I’d wrongly assumed that Ferry Place had been impacted by Katrina. It had not, my RHINO friends told me. Broken windows, unhinged doors and other scattered remnants of lives lived in abandoned houses near the Ferry Place houses we were working on were not evidence of flood waters that had long since retreated, but of another not-so-natural disaster that has traditionally plagued New Orleans…poverty. A friend from the Delaware Presbyterian church said she learned when she lived in New Orleans that no neighborhood in the City was ever more than about five or six blocks from a “project” (low-income housing). The contrast between very rich and very poor are in constant evidence in NOLA.
FINAL Addendum…
November 24th, 2008Touch-down!
November 24th, 2008It is now about 14 hours after the 10 of us intrepid RHINO-riders touched down safely on a Rochester tarmac near midnight last night (with only perhaps a few of us feeling tired and/or arthritic). We returned safely with all of our digits and humor intact, and undoubtedly strengthened a few muscle fibers while we were in NOLA.
Having been with nine other wonderful Christians from the PGV and 15 from Delaware, dedicated to loving service to those whom they will probably never meet, it is natural and easy to abide by Paul’s exhortation in Philippians to “consider [these] others better than” ourselves.
Speaking of our little troupe, Christ is clearly and beautifully visible in each—Allison (“Al”), Brian, Dave, Emerson, Ginger, Jake, Margaret, Patrick and Saara. And each gave more than 100% to the combined RHINO/Habitat for Humanity effort at Ferry Place. I could not help but smile and thank God for each one as we sat on the plane, preparing for take-off on Sunday evening. Dave and Patrick: we especially salute, honor and thank you for having the vans ready for boarding early every morning, for your successful driving efforts, for keeping us safe, and for getting us, always promptly, to the “there” we needed to reach every day.
We learned that age has nothing to do with service. If the heart is willing, and the body is still functioning, to whatever degree, much can be accomplished to nurture, support and sustain the lives of others. Emerson proved that the age of 70+ is the new 20+ (while Lisette felt in her joints, bones and sinews that 40-something is closer to 70-something). Emerson is her new role model.
We met many role models in NOLA, and we are indebted to all of them, including our hosts at SCAPC, especially Jim and Bonnie, and our Thursday-night dinner hosts, the Vorhoff family; our RHINO coordinator Kate; our terrific Habitat for Humanity supervisors, Adam and Jeremy; and our friends from First and Central Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, Delaware, for being such fine co-workers and laborers in the field, in which they truly were “out-standing.” Our Presbytery also continues to be indebted to Linda Badger-Becker, who evidently loves to handle the million details involved in scheduling these trips…thank you, Linda!
And so, the work goes on…
Friday’s child is full of grace.
November 21st, 2008“Friday’s child is full of grace.” Friday was indeed full of God’s grace and mercy, although it started out cold by almost anyone’s standards…somewhere between 40 and 45 degrees…shiver-me-timbers cold for this tropical locale. For those of us older folks who felt a little more out of shape, we weren’t quite sure that we were up to eight hours of bending, leaning and all the calisthenics required at construction sites. But by grace, we found new strength and enthusiasm, and we prevailed. (Although no one on the Delaware team performed the back flips and Mary Lou Retton moves they’d previously planned to wow us all. But tomorrow is another day.)
Today’s physical feats included completion of the insulation of the undersides of both houses by the three-person “OCD mole patrol” (two PGV members and a friend from the Delaware church), so named for their take-no-prisoners approach to working at the speed of light. The NY/Delaware crew completed one porch/set of steps and began another, and another crew began and nearly completed the wooden support for the HVAC systems for two homes. All that’s left for tomorrow is to finish putting chickenwire beneath the insulation on one home, complete the porch and set of steps, and wrap up the HVAC supports. Afterwards, we will discover the delights and delicacies of the French Quarter…in a decent and orderly manner, of course.
At lunch today, we mulled the progress of the recovery efforts, and the reasons why so many homes are still standing abandoned throughout the area devastated by Katrina. Many of our group plan to join upcoming jaunts to NOLA to continue the work of reclamation and hospitality. They are drawn by the city, the gracious city dwellers and members of SCAPC, and so many other things, tangible and intangible, that make New Orleans the destination it is. ...’til tomorrow.
Day 3…Touring NOLA
November 20th, 2008This post must necessarily be brief. We just returned from a two-hour tour of the city by van, and as the medical library here at Ochsner closes very soon, I have time for only a few notes. Day 3 at the site was rather arduous for most of us in some way or other.
We capped off a half day of leisurely painting of trim for some and grueling placement of insulation under the house for two others with a drive-by tour of NOLA. For this writer, a native New Orleanian whose family roots go back into the early 1800s in this delta soil (not nearly as long as any one of the hundreds-of-years-old live oaks, though), it was really so very heartbreaking to see so many cement slabs where houses once stood (and to see building where building really should not be taking place)...and the houses that are still standing bereft and forlorn and broken down, waiting for some decision re: their future from long-departed homeowners. But having seen the news footage, and comparing it to today’s bustling downtown streets, and suburban streets lined with contractors working on house after house, there is much good news here.
