We 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?