Sunday, July 8, 2007
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Last Day....
Today (Friday) was our last day in D’Iberville. All of the kids worked really hard to finish their sites. Jen and Lorraine were leading a group that worked all week on a home that was in pretty bad shape, for a family of three, both parents are disabled and unable to work. The disability payments per month are $700 and the mortgage payments are $700. They are struggling to make ends meet and are living in a FEMA trailer on their property. Our group of six were the first people to come and work on their home. They came by the camp tonight with a handmade card on construction paper for us (I’ll scan it and upload it when we get home) to thank the group for working. The father gave each of them a hug and he was crying. Those of us around to witness this were all crying too. He said he had been in church on Sunday praying for someone to come and work on his house, that they’d get moved up enough on the list for help and Monday our group showed up.
The group led by John, Linda, and Mike were working on a home next to one of the rivers that runs through town. Our kids helped the homeowner clear out her attic today and in the midst of many wet and falling apart boxes they came upon her wedding dress from about 30 years ago. It was faded and yellow, but she held it up and was so happy to see the dress again (her husband has died since the hurricanes). She and some of our girls had a really fun time going through her memories of that day and of that dress. Our work helped her unearth a happy memory in the midst of her pain and loneliness.
The group that Deb and Sue led worked on the home with the picture that is earlier in the blog of this little girl. She lived through the hurricanes at 4 years old. She is a lively, energetic little girl, but she struggles with her family and lives with her grandmother. She bonded with our kids and we saw her smile and laugh and play.
Bob and Jan led up a group that worked to restore a home to beautiful condition. The home is not done, but their group worked so hard on grouting and tiling work and completing the tiling of a kitchen and a utility (laundry) area. All of the kids on their crew learned new skills of carpentry and tile work and have grown in their self-confidence. They also put railings on a porch making it safe for that homeowner.
Tonight we held our final worship service in the new camp tent. The previous tent that housed volunteers here for the last year and a half was destroyed just three weeks by a microburst. Last night we dedicated and blessed the new tent which we helped to raise, and tonight the cross was hung in the center part of that tent. We are all blessed to be here and to be a part of this work. Ed and Irene are an inspiration, and their words remind us of why we were here, “Many years ago God knew you would be here, it is your purpose.” We each feel that way and we each have had our lives and our spiritual journeys enriched beyond measure by this experience.
We’ll continue to upload photos and content onto this blog throughout the summer months…keep reading! Shannan
Friday, July 6, 2007
Friday and Saturday Devotions
Friday July 6, 2007
Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like. But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God—the free life!—even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action. James 1: 22-25
Morning Devotion
“In our era, the road to holiness necessarily passes through the world of action.” -Dag Hammarskjold
Q: Do you think you are holy? What about the person next to you? Are your actions holy? Why is this?
Friday July 6, 2007
Mid-Day Devotion
Don't put your life in the hands of experts who know nothing of life, of salvation life. Mere humans don't have what it takes; when they die, their projects die with them. Instead, get help from the God of Jacob, put your hope in God and know real blessing! God made sky and soil, sea and all the fish in it. He always does what he says—he defends the wronged, he feeds the hungry. God frees prisoners—he gives sight to the blind, he lifts up the fallen. God loves good people, protects strangers, takes the side of orphans and widows, but makes short work of the wicked. Psalm 146:5-9
“Perhaps only a smile, a little visit, or simply the fact of building a fire for someone, writing a letter for a blind person, bringing a few coals, finding a pair of shoes, reading for someone, this is only a little bit, yes a very tiny bit, but it will be our love of God in action.” -Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Q: What small task did you do today that is your love of God in action?
