Patty from Christ UMC
This afternoon, the pastor from First UMC in Slidell is taking us into New Orleans to show us the ninth ward, the area of devastation that's been in the news so much.
I'm excited to have this opportunity to see this area that we've heard so much about, and I'm rather anxious because it's been so hard to see the destruction here, and it's hard to imagine what this might be like. Here in Slidell, in the midst of the sadness and devastation, there's a spirit of hopefulness that they will rebuild and be able to restore their town again. I'm not sure we'll experience that this afternoon.
It's hard to leave today, knowing that we leave some things undone, and some lives incomplete. But there's new people in today and tomorrow who will pick it up from where we leave off, and who will continue to share Christ's love with those who need to experience it.
I haven't read the blogs for several days, so I don't know if anyone has written about this, but this group is committed to doing this again in the fall, probably in October over the fall break that a number of the schools have. As soon as we get that scheduled, we'll get the dates out to the churches and probably on this blog site, so start thinking about being a part of this God-sized experience now!
I'm looking forward to seeing Mike, Kara, Mark, and Taffy tomorrow, and to seeing Christ's Church on Sunday. Thanks to all who have posted comments (which I haven't seen, but others have), as they let us know that what we're doing matters to you, too! Blessings!
Friday, March 03, 2006
Strangers and thanks
Ken - Christ UMC
When I went to Lowe's for sandpaper today (Thursday), I met a man who asked me, "You're from out of town, right?"
I said, "Yes, we're from a church group, doing some repairs."
"Thank you," he said.
I was puzzled.
He said, "When we first came back, there was so much to do all we could do was stand around and look. Finally the church groups from up north came. They started cleaning up and working. there's been a whole different attitude around here ever since."
It has been a privilege to be here this week. Folks have been so appreciative.
When I went to Lowe's for sandpaper today (Thursday), I met a man who asked me, "You're from out of town, right?"
I said, "Yes, we're from a church group, doing some repairs."
"Thank you," he said.
I was puzzled.
He said, "When we first came back, there was so much to do all we could do was stand around and look. Finally the church groups from up north came. They started cleaning up and working. there's been a whole different attitude around here ever since."
It has been a privilege to be here this week. Folks have been so appreciative.
Memories
Tony – ChaingLink Ministries
Perseverance, that is the one word that comes to mind when I think of the situation down here. The news really portrays the bad things that happen down here and gives all the air time to the people that like to complain. But what they don’t show are all of the people that have traveled by our work site and thanked us for our help. It wasn’t even their home that we were working on. People are so appreciative of any and all help. A lot of people are working hard to restore their homes and they are doing their best to repair their lives. I wish I could have taken the picture that I wanted, but I will always carry it in my mind. (The picture was of a family having a bbq outside of their camper with their family, having a good time. The house to their left was completely destroyed and their neighbors on the right only had the foundation where their house once sat. I will always remember that scene.)
I have done a little of everything while I’ve been down here, but the hardest was when we were helping dismantle a home. Tearing down walls was one thing, but we were throwing away pictures, books, clothes, antique furniture, and anything else that may have sentimental significance to the owners. That was hard. But the owners were going to be all right. When I first arrived and saw everything for the first time, I felt overwhelmed. But then Phyllis said that we are just helping people one person at a time. When I think about it that way, it helps because I know that the one family that we help, will make it, they will persevere.
Perseverance, that is the one word that comes to mind when I think of the situation down here. The news really portrays the bad things that happen down here and gives all the air time to the people that like to complain. But what they don’t show are all of the people that have traveled by our work site and thanked us for our help. It wasn’t even their home that we were working on. People are so appreciative of any and all help. A lot of people are working hard to restore their homes and they are doing their best to repair their lives. I wish I could have taken the picture that I wanted, but I will always carry it in my mind. (The picture was of a family having a bbq outside of their camper with their family, having a good time. The house to their left was completely destroyed and their neighbors on the right only had the foundation where their house once sat. I will always remember that scene.)
I have done a little of everything while I’ve been down here, but the hardest was when we were helping dismantle a home. Tearing down walls was one thing, but we were throwing away pictures, books, clothes, antique furniture, and anything else that may have sentimental significance to the owners. That was hard. But the owners were going to be all right. When I first arrived and saw everything for the first time, I felt overwhelmed. But then Phyllis said that we are just helping people one person at a time. When I think about it that way, it helps because I know that the one family that we help, will make it, they will persevere.