Before departing for our trip on this 75-degree day, we were fortified by a delicious luncheon of po’ boys (native subs) prepared again by SCAPC Chef Jim, and consumed on the front steps and rocking chairs of the Land building’s grand porch. We dine tonight at a church member’s home, will return and seek out the hotel’s only two sets of washers/dryers, and conclude our Bible study on hospitality, which this group of 10 is so committed to sharing with others…with enthusiasm, joy and humor.
On the second day…
November 19th, 2008And on the second day, there was much work. And the work was doable and completion of it was within the realm of possibility. And a few of us learned some new tasks, and met some exotic New Orleanian creatures in the course of our work, like midnight salamanders and a beautiful land snail.
Ginger, our photographer, who appears to be as comfortable on scaffolding as Spider Woman, helped finish putting up and painting the siding. Allison and Jake were exceptional lunch/coffee/snack-masters and can-do carpenters. Margaret, Dave and Lisette helped clear backyard jungles of tenacious-looking weeds softly rooted in sand, which was a weed-yanker’s dream. Emerson was the embodiment of hospitality, graciously helping wherever he could lend a hand.
Patrick and Brian collaborated on building stairs, with Margaret pitching in and showing them a thing or two about drills. With a few powerful women from Delaware, Lisette learned how to insulate the underside of a house (more comfortable than we imagined, as all the houses were erected on pilings, giving us a comfortable clearance).
While it was no surprise, we discovered that Saara is indeed the exemplar/poster-child of the Protestant work ethic, taking on whatever task was requested of her, scurrying around like an automaton. We can see why Saara has her own business, and believe that she must be successful. If Rome was built in a day, it is because Saara was there.
We learned that two families will be moving into two nearly completed houses in the Ferry Place neighborhood in time for Thanksgiving, according to a SCAPC photographer, who was busy snapping photos today, an especially beautiful day. The church is immensely excited about this, as one soon-to-be-homeowner has put in an immense amount of sweat-equity, working about 800 hours on his house, untold hours past the requirement. It is a testimony to the uneven progress here that directly behind these houses are several others that remain uninhabited, with sneakers, clothing and chairs remaining where the flood waters left them on the floor, near open doors and broken windows.
At our Bible study last night, we discussed the biblical mandate of hospitality, and discussed what our churches are doing well in terms of being hospitable, welcoming places that embrace newcomers, and make them feel that, in God’s eyes, there truly is no distinction between our natural family and our spiritual family. We will discuss that topic more tonight, and will look at the particular gifts each of us has been given that we can use to welcome strangers and turn them into family.
Tomorrow, we will take a tour of the still-blighted areas of the city which have yet to be reclaimed and reinhabited. For those of us who haven’t seen the devastation (which is nothing like the first year but still heart-breaking), we expect it will be a shock. Perhaps it will break our hearts enough to spur us to return like several others on our trip, including Allison who is making her fifth trip here this November.
First work day in NOLA
November 18th, 2008Greetings from a very unseasonably cool New Orleans (which made for a great and comfortable day of work…sans mosquitos & humidity)! We all arrived safe and sound yesterday, with only one minor glitch, which we were able to take care of by the evening. It really was nothing short of a miracle that it was a gorgeous day yesterday, that neither rain nor sleet nor snow figured in any of our travel plans (we just missed Rochester’s snow), that we made all our airline connections, and that we actually arrived in NOLA when we were expected to. These days, such events are tantamount to miracles. And we thank God for them!
We are all tad bushed and bewildered after yesterday’s day of travel, a late-night Cajun dinner at Frankie & Johnny’s, orientation, and our first day on the worksite. But we’re enjoying lovely company, and benefiting from some very skilled leaders on the worksite. We’ve joined together with a Presbyterian church from Delaware, which sent 10 women and 5 men to work with RHINO, for their second trip. A true story: while dining at Frankie & Johnny’s last night, a large group processed past our table. They looked like a fine upstanding group of people, and indeed were. They sat down decently and in orderly manner, and after questions were posed to them, some raised their hands, again in a very orderly manner. I said in hushed tones to the others at our table…”Look, I bet they’re Presbyterians!” Sure enough. I stopped at their table to ask if they were “the” Presbyterians from Delaware with whom we would be working at the RHINO worksite, and indeed, they confessed they were.
We’re working on two houses at Ferry Place which basically need “just” finish work. However, our “manly-man” men (grunt, grunt) were relieved to find a little heavy-duty, high-skill work to do. So all God’s children are happy. Kate Snider, our SCAPC/Habitat link, packs a lot of intellectual brawn and construction know-how in a diminutive frame, and would certainly have my vote if she runs for any elected office after this job.
The Brent House, the hotel at Ochsner Hospital, is bona fide treat. It belies its plain exterior by providing luxurious lobbies and rooms, and direct access to any medical services we might need after a hazardous day on site. (No, Linda, we’re all fine, and being very safe. 
)) While no one seems to miss living in a dormitory and waiting in line for a shower, there is some nostalgia about the porch and rocking chairs that we left behind at the Land House. Everyone seems to be coping pretty well, nonetheless.
