We 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.