; and sitting while hearing peoples' stories, (which I know are necessary) started to wear me thin. I came to work, to sweat and to work some more.
As I had to sit to gather myself before taking of my gear, and I could barely take of my "booties," it felt good to hurt. It felt good to be uncomfortable.
Now this thinking might be considered masochistic, but that's how I feel. So many people are suffering & uncomfortable--the "least I can do" is suffering amid the destruction.
I felt a heavy heart coming to the site today, and the only thing which kept together my sanity was tearing apart the kitchen. Tomorrow, we tear down and clean more, and become uncomfortable.
Uncomfortable for Jesus.
"If you want to be my disciples, you must deny yourselves, take up your cross and follow me."
Our "crosses" are not sickness, or personal quandries etc. Jesus did not take up the cross for himself, surely he didn't need salvation---he took up the cross for others. "Not my will, but your will be done."
We are called to be uncomfortable and take up our crosses for others.
Now I go to be uncomfortable by keeping up my 12-game Euchre losing streak.
Christ's Shalom,
Adam
Today was an exhausting day (physically & emotionally)
Today was a good day.
After days of sitting for hours, traveling in the van; and sitting while hearing peoples' stories, (which I know are necessary) started to wear me thin. I came to work, to sweat and to work some more.
As I had to sit to gather myself before taking of my gear, and I could barely take of my "booties," it felt good to hurt. It felt good to be uncomfortable.
Now this thinking might be considered masochistic, but that's how I feel. So many people are suffering & uncomfortable--the "least I can do" is suffering amid the destruction.
I felt a heavy heart coming to the site today, and the only thing which kept together my sanity was tearing apart the kitchen. Tomorrow, we tear down and clean more, and become uncomfortable.
Uncomfortable for Jesus.
"If you want to be my disciples, you must deny yourselves, take up your cross and follow me."
Our "crosses" are not sickness, or personal quandries etc. Jesus did not take up the cross for himself, surely he didn't need salvation---he took up the cross for others. "Not my will, but your will be done."
We are called to be uncomfortable and take up our crosses for others.
Now I go to be uncomfortable by keeping up my 12-game Euchre losing streak.
Christ's Shalom,
Adam
The Gang
Our time here in New Orleans has been filled with many experiences that we can all learn from, but tonight I don't want to talk about the disaster, I want to talk about the group. Today we starting mucking a house, a house which has not been touched since the storm... so it was quite a job, but the group really came together and did quite a job...
This morning I learned how people in Iceland get their last name, it's based on the first name of their parents... so I renamed my self Nick Halldorsfriend. Halldor, the smiling Icelandic genius has been amazing me all week with his wisdom... yeah, his wisom. Just about every topic we discuss he gives me a different way to look at it, and it makes so much more sense. I love this dude!!! We have hugged each day... and each hug gets better. His new name is Hugdor!
Adam to me represents a great example of someone living their life in close relationship with Christ. Adam may be the most sincere person I have ever met, and somehow seems to make everyone he is around feel important and special. Adam truly has a gift for people, and I am blessed to have this opportunity to get to know him and create a friendship. Someday I will let Adam beat me at Euchre, but he'll never beat me in Wal-Mart basketball!
Kim K... the quiet one. Kim is such a hard worker, but doesn't say much, and then all of a sudden she will just say the funniest thing; she is so refreshing. The greatest thing about Kim is that she cares about everyone, and wants everyone to feel good about themselves... we all should be like that, but it's obvious that we aren't all like that... she is a great person to talk to, especially if you're a little down. And I don't mind that she contaminated my gas mask... her reaction was worth it!
Kim C... The first time I met Kim was at a dorm meeting, and she came off a little umm... bossy. But after the meeting she came to me and apologized, she admitted she was a little frustrated. It takes a lot for someone to apologize to a perfect stranger for coming across a certain way... I don't think I would. That says a lot about her character, she is strong and confident, and is a very helpful and caring person. Today she really helped me, by squirting juice in my eye when I got something in it. Thanks Kim... you have no idea how much that meant.
Tom is my new Episcopalean (I know that's spelled wrong, see my disclaimer below) friend... He is so funny, and I absolutely love his laugh. But Tom is so much deeper than that, he will listen to everything everyone says during a conversation, and then will give his two cents, and is always right on. Tom is a hard worker and a pleasure to be around. I had never met Tom before this course, he is a few years ahead of me, so I don't know if I ever would have. I am very glad that I have met Tom, he is wise, smart,and funny. I thoroughly enjoy being around Tom!
Mary... oh Mary! My adopted mother! It's funny, we've been in I-group together, but have never really talked until this trip. When you look up the word caring in the dictionary, there is a picture of the beautiful Mary... Her and I have had some deep conversations, and she has this amazing way of putting everything aside and letting the person whom she is speaking to know that they are the most important thing to her at that time. What a gift, and a blessing for those who know her.