A story of thanks
Marge -
Gloria, her husband, and late teenage son live in a brick home in a middle class neighbor area of Slidell. Her husband was listening to the weather report continually. He said “we might not be so lucky this time with the report of the wind and flood coming in. Gloria began preparing sandwiches to evacuate. Suddenly the water came up and into their home. The water knocked over the refrigerator as it came through their home. They quickly ran across the street to their neighbors who had a boat. The two families got into the boat to flee as the water rising was too high to get by car. They headed west in the boat but couldn’t get out that direction. So they turned back toward home and headed to the other neighbor’s house which had a second story. The three families were safe on the second floor but without food or water for 3 days. Gloria said she was getting dehydrated and her stomach was bloating. The 3rd day a boat came through offering evacuation. The group asked for food and water rather than evacuating even though the water was over 5 feet in their homes. The evacuation team said they wouldn’t be back for 4 weeks. The second family decided to leave plus Gloria’s son who had leg injuries that were bleeding. As the water went down, Gloria and her husband decided to walk out. A truck came by and gave them a ride in the back of the truck. Then they found a ride to an area where they had friends. They walked to their friend’s home and found no one home. They walked the streets to another friend’s home. They knocked at the door and just went in saying “we’re coming in.”
Their home was totally ruined. They have it totally rebuilt from the wall studs out. Gloria took me for a tour of the house saying they will be able to move in to the home in a week. She said “time goes slow” and thanked me for coming. She expressed her deep appreciation for a church group from out of state bringing food while they were stranded and for church groups who have and are, helping others. “We don’t even know their names to thank them.
Gloria, her husband, and late teenage son live in a brick home in a middle class neighbor area of Slidell. Her husband was listening to the weather report continually. He said “we might not be so lucky this time with the report of the wind and flood coming in. Gloria began preparing sandwiches to evacuate. Suddenly the water came up and into their home. The water knocked over the refrigerator as it came through their home. They quickly ran across the street to their neighbors who had a boat. The two families got into the boat to flee as the water rising was too high to get by car. They headed west in the boat but couldn’t get out that direction. So they turned back toward home and headed to the other neighbor’s house which had a second story. The three families were safe on the second floor but without food or water for 3 days. Gloria said she was getting dehydrated and her stomach was bloating. The 3rd day a boat came through offering evacuation. The group asked for food and water rather than evacuating even though the water was over 5 feet in their homes. The evacuation team said they wouldn’t be back for 4 weeks. The second family decided to leave plus Gloria’s son who had leg injuries that were bleeding. As the water went down, Gloria and her husband decided to walk out. A truck came by and gave them a ride in the back of the truck. Then they found a ride to an area where they had friends. They walked to their friend’s home and found no one home. They walked the streets to another friend’s home. They knocked at the door and just went in saying “we’re coming in.”
Their home was totally ruined. They have it totally rebuilt from the wall studs out. Gloria took me for a tour of the house saying they will be able to move in to the home in a week. She said “time goes slow” and thanked me for coming. She expressed her deep appreciation for a church group from out of state bringing food while they were stranded and for church groups who have and are, helping others. “We don’t even know their names to thank them.
A Happy Note
Ray
Here it is the end of our fourth day and while the group I am working with has accomplished a lot, I feel frustrated. One, there is so much to be done and two, the job I have been working on is particularly irritating. I have spent three days trying to install a new bath tub and it still is not working correctly.
To end on a happy note, in the far distant past of last Monday, I helped install a new front door. When we got to the job sight the next morning, Natasha, the owner, told us she was overjoyed that she could now lock her house.
Here it is the end of our fourth day and while the group I am working with has accomplished a lot, I feel frustrated. One, there is so much to be done and two, the job I have been working on is particularly irritating. I have spent three days trying to install a new bath tub and it still is not working correctly.
To end on a happy note, in the far distant past of last Monday, I helped install a new front door. When we got to the job sight the next morning, Natasha, the owner, told us she was overjoyed that she could now lock her house.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
UMCOR
Dennis - Christ UMC
I have always known that money going to UMCOR is used for the purpose intended. What I have experienced here with UMCOR has shown me that they are filled with compassion and love for the people that they work with and the volunteers that are doing the work.
Phyllis Mitchell is the Construction Coordinator for the Slidell station. She knows the clients, calls them by name, and works to make sure everything is done for them.