We will be having our first dinner tonight at St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church, followed by a Bible study. We’ll be studying hospitality, which is one of New Orleans’ greatest gifts to the world…loving people as they are, making them feel welcome and part of the extended human family here. We will check in again with you tomorrow. Until then, laissez les bons temps roulez!
RHINO VI Fall Mission to New Orleans
November 10th, 2008Ten Presbyterian from seven churches throughout the Presbytery travel together to New Orleans to continue recovery effort with the St.Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church (SCAPC) and New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity (NOAHH). Rev. Lisette Maginn (Dewey Avenue PC) is the onsite group leader for pilgrimage.
Winding down . . .or Winding Up?
November 17th, 2007Today was our last day at the NOAHH habitat project at Ferry Place. Most of us woke late and were moving slowly this morning. Sarah told us that it’s pretty typical that the volunteers are “up and out” later each morning. One of the great blessings of the past two days has been the break in the weather: The heat has broken, and we’ve actually begun our mornings in jackets and sweatshirts. The downside of this is that we were far less careful about sunscreen these last two days, so most of us will be coming home mighty pink!
This morning, we finally managed to gather for a group photo on the steps of the Land Building. As the second van was heading out to the work site, Jim Hobden, a St. Charles parishioner and retired Sheriff’s deputy, who not only prepares dinner for the RHINO volunteers three nights a week, but also keeps the kitchen stocked with snacks, breakfast and lunch fixings, asked us to help load some used shutters into his truck for donation to a “green” rebuilding organization. Once the shutters were loaded, he handed us three dozen Krispy Kremes and two thermoses of hot coffee to take with us, and then later joined us for our last day on the construction site.
We were amazed to look at “our” homes and see how far they had come in a week. Unfortunately, there was a snafu in the lumber delivery which seriously stalled construction on the third of “our” houses. While we waited for delivery, we teamed up to load 76 sheets of drywall into one of the homes we had not worked on this week, but which has much of its exterior work complete. We generally cleaned up the worksite, and even some neighbors’ yards.
Also in our “down” time, while taking one of the Habitat staff to a chiropractic appointment, two of us had the opportunity to (briefly) explore the Carrolton neighborhood which abuts Ferry Place. The Carrolton neighborhood is one that has suffered some urban blight in recent years, but suffered very little flooding, from Katrina and its aftermath, and is beginning to flourish again, with cafes, vintage clothing stores, and an eclectic mix of homes and businesses. It was encouraging to see that the homes we worked on will have the support of a lively neighborhood.
Friday evening we had dinner together at Tujacks in the French Quarter. We were blessed to be joined by Paul, one of the Habitat staffers. Paul came to New Orleans not long after Katrina, and was involved in establishing two of the initial temporary housing sites, including Camp Premier and Camp Hope, for the wave of Americorps and other volunteers. He is a remarkable man, with a quick wit, and huge heart, who has been an organ and bone marrow donor, and leads a purposfully simple, selfless life. Ending our week in conversation with Paul, over dinner, was the perfect bookend to the welcome we received from Billy on Tuesday. We are tired and ready to go home, but renewed in spirit and every one of us has expressed excitedment about about future opportunities to glorify God through our service to one another.
We’re here to Love
November 15th, 2007Tuesday morning, we assembled at 7:15 a.m. on the front porch of the Land Building, and headed off to Ferry Place, where we began our work with New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity. Our project leaders, Billy, Hank Henry and Andrew oriented us to the work we would be doing, and solicited volunteers for various jobs at various skill levels. Billy, the project manager, who is a PhD student in theology at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, started us off with some powerful words, “You may think you’re here to build houses, but what you’re really here for is to love people.” It is a great perspective with which to begin four days of hard work on a project where it is so hard NOT dwell on our tangible accomplishments.
There are five houses currently under construction at Ferry Place. Two have much of the exterior work completed. We are working on the other three. One already has walls up on the first floor, so our folks started out working on the second floor floor joists, finished the flooring, and today (Thursday) actually raised two walls!
The second house had footings and flooring sills in, so our folks finished the floor joists, and the flooring, and today actually raised the first three walls there.
The third house was the least complete, with only concrete foootings sticking up out of the sandy soil. We finished filling the footings with concrete (Our folks carried a mixed a LOT of concrete on Monday!), added hurricane straps and termite shields, cut and installed the framing (?) for the floor, and today completed about half of the floor joists for the main floor.
The first three days have been difficult and wonderful. We’ve had our patience sorely tested with the “hurry up and wait” that accompanies this type of work—especially since we’re a team who has not worked together before, and most of whom are new to this sort of work. There is a lot of consultation time with our project managers, and a lot of ”do overs.” We’ve spent a lot of our devotion time (after we finish complaining) reflecting on how fortunate we really are, just to be able to be here, doing this work, serving God and these people—His people.
In the meantime, we’ve been treated with incredible and generous hospitality by the folks of St. Charles Presbyteryian Church. The Church provided fabulous dinners for us on Monday, Wednesday and this evening. Tuesday, we (which includes our group, the Delaware group, our Habitat site supervisors and several others) were invited to a church members’s home for dinner. This evening, the church is hosting a wine tasting event in the Land Building, which some of us attended, while others headed down to the French Quarter, to pick up some local flavor. Wherever we go, people are eager to thank us for coming down and for caring, and urge us to let people know how much there is still to be done.