Pastor Ruth, I believe she is the first person I met when I came to visit Trinity, she made me feel welcome that day, and every time I have been with her since. She is truly an amazing Pastor, and is able to keep us focused on our mission, even when we are rendered speechless by what we are witnessing... then she gives us time to express what we're feeling and has words of healing. She is an amazing driver... and is quickly becoming a great Euchre player.
Bill and Dave, the guys from Gethsemane that came down with our group. These two men are both wise and fun. Bill has a great sense of humor, and a great laugh. His outlook on life is one I can definately learn from... Dave is hilarious, he is an incredibly hard worker but always has time to laugh. He is the only member of our group who doesn't mind sunbathing when it's 50 degrees... I'm really glad they are both here.
Then there is Leah... my buddy; we run together, we walk together, we laugh together, you cook, I eat... a match made in heaven! haha! Seriously, there is no one I would rather have in the kitchen... and she loves every second of it. I've known Leah for a while, she was the one I knew best before coming down, but after a week of really getting to know her, I found she is an amazing person. She is so close to being perfect... so close. But hey, we all are right? Leah is the best.
And then there is me... I am blessed to have these people in my life, this course is going ot teach me a lot about disaster, stuff I'll never forget, but these people will hopefully be in my life for years and years to come. Their wisdom, their sense of humor, and the way they care about everyone, they are blessings to all who know them...
Okay, I'm done for now. I'm sore and am going to bed...
This morning I learned how people in Iceland get their last name, it's based on the first name of their parents... so I renamed my self Nick Halldorsfriend. Halldor, the smiling Icelandic genius has been amazing me all week with his wisdom... yeah, his wisom. Just about every topic we discuss he gives me a different way to look at it, and it makes so much more sense. I love this dude!!! We have hugged each day... and each hug gets better. His new name is Hugdor!
Adam to me represents a great example of someone living their life in close relationship with Christ. Adam may be the most sincere person I have ever met, and somehow seems to make everyone he is around feel important and special. Adam truly has a gift for people, and I am blessed to have this opportunity to get to know him and create a friendship. Someday I will let Adam beat me at Euchre, but he'll never beat me in Wal-Mart basketball!
Kim K... the quiet one. Kim is such a hard worker, but doesn't say much, and then all of a sudden she will just say the funniest thing; she is so refreshing. The greatest thing about Kim is that she cares about everyone, and wants everyone to feel good about themselves... we all should be like that, but it's obvious that we aren't all like that... she is a great person to talk to, especially if you're a little down. And I don't mind that she contaminated my gas mask... her reaction was worth it!
Kim C... The first time I met Kim was at a dorm meeting, and she came off a little umm... bossy. But after the meeting she came to me and apologized, she admitted she was a little frustrated. It takes a lot for someone to apologize to a perfect stranger for coming across a certain way... I don't think I would. That says a lot about her character, she is strong and confident, and is a very helpful and caring person. Today she really helped me, by squirting juice in my eye when I got something in it. Thanks Kim... you have no idea how much that meant.
Tom is my new Episcopalean (I know that's spelled wrong, see my disclaimer below) friend... He is so funny, and I absolutely love his laugh. But Tom is so much deeper than that, he will listen to everything everyone says during a conversation, and then will give his two cents, and is always right on. Tom is a hard worker and a pleasure to be around. I had never met Tom before this course, he is a few years ahead of me, so I don't know if I ever would have. I am very glad that I have met Tom, he is wise, smart,and funny. I thoroughly enjoy being around Tom!
Mary... oh Mary! My adopted mother! It's funny, we've been in I-group together, but have never really talked until this trip. When you look up the word caring in the dictionary, there is a picture of the beautiful Mary... Her and I have had some deep conversations, and she has this amazing way of putting everything aside and letting the person whom she is speaking to know that they are the most important thing to her at that time. What a gift, and a blessing for those who know her.
Pastor Ruth, I believe she is the first person I met when I came to visit Trinity, she made me feel welcome that day, and every time I have been with her since. She is truly an amazing Pastor, and is able to keep us focused on our mission, even when we are rendered speechless by what we are witnessing... then she gives us time to express what we're feeling and has words of healing. She is an amazing driver... and is quickly becoming a great Euchre player.
Bill and Dave, the guys from Gethsemane that came down with our group. These two men are both wise and fun. Bill has a great sense of humor, and a great laugh. His outlook on life is one I can definately learn from... Dave is hilarious, he is an incredibly hard worker but always has time to laugh. He is the only member of our group who doesn't mind sunbathing when it's 50 degrees... I'm really glad they are both here.
Then there is Leah... my buddy; we run together, we walk together, we laugh together, you cook, I eat... a match made in heaven! haha! Seriously, there is no one I would rather have in the kitchen... and she loves every second of it. I've known Leah for a while, she was the one I knew best before coming down, but after a week of really getting to know her, I found she is an amazing person. She is so close to being perfect... so close. But hey, we all are right? Leah is the best.
And then there is me... I am blessed to have these people in my life, this course is going ot teach me a lot about disaster, stuff I'll never forget, but these people will hopefully be in my life for years and years to come. Their wisdom, their sense of humor, and the way they care about everyone, they are blessings to all who know them...