Saturday July 7, 2007
Morning Devotion
Jesus knew that the Father had put him in complete charge of everything, that he came from God and was on his way back to God. So he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron. When he got to Simon Peter, Peter said, "Master, you wash my feet?"Jesus answered, "You don't understand now what I'm doing, but it will be clear enough to you later." Peter persisted, "You're not going to wash my feet—ever!" Jesus said, "If I don't wash you, you can't be part of what I'm doing." "Master!" said Peter. "Not only my feet, then. Wash my hands! Wash my head!" Jesus said, "If you've had a bath in the morning, you only need your feet washed now and you're clean from head to toe. My concern, you understand, is holiness, not hygiene. So now you're clean. But not every one of you." After he had finished washing their feet, he took his robe, put it back on, and went back to his place at the table. Then he said, "Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as 'Teacher' and 'Master,' and rightly so. That is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other's feet. I've laid down a pattern for you. What I've done, you do. I'm only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn't give orders to the employer. If you understand what I'm telling you, act like it—and live a blessed life. John 13: 3-17
Saturday July 7, 2007
Mid-Day Devotion
6-9"This is the kind of fast day I'm after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts. What I'm interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the hungry,inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families. Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once. Your righteousness will pave your way. The God of glory will secure your passage. Then when you pray, God will answer. You'll call out for help and I'll say, 'Here I am.' Isaiah 58-1-9a
“It is very important to realize that our vocation is hidden in where we are and who we are. We are unique human beings, each with a call to realize in life that nobody else can, and to realize it in the concrete of the here and now. We will never find our vocations by trying to figure out whether we are better or worse than others. We are good enough to do what we are called to do. Be yourself!” -Henri Nouwen
Q: At the end of this mission experience, where do you feel God calling you to go? How can you do this and love yourself and your God-given gifts at the same time?
Saturday July 7, 2007
Evening Devotion
Just then a religion scholar stood up with a question to test Jesus. "Teacher, what do I need to do to get eternal life?" He answered, "What's written in God's Law? How do you interpret it?" He said, "That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence—and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself." "Good answer!" said Jesus. "Do
Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like. But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God—the free life!—even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action. James 1: 22-25
Morning Devotion
“In our era, the road to holiness necessarily passes through the world of action.” -Dag Hammarskjold
Q: Do you think you are holy? What about the person next to you? Are your actions holy? Why is this?
Friday July 6, 2007
Mid-Day Devotion
Don't put your life in the hands of experts who know nothing of life, of salvation life. Mere humans don't have what it takes; when they die, their projects die with them. Instead, get help from the God of Jacob, put your hope in God and know real blessing! God made sky and soil, sea and all the fish in it. He always does what he says—he defends the wronged, he feeds the hungry. God frees prisoners—he gives sight to the blind, he lifts up the fallen. God loves good people, protects strangers, takes the side of orphans and widows, but makes short work of the wicked. Psalm 146:5-9
“Perhaps only a smile, a little visit, or simply the fact of building a fire for someone, writing a letter for a blind person, bringing a few coals, finding a pair of shoes, reading for someone, this is only a little bit, yes a very tiny bit, but it will be our love of God in action.” -Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Q: What small task did you do today that is your love of God in action?
Saturday July 7, 2007
Morning Devotion
Jesus knew that the Father had put him in complete charge of everything, that he came from God and was on his way back to God. So he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron. When he got to Simon Peter, Peter said, "Master, you wash my feet?"Jesus answered, "You don't understand now what I'm doing, but it will be clear enough to you later." Peter persisted, "You're not going to wash my feet—ever!" Jesus said, "If I don't wash you, you can't be part of what I'm doing." "Master!" said Peter. "Not only my feet, then. Wash my hands! Wash my head!" Jesus said, "If you've had a bath in the morning, you only need your feet washed now and you're clean from head to toe. My concern, you understand, is holiness, not hygiene. So now you're clean. But not every one of you." After he had finished washing their feet, he took his robe, put it back on, and went back to his place at the table. Then he said, "Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as 'Teacher' and 'Master,' and rightly so. That is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other's feet. I've laid down a pattern for you. What I've done, you do. I'm only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn't give orders to the employer. If you understand what I'm telling you, act like it—and live a blessed life. John 13: 3-17
Saturday July 7, 2007
Mid-Day Devotion
6-9"This is the kind of fast day I'm after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts. What I'm interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the hungry,inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families. Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once. Your righteousness will pave your way. The God of glory will secure your passage. Then when you pray, God will answer. You'll call out for help and I'll say, 'Here I am.' Isaiah 58-1-9a
“It is very important to realize that our vocation is hidden in where we are and who we are. We are unique human beings, each with a call to realize in life that nobody else can, and to realize it in the concrete of the here and now. We will never find our vocations by trying to figure out whether we are better or worse than others. We are good enough to do what we are called to do. Be yourself!” -Henri Nouwen
Q: At the end of this mission experience, where do you feel God calling you to go? How can you do this and love yourself and your God-given gifts at the same time?