We can do that.
Getting Started
November 14th, 2007Happily, our travel was uneventful and we arrived safely Saturday night. We got to the Land Building shortly after 10 p.m. and immediately ordered pizza, since none of us had had dinner. This is a great group of people, who really go to a lot of trouble to take care of each other.
Sunday morning began with worship at St. Charles Ave. Presbyterian Church, where we were warmly greeted and profusely thanked for coming to New Orleans to help with the rebuilding effort. After worship, the eleven of us managed to find a restaurant where we could have lunch together and spend some time getting to know each other better.
We returned to the Land Building for our orientation, by which time, the other group, 8 men from Westminster Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, DE,with whom we’re living and working this week, had arrived. This means a LOT of personal space and shower time for the PGV women, with only five of us in the “women’s dorm,” and not so much for the men.
Sunday afternoon and evening, some of us explored the Audubon Park and we all ended up in the rench Quarter for dinner, followed by beignets and coffee at Cafe du Monde
This morning, we had our first work day. Tricia elected to go with the Westminster group to the home of Miss Stella, a 25-year nursery volunteer from St. Charles Presbyterian Church. Her home in the 9th ward sustained a lot of damage from the Hurricane, and the Church has been able to send teams of RHINO volunteers for several half-days to help her with the restoration. The rest of us went to Trinity Christian Community Center where we did a variety of outdoor cleanup chores. The Community Center itself had sustained serious damage from the storm, and has been facing a constant struggle to restore and maintain its own property and at the same time offer its assistance to the surrounding community. The director, Sandy, told us that she felt bad about having volunteers working on their own facility, but she explained why the work was so critical: The overgrown areas surrounding the Center not only attacted a variety of animal pests, but encourages dumping which has become a significant problem in the area. Sandy pointed out to us the pile of debris in front of a house on Joliet street. Apparently, as of the 2nd year anniversary of the Hurricane, the City no longer picks up Katrina-related debris from homeowners who are restoring and repairing their property – it is not part of the contract with the new refuse contractor, and the City is not willing to bear the additional cost, so homeowners are responsible for contracting their own debris removal – just another obstacle for the folks who are trying to put their lives and home back together.
The work at Trinity Community Center was good hard work, and we came back to the Land Building hot and tired, with just enough time to eat lunch and shower before we split into two groups and headed off with SCAPC members for driving tours of Post-Katrina New Orleans. Many of us were disappointed at the lack of progress we could see since we’d last been here. In contrast, one of the tour groups had the opportunity to meet Robert Green, who was grateful for the opportunity to share his story. All of us were inspired by the depth of his faith, which provided just the prod some of us needed to be sure that we could, in fact, make a difference in this place this week.
Although we worked hard today, and accomplished much, the best moments for everyone this day were the moments we spent listening to people tell their stories. As we reflected on the day’s events in this evening’s devotional time, it was agreed all around, that even though we are sooooo eager to accomplish the tasks we’re assigned, the most important thing we do is listen.—even if it means it means temporarily setting down our tools to so. We have come down here with the intention of being a blessing to these folks – we need to remember to let God bless us through their lives and stories as well.
November 9th, 2007
Eleven Genesee Valley Presbyterians from seven different churches will travel to New Orleans tomorrow to assist with continuing recovery and rebuilding efforts. We will be hosted by the St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church (SCAPC), and work for the next week with the church’s RHINO (Rebuilding Hope In New Orleans) project in conjunction with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA), the Presbytery of Southern Louisiana, and New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity (NOAHH).
Participants are:
Whit Beckett, Jr., Alison Gilday, Jacob and William Morris, and David Fish (Gates)
Shelly Carithers (South)
Laurie Ditzel (Calvary St. Andrews)
Patrick Eble (Perinton)
Louise Josephson (John Calvin)
Tricia Moningle (Irondequoit)
Al Santos (Penfield)
For most of us, this is not our first trip to Post-Katrina New Orleans. The work will be different this time, since the focus of RHINO has changed from gutting houses to its partnership with NOAHH and the construction of fourteen new homes at Ferry Place. Nonetheless, our purpose remains the same, and it is amazing, and humbling, to be among the thousands who are still coming to the Gulf Coast, two years after the storm, as part of the witness that Christ bears to the nations – a witness to the goodness of God in the world. We expect to work hard over the coming week, but in many ways our presence will be at least as important as the physical work we accomplish.
The End of an Era
June 5th, 2007I got this email from Katie.
“I wanted to let all of you know that last Thursday was my last day on the RHINO staff at Saint Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church and I have bid New Orleans goodbye. I am back home in North Carolina and after a few weeks of beachtime, relaxing, and traveling to see friends and family, I will begin work on a Masters of Divinity degree at Union Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Richmond, Virginia. I will start with summer language school, learning the ins and outs of ancient Greek. So prayers, mantras, hail marys, good karma, etc for me will be much appreciated during that time! I am eager to begin this next chapter of my life and to see where it will lead.