Okay, I'm done for now. I'm sore and am going to bed...
Monday, December 4, 2006
No people, no lights-- but one flame
This morning, we spent time cleaning-up around the church at which we're staying. This time of simple, yet needed work provided us with an opportunity for the group to continue to get to know & grown one another (together). I'm continually impressed with how great our group is as a community. At the beginning of the trip, I had my questions, after all there were several peolpe I'd never met, and others I didn't know all that well. God has blessed me with 8 brothers & sisters of the faith.
Tomorrow, we begin "mucking out" a house (basically removing possession & stripping down to the frame). On one hand, I'm looking forward to it because it'll be a "good amount of work" as a mild sense of cabin fever has driven me to want to go out and sweat & get sore for the people. After all, I did not come down here to sit around and watch tv...I can do that in Ohio....but I know that is all a needed part of the process. On the other hand, I'm not looking forward to being (literally) in the middle of destruction. We may or may not work with the homeowner to recover some of their possessions, but we will be face to face with the carnage.
Tonight, I went into the sanctuary to pray. Only one dim light was on as well as the Eternal Flame. As I looked at the flame amid the darkness, I thought of areas such as the 9th Ward where tonight, there are no people, no lights, no life..but Christ is there. And Christ will be with us tomorrow.
Throughout this trip, I continue to be blown away by the holiness of this experience---it is not a class; but a daily, holy encounter with the bruised, bloodied & eternal Christ.
What hope is there in a crucified Christ? Come to New Orleans and see.
Shalom,
Adam
Tomorrow, we begin "mucking out" a house (basically removing possession & stripping down to the frame). On one hand, I'm looking forward to it because it'll be a "good amount of work" as a mild sense of cabin fever has driven me to want to go out and sweat & get sore for the people. After all, I did not come down here to sit around and watch tv...I can do that in Ohio....but I know that is all a needed part of the process. On the other hand, I'm not looking forward to being (literally) in the middle of destruction. We may or may not work with the homeowner to recover some of their possessions, but we will be face to face with the carnage.
Tonight, I went into the sanctuary to pray. Only one dim light was on as well as the Eternal Flame. As I looked at the flame amid the darkness, I thought of areas such as the 9th Ward where tonight, there are no people, no lights, no life..but Christ is there. And Christ will be with us tomorrow.
Throughout this trip, I continue to be blown away by the holiness of this experience---it is not a class; but a daily, holy encounter with the bruised, bloodied & eternal Christ.
What hope is there in a crucified Christ? Come to New Orleans and see.
Shalom,
Adam
Afraid of fraud
Being afraid, being very afraid* is almost a mantra in the western world today. And sometimes it seems that what we are most afraid of is someone else getting more then she/he deserves. As a reply to our tendency to be afraid, be very afraid, the angel sits in the tomb and says: "Do not be afraid." And he goes on and tells us why: "Jesus is not here; for he has been raised."
There are so many thoughts that catch one’s mind, being here in Louisiana. Not all of them are directly connected to the floods. But are rather parts of my cultural experience. Tonight we met a political scientist at his home and spoke about the situation in Pre- and Post-New Orleans, Church Camps, and crocodiles. In the discussion I got stuck, thinking about being afraid of fraud.
It caught my attention when I moved to this country, how people are afraid of fraud. Even College Football coaches can stop the game, and let a panel of judges look on TV-screens to see if the referees on the field made the right call. Being wrong, shall be avoided by all means. In the days after the storm, part of the police was sent out to watch that people were not stealing TV’s. We have picture of soldiers with machine guns walking in the water, ready to fight the injustice while bodies waited to be found in other parts of town.
We see it also in the work of FEMA. It seems to be as important to stop people that don’t deserve having a trailer to life in, as to get a trailer to those who need one. For a foreigner it looks like that the possibility of misuse of the system is more money and time consuming than the cost of the misuse of someone undeserving. Thoughts of the "terrible" people misusing the system are understandable. The free riders cost the government money. But it is claimed in the 25. Article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that
* From the movie The Fly (1986)
There are so many thoughts that catch one’s mind, being here in Louisiana. Not all of them are directly connected to the floods. But are rather parts of my cultural experience. Tonight we met a political scientist at his home and spoke about the situation in Pre- and Post-New Orleans, Church Camps, and crocodiles. In the discussion I got stuck, thinking about being afraid of fraud.
It caught my attention when I moved to this country, how people are afraid of fraud. Even College Football coaches can stop the game, and let a panel of judges look on TV-screens to see if the referees on the field made the right call. Being wrong, shall be avoided by all means. In the days after the storm, part of the police was sent out to watch that people were not stealing TV’s. We have picture of soldiers with machine guns walking in the water, ready to fight the injustice while bodies waited to be found in other parts of town.