Saturday July 7, 2007
Evening Devotion
Just then a religion scholar stood up with a question to test Jesus. "Teacher, what do I need to do to get eternal life?" He answered, "What's written in God's Law? How do you interpret it?" He said, "That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence—and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself." "Good answer!" said Jesus. "Do
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Jenna and Shelby
Happy 4th of July! Today was only a half day of work. When we arrived at our work site, we immediately began working. We touched up the kitchen floor that we had grouted the day before. Then, Jenna grouted a small utility room and cleaned the excess grout off the tiles. While Jenna was working on that, Shelby helped to put up the front porch rails. After completing these jobs, we finished up odds and ends jobs, such as painting the window trims. Today Rita, the homeowner, bought our work team po' boys, which are just like subs, for lunch. She had also bought us lunch yesterday, and will bring us lunch once again on Thursday. She has also offered to make dessert for the entire camp for Thursday. So far this week, we have accomplished a lot throughout Rita's house. As aforementioned, we have grouted the kitchen floor and utility room, and trimmed the windows. We have also began to put up the front porch rails, the basic outlets, and painted the walls, doors, and window trimmings. In addition, we cauked and puttied the window trimmings, after Carolyn and Bob installed them. For the rest of the week, we plan to put up the air vents, finish the porch railing, and seal the grouted floors after buffing them. Once the kitchen floor is sealed, we will be able to move her cabinets from her bedroom into the kitchen. We desire to do this so that the next work team can work on her bedroom, so that the house will be that much closer to move-in day. We plan to finish her chairs on her front porch as a gift of gratitude for all her kindness towards us. See you soon, Jenna and Shelby
From Riley and Olivia
So far this week my group primed and painted a house. This house was owned by a family who donated it as well as other houses to the program to create houses for low income families. -Riley
I have been working on the same house every day this week. Rita, the home owner, is living in a FEMA trailer outside the front of her sister's house while she anxiously waits for her house to be finished. This week so far, we have grouted her kitchen floor, tiled her laundry room, framed almost all the windows and doors, finshed painting the walls and doors, and began installing her front porch rails. She has offered us lunch every day and loves watching the progress on her house. -Olivia
I have been working on the same house every day this week. Rita, the home owner, is living in a FEMA trailer outside the front of her sister's house while she anxiously waits for her house to be finished. This week so far, we have grouted her kitchen floor, tiled her laundry room, framed almost all the windows and doors, finshed painting the walls and doors, and began installing her front porch rails. She has offered us lunch every day and loves watching the progress on her house. -Olivia
Thursday Devotion
Thursday July 5, 2007
I'm glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess—happy that you're again showing such strong concern for me. Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about me. You just had no chance to show it. Actually, I don't have a sense of needing anything personally. I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. I don't mean that your help didn't mean a lot to me—it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my troubles. Philippians 4:10-14
Morning Devotion
Thursday July 5, 2007
But it's trouble ahead if you think you have it made. What you have is all you'll ever get.
And it's trouble ahead if you're satisfied with yourself. Your self will not satisfy you for long. And it's trouble ahead if you think life's all fun and games. There's suffering to be met, and you're going to meet it. "There's trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests—look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular. "To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously. Luke 6, selected sections
Mid-Day Devotion
“Joy is a net of love by which we capture souls. God loves the person who give with joy. Whoever gives with joy gives more…We wait impatiently for the paradise where God is, but we have it in our power to be in paradise with Him, right now; being happy with Him means: To love as He loves. To help as He helps. To give as He gives. To serve as He serves.” -Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Q: What act of service today is giving you the greatest joy? What act of service that you are doing today is giving joy to another person?
I'm glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess—happy that you're again showing such strong concern for me. Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about me. You just had no chance to show it. Actually, I don't have a sense of needing anything personally. I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. I don't mean that your help didn't mean a lot to me—it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my troubles. Philippians 4:10-14
Morning Devotion
Thursday July 5, 2007
But it's trouble ahead if you think you have it made. What you have is all you'll ever get.
And it's trouble ahead if you're satisfied with yourself. Your self will not satisfy you for long. And it's trouble ahead if you think life's all fun and games. There's suffering to be met, and you're going to meet it. "There's trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests—look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular. "To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously. Luke 6, selected sections
Mid-Day Devotion
“Joy is a net of love by which we capture souls. God loves the person who give with joy. Whoever gives with joy gives more…We wait impatiently for the paradise where God is, but we have it in our power to be in paradise with Him, right now; being happy with Him means: To love as He loves. To help as He helps. To give as He gives. To serve as He serves.” -Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Q: What act of service today is giving you the greatest joy? What act of service that you are doing today is giving joy to another person?
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
More Photos, etc.
