Meeting Jesus through "Mary"

"Whatever you do to the least of these, you also do to me."
Often these words from Jesus are used as a calling to help those in need, and then thereby serving Jesus. However, I've experienced this verse from the gospel in Matthew in a whole new way. Today (keep in mind our first real work day) alone, in helping ONE family move cinder blocks I found Jesus.
So many people tell "us" that Jesus is about wealth, gold, "bling-bling" and all those Christmas gifts wish-lists. Yet, all those things will rust, be outdated, or even stolen----their hope runs dry. Yet, when I meet people who have every reason to be unfriendly, bitter and angry--they are not. Rather they are friendly, loving and welcoming. People who were once forced to the upper-most point of their homes as the water rose, give thanks because God protected, and because we came to help them. Oh, how they've blessed us!!
In the coming three weeks, the season of Advent guides us toward Jesus' birth in a likely, damp, musty, moldy manger. How fitting, that today (and the coming weeks I anticipate) I met Jesus through a woman who endured her once damp, musty, moldy home, which has now made way for NEW spackling, NEW paint, NEW hope, and yes, NEW LIFE.
For "Mary" I say, "I am blessed." For Jesus living through Mary I say, "Thanks be to God!"
Shalom <><
Adam

Powerful Women

Katrina, Rose, Mary, and Two Pastor Barbs --- all powerful, but what I discovered today is that Rose, Mary and the pastors of churches in Slidel, Louisanna and Long Beach, Mississippi are way more powerful than Katrina. Rose and Mary told compelling stories of survival -- Rose riding out the storm with her family first on the kitchen table, then hanging on to tree limb and finally on the roof top of a building than did not slip below the waters only to find themselves two miles from their former home when the storm ended 8 hours later. Mary rode out the storm in the family homestead with her family with waters raining down through the roof for hours during the storms. Pastors worked with their congregations to open their churches for immediate assistance putting their own needs somewhere down on their list of priorities.

In the end, all could join in praising the Lord. I find myself echoing their refrain with arms raised in the air!

Tom Fehr

One Brick at a Time

Close your eyes and picture a beach. Imagine the sunsetting, a slight breeze, white sand, not another person to share the beach with, the beauty of creation. Now, turn your head slightly and look to the other side - the trees are gone, houses are torn in half, houses are gone, only concrete slabs and stairs can be seen, trees are cut in half, a church stands with only the outside structure standing, debris litters the land, and again, people are scarce.

This picture exists, among many places of the south, but today we witnessed the scene as we drove to and from our work site in Gulf Port, Mississippi. Our group began the day talking with Pr. Barb Hunter of Grace Ev. Lutheran Church. During the storm she and a few other members sought shelter in the church, only to emerge a few days later to find their entire houses destroyed. A sign on their church reads: "The hurricane was an act of nature, but the acts and responses since then have been acts of God." And so our group, among countless others over the past year and a half have taken part in the relief effort sharing in God's compassion and love.

Today, we spent the morning and afternoon cleaning out a yard (garbage and old trees), drywalling and painting. Many of us formed a chain to clear out cement blocks in a yard so the family could build on the plot.

Some facts to consider:

divorce rates have increased since the storm
suicide rates have increased (600%)
three and four families are commonly still living in one trailer
6 Episcopal churches on the coast were destroyed
the need for daycare is huge
renters are the people facing the most problems since they do not qualify for governmental housing funds and property costs have risen explosively
our group moved 10 tons of cinder blocks today - that's just over 1 ton per person

One man commented: "I have lived here 7 years and have had 1 bad day."

Pr. Barb Hunter relayed that her church attendance has decreased but their singing has increased.

May we all share in the hopeful singing, one day at a time, one brick at a time, and one moment at a time.

Peace, Kim Knowle

We have arrived....

That's right, we have arrived. And the southern hospitality is already flowing. We arrived to a full dinner that was cooked by a high school guy by the name of James, who dreams to go to culinary school - it was great!

Now we are waiting for a tour of the facilities and just really hanging out. Tomorrow we go to Mississippi to meet with some pastors of a church there and do some work in a family's house. Keep checking back!

Kim, Adam, Nick, Halldor, Kim, and Leah.
(Pastor Ruth, Tom, & Mary are here in spirit - but not in the rec. room with us posting!)

And we're off!

This blog was created so the larger seminary/church community, and our family and friends could keep up with us on our interim class journey to the New Orleans area. We will be working and talking, and living and worshipping with many different folks and groups who all have been affected in one way or another. And we hope to retell some of those stories (and pictures) here so you can join us on this learning experience.

We are traveling down there today, so it will most likely take about a day or two before folks begin to post here, but we invite you to join us as you can. There are 9 total folks heading down, and we will be staying at the Dove of Peace Center at Peace Lutheran Church in Slidell, LA with Pastor Barb Simmers. We ask for your prayers for our journey, and for those who continue (and will for the next 8-10 years) to struggle and do whatever they can to simply survive.

So here we go!!!