We see it also in the work of FEMA. It seems to be as important to stop people that don’t deserve having a trailer to life in, as to get a trailer to those who need one. For a foreigner it looks like that the possibility of misuse of the system is more money and time consuming than the cost of the misuse of someone undeserving. Thoughts of the "terrible" people misusing the system are understandable. The free riders cost the government money. But it is claimed in the 25. Article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that
everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health andAnd according to this it seems that anyone at the Gulf should be allowed live in one of the FEMA-trailers waiting at I-59, even without proper paperwork. At least it can be said that the circumstances here are still surely beyond control. And is it a real problem that someone misuses the opportunity to live in a 30’ trailer for a long time? I assume that most people would try to stay in the trailer for as short as possible, and if not, they are probably in circumstances beyond one’s control, and need the help anyway.
well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing, and
medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the
event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of
livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
* From the movie The Fly (1986)
Lifting trees and each other
This is my first experience blogging - quite an interesting experience sharing my feelings and thoughts with who knows how many people. My own emotions and feelings are on a roller coaster ride, so this whole blogging thing seems somewhat cathartic for me and somewhat educational for all of you.
Today and our first day working in Louisiana were full of moving and lifting things. This morning we worked at the camp where we are staying - they are building a larger mission center for future volunteers (the relief efforts will continue for up to 10 more years). The majority of the time we moved dirt, tree stumps, branches, garbage, debris, etc.. The work we've been doing and will be doing as we muck out a house is not glorifying, many of our group are sore and tired; the emotional drain of being amidst so much destruction is taking its toll. Yet, as we've been lifting garbage to clear out areas, we've also been lifting each other up and lifting up the love and passion we have, sharing ourselves with each other and those in this community.
This evening we continued to experience southern hospitality as congregation members invited us to their house. Together we lifted up the issues of politics, race and New Orleans pre and post Katrina. We discussed the enormity of Katrina and the issues facing the people and city of New Orleans. We came together to lift up and hear the voices from those who lived and experienced Katrina, those still dealing with life post-Katrina. Now, this blog, and all of us returning to Trinity are going to be sharing in the lifting up of the stories from the south, stories of hope, destruction and life.
Peace,
Kim Knowle
Today and our first day working in Louisiana were full of moving and lifting things. This morning we worked at the camp where we are staying - they are building a larger mission center for future volunteers (the relief efforts will continue for up to 10 more years). The majority of the time we moved dirt, tree stumps, branches, garbage, debris, etc.. The work we've been doing and will be doing as we muck out a house is not glorifying, many of our group are sore and tired; the emotional drain of being amidst so much destruction is taking its toll. Yet, as we've been lifting garbage to clear out areas, we've also been lifting each other up and lifting up the love and passion we have, sharing ourselves with each other and those in this community.
This evening we continued to experience southern hospitality as congregation members invited us to their house. Together we lifted up the issues of politics, race and New Orleans pre and post Katrina. We discussed the enormity of Katrina and the issues facing the people and city of New Orleans. We came together to lift up and hear the voices from those who lived and experienced Katrina, those still dealing with life post-Katrina. Now, this blog, and all of us returning to Trinity are going to be sharing in the lifting up of the stories from the south, stories of hope, destruction and life.
Peace,
Kim Knowle
Sunday, December 3, 2006
Seen in the eyes...
There has been an awful lot to take in and I have only been here since Wednesday - and this is my second time down here since the storm. And yesterday, I broke. I broke down in tears in the van as we drove through the lower 9th ward, and then into another area were we stopped at a cemetary. I broke down in tears because I guess, the shock and awe was gone, and now I am just raw (and as I type this I realize that the folks who live here don't have the luxury of leaving in a few weeks or shutting off when things are just too raw.) I broke down in pain and deep sadness. I broke down in anger and horror.
But I also broke down while being held by a hope I can only begin to articulate. This is the hope that I saw in the eyes of those we have met. In the eyes and the hug of Mary who said "I am sad, but I have God. I am tired, but in God I rest." Hope in the giggles we shared as we talked about the four dogs that she has acquired since the flood, that seem to give her the strength to keep going.
I saw this hope in the eyes of the man who operates "Common Ground" a small and 'run-down' free shop in an all but abandoned neighborhood in the lower 9th. They offer blankets, clothes, shoes, food, water, internet access, job boards, and a tool library where you can borrow tools you might need to clean out or begin to rebuild. The hope in his eyes and in his voice was that life will return and to do that, we must just simply do that.
I saw this hope in the tired eyes of a man working at Common Ground as he cleaned off yellow squash - some of which were rotted beyond use, yet his love and care as he picked up each squash was enough to salvage a few in the box.
I saw this hope in the eyes of two women who were stopping by the shop to pick up blankets, as they told us where their houses 'were' and that they are just freezing in their FEMA trailer.
I continue to see this hope in the eyes of folks like Pastor Barb Simmers, who put their entire lives into their ministry to and with any who have suffered and/or suffer from this storm and all the fall out that still continues. Part of this fallout being her own lack of a home and the catch 22 that she 'makes too much money to qualify' for programs like Thrivent Builds, and yet the sky-rocketing property values makes buying property all but impossible. Yet there is hope. Hope that I beleive she and others hold onto when there seems to be nothing else.