I hope everyone is having a great 4th of July. The staff and volunteers here in D'Iberville have talked a lot to us about the miracles they experience since the hurricanes, all the things that amaze them about how God continues to provide for them despite such a horrible disaster that they have lived through. We are all in awe of the strength of faith that people here possess. We're celebrating the 4th of July with fireworks (if it will stop with these afternoon thunderstorms!) and a BBQ here at the camp. Some more photos of what we are seeing and experiencing to share....
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
From Jamie....
Hi everyone! For the last two days, we have been working in Mississippi, in a small town. I've been working with four other people from our group, and we've mostly been painting. We started out painting the front and back porch of one lady's trailer, which isn't as easy as it sounds. We've been working on it for two days, and it still isn't finished. So much white paint was used painting all the beams in the ceiling and railings. But I must say, it was lots of fun. We spent hours with brushes, and bottles of Gatorade, in our hands. All we had to do today was paint the floorboards, but last night's rain soaked the wood so it can't be painted. So we were sent to another woman's house, across town. It was so sad to see how much work needed to be done in her home. Her and her son lived in this half-finished home, and also in a trailer parked in the front yard. Tiling, grouting, and hanging of blinds were some of the many things that needed to be finished in order to complete this lady's home. We opted for painting the bathroom, since we seemed to have the most skill in that field. Not all five of us fit in the bathroom at the same time, so some of us listened to the story about the hurricane.
By now, about four days through this trip, I have heard probably four or five stories from people who experienced this disaster first hand. Before I left for this trip, I was ignorant. I did not know how bad it actually was down here in Mississippi and New Orleans. I thought, since I had seen pictures, that I knew how they felt. I guess we can all relate because we all experienced 9/11, but this is probably the worst natural disaster in US history. As we toured through New Orleans the first and second days, we saw it all. We talked to those who stayed during the hurricane, and who survived. We spoke to those who lost their homes, and their families. As we drove throught the lower 9th ward, we saw some of the worst. Some lots consisted of debri and pieces of houses, and some consisted of cheap trailers. But occasionally, you could see slabs of what used to be a front porch or a driveway on an otherwise empty lot. It was terrifying to see everything that was destroyed. It still is a terrible situation for those who still have no homes. It's been two years now, and you still see so many residents homeless. The government won't provide all the money for everyone to rebuild their homes, and that's where volunteers like us step in. It is such an amazing experience, helping these people and changing their lives. It is also, for us, a live-changing experience.
The surviving residents of Louisiana and Mississippi have conquered everything. From the harshest winds to four feet of water in their homes, these people have stood strong the entire time. They have stood by everything they cared for, their homes, their jobs, and their families. They didn't leave in times of disaster, but instead held on and prepared for the worst. They have gone through so much, and deserve our help. So that's why I'm here right now. Not to see how it's like and to visit these places. No, I'm here to help change lives, to save one person at a time.
I'll see you all soon. Good bye for now. =]
Wednesday Devotions
Wednesday July 4, 2007
Morning Devotion
Give the gift of wise rule to the king, O God, the gift of just rule to the crown prince. May he judge your people rightly, be honorable to your meek and lowly. Let the mountains give exuberant witness; shape the hills with the contours of right living. Please stand up for the poor, help the children of the needy, come down hard on the cruel tyrants. Outlast the sun, outlive the moon—age after age after age. Be rainfall on cut grass, earth-refreshing rain showers. Let righteousness burst into blossom and peace abound until the moon fades to nothing. Rule from sea to sea, from the River to the Rim. Psalm 72: 1-8
“The extreme greatness of Christianity lies in the fact that it does not seek a supernatural remedy for suffering but a supernatural use for it.” –Simone Weil
Q: What do you think she means by this?
Wednesday July 4, 2007
Mid-Day Devotion
"I can't stand your religious meetings. I'm fed up with your conferences and conventions. I want nothing to do with your religion projects, your pretentious slogans and goals. I'm sick of your fund-raising schemes, your public relations and image making. I've had all I can take of your noisy ego-music. When was the last time you sang to me? Do you know what I want? I want justice—oceans of it. I want fairness—rivers of it. That's what I want. That's all I want. Amos 5:21-24
“When you were born you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life in such a manner that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice.” -Ancient Indian Proverb
Q: Part of what we are learning to do on this mission trip is to reorient our lives towards what matters. What matters most to you? What matters most to God? To God’s Creation? How can you realign your life? What do you want to make of your life right now, what are your dreams and what do they have to do with God’s dream for you?
