ST. PAUL’S MISSION TRIP TO NEW ORLEANS

 

 

If we thought we were going to bring gifts to those whose lives have been so tragically affected by Hurricane Katrina, we were wrong.  It is we who were blessed.  Pastor Lyn and Jackie Manz were on part time kitchen work in addition to working on various sites.  As you can see, another worker wanted to be there despite her battle with cancer.  All around Gethsemane Lutheran Church were homes that were damaged and vacant.  The surprising thing was that we expected to see the poorer frame homes in the 9^th ward. Instead, we saw condemned brick ranch homes very similar to the homes in E. Northport.

 

Each day we worked on various sites. There were 36 volunteers from our Western Suffolk Conference. Some of the more skilled men worked all week on the home of Joe and Salina whose house had been rebuilt on pilings 16 feet high.  Joe and Salina are in their 80s. Their daughter had died of cancer. Their son, who lived with them, had lost a leg when he was hit by a drunk driver. An elevator was installed for the son to be able to enter the home. The interior was beautiful.  They were so grateful for our men who

finished the pilings and installed the framework for a porch and deck that future workers will complete.

 

At another site Marianne Winthrop and Fran Byrne joined Pastor and Jackie and Bob Manz. They spent the day removing nails from old frame work so that new dry wall could be installed. We also spent a “dangerous” hour at the Chalmette dump unloading trash that had been picked up from a local home. It was dangerous because of the diving sea gulls that made us feel like characters in Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds”. It’s discouraging to know that FEMA stopped assisting in trash pick-up almost a year ago and there will be further chaos as people who are still not in their homes will be losing their trailers as of March 1^st. There were yards to be cleaned up, rooms at the church to be painted, gutting to be done and so much work that is needed to be done by skilled plumbers and electricians who are at a premium and are charging premium prices.

 

It was depressing to drive mile after mile and see nothing but boarded up shopping centers, stores and homes.  The “brave” ones to return are Winn-Dixie Super Market, Home Depot and Walgreens.  Dollar Stores are also increasing and after almost three years the local St. Bernard Parish Picayune Newspaper will start publication again. The closest hospital is 28 miles away.

 

So often we asked ourselves if we’d rebuild or if we even had the courage to stay and minister to those still around.  Knowing our doubts and fears it was the people of Gethsemane who inspired us. Despite 7 inches of oil slick waters and even crypts from a local cemetery floating on their front lawn, these disciples of Christ have been rebuilding. It’s a new beginning with only two morning nursery classes instead of a 6 grade elementary school. Now the extra classrooms host workers coming in. It’s a new congregation that can’t even support a part-time pastor while before Katrina they had a pastor and a full-time youth worker. Yet Gethsemane continues as inspiration and guidance for many who want to say “We Care.”

 

Pastor Jim now commutes from Memphis where his wife’s job relocated her. He will not forsake his flock. Miss Peggy not only runs the small nursery school, but she cleans the rooms and bathrooms and serves as a local facilitator to the work crews that now sleep in bunk rooms that once were class rooms. Steve and Debbi are members who coordinate the work requests and are present with groups such as ours to tell the story and answer our questions. “Yes, a large brick home and its cement foundation CAN be swept downstream by the force of the waters from a broken levee.” “You heard right. A little Baptist Church that had rebuilt did have its property taken from them by the right of eminent domain.” And the topper: “Pigs DO fly. The same woman who saw that brick home floating past her house saw a pig soaring through the air – carried by the force of the hurricane winds to who knows where.”

 

It was on Thursday evening – the day Pastor Jim returns to Chalmette, that we gathered with the remnant from Gethsemane for Lenten worship.  The theme was “The Bread of Life.”  He reflected on the fast food diet in today’s culture. We don’t have time for more, but the bread of life needs time to nurture us into healthy Christians.  God will nourish us through all the joys and sorrows of life and in those gathered we knew this statement of faith was true.

 

We hope to be making another trip to New Orleans during President’s week of 2009.  If you are interested, plan ahead and let Pastor Lyn know of your intent.  In the mean time, pray for these brothers and sisters and watch for a special evening’s PowerPoint presentation of our trip.