What is at the base of this hope? It is a trust and faith in the promise of God in our lives. Each of these people speak of God's promise of presence and help in times of trouble. Amidst frustrations, pain, anger, and unkept promises, all of these people ultimately fall back on this promise. And when they can't hold onto this anymore, I trust that this hope and promise of God holds them fully and completely in the loving arms of the savior of the world.
Its hard and what makes it harder is that sadly most of the country has forgotten that there is still such great need, or believe that they should be able to take care of themselves. The reality is that it is much needed and will be for the years to come! If you haven't prayed for this area, fro the people, and for the recovery - please say a prayer. If you haven't financially offered support (not matter how small) please pray about your contributions to vairous charity/church-organizations (Lutheran Disaster Relief, Peace Lutheran Church, or Habitat for Humanity for example.) If you haven't been down here, and are able to - please pray about your work and assistance down here.
More later.
Kim C.
But I also broke down while being held by a hope I can only begin to articulate. This is the hope that I saw in the eyes of those we have met. In the eyes and the hug of Mary who said "I am sad, but I have God. I am tired, but in God I rest." Hope in the giggles we shared as we talked about the four dogs that she has acquired since the flood, that seem to give her the strength to keep going.
I saw this hope in the eyes of the man who operates "Common Ground" a small and 'run-down' free shop in an all but abandoned neighborhood in the lower 9th. They offer blankets, clothes, shoes, food, water, internet access, job boards, and a tool library where you can borrow tools you might need to clean out or begin to rebuild. The hope in his eyes and in his voice was that life will return and to do that, we must just simply do that.
I saw this hope in the tired eyes of a man working at Common Ground as he cleaned off yellow squash - some of which were rotted beyond use, yet his love and care as he picked up each squash was enough to salvage a few in the box.
I saw this hope in the eyes of two women who were stopping by the shop to pick up blankets, as they told us where their houses 'were' and that they are just freezing in their FEMA trailer.
I continue to see this hope in the eyes of folks like Pastor Barb Simmers, who put their entire lives into their ministry to and with any who have suffered and/or suffer from this storm and all the fall out that still continues. Part of this fallout being her own lack of a home and the catch 22 that she 'makes too much money to qualify' for programs like Thrivent Builds, and yet the sky-rocketing property values makes buying property all but impossible. Yet there is hope. Hope that I beleive she and others hold onto when there seems to be nothing else.
What is at the base of this hope? It is a trust and faith in the promise of God in our lives. Each of these people speak of God's promise of presence and help in times of trouble. Amidst frustrations, pain, anger, and unkept promises, all of these people ultimately fall back on this promise. And when they can't hold onto this anymore, I trust that this hope and promise of God holds them fully and completely in the loving arms of the savior of the world.
Its hard and what makes it harder is that sadly most of the country has forgotten that there is still such great need, or believe that they should be able to take care of themselves. The reality is that it is much needed and will be for the years to come! If you haven't prayed for this area, fro the people, and for the recovery - please say a prayer. If you haven't financially offered support (not matter how small) please pray about your contributions to vairous charity/church-organizations (Lutheran Disaster Relief, Peace Lutheran Church, or Habitat for Humanity for example.) If you haven't been down here, and are able to - please pray about your work and assistance down here.
More later.
Kim C.
Wholeness through emptiness
***So here is my disclaimer... I have decided that if I try and make this grammatically perfect, then I may not get out everything I want to say, so forgive me if this doesn't fit MLA guidelines!!
Since the beginning of civilization, humankind has felt something missing in their soul, so they have searched for and created gods. The ancient Egyptians had their gods, the Babylonians had their gods, the Greeks had their gods, the Mayans, The Incas, and so on and so forth... Every civilization has been searching for God to make their life complete, to make their life whole... in short, they were looking for shalom, inner-peace.
The problem is, none of these civilizations found the true God, which brings wholeness. Their gods died following the end of their respective empires. It's important to realize this, so that we can truly understand what God says in the book of Revelation.
Revelation 1:8"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."
So God decided to come down to earth, and introduce himself in the body of Christ Jesus; this is the miracle of the Christmas story... Christmas is not about trees and mangers, but that God would come to earth and reveal himself to humankind, and then redeem them for their sins. So Jesus went around performing miracles and teaching thise who followed him how to live as a child of God, a child of God which knows wholeness and shalom because they now have a relationship with the true God. Then Jesus completes his mission by dying for the sins of humanity.
