New Orleans Reflections from Dad (Bill)

It has been a week since mom and I returned from NO. I remember a conversation we had when she was to Kiln, MS. in January. The change in her life by being there exceeded anything that had been done in previous missions trips. I have to now agree. Coming home from the week of "vacation" the thought occurred to me that when I take vacation to visit family or friends or do some recreational activity, I come home relaxed and encouraged. On a trip like this, I have to say that I come home changed.

The devastation, traffic lights not working, homes that have not been in for 8 months, damage as far away as 90 miles out of NO, all of these things were minimal to the effect of this hurricane had on the life of the people. The pictures of what Ben showed on his blog were not of molded furniture or walls or piles of rubble. Those things piled up in the street were of peoples memories of their homes and the things that went on in those homes for over 20 years. From hearing a daughter of one home owners wale as she came to see what we were doing to the home she grew up in. Lorentz, who was retired and lived in his home 23 years could not in 8 months come over to his house to clean out the memories. When the first pry bar went ripping into his molded living room dry wall, his whencing and expression showed how much this hurt to hear his house and memories being ripped apart. But he was very appreciative and loving to us for what we were doing to help him. In Ben's blog, the picture of me bending over in front of an older gentleman was me presenting from the BCC group a bible to Lorentz that was supplied by Samaritan's Purse (I know, it was a Holy moment). How would we feel if 7028 was stripped of all her memories. The kitchen table where many conversations occurred being thrown into a pile of rubble on the curve at Winding Trail.

The people are being told that they cannot get flood insurance unless they raise their homes 4 feet. How do you raise a home on concrete slab 4 feet? The obvious question we all asked was, "why do you stay?" Every answer was, "because this is our home. Our family has been here for generations". It was meeting the people in NO that has changed us. The devastation was incredible, but it was the people.

Sumaritian's Purse did an excellent job of taking care of us. They also extended a lot of trust as they sent us out to clean out the homes that had been waiting for months for someone to come help. Volunteers from Washington State, NJ, Montana, NC, GA and two groups from MI. became the Body of Christ for these hurting families. It did not matter what brand of christianity we were. We worshipped together, prayed together, heard devotions together, worked together and shared experiences of the day together.

Lena and I thank you all for praying for us while we were in "hot" NO (95 degrees), but the effect of the effort was life changing. Thank you Lord!