My last week with RHINO was bittersweet and the end of not only my time in NOLA, but also the end of an era for RHINO. RHINO begins full time work with Habitat for Humanity this summer and so the program gutted its very last home during my last week. At the day’s end, the 16 Michigan volunteers I was working with paused with me inside the sacred space of the home we were working on. I think the whole group was struck by the realization that they are connected to so many other RHINO volunteers they have never even met but who have shared in similar work and experiences. We were all humbled thinking about the work from the last year and a half that so many people have been a part of.
Sarah and I donated all of the gutting tools to the Presbytery’s Disaster Assistance office and we returned the RHINO Penske truck to its headquarter home, ending the church’s 20 month lease of our beloved yellow truck! I kid you not when I say I was misty eyed handing over the dusty shovels and the blue bin of hammers. As the Presbytery’s Construction Manager said to me as I handed him a handful of brooms, “Its the end of the best gutting team in New Orleans.”
I am so grateful that each and every one of you have been a part of that team. I cherish that my life intersected all of yours, if even briefly, through such a unique and amazing experience. Working alongside all of you, witnessing so much pain, but offering the work of our hands and hearts as a prayer to God has been one of the most humbling and inspiring experiences of my life. My time in NOLA, both this year and last year, has absolutely changed the lens through which I see the world. It has revolutionized my understanding of who Christ calls us to serve. I have discovered new and creative ministry ideas as I have wrestled with so many of you over questions and issues of social justice, poverty, and the church’s role in crisis and disaster assistance. My heart was opened to so many moments of grace as we engaged together in the work that I believe is our highest calling as Christians-to participate in the revolution that Christ calls us to by caring for those that the rest of the world forgets, being present to those in dire need during crisis, and letting God’s love and mercy come from the light that we shine.
In an article I read recently in World Ark, Heifer International’s magazine, comparing Hurricane Jeanne in Haiti and Katrina in New Orleans, Paul Farmer, a physician, medical anthropologist, and cofounder of Partners in Health writes: “The best monument to the catastrophe in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast would be a serious national effort to address the poverty and inequality that afflicts the entire country. But can we respond effectively by addressing poverty in our own country alone? The shared history of Louisiana and Haiti reminds us that cultures, populations, hurricanes, and need refuse to be confined by national borders. Katrina is the latest reminder that the project of reconstruction must be underpinned by a vision of a world without indecent poverty, without racism, and without the accelerating divestment in public infastructures, which is now acknowledged in the United States and elsewhere. The great vulnerability to which we expose all those who lack fundamental social and economic rights, including the right to be protected from foreseeable and, indeed, predicted disasters, is a cause worth fighting for… Allaying human suffering and promoting human dignity, at home and abroad, are part of the prescription and the reason for rebuilding.”
It is my hope and prayer that all of us keep fighting that worthy fight and rebuilding hope in all the ways we can, wherever we are. Thank you to each and everyone of you for all you brought to New Orleans, I hope out paths will cross again soon, please keep in touch.
Peace RHINOs,
Katie”
Thought for the Day: Some you are familiar with the Portuguese saying I use at the end of my emails : “It will all turn out okay in the end, and if it isn’t okay, it isn’t over yet.” It isn’t over yet in New Orleans. The end of this particular phase of the work makes room for other opportunities for ministry. I’m adding something new to my email signature for a while.
Our highest calling as Christians is to participate in the revolution that Christ calls us to by caring for those that the rest of the world forgets, being present to those in dire need during crisis, and letting God’s love and mercy come from the light that we shine.
- Katie Cashwell
Thursday in the Ninth Ward
May 18th, 2007(LBB ) Thursday many of us experienced “gutting” a home for the first time. We were taken to Charbonnet Street in the Ninth Ward to Patricia’s house. Her brick home is one the the few left standing in the area. Her property has been condemned by the city and she must show intent to repair the property or they will demolish it. She has not been able to enter the home because debris is blocking the front door. RHINO has decided to help her by cleaning out the inside of the house so that she can make a better decision about what to do next. This will stall the city’s action for a while.
We thought Patricia was going to meet us but she did not. For whatever her reasons, I was glad she wasn’t there. I have now worked on nearly a dozen of these homes and this was the worst I had seen. No one can dispute that the Ninth Ward received the hardest hit. Most of the homes were simply swept away. Patricia’s nice little home was clearly flooded to the roof and then sat as the water’s receded for over three weeks. It has now been over 20 months. Everything was coated with dried mud. Furnishings, once wet, fell apart as the team tried to remove them. Deconstruction is depressing work but it must be done and it can only be done by hand. The team worked hard hauling out all of the families personal belongings before removing the walls. By the end of the day the house was down to the studs.
For some of us this was discouraging work. What’s the point of doing all this when the city is probably going to tear it down anyway? Some were thinking, “Take me back to the Habitat site here I can do something postive!” Some were disappointed that they didn’t get to meet the person they were trying to help. She said she was going to be there; why wasn’t she? None of us really know what we would do in such circumstances. While that particular home may not be saved, we are helping to save a city. We will be remembered as some of the thousands and thousands of volunteers who are rebuilding hope in New Orleans.