Phyllis always sends us off with instructions and prayer and is willing to offer advice to the teams (having spent 23 years as a carpenter).
UMCOR is a very efficient organization and deserves our support.
Update on Huston
Dennis - Christ UMC
I visited with Huston today and gave him an application for help from UMCOR. By late afternoon, he had filled it out and said that he will turn it in. Huston told me that his biggest loss from the hurricane is the loss of his pictures of his mom and dad and family. All his memories are in his mind, but he doesn't have the ability to show anyone.
Huston only wants some help putting in the drywall. After talking with Phyllis (of UMCOR), I believe he may get that help. Huston said that any help he receives to help him get into his house sooner would be appreciated. I know that Huston will be alright. Praise God!
Christian Community
The Millen family - Twin Rivers Cooperative Parish and beyond
Today we began our day with the Ash Wednesday service. The imposition of ashes gives us the spiritual beginning of the Lenten season. As we shared our service with the volunteer groups from the other states, it reminded us we are one in Christ working together to help hurricane victims cope with personal losses.
The celebration of God's day continued with honoring our angel Geneva, who turned 90 today. A special birthday lunch filled with love, laughter and especially the warmth of God's love. We are blessed to have a piece of the Slidell community as a permanent piece of our own Christian community.
The Church Is Alive
Tom - Orion UMC
We are working in Natacha's home with periodic visits from her 8 year old son Tyrone. As I was mudding drywall, he stopped and asked, "What is that stuff?" I started to explain about joint compound when he said, "Isn't that drywall mud?" Kids here are learning what it takes to put homes and communities back together.
Problems here are as apparent as trees lying on roofs and FEMA trailers sitting in driveways, but the church is also apparent. It reminds me the church is most alive when we expose our problems and bear one another's burdens.
MUD
Aaron - Orion UMC
Three days into our rebuilding effort and I have become well acquainted with a new friend, MUD. MUD stands for Multi-Use Demoralizer. It is the glue that binds, or more accurately, conceals our flaws. MUD is actually joint compound, a clay-like substance used to hide gaps between wall board. It's what makes a wall look smooth after days of re-application. However, joint compound is a misnomer, it should be called compound joint pain. Pressing hour after hour to make this slime look smooth, often with your arms raised over head or in positions reminiscent of Cirque de Solei contortionists, tends to make your joints as puttylike as the MUD itself. In its natural moistened state it will cling to your clothes, stick to your skin, and glob over walls in configurations as unique as a snowflake. This, unfortunately, is not the desired goal of MUD mastery. Your aim is a smooth, glassy surface. It becomes ghostly white as it hardens to a crumbly cake. While this cake may allow for ease of sanding to smoothness, who knew that MUD could produce brilliant clouds of white snow? Young men walk away from a day of MUDDING with hair as white as their grandfathers. Old men walk away with a complexion that would make Casper jealous. MUD has many uses in the English language. As a noun, "Why are their globs of MUD all over the floor?" As a verb, "Go MUD that entire room while the rest of us laugh." Or even as a compound sentence substituting for every other word, "Your MUDDER told us that your MUDDING was MUDDLED for an experienced MUDDER." All being said, and after several days of being demoralized in multiple ways, I think I have come to terms with my friend MUD. He means the best, although he sometimes has a funny way of showing it, and he helps me accomplish our goals in this week long rebuilding endeavor in the Louisiana bayou. Well, kind of near the bayou, Billy.
1st UMC
Judy - Christ UMC
On our break, Kathy, Patty, Tony and I stopped at a large United Methodist Church. There was a large life center with a large gym, kitchen and rooms that were torn out. There was another building with classrooms plus the church. Everything had been under 5'3" of water. The only usable part of the church is the sanctuary. Their first service back in the church was Christmas Eve. the classroom building will be torn down.
It amazes me the number of church people who have come to work. At one time, there were Mormons, Marines and Methodists working at the hcurhc. A disaster team of 17 men from Georgia came right after the flood with a van that was equipped just for disasters - tents - outdoor shower & equipment. They shoveled mud from the church.
Even with all their problems the church is still collecting cans of food for people and looking forward to the time they can get their programs going again. Eight scout troups, a program with children coming from all over for help and other programs.
The minister is still looking to the future when they can continue with the plans for apartments for single parents and other building projects. It is amazing, nothing is said about giving up - only looking to the future!
Everyone we talk to, thanks us for coming and helping them! We are blessed by the people we meet!
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