Our week in New Orleans has been like that.  We worked on houses that were in various stages of completion. Some of our houses were nearly finished.  Some of them were closer to the beginning part of rebuilding and rehabilitation.  In both cases we are participating in putting together the jigsaw puzzle.  We benefited from the work that previous groups did to get projects started.  We also laid the groundwork for groups that will come after us to finish some of the things that we could not complete.  We are all part of the puzzle and perhaps only the homeowners of the houses we worked on will see the complete picture from start to finish.

It was a humbling experience to work in the neighborhoods in the 9th Ward and realize how much devastation still exists nearly five years after Hurricane Katrina.  We are so fortunate and blessed and all of the members of the team have a greater appreciation for their homes than they did when we left home a little more than a week ago.  We will never forget the homeowners we have met; people like Helen and Alvon.

I hope you will attend worship on Sunday April 18 at 10:30 to hear from the team members as we share about how the experience this week has changed lives.

Grace and Peace to you!

The trip was a learning experience for me. This was my 2nd trip to New Orleans, and I for sure felt more useful. The home owner's stories were so touching to me. I had no idea it was that bad. But enjoyed working for the owners, but for one, Helen, she stepped right in and worked with us. She always had a smile on her face which made me smile(: She was so lively and funny! Anyway, the trip was awesome and hope to do it again! ~Kyle 

This is my first time going on a mission trip, and it has been a great experience. I am so thankful to have the opportunity to go on this mission with my church family. I have met many new people, from home owners, to the many people of New Orleans. Most of all I have had the chance to create new relationships with my fellow church family. We have created great bonds, and many inside jokes together. I will miss spending time with everyone here, and I hope to come again. I will see you again Nawlin. ~ Kailee (Kailke)

This past week has been such an amazing experience. It is hard to put into words the experiences that I have had and the people that have touched me. The area that we are serving has had it very hard since Katrina, but they continue to keep a smile on their faces, positive attitudes, and continue to show their unwavering faith. I had the privilege to work on 2 different homes this week. Giving back to the community, but most of all the home owners that sense off security, or as I call it "their safe place", is am amazing feeling and I am proud to have been able to make a small difference in their lives. I am looking forward to sharing all my experiences with all of you!! ~Kim

This whole week as a whole was an amazing and life changing experience. This is my third time coming on the mission trip. I'm so proud of this team to how much we have done. All i really can say about this week is you really don't realize how much you have until you come here and see how much damage has happened. Something I'm going to take back from here is truly love and appreciation. I'm so happy and proud that my whole family was able to experience this with me and I'm so proud of them and love them from the bottom of my heart:) <3* Courtney *<3

This was such an amazing spring break for me. This is my second mission trip that I have done and we just finished working and I can't wait until next time I will be able to come! Throughout the week I was able to go through many different situations; sad ones, happy ones, and even scary ones but throughout the whole time I was able to see God with us. I stated the week off my forgetting my backpack with my laptop and Ipod in the back of our taxi from the airport. That night we ran into many people who were willing to take the time to help me out by giving numbers to call to get it back. It turns out that the next day the taxi driver called me and brought all of my things to where I was standing which really showed that God was going to be with us for the whole trip. This week I worked at Helen's house the whole week by putting siding up. One thing that really hit me was how she really had nothing, but everyday she was out helping us rebuild her home. It really show that people don't take what we are doing lightly, everyone, even people at McDonalds, stop us and tell us thank you for helping out. I am just so glad I had the chance to come out here for a second time and am already looking forward for when i can come out next! ~Josh Bell~

Betty Shaw 

(Granny Ladder,  Level holder)

Today was a very busy day but God shined His presence all around us today and it is a mind blowing experience to see the devastation that took place in this city and the love that is pouring back into the city. I am extremely blessed to be here. If I could share with you a thought: count your blessings every day. Thank you! chip walker

