friday--i couldnt sleep tonight. i was anxiously awaiting my alarm clock for 5am so i could get up and meet the team at the church to leave for new orleans. little did i know what i was getting myself into.
saturday--we arrived in new orleans about 4 pm and as we drove to the church the fema trailers stuck out. there were so many of them. they looked bigger on tv and yet it has been 8 months since the storm people were living in them, and will continue for quite some time. today i have hear stories of how it was a man made disaster (as viewed by the residents of new orleans) because the drain pipes were not turned on and working coreectly. i have found myself unusually quiet just taking in the sights and sounds of everything around me.
sunday--we drove around and saw more desolation. neighborhoods destroyed and neighbors have long left this city of 1 million. it now stands at 200,000. this lady showed us the levies and drove us out 7f miles away from new orleans to show us her orange grove and house or what is now and open field with a cement slab where the trailer used to be. she said the trailer was found 4 miles from the site. obviously in no shape to be used ever again.
the superdome is being rebuilt by what seemed like ants. and should be ready for there opening game against the falcons. as we later walked around the french quarter and bourbon street drunk girls kept approaching me yelling "boston" in reference to the red sox hat i was wearing. i wonder if this is real or if the boat underneath the bypass will continue to make it a dream.
tuesday--service is a lifestyle that i am still trying to grasp. even though i have spent today laying sheet rock and mudding i find myself at times missing other types of service . others find sweeping, dishes and anything else that needs to be done, but yet i sit here and journal.
today i met the couple we are helping rebuild. they were so thankful. they waitedout the hurricane in their him and it was more then a day later when the flooding reached their house. the insurance of course did not cover the cost of rebuilding. they were only reimbursed $10,000 which half went to central cooling.
thursday--the reason i came was to serve. little did i know exactly how we would be serving. as the week progressed i found playing ping pong with the pastor as serving to relieve his stress, and his family hasnt yet moved down to the area. another is one of the teens father. he is a great guy with a heart to match yet is still young in his faith. talking with him has been great for him as well as for me. he has had an outlet. the other is the family whose house we are working on. suck a great couple who have a lot of burdens. they want to take us out to the favorite chinese/seafood restaurant. one who is willing to serve must allow themselves to be served.
friday--i have continued to notice the attitude of carlene. she continues through the day and every now and then you hear her mumbling. but she is talking to God the whole time. she is such a servant. and i am seeing that this is what i need to aim for.
overall-- there has been a lot learned about new orleans, myself and the church. but when it comes down to it we just need to serve.
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