Having this wholeness is truly what makes one's life complete, not cars, houses, jobs, money or relationships. This is apparent here in New Orleans... the people which know Jesus, know peace. As people who are not going through a catastrophe. we can learn from these people. These people have truly lost every earthly posession... yet they are whole because it has helped them to realize that fulfillment and wholeness comes through Christ. Is it possible that it is easier to understand this when we are stripped to absolutely nothing? Is it crazy think that when all one has is God, that only then one can truly understand to trust God? I don't know if these two statements are true, but I see faith here that is all to often lacking at churches where there is no disaster. I think that as a child of God, who has been so blessed to never be put through a hurricane or any other disaster which leaves one worrying what am I going to eat tomorrow? where am I going to sleep tonight? what am I going to wear? will I ever find work? I can learn to put all my trust in God, so that I can be made whole... and can learn to give my stresses and worries to God... because those earthly things are not what gives me shalom, and not what makes me the person God created me to be. What can I as a student learn from this course? It's simple and something I have known all along, to trust in God and put my hope in Him.. it's not easy, the world wants to pull my hope away from God, but it's the only way to be made whole.
I hugged Halldor today!
Since the beginning of civilization, humankind has felt something missing in their soul, so they have searched for and created gods. The ancient Egyptians had their gods, the Babylonians had their gods, the Greeks had their gods, the Mayans, The Incas, and so on and so forth... Every civilization has been searching for God to make their life complete, to make their life whole... in short, they were looking for shalom, inner-peace.
The problem is, none of these civilizations found the true God, which brings wholeness. Their gods died following the end of their respective empires. It's important to realize this, so that we can truly understand what God says in the book of Revelation.
Revelation 1:8"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."
So God decided to come down to earth, and introduce himself in the body of Christ Jesus; this is the miracle of the Christmas story... Christmas is not about trees and mangers, but that God would come to earth and reveal himself to humankind, and then redeem them for their sins. So Jesus went around performing miracles and teaching thise who followed him how to live as a child of God, a child of God which knows wholeness and shalom because they now have a relationship with the true God. Then Jesus completes his mission by dying for the sins of humanity.
Having this wholeness is truly what makes one's life complete, not cars, houses, jobs, money or relationships. This is apparent here in New Orleans... the people which know Jesus, know peace. As people who are not going through a catastrophe. we can learn from these people. These people have truly lost every earthly posession... yet they are whole because it has helped them to realize that fulfillment and wholeness comes through Christ. Is it possible that it is easier to understand this when we are stripped to absolutely nothing? Is it crazy think that when all one has is God, that only then one can truly understand to trust God? I don't know if these two statements are true, but I see faith here that is all to often lacking at churches where there is no disaster. I think that as a child of God, who has been so blessed to never be put through a hurricane or any other disaster which leaves one worrying what am I going to eat tomorrow? where am I going to sleep tonight? what am I going to wear? will I ever find work? I can learn to put all my trust in God, so that I can be made whole... and can learn to give my stresses and worries to God... because those earthly things are not what gives me shalom, and not what makes me the person God created me to be. What can I as a student learn from this course? It's simple and something I have known all along, to trust in God and put my hope in Him.. it's not easy, the world wants to pull my hope away from God, but it's the only way to be made whole.
I hugged Halldor today!
I Want to Look, But I Can't Stand to See Anymore
"Stand up and raise your heads.." (Luke 21:28b).
Quite frankly, I'm tired of raising my head.
Yesterday as we drove down the Lower 9th Ward, seeing all the destruction--houses splintered, demolished, on their sides.....I do not want to see anymore.
So sitting in the van, I lower my head.
In Luke 21:25ff, the sun, moon, stars, and all the nations of the world are confused over the crashing of the waves, and faint from fear and foreboading for the heavens are shaken.
THEN we see the Son of Man. THEN we see Christ's power and glory.
In the very depth and center of our crucibles of despair, anger, frustration, fear and hopelessness; when our world roars arounds us; Christ, Emmanuel, God with us, comes to be with us amidst the muck, dampness and mold of our lives.
"Stand up and raise your heads."
I can stand up because Christ set aside......his life.
With Advent, we anticipate Christ coming to us in the humbleness of a musty, old, moldy manger. Christ forewent the ellegance of an executive room in the inn.
Yet we've all heard the saying, "Christ was born to die."
To die upon a splintered, blood-stained, moldy cross.
"O sacred head now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down....Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call thee mine."
I want to look, but I can't stand to see anymore.
Yet with God's promise, Emmanuel, God with us, we are given New Life.
We are able to stand and look through death, even though we don't want to see any more.
We can see through the darkness into the Light.
Through the mold, into purification
Through death into New Life.
Strengthened by Christ, we can stand and lift our heads, to see a crucified Christ.
A crucified Christ who is also the Resurrected Christ. New life from death.
Jesus was born to live.
Let us stand, and raise our heads, focused toward the hope of the Good News. Let us stand and proclaim this Good News one brick at a time, one home at a time, one heart at a time.
Adam F.
Quite frankly, I'm tired of raising my head.
Yesterday as we drove down the Lower 9th Ward, seeing all the destruction--houses splintered, demolished, on their sides.....I do not want to see anymore.
So sitting in the van, I lower my head.
In Luke 21:25ff, the sun, moon, stars, and all the nations of the world are confused over the crashing of the waves, and faint from fear and foreboading for the heavens are shaken.
THEN we see the Son of Man. THEN we see Christ's power and glory.