One of the great learnings for me on this third mission to NOLA, is that I don’t need to be thanked, honored, or congratulated for doing what God has called me to do. It is not about me having a sense of satisfaction or about being appreciated for being such a good Christian. It is only about one thing. Gracious God, be glorified by what we do here. May all of good we do in this weary world be a reflection of your ultimate goodness and grace at work in our lives.
Thought for the Day: Got catechism? What is the chief end of man and woman?
Neil Frood’s Guest Entry
May 16th, 2007We are all fine. God is good.
Good Work
May 16th, 2007We had a better day today working with Habitat. I left early with Bill, Alison, Judy J., and Shelly so I could have a chat with Zach, one of the Habitat project managers we met yesterday. I wanted to talk to him before the chaos started to make a special plea for our group. It worked well and we got a great assignment working on two houses on Alvar Street in Musician’s Village. It was good work putting up siding on both; putting up roof sheathing on one; positioning trusses on the other. We came home good and tired.
It is exciting to think that we are part of making history right now. Books will be written about the thousands of volunteers who came to the Gulf Coast to do recovery work. We can each say, “I was one of the them.” Books will be written about Musician’s Village and we each can say,”I helped build Kenya’s house and Annette’s house right there on Alvar Street.”
It’s amazing to be a part of something so much larger than ourselves. It is good work. It is God’s work.
Thought for the Day: The Letter of James reminds us that we are called to live out our faith everyday by doing good work for God. What good work for God will you do today?
Monday Mayhem
May 15th, 2007We had a nice weekend getting better acquainted with each other and with NOLA. We worshiped at St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church in the morning. Meals out in the neighborhood and in the French Quarter were wonderful. Another group arrived on Sunday evening from New Hope Presbyterian in Willow Springs, North Carolina; they drove fourteen hours!
This morning we headed out in earnest to work with Habitat. It was a early start at 7:00am. We arrived at the main site in Musician’s Village to receive a short orientation and our assignments. There were about 250 people! Organizing that many people is more than chaotic. We wound up being the last group assigned. We put up some fencing at the site, built some flower beds, and did some landscaping. Mostly we did a lot of waiting. It was all a bit disappointing. While we told ourselves that every little bit helps, we wanted to be more fully engaged in meaningful work. Perhaps tomorrow will be better.
Steve Surer (Director of Evangelism at New Hope) and I are sharing leadership of the evening devotions. He is leading a bible study in James and I am providing the inspirational slide shows. James tell us to “count it all joy” when we meet trials of any kind. Considering the evident trial and tribulations of this sad city, the disappointment of today’s experience pales in comparison.
Thought for the Day: Lord, forgive us for being so easily annoyed when we are inconvenienced. Help us to honor you by counting it all joy just to be here and to be a part of your work on this earth.
Going Back to New Orleans
May 14th, 2007Indeed we have all arrived safely. I asked everyone to be sure to wear their Presbyterian Disaster Assistance name tags to the airport. Actually I have asked them to wear them as much as possible around the city as well. One reason is that we do not yet all know each other well but the main reason is that they provide a public “witness” to what we are about. They help to start conversations like the one Peter had with the flight attendant from Rochester to Atlanta. She saw the tags and asked if we were going to New Orleans to help. It turns out that Corene is from Gentilly, an area in the northeast section of New Orleans. It was one of the hardest hit areas. She’s living in Atlanta now but she’s trying to fix up her home. Right now her two sisters are living in the FEMA trailer on the property. One is pregnant so they hope to have the house habitable by the end of summer. She thanked us for going to help her city.
That’s the way it works, Our nametags say “Yes we are Presbyterians; we are Christians; we are here to help.” We witness to the power and grace of Christ working in us and through us.
Thought for the Day: What does your name tag say? How will you witness to the grace and power of Christ today?
Return to New Orleans
May 7th, 2007Sixteen Genesee Valley Presbyterians will travel to New Orleans May 12–19, 2007 to assist with continuing recovery efforts. Hosted by the St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church (SCAPC), participants will work with the church’s RHINO (Rebuilding Hope In New Orleans) project in conjunction with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) and New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity (NOAHH). Watch this blog for regular reports.
Team Members:
- Linda Badger Becker and Merl Galusha, Presbytery;
- Sherry Shafer, First Honeoye Falls (and sister Dayle Quarfot);
- Jacob Morris, Bill Dassero, and Alison Gilday, Gates;
- Dianne Brown, First Pittsford;
- Susan Orr, Peter Orr, and Cathy Warren, Laurelton;
- Len and Judy Hoiles, Scottsville;
- Judy Jacobsen, First Batavia;
- Josh Schoenly and Shelly Carithers, South;
- Neil Frood, York
Tip of the Day: We go to make a difference. Where will you make a difference today?
Thoughts upon Returning Home: Speechless
October 25th, 2006We returned late Saturday evening. By the time I got home my voice was failing. It only got worse on Sunday along with the post-Katrina cough. I cancelled my plans for the day and went back to bed. Both Sunday and Monday were spent quietly at home recuperating. Talking was difficult so I didn’t even spend a lot of time on the phone.
If you know me, you know I am not a quiet person. I think out loud most of time. But since I hardly know what to say about the situation in New Orleans, it’s just as well that I lost my voice. The circumstances there are so complicated and frustrating, that it is depressing. In many ways, there is so much to say that it is hard to know where to begin.