Photos from Deb and Sue's Work Site
Deb and Sue are working on a house that is being rehabed by a family that is pretty well off for the area. They are rehabbing small cottages around town to then rent out to low income families. These are some of the photos of their site for today, and the little girl who hopefully this house can go to....
From Madeline....
So far, our trip to New Orleans has been very exciting and moving. The mess that the storm left is mindboggling. In addition, the people that we have met told us stories that brought tears to our eyes. The people came together and took it upon themselves to begin to bring their communities back to the way it used to be. On a different note, our group is having a lot of fun and a lot of laughs. Yesterday our work group primed a cottage and got ready to paint, which we are doing today. The cottage was the only house on the street that had not moved off it's foundation and their were far more bigger houses that were damaged far worse. Along with this, there are manyn stories just like this. Wish you were here!
Madeline :]
From Destiny....
Yesterday began the emotional process of understanding the real tragedies of hurricane Katina. The pictures and houeses aren't enough, it's the stories that help you to realize what really happened. Yesterday we began the task of painting a front and back porch of a trailer. However this wasn't just a trailer it was a home that symbolized strength and an individual uniqueness that the lady had set up. The women we painted for was elderly, but her lively spirit showed a much younger age. We were just about only a half hour left to go of painting when there was a huge crack of thunder and then lightening. Then we had to immediatly evacuate the house to a safe pace, because the storm was surely not to blow over with minutes. We ventured back to camp and spent the rest of hour night just relaxing. I have to admitt I never realized how much effort it takes to just paint a porch. Well I am up for another day of painting to finish her porch!!!! So long for now.....
From Alex....
Monday was spent working at two different work sites with Madison--doing a few jobs. We leared how to test house studs for moisture--to make sure that the residence is ready and dry enough to start construction Luckily for home owner Linda Thrash, her house has no extra moisture in the walls and insulation installation can begin on Tuesday. After our moisture testing, we visited Shannan's group and tried helping her with some extensive lawn work. We quickly found out, unfortunately, that 4 foot high grass will destroy your lawn mower. The rest of the day was pretty slow moving, trying to mow a lawn with a weed wacker. Hopefully we can finish up the lawn Tuesday and then move onto bigger and better things.
Monday and Tuesday Devotions
Monday July 2, 2007
Into the hovels of the poor into the dark streets where the homeless groan, God speaks: “I’ve had enough, I’m on my way to heal the ache in the heart of the wretched.” God’s words are pure words refined seven times in the fires of his wood-kiln, pure on earth as well as in heaven. God keep us safe from their lies, from the wicked who stalk us with lies, from the wicked who collect honors for their wonderful lies. Psalm 12:5-8
Morning Devotion
“If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us struggle together.” -Lily Watson
Q: As Christians are we here to help, or to struggle with the other person? Which choice is easier? Which choice is faithful?
Monday July 2, 2007
The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live. I Timothy 2: 1-2
Mid-Day Devotion
“Faith consists in the acceptance of doubts, the working through of them, rather than the repression of them.” –Madeline L’Engle
Q: We all have doubts about parts of our faith. It is ok! It’s normal! What are some of yours? What are some that others around you share? Offer them to God in a prayer.
Tuesday July 3, 2007
Thou hast turned my mourning into dancing. –Psalm 30:11
Morning Devotion
“There is no better symbol of communal life than the banquet.” -Martin Buber
Q: God calls us to a banquet of faith. But as we look around today we do not see a banquet, we see devastation. Can this mess be a banquet, can God’s be opening our eyes to something different and new? What do you already see yourself being opened up to on this trip that you have not yet expected?
Tuesday July 3, 2007
Mid-Day Devotion
So they got in the boat and went off to a remote place by themselves. …From the surrounding towns people went out on foot, running, and got there ahead of them. When Jesus arrived, he saw this huge crowd. At the sight of them, his heart broke—like sheep with no shepherd they were. He went right to work teaching them. When his disciples thought this had gone on long enough—it was now quite late in the day—they interrupted: "We are a long way out in the country, and it's very late. Pronounce a benediction and send these folks off so they can get some supper. Jesus said, "You do it. Fix supper for them." They replied, "Are you serious? You want us to go spend a fortune on food for their supper?" But he was quite serious. "How many loaves of bread do you have? Take an inventory." That didn't take long. "Five," they said, "plus two fish." Jesus got them all to sit down in groups of fifty or a hundred—they looked like a patchwork quilt of wildflowers spread out on the green grass! He took the five loaves and two fish, lifted his face to heaven in prayer, blessed, broke, and gave the bread to the disciples, and the disciples in turn gave it to the people. He did the same with the fish. They all ate their fill. The disciples gathered twelve baskets of leftovers. More than five thousand were at the supper. Mark 6:32-44
“It is not a simple thing to accept God’s love, because if we do, we must return love.” –Madeline L’Engle
Q: Who do you find it difficult to love? What work today are you finding it hard to do? Offer this to God in prayer.