In the very depth and center of our crucibles of despair, anger, frustration, fear and hopelessness; when our world roars arounds us; Christ, Emmanuel, God with us, comes to be with us amidst the muck, dampness and mold of our lives.
"Stand up and raise your heads."
I can stand up because Christ set aside......his life.
With Advent, we anticipate Christ coming to us in the humbleness of a musty, old, moldy manger. Christ forewent the ellegance of an executive room in the inn.
Yet we've all heard the saying, "Christ was born to die."
To die upon a splintered, blood-stained, moldy cross.
"O sacred head now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down....Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call thee mine."
I want to look, but I can't stand to see anymore.
Yet with God's promise, Emmanuel, God with us, we are given New Life.
We are able to stand and look through death, even though we don't want to see any more.
We can see through the darkness into the Light.
Through the mold, into purification
Through death into New Life.
Strengthened by Christ, we can stand and lift our heads, to see a crucified Christ.
A crucified Christ who is also the Resurrected Christ. New life from death.
Jesus was born to live.
Let us stand, and raise our heads, focused toward the hope of the Good News. Let us stand and proclaim this Good News one brick at a time, one home at a time, one heart at a time.
Adam F.
Saturday, December 2, 2006
The Government May Not Be Here, but God Is
We've been exploring for three days now, and the devastation leaves one utterly speechless. I never thought that I would ever see anything like this in our country; this is the closest thing I have ever seen to a war-zone... I could write pages about the political injustice and everything else which is hindering the re-builiding, but I won't. Instead I would rather talk about the people.
Romans 8:39
Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The people we have met have all lost so much. Many lost every single earthly possession that they own except what they had on their back, but they still have the love of God. I have found it to be true, that when we understand what Jesus has done for us, then there is nothing which can separate us from His love. Not even a category 5 hurricane which strips one of everything they own... God is still loving. Mary lives in Mississippi, her house was directly under the eye of the hurricane, but she did not evacuate. She said she just prayed, she was never afraid, but just trusted in the Lord. People who never came to church before the storm, now come every week. Just like with Elijah, God may not have been in the wind, or the fire, but God was there in the silence which followed. God's love was there when nothing else was, and that is exactly what the people needed most at that time. In God's love there is hope. Those who put their hope in homes, jobs, and money, saw what can happen in the blink of an eye, but those who put their hope in the Lord, know that they are never alone. They know that there is something that God is preparing for them, something better... A day will come when God's people aren't reliant on the federal government, or a city that wants to destroy their neighborhood for good... God is here, God's love is here and that love is being shared between brothers and sisters of the Heavenly Father...
What can we learn from our time here? There is no way to prepare for a catastrophe, but we can learn to love one another before the storm. The storms will come... but if we have the love of God, and the love of one another... nothing can take our hope. I, like Mary, have decided that I won't be afraid of the rain, but will get through whatever life throws my way by trusting in the Lord...
Romans 8:39
Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The people we have met have all lost so much. Many lost every single earthly possession that they own except what they had on their back, but they still have the love of God. I have found it to be true, that when we understand what Jesus has done for us, then there is nothing which can separate us from His love. Not even a category 5 hurricane which strips one of everything they own... God is still loving. Mary lives in Mississippi, her house was directly under the eye of the hurricane, but she did not evacuate. She said she just prayed, she was never afraid, but just trusted in the Lord. People who never came to church before the storm, now come every week. Just like with Elijah, God may not have been in the wind, or the fire, but God was there in the silence which followed. God's love was there when nothing else was, and that is exactly what the people needed most at that time. In God's love there is hope. Those who put their hope in homes, jobs, and money, saw what can happen in the blink of an eye, but those who put their hope in the Lord, know that they are never alone. They know that there is something that God is preparing for them, something better... A day will come when God's people aren't reliant on the federal government, or a city that wants to destroy their neighborhood for good... God is here, God's love is here and that love is being shared between brothers and sisters of the Heavenly Father...
What can we learn from our time here? There is no way to prepare for a catastrophe, but we can learn to love one another before the storm. The storms will come... but if we have the love of God, and the love of one another... nothing can take our hope. I, like Mary, have decided that I won't be afraid of the rain, but will get through whatever life throws my way by trusting in the Lord...
Laughing on the levee (or not)
It was interesting to see five college girls talking and laughing on the levee of Mississippi River, in the French Quarter, asking a man walking by to take their picture. They were probably students on a holiday, having fun in the lively downtown of New Orleans. A city center unlike any other I have seen in the States, live music on every corner, mimics and acrobats doing their acts.
Only an hour earlier we were driving in Lower Ninth Ward, stopping at a relief center, meeting people coming for an extra blanket, because it had been cold in their FEMA-trailer the night before. Devastated houses and people looking for solidarity not charity was what we met in the Lower Ninth Ward, a poor neighborhood, which was almost forgotten and will probably not be rebuilt. No matter the feelings of the house owners that have little or no possibility to start from scratch elsewhere. It was also shocking to hear that the new levee protecting the neighborhood is to low to stop the flooding if a Hurricane of Katrina’s size would hit again. According to the Government a better levee would just be too expensive. But the decision seems almost inhuman when we drive by houses marked with the letters D.O.A. 1-Body.
