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
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1 comment:
I'm not surprised that singing has increased! :) Luther said himself that music was second only to theology in the proclamation of the Gospel.
Thanks for the blog, for all of your efforts, and for your spirits. I will certainly remember you all tomorrow when the community joins in singing "O Lord, Hear My Prayer" and "Come and Fill our Hearts with Your Peace" (two of my Taize favorites).
Enjoy the weather, enjoy each other, and enjoy the kairos.
Peace,
Kurt
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