Lots of Experiences
We have had a pretty intense few beginning days. On Sunday after a wonderful worship service at St. Charles we went on a tour of New Orleans, led by two members of the St. Charles Church. The tour was to last for two hours, but they took us around for nearly four. We saw all of the various neighborhoods of the city, and saw the devastation that happened on all sorts of different levels in the city. It was an emotionally intense day. It is very sad to see so many different people devastated and hurt, so many lives just ripped apart and no way to rebuild, and in some places, such desolation.
At the end of the trip we went through the 9th Ward and the lower 9th Ward. The lower 9th is very sad to go through because there are no structures of homes left. There are a few FEMA trailers, and one of those residents came to talk to our group and to share his story. He shared that twice he tried to get his elderly mother and disabled cousin and rest of family into the Superdome, but they were turned away twice. Having nowhere else to go they returned to their home in the 9th ward. There they were flooded in, and there his mother died and his two young grand-daughters drowned. He showed us photographs and told his story to us. By the 17th street canal break our kids talked to an upper-middle class homeowner who was rebuilding his home one block from the main canal break that flooded New Orleans, in a neighborhood with little left around it and few people rebuilding. He explained he was doing that because they have a mortage on the house and he couldn’t move. Every level of society is affected here, all different types of hardships and pain.
In the evening we drove to D’Iberville where we heard the story of the town of D’Iberville and what happened here. It is another harrowing tale. Today, Monday, our kids worked on homes in D’Iberville, began talking to homeowners and starting to hear what had happened to them. I spent much of the day organizing groups and vetting out details and then trying with a group of kids to mow a lot of grass, weeds, bamboo, and plants that are higher than my head, a lot that does not have a home on it any longer, but needs to be cleared for a slab to be poured for a new one….a lot of land that still has debris on it from August 29, 2005, debris that has not yet been cleared.
Our kids are seeing, hearing, and experiencing a lot. All of the adults on our trip are so impressed with each of them, impressed with their maturity beyond their years, impressed with their faith, impressed with their caring and impressed with their energy. They are ministering to people who are in need and who feel abandoned. They are hearing how important their work is, and our kids are finding out things about themselves and others that they never expected. Here are some pictures from New Orleans and D’Iberville that we are just beginning to assemble…Shannan
Monday, July 2, 2007
From Hannah....
We have already packed so many things into this trip despite being here for about three days. We arrived in D'Iberville last night and the camp rules and schedule were established. The days begin at 7 and end around 10, so we should have no trouble sleeping. Irene shared her Katrina experience with everyone. It was great to hear such a personal account of the hurricane because I think a lot of us felt very distant when watching the news stories. Her story was so motivating she has managed to accomplish so many things and help so many people through her work. If I can complete a fraction of all she has done this week it will be a success.
From Taylor....
This is Taylor from the Rumson Church, my group and i went on a tour and we saw most of the houses that were destroyed by the hurricane. When we were looking at the houses on a street there were two people who came over to us and they showed us pictures of their homes before and after the storm. Seeing all of this was very sad and it made me realize how much damage a storm can do.
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Devotions
Our devotions for Sunday....
Sunday July 1, 2007
And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love! Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs. And be careful that when you get on each other's nerves you don't snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out. Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. Don't suppress the Spirit, and don't stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don't be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what's good. Throw out anything tainted with evil. I Thessalonians 5: 12-22
Morning Devotion
Sunday July 1, 2007
Mid-Day Devotion
The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part, the parts we mention and the parts we don't, the parts we see and the parts we don't. If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing. If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance. You are Christ's body—that's who you are! You must never forget this. Only as you accept your part of that body does your "part" mean anything. You're familiar with some of the parts that God has formed in his church, which is his "body": apostles, prophets, teachers, miracle workers, healers, helpers, organizers, those who pray in tongues. But it's obvious by now, isn't it, that Christ's church is a complete Body and not a gigantic, unidimensional Part? It's not all Apostle, not all Prophet, not all Miracle Worker, not all Healer, not all Prayer in Tongues, not all Interpreter of Tongues. And yet some of you keep competing for so-called "important" parts. I Corinthians 12:26-31
“It is a colorful God we worship. It is not a black and white, neatly package, clear-cut, judgmental, prescriptive relationship God offers us. No. It is a relationship as rich and varied as the shades of blue in a Bermuda sea. It is a relationship inherently as vivid as the green in a Main forest. It is a colorful God we worship. This is something adults can learn from children. God’s vast love is as colorful as the flags outside the United Nations building…It is as colorful as the skin, eyes, and hair of God’s people in Nairobi, Nepal, China, Sweden, and the United States.”