Our team was amazing and we had a wonderful experience of spiritual community and comraderie. As Millie summarized for us in a recent email ”five families in New Orleans are in a better place than when we arrived; several animal friends were cared for and loved; we met many people who just needed someone to share their story with; and we lived out and can pass on the mission of the St. Charles Presbyterian Church.” People helping people, rebuilding hope—that’s making a difference right now.
I’m better now, back in the office, and finding my voice again. The photo gallery is posted on the web. I’ll offer an interpretation at the next Presbytery meeting November 28th at Batavia, First. And yes, I am planning to return, one more time. (watch for details.)
Thought for the Day: What circumstances in your world need your voice? Find your voice and remember to use and your feet and hands as well.
Beachcombing
October 19th, 2006Wednesday was our day off. There was an interpretive tour hosted by the church. It was much the same as the one in March so it the changes since then though few were apparent. And there was the addition of Musician’s Village.We went to the lower ninth ward again. Instead of the gray silt coating on everything, wild grass and weeds hid the magnitude of the destruction. This is the second time I have been there and both times I found myself scouring the ground looking for some momento, like combing the beach for a shell or piece of sea glass. I picked up a few chips of colorful china.
Later after a day of R&R, I was sitting in the dining area working on a slide show when Jamie,a very quiet man, came over to me. “Did you see what I found?” He showed me a thin copper medallion. I asked if he found it in the Ninth Ward. He said “yes , but do you see what it says?” As I looked closely at the raised lettering I could see the words of the Lord’s Prayer. Amazed, I told Jamie of my quest and said to him “You were supposed to find this today.” He said ” Yeah, I think God is trying to tell me something.”
I think we all sense that God is speaking to us, trying to tell us something.
Thought for the Day: What is God trying to tell you today?
Tough Day
October 17th, 2006It was a tough day and a good day. We went to the neighborhood called affectionately “Backatown.” It is a colorful neighborhood dotted with “shotgun” houses. These are long narrow homes that just go straight back. The idea being that you could shoot a gun right through the house without hitting any walls.
The home we worked in had been partially gutted and Evila Alvarez is still living there because she has no where else to go. There is a tarp on the roof but water still gets in. She has two young Mexican workers living in the house with her paying a little rent. She and her friend Victor had been at the Superdome. They are both from Cuba and have been friends since childhood. Evila’s niece Fay has been trying to get her to leave. The morning was complicated by the fact that Evila speaks very little English and was not expecting us today. Still she was grateful.
It was very difficult work. We had to remove all of the belongings and put them under a tarp to protect them from the morning rain. These would all have to be returned at the end of the day. We were asked to remove and save the cypress wood baseboards and painted door frames. These are expensive to replace, so while it was hard work for us, it will help a lot in the long run. Then there was the plaster which is so much harder than drywall. And then there was the beautiful “tongue-in-groove” cypress wood paneling put in with what Peter can only describe as “freakin’ railroad spikes!” Very tough work and we had several nasty injuries! Sarah and Bev have been earning their keep nursing all of the wounds.
Millie found her ministry caring for the two dogs in the yard. One had a small litter of puppies. She also encountered a stray dog and will report that to the animal rescue folks. Millie will spend tomorrow, our day off, at the rescue shelter helping out.The highlight of the day was the arrival of the lunch truck from Trinity Episcopal Church. Volunteers prepare sandwich lunches and bring them to the work site on Tuesday and Thursday. They go wherever they are asked and always have enough food for neighborhood folks who drop by. Again we find the people of New Orleans to be so grateful for our presence here. One of the volunteers thanked us publicly saying, “There has been so much good that has come out of this.” We had lots of conversations all day about this a particular house. Is it worth saving? Aren’t we just making her living conditions worse? Evila sat outside all day watching us literally tear her home apart and trying to engage us in conversation. Many of us nodded politely saying “si,si” as she told her story in words we could not understand. At the end of the day, she went back into the house to look at her kitchen which had been stripped to the bones and said “Beautiful!”
Thought for the Day: We are not called to be successful, we are simply called to be faithful. (…thanks to Merl)
Living is Giving
October 16th, 2006Okay, first I want to finish yesterday because it was just a rich day on so many levels. I sent the blog out before worship to get a message out there so you would know we are here and well.
And then came worship, which was wonderful. The St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian congregation is worshipping in the fellowship hall while extensive repairs are being made to the sanctuary roof and ceiling damaged by Katrina winds. It happened to be stewardship Sunday and Pastor Frampton offered a sterling sermon on giving and living, portions of which I will shamelessly steal. It was also RHINO volunteer recognition Sunday. Pastor Seelman introduced our group and also recognized several pillars of the congregation who have helped to sustain this important program. Each received a stuffed rhinocerous.
What a warm and amazing and committed congregation. This mission is a huge undertaking and yet they expressed so much gratitude to us. Hmm…living is giving.