U2 and Green Day sang in the Superdome a little more than a month a go: After the Flood all the Colors came out. Hopefully they are right; it was a colorful day for the five college girls on the levee of Mississippi River today. But we still have to hope and pray for more colorful days for the people in the Lower Ninth Ward.
Only an hour earlier we were driving in Lower Ninth Ward, stopping at a relief center, meeting people coming for an extra blanket, because it had been cold in their FEMA-trailer the night before. Devastated houses and people looking for solidarity not charity was what we met in the Lower Ninth Ward, a poor neighborhood, which was almost forgotten and will probably not be rebuilt. No matter the feelings of the house owners that have little or no possibility to start from scratch elsewhere. It was also shocking to hear that the new levee protecting the neighborhood is to low to stop the flooding if a Hurricane of Katrina’s size would hit again. According to the Government a better levee would just be too expensive. But the decision seems almost inhuman when we drive by houses marked with the letters D.O.A. 1-Body.
U2 and Green Day sang in the Superdome a little more than a month a go: After the Flood all the Colors came out. Hopefully they are right; it was a colorful day for the five college girls on the levee of Mississippi River today. But we still have to hope and pray for more colorful days for the people in the Lower Ninth Ward.
Thankful for Beignets and Cafe au lait
I've started this blog over 5 times. All I can say is that words come up short to describe what we have seen and heard. Not much resembles the memories I have of New Orleans and surrounding communities. After hours of touring devastating sights...destroyed houses, hollowed out houses, partially rebuilt houses and church buildings, miles of empty apartments, closed businesses, government offices meeting in trailers, FEMA trailer parks, dead trees and plants, piles of debris, cars crushed, boats still sitting on sidewalks, and pilings without houses on top, it was an overwhelming relief to find beignets and cafe au lait still for sale in the French quarter. Jazz is still played on street corners, the horse drawn buggies still move tourists around the narrow streets, and artists still hang their creations on the fence around St. Louis Cathedral.
The experience here reminds me of hospital chaplaincy. You never knew what was awaiting you in the next room. In one room there was sad news and in the next joyful celebration. We listen to people who all have stories to tell. With one you are sad for their loss of home, work, or loved one. With the next you are celebrating the miraculous deliverance from the storm's rage. You are stunned one minute by the destruction by a broken levee and shocked on the other side of the levee to find a normal neighborhood.
I keep thinking of the people so disrupted by the storm. One day they had a neighborhood where folks sat on front porches and watched children play. The next day everyone they knew and shared life with dispersed to another city, perhaps never to be heard from again.
The results of Katrina are still monumental. In the week ahead we will be "mucking a house." We have had the training now and will be ready to don our protective gear so that we can tear out walls and insultation and put what is left of someone's possessions on the curb. There are thousands of homes yet to be emptied. Consider coming to help for a week or two.
There is a spirit of resilience here. Those who remain go about the painstaking process of rebuilding. Sometimes there will be only one or two inhabited homes in a whole block. It takes a full measure of hope to rebuild and reclaim home when the neighbors are now all off in some other city or state and many will never be returning. It takes courage, and hope and faith to rebuild a neighborhood church when the vast majority of the neighborhood remains abandoned and looking like a bombed out war zone, but the building is happening. God is at work here...in the still small voice of volunteers and caring citizens.
Don't think this disaster is history. It is still unfolding in so many ways. Pray, donate time and money, and come listen and serve.
Pastor Ruth Fortis
The experience here reminds me of hospital chaplaincy. You never knew what was awaiting you in the next room. In one room there was sad news and in the next joyful celebration. We listen to people who all have stories to tell. With one you are sad for their loss of home, work, or loved one. With the next you are celebrating the miraculous deliverance from the storm's rage. You are stunned one minute by the destruction by a broken levee and shocked on the other side of the levee to find a normal neighborhood.
I keep thinking of the people so disrupted by the storm. One day they had a neighborhood where folks sat on front porches and watched children play. The next day everyone they knew and shared life with dispersed to another city, perhaps never to be heard from again.
The results of Katrina are still monumental. In the week ahead we will be "mucking a house." We have had the training now and will be ready to don our protective gear so that we can tear out walls and insultation and put what is left of someone's possessions on the curb. There are thousands of homes yet to be emptied. Consider coming to help for a week or two.
There is a spirit of resilience here. Those who remain go about the painstaking process of rebuilding. Sometimes there will be only one or two inhabited homes in a whole block. It takes a full measure of hope to rebuild and reclaim home when the neighbors are now all off in some other city or state and many will never be returning. It takes courage, and hope and faith to rebuild a neighborhood church when the vast majority of the neighborhood remains abandoned and looking like a bombed out war zone, but the building is happening. God is at work here...in the still small voice of volunteers and caring citizens.
Don't think this disaster is history. It is still unfolding in so many ways. Pray, donate time and money, and come listen and serve.
Pastor Ruth Fortis
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