Q: Who or what has provided color in your life when it felt dark? A whimsical child? A mountain range? A tender grandparent? A raging river? Perhaps God? --Patricia M.B. Kitchen
Sunday July 1, 2007
And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love! Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs. And be careful that when you get on each other's nerves you don't snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out. Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. Don't suppress the Spirit, and don't stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don't be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what's good. Throw out anything tainted with evil. I Thessalonians 5: 12-22
Morning Devotion
Sunday July 1, 2007
Mid-Day Devotion
The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part, the parts we mention and the parts we don't, the parts we see and the parts we don't. If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing. If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance. You are Christ's body—that's who you are! You must never forget this. Only as you accept your part of that body does your "part" mean anything. You're familiar with some of the parts that God has formed in his church, which is his "body": apostles, prophets, teachers, miracle workers, healers, helpers, organizers, those who pray in tongues. But it's obvious by now, isn't it, that Christ's church is a complete Body and not a gigantic, unidimensional Part? It's not all Apostle, not all Prophet, not all Miracle Worker, not all Healer, not all Prayer in Tongues, not all Interpreter of Tongues. And yet some of you keep competing for so-called "important" parts. I Corinthians 12:26-31
“It is a colorful God we worship. It is not a black and white, neatly package, clear-cut, judgmental, prescriptive relationship God offers us. No. It is a relationship as rich and varied as the shades of blue in a Bermuda sea. It is a relationship inherently as vivid as the green in a Main forest. It is a colorful God we worship. This is something adults can learn from children. God’s vast love is as colorful as the flags outside the United Nations building…It is as colorful as the skin, eyes, and hair of God’s people in Nairobi, Nepal, China, Sweden, and the United States.”
Q: Who or what has provided color in your life when it felt dark? A whimsical child? A mountain range? A tender grandparent? A raging river? Perhaps God? --Patricia M.B. Kitchen
Saturday Photos
Below are photos from Saturday so you can see what we saw on our bayou tour. Dave Albers is wondering if his wife Jen bought any alligator boots, no we didn't use any for shoes or purses, but Sofia proclaimed on the boat, "Oh, this is what they make purses out of!"
Shannan
Saturday, June 30, 2007
First Day in New Orleans
We arrived early this morning (8:30am, local time) in New Orleans. Everything on the travel down went flawlessly.
We spend the morning getting situated and then tried to spend some time in New Orleans, but it was pouring rain, so we headed over to the site of our swamp tour, which was in the bayous. The tour was great, and we'll post some videos of alligators and photos of the kids holding a baby alligator tomorrow when we have more access (right now I'm writing from a public computer at the Y where we are staying). The kids had a great time and we say some of the most beautiful and spectacular natural scenery...
We're back at the Y, waiting for our BBQ and the kids are hanging out in the pool and fitness center here at the Y. We worship tomorrow at St. Charles Presbyterian Church www.scapc.org
Everyone we have encountered today, from the woman behind the counter at Enterprise Rent-a-Car to the guy at the bayou say to us "thank you" for coming here to help rebuild their community. We have not yet even started our work, yet are already experiencing gratitude and Southern hospitality. We have seen a bit of the devastation that Katrina left in the bayous, tomorrow the kids will see New Orleans and the coastline of Mississippi and begin to see what is ahead for them in work and service.
Yesterday I spoke to Irene and Ed who head up the D'Iberville foundation we'll be serving. They said that most of the people we will be serving are elderly and disabled, those who were already "marginal" before the hurricanes and now live lives even more precariously on the edge....
We are all excited about the richness of experience and spiritual growth that awaits each of us in this place...
Shannan
We spend the morning getting situated and then tried to spend some time in New Orleans, but it was pouring rain, so we headed over to the site of our swamp tour, which was in the bayous. The tour was great, and we'll post some videos of alligators and photos of the kids holding a baby alligator tomorrow when we have more access (right now I'm writing from a public computer at the Y where we are staying). The kids had a great time and we say some of the most beautiful and spectacular natural scenery...