With Love,

Terri, Greg, Courtney and Kyle Pfenning

TEAM CHARLIE checking in.  Our team consisted of, alphabetically, Charlie and Sally DeBerry, Andria Hastings, Paul Lewis and  Kyle Pfenning plus the homeowner's son worked right along with us -- Our challenge for the day was to cut a hole in the already installed Formica cabinet to accommodate the double sink.  The thought came to mind as it was being done:  "How many Methodists does it take to install a sink?" Obviously it only took 3 to do the work and the other 3 to either give suggestions or go get stuff they needed.  Some of us, when we weren't giving helpful advice, painted the trim in the living room.  We think that by the end of the day tomorrow we will be finished with the living room and we can vacuum it.  That should bring a big smile to Alvon, the homeowner's son.  (From Sally DeBerry)

From Pastor Brent: This morning we gathered at Trinity UMC for orientation and to meet the other three teams that are working out of that center this week.  The three teams include groups from UMCs in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin and a group from a synagogue in San Rafael (in Northern California.)  During the orientation the Rabbi shared with us that the song "Sanctuary" has become an important one for their team.  We sang it together and they shared the Hebrew version with us.  It was a true grace moment for us as the same song has been a special part of each of our mission trips.  The presence of different faith communities is also a reminder that there is so much more that unites us as people of faith than things that make us different. 

MORE TO COME...

[1] Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. [2] But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

[3] Then Jesus told them this parable: [4] "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? [5] And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders [6] and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' [7] I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

[8] "Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? [9] And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' [10] In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

Sunday, April 11, 2010

The above scripture talks about things that are lost and things that are found.  From our experience so far here in New Orleans, we can say that some things have been lost but thankfully and by the grace of God were found.  

When we arrived in New Orleans we were informed that Adam Reber's uncle, who had been in the mountains with his friends had disappeared.  Search parties were formed in attempting to find the man before anything tragic were to happen.  As our team stood in the parking lot of our hotel, Pastor Brent took the opportunity to pray.  He spoke about the book of Luke and Jesus' teachings about finding things that are lost. Later we learned that Adam's uncle had been found safe.  We knew the grace of God was all around.

As we were eating dinner on Friday night, Mike, Paul, and Josh, who had taken a later flight than the rest of the team, took a taxi from the airport to the restaurant to meet all of us.  When they arrived, Josh accidentally left his backpack in the taxi.  We didn't know the taxi number, the company name, or the driver's name.  We did not know what could be done to find the backpack.  After a series of phone calls were made, and lots of prayers later, the driver of the taxi contacted Josh and said that he had found his backpack.  Within the half hour the taxi driver found us in the French Quarter and returned the bag.  Again, it is by the grace of God that everything worked out the way it did.

Yesterday the team decided to take a trip through the bayou on an airboat.  The last time we were here in 2008 we did a very similar tour and through that experience we met a man named Ernie.  He was the captain of our boat, and we learned that day that he had lost his home during Hurricane Katrina.  This year, as much as we wanted to see Captain Ernie again, we didn't think it would be possible.  After all, we were using a different company and it was in a completely different location.  While waiting for our tour to start, we were overjoyed to see Captain Ernie walking toward us!!  Apparently the last company he was with went under and he decided to come work for this new company!  He was the captain of our boat in 2008 and again yesterday! He told us how his life has been in the last 2 years.  He lost his home, but he has since found a new one.  We feel so blessed that God brought us all together again! 

The Lord works in mysterious ways! 

Amen!  

New Orleans looks vastly different than it did the first time I saw it in 2007.  A year and a half after the hurricane (or "the storm" as everyone on the Gulf Coast calls it) the city of New Orleans was still a huge mess. While much of it has been rebuilt and restored, there are still signs of storm damage.  I suspect that when we get to our first projects on Monday we will see places where the rebuilding has not yet happened.  In addition, even in the touristy areas of the city the sidewalks and streets still show signs of damage from the storm.

People have asked me why we do this.  Why would 22 of us spend a chunk or our own money in addition to raising all the funds necessary to come?  The answer, for me, is in the stories of the people we meet here; how their lives were so impacted by the storm and how appreciative they are of the help of volunteer groups like ours.  Theologically and biblically, I'm here because Jesus said that whenever we help those in need, we are helping him.  We are the hands and feet of Jesus sharing his love with the world.

We are grateful for your prayers and your support.  Check the blog each day this week for updates and impressions from team members.