Random

It’s Sunday…I want to blog but I have so many thoughts in my head that I am not sure how to focus on just one.  So I decided I would share the randomness that exists in my head.  Without any fan-fair  i give you my random thoughts for today.

1. It’s hot!

2. My baby is funny.

3. My wife is awesome.

4. I love my church family.

5. Jenny Platt is a saint.

6. I am sad that we missed Jamie’s wedding.

7. How does Rick Myssee not know the song “Reunited”?

8. Walt Disney is a genius.

9. I want a hot dog and some papya juice.

10. I hope Tim is ok in Vietnam this week.

11. Why do people with crappy cars act lke their car is da bomb. (that’s right, I’m bringing it back people)

12. I can’t wait for Indiana Jones.

13. I need a vacation.

14. I forgot how much I like Guns N Roses.

15. That fondue with the Twals was rad. (yup, I’m bringing that back too)

16. LA is expensive.

17. I wish I were a fish.

18. Jaws is the scariest movie…ever.

19. Who thought of fried pickles?

20. I wonder how Matt Neal is doing.

21. God is so good.

22. I think I should go watch some FRIENDS.

Well, that is what currently resides in my noggin, and on that note I am going to go watch the one with 5 steaks and an eggplant.

New Orleans pt. 2 – Butterflies still fly

December 28th
They day began with some bagels, cereal, and fruit…and ended with powdered sugar.

Most of the team spent the afternoon in the Lakefront area of New Orleans. This area was also destroyed. 90% of the homes had to be completely gutted do the waters that rushed through the broken levees. Today was the day we worked with John. John is a firefighter for the city of New Orleans. He did not leave, he stayed…he worked…he saved lives. After 2 years he was finally ready to begin working on his home. Everything had to be taken out. Drywall, wiring, flooring, nails…. everything…right down to the bare skeleton of the home.

It was this day that many of us remember clearer than any other. Esther learned what a screw driver was (the tool not the drink), people took turns using the sledgehammer, and John said the words that caused pause in our hearts. “Everything else is replaceable, but you have no idea how hard it is to loose all of your pictures.” John’s story is similar to that of many people in New Orleans. It’s not the furniture or the electronics or even the books…it’s the pictures, the family recipes, and the note cards from family members that have passed on. Those are the things that are irreplaceable.

While most of the team toiled at John’s, Aaron Clarke and I went back out to East New Orleans to help a family move. Eric, Jennifer and their two boys are originally from Ohio but after several trips down to New Orleans they felt that God was calling them to minister to the city. It was amazing to hear the faith of this couple that knew that this is exactly where God wanted them to be. I admire people who are willing to go and move to the Big Easy. It’s not an easy transition…the work is an uphill battle…but the people are beautiful and the need is great.

When we finally reunited we all chipped in to help Eric and Jennifer finish moving…it was exhausting. The physical, mental,

and emotional toll began to show. When you are around that much destruction you can’t help but be affected. In the Lakefront area all one had to do is look in any direction and see the waterline that stands as a grim reminder of the thousands of pictures, recipes, and family heirlooms lost…but as one of my friends pointed out…butterflies still fly and the green grass grows.

In the midst of all that is monochromatic my friend told me that she saw a butterfly and it was a reminder to her (and me) that God was in fact working. That things are being done. That God was using the Church in a way unseen in America before. That all was not lost and in fact there was hope.

After cleaning up and eating some awesome food about nine of us went down to The Quarter. It was a reprieve…a distraction to all that had gone on in the day. We laughed, people watched, smelled Bourbon St. (which smells like an odd mix of day old alcohol and vomit…mmmm) and finally we ended up at Cafe Du Monde.

For those of you that don’t know Café Du Monde is the place to be. It serves beignets and Café Au Lait…and that’s about it. I have a tradition; if I go to Café Du Monde someone is going to get powdered sugar thrown at them. You see beignets are basically French donuts and they are covered in powdered sugar. As we chatted about the city and the drunk fellow behind Tim who was acting like Napoleon…I slowly began to sprinkle powdered sugar on peoples backs. Everyone caught on and as Gnigel stared on with glee I threw an entire beignet at Rachel. The great thing was she wasn’t expecting it. She thought I was going to chuck it at Aaron…I guess you had to be there but trust me when I say she had murder in her eyes.

We finally returned home and crashed. Knowing that the next day held new challenges, but being certain that for that day, December 28th, we offered hope, joy, and help to a family dedicating themselves to the future of New Orleans…and to a firefighter who still fights for the heart of this city that he loves…the city that he would not abandon…the city that is his home…New Orleans.

Part III coming tomorrow…

New Orleans Pt.1 – A reality of hope and need

I’m not sure really where to begin. You see this was more than a mission trip for me…it was…closure. The trip began for me on Christmas night. Cheryl, Tanya, Tim, and I all arrived at LAX for a 12:30am flight. After a short layover in Huston we arrived at Louis Armstrong airport at roughly 7:30am.

December 26th
Our first day was pretty low key, we grabbed some pecan waffles, grits, and an omelet…did some grocery shopping, took a nap, and waited for the rest of the team to arrive. My friends Janet and Casey stopping by, however, interrupted my nap. It was a welcome interruption seeing I had not seen them in over a year.

Finally, the rest of the team arrived and we had a nice little welcome party before we crashed in our respective areas. We needed to get as much sleep as we could before the workday that was awaiting us. Of course when you have a house filled with 14 people –two of which snore, 5 of which (including myself) talk…a lot – you know that sleep is the one thing that does not happen before midnight.

December 27th

We awoke and drove to East New Orleans to assist Building Better Communities in their move to a new facility. We broke off into several smaller groups to tackle the projects before us. Jessica, Jenny, Randy, Esther, and Tanya did a whole bunch of painting, and insulation work. Cheryl, Christina, Marie, and Rachel began to put in a hardwood floor. Doris was a cleaning machine and put together a whole bunch of IKEA furniture. And finally, Tim, Aaron, Aaron, and myself hung some drywall…twice. (We were new to that process)

You should know that East New Orleans was completely devastated. 100% of the structures were destroyed by floodwater…that’s well over 65,000 homes. As we drove on Hwy 10 to the new offices it was a strange site because you had these small pockets of renewal that looked like little islands in a sea of desolateness.

As we worked on our tasks it was easy to forget that everywhere around us was pretty much empty. The structures were there, but the life was hard to find. The only time I think it really set in is when you would take a break, and you would be greeted with a muffled silence…an eerie quietness that spoke a story to large to comprehend.

Building Better Communities however is offering hope. Not only do they help facilitate incoming work groups but also they are actively working at restoring their neighborhood. The facility we were working in will not only serve as there offices but also as a dress for success office that would enable woman to get clothes and job training. It will serve as a day care and day camp center for children who have nowhere to go and nothing to do. They are also opening up a coffee shop that would enable ample space for community to happen as well as a place for neighborhood small groups to meet.

BBC is one of those islands…one of the few places that has been able to jump through the red tape and bureaucracy to begin rebuilding…one of the few places that life is apparent. They exist to rebuild New Orleans one family at a time, and it is rewarding to know that the work we did for BBC will have lasting implications. However, no matter how good it made me feel the reality is, that it has been 2 ½ years. 2 ½ years…and maybe…maybe 20% of the work has been done.

Part II coming tomorrow….