We're back at the Y, waiting for our BBQ and the kids are hanging out in the pool and fitness center here at the Y. We worship tomorrow at St. Charles Presbyterian Church www.scapc.org
Everyone we have encountered today, from the woman behind the counter at Enterprise Rent-a-Car to the guy at the bayou say to us "thank you" for coming here to help rebuild their community. We have not yet even started our work, yet are already experiencing gratitude and Southern hospitality. We have seen a bit of the devastation that Katrina left in the bayous, tomorrow the kids will see New Orleans and the coastline of Mississippi and begin to see what is ahead for them in work and service.
Yesterday I spoke to Irene and Ed who head up the D'Iberville foundation we'll be serving. They said that most of the people we will be serving are elderly and disabled, those who were already "marginal" before the hurricanes and now live lives even more precariously on the edge....
We are all excited about the richness of experience and spiritual growth that awaits each of us in this place...
Shannan
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Devotions...
We'll be sharing devotional time on our trip in the morning and mid-day using devotional cards that we have made for our use on the trip. The front side is a scripture reading and the back side is a quote with a question for reflection. We'll be posting these as well up on the blog so that those reading can follow along with us....Our evening devotions will be shared with everyone who is serving in D'Iberville and Thursday night of the trip we will have a worship service together.
These are our devotions for the first day of our trip...
Saturday June 30, 2007
Morning Devotion
God turned rivers into wasteland, springs of water into sunbaked mud; luscious orchards became alkali flats because of the evil of the people who lived there. Then he changed wasteland into fresh pools of water, arid earth into springs of water, Brought in the hungry and settled them there; they moved in—what a great place to live! They sowed the fields, they planted vineyards, they reaped a bountiful harvest. He blessed them and they prospered greatly; their herds of cattle never decreased. But abuse and evil and trouble declined as he heaped scorn on princes and sent them away. He gave the poor a safe place to live, treated their clans like well-cared-for sheep. Good people see this and are glad; bad people are speechless, stopped in their tracks. If you are really wise, you'll think this over—it's time you appreciated God's deep love. Psalm 107: 25-43
Saturday June 30, 2007
Morning Devotion“You will have found Christ when you are concerned with other people’s sufferings and not your own.” -Flannery O’Connor
Q: We are on this trip to “be there” for other people who have suffered. But we all suffer in one way or another; we all have our issues and problems. How can this trip be a time of healing for you? As we travel today to New Orleans reflect on your life as it is right now. Ask God to use your energy in healing the suffering of others and in doing so, anything of your own that you have…
Saturday June 30, 2007
Evening Devotion
In light of all this, here's what I want you to do. While I'm locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don't want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don't want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences. You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness. Ephesians 4: 1-6
Saturday June 30, 2007
Evening Devotion
“Prayer is the bridge between our conscious and unconscious lives. Often there is a large abyss between our thoughts, words, and actions, and the many images that emerge in our daydreams and night dreams. To pray is to connect these two sides of our lives by going to the place where God dwells.” -Henri Nouwen
Q: As we begin this mission experience together what are your dreams and nightmares? How can you share these with God in prayer?
Monday, June 25, 2007
Getting Ready to Go....
On June 9th one of the elders at the Rumson Church led the youth (and the adults too!) through a dry-walling class in the church parking lot. Bob taught us how to measure, cut, spackle, and install drywall. It was a great day and at the end of the day we all signed the wall we built.
Our final project...the leaders in D'iberville told us to practice drywalling because we will be doing a lot of this on our trip...so we are now ready!
Monday, May 28, 2007
Welcome
HI everyone!
Welcome to our new blog for our mission trip. We'll use this blog to post information and while on the trip, everyone will write a blog entry to be shared with the group.
I look forward to having this be a way of us sharing our story of mission and ministry with many people!
So everyone is aware, we'll each sign our posts with only our first name and then after that our title and these are the choices (Trip Leader, Adult Participant, Youth Participant)....
May God's Spirit of Justice and New Life be with us in this Journey.....
Shannan
Trip Leader
Welcome to our new blog for our mission trip. We'll use this blog to post information and while on the trip, everyone will write a blog entry to be shared with the group.
I look forward to having this be a way of us sharing our story of mission and ministry with many people!
So everyone is aware, we'll each sign our posts with only our first name and then after that our title and these are the choices (Trip Leader, Adult Participant, Youth Participant)....
May God's Spirit of Justice and New Life be with us in this Journey.....
Shannan
Trip Leader
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