We had the rest of the day off and some people went to the Audobon Zoo, while others went straight to the French Quarter. About eight of us went to visit some houses that Peter and I had worked on last March. First on my list was the house on Perelli Street in New Orleans East. It was the house that I had been the most emotionally attached to, probably because it was our first. It was a bittersweet experience. The neighborhood was showing some signs of life but it was still pretty empty. Nothing more had been done to the Vicky’s house since we left it. I wanted to cry. But then I saw Leonard.
Leonard Frasier was the next door neighbor who came in to the city on the weekends to work on his home. Volunteers from RHINO had gutted his house and he was doing much of the rebuilding himself. He had bleached the studs (five times) and treated them with a special coating. This weekend he was re-wiring.
We first met Leonard when we were working on Vicky’s house. His wife Gloria came over to pray with us. Somehow he remembered who we were, or at least wanted to. He was just so thrilled to see us and grateful that we had returned to check on the neighborhood. He took us into his home to show us the progress and told us his story. He even called his wife Gloria on the cell phone so I could say “hello” to her. Our presence just means so much to these people. It is humbling. This pretty much made my day although I do have to say the meal we had at Café Pontalba, blackened Cajun shrimp with shrimp and crawfish étoufee, was the icing on the cake!
So now for Monday’s activities! We launched at about 7:00 am and headed to Gentilly to work on Debbie’s house. She is a preschool teacher and her husband works for Lowes. Their home is so very near the lake. It was under @10 feet of water for a month. We proceeded with the usual work of emptying belongings, removing cabinets, baseboard, fixtures, drywall, and insulation. This was all accomplished by noon. However, it was not without drama. Merl took a fall in the neighbor’s yard, stepping into a hole about one foot deep, falling and hitting the side of his head, and somehow putting a hole in his earlobe. It looked worse then it was but still Sarah and I took him to a doctor’s office (Wes Alden is a church member who offers his services to RHINO). Luckily he didn’t need stitches.
The next house was not far way in Lakeview. Jake was diagnosed with cancer three months before Katrina so he is on medical leave. His wife Eileen is a school teacher. Though Jake is not supposed to be doing this work he is slowly chipping away at the task. The front half of the house was gutted. We went to work on the back and probably saved him 50 hours of work. He was grateful. We ended our work day with prayers for Jake and Eileen.
Then back to the house for showers, a good meal of red beans and rice, and bible study. It was a full rich day and we are blessed.
Thought for the Day: Giving is indeed living. What have you given today?
Arrival Blessings
October 15th, 2006We have arrived safely and are settling in to our wonderful home. The Land Building at St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church is just a beautiful old palatial southern home that has been owned by the church for many years and used as a Christian education building and office … until Katrina. Then it was converted to a dormitory for relief workers. It is very comfortable living with spacious rooms and a nice front porch newly equipped with ten wooden rocking chairs.
New Orleans is a delightful quirky place and they seem to like it that way. Last night we had the compulsory dinner at Franky and Johnny’s. I had asked for several smaller tables but they wound up putting all twenty of us at a giant table with one waitress. And what a waitress she was! Sonia had a sweet spirit, delightful sense of humor, and devoted herself to our well being. She was a blessing!
I wrote a little thank you prayer in our prayer journal that we will keep for the week. We found out later that she has just received some bad news about her health. We will double our prayers.
Today we will worship at St. Charles, get oriented to the work, take a driving tour and enjoy New Orleans and its people. Each of our experiences will connect us with people like Sonia trying to rebuild a life here in the city and facing the daily trials that life brings. God bless Sonia.
Thought for the Day: The people that we meet each day all have the potential to bless us. You are blessed to be a blessing. Who will you be a blessing to today?
Fall Pilgrimage to New Orleans
September 17th, 2006On October 14, I’ll take another group of pilgrims to New Orleans to join in the RHINO (Restoring Hope to New Orleans) recovery effort though the St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church.
Sarah Bullard, Christ Clarion; Merl Galusha and Mike Capron, from Presbytery;Carl Dellafave, Paula Graham, Linn Hoover, Charlie Plummer, Peter Orr, and Jamie Smith, all from Laurelton United; Kay Fetterly, Bev Hoy, Nina Stevens, and Robin Woodams from Batavia,First;David Hale, Brockport, First; Bryce Kaiser and Millie Tomidy from Leroy, First;Tricia Monigle, Irondequoit; Dave Morgan, John Calvin; and Jonathan Wolfinger, Calvary St. Andrews friend.
Watch this spot for news from the floodplain!
Thought for the Day: We go to stand in the gap.
Blessings! LBB
So Great a Cloud of Witnesses!
June 23rd, 2006Well, General Assembly is finished and I am home. While the commissioners did not end up agreeing with one another, there was a great desire to not have winners and losers, and to promote the unity of the church, even in our disagreement. There was a sense of wanting to be the church together as we continue to struggle with important issues, but also a desire to not let them divide us.
Worshipping with our brothers and sisters in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America was a wonderful experience. There is a spirit in the CPC and the CPCA which we can learn from. They are certainly not “God’s frozen chosen!”
It was an unforgettable experience to be a part of this “great cloud of witnesses” and to look forward to celebrating the 300th anniversary of Presbyterianism in America this year. Thanks to the Presbytery of Genesee Valley for allowing me to be a commissioner to this 217th General Assembly.