New Orleans Four

Overwhelming
Gut-wrenching
Massive
Incomprehensible
Heart breaking
Complete neighborhoods gone
Empty lots
Ruins
Fear
Frustration
Thankfulness
Gratefulness
Years and years of rebuilding
Poor
Middle Class
Affluent
Katrina did not discriminate.

Home from New Orleans

I never got New Orleans before. I had never been to New Orleans before, so that had a lot to do with it. I never knew that the city is small. Now, even smaller in population. But, there is a spirit in New Orleans that I haven't seen or felt in other cities.

We visited three levy breaks last night. I wrote my thoughts down and will share them later. I'm too tired now. I slept 5 hours this afternoon, but I'm headed back to bed.

New Orleans Three

It has rained all day. Buckets and buckets. Torrents upon torrents. Is New Orleans really where you want to be when the rain won't stop?

Yesterday the center director kicked the VBS team out and said they could come back today. The team arrived to find the building locked up tight. They called to find out the reason. The director was getting on a plane and had forgotten to give someone the key to open the doors. Playing in the park really wasn't an option - due to the torrent upon torrents.

Riddle burned his hand with boiling water as he helped in the kitchen. They've taken him to the "Doc in the Box". It looked nasty.

Downstairs they are celebrating Feller's 18th birthday. The frosting Corinn made for his cookie cake has enough sugar in it to keep the whole group up all night. The guys already celebrated by taking his clothes while he was in the shower. With friends like that...

I am emotionally drained. The news about the Curtis family has weighed on my heart all day. My prayer is that God will give them a peace that passes understanding.

New Orleans Two

Today went much better for the VBS crew today. They rebuilt their schedule and group plans, but then got kicked out of the community center. Even though they were written on the director's calendar she insisted they weren't suppose to be there and threw everyone out. They moved to the park across the street and continued there.

I really dislike Wal-Mart, but I find it fascinating that here in New Orleans you can grab a bottle of your favorite whiskey, vodka, rum, etc...at the checkout line! Right there next to the gum and tic-tacs sits gallon bottles of hard liquor.

Tonight a delightful couple came and spoke about their hurricane nightmare. One group is working on their home. It is freaky to hear them talk about all the miracles that took place all around them. They were are lifted from the SuperDome in a Black Hawk with 11 others just two days after arriving and after being told that it would be weeks before they got out.

The water rushed into their home to their waists in a matter of seconds. Their home sat three feet off the groud. Outside the water was 8 feet and they spent the night in the attic. The next day they were ferried to the interstate to trucks that drove them to another interstate and they began the trek to the Dome.

I still can't imagine an entire city that is in complete and total panic and has no idea what is happening where or how to get help!

Our headquarters for the week is Berean Church which is located next to the deserted New Orleans School District Administration Building. The NO School District has one school they are operating. All other schools that were once NO schools are now charter schools or part of the Recovery School District that is run by the state.

Once again I am exhausted.

New Orleans

First full day in New Orleans was bad. It did not go well. My color coded, finely detailed grocery list for Sam's crashed and burned when they wouldn't let us use the school credit card for the purchase of a week's worth of food for 50 people. We never could get them to understand that the people listed in the computer could not come and vouch for us in person because they were all in Texas. They kept telling us to just call them and have them come to the store to say we could use the card.

Everyone else has been wonderful. Well, the group who went to do VBS in the projects will violently disagree with me. They came in looking shell shocked. Our kids thought the Juarez kids were needy and out of control. Today was a HUGE eye opener for them. They are still reeling.

The groups working in a church and in homes had wonderful experiences. It is so hard to comprehend that 80% of this city was under water. I still can't wrap my head around it.

I am exhausted. I really dislike Wal-Mart and I had to make two trips there today and have to go back tomorrow. BLECK! I've been on my feet all day and now the mosquitoes are trying to carry me away. The kids have been so helpful with everything in the kitchen. I greatly appreciate it.

So Many Books -- So Little Time

Books being read at our house by at least four of the seven that live here:

Justice in the Burbs by Will and Lisa Samson
Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore
Why We're Not Emergent (By Two Guys Who Should Be) by Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne
The Importance of Being Foolish - How to Think Like Jesus by Brennan Manning
Simplfy Your Space by Marcia Ramsland
Revolution in World Missions by K.P. Yohonnan
Robin Hood
Dateable: are you? are they? by Justin Lookadoo and Hayley Morgan

What's being read at your house?

This 13 Might Do Me In

Anyone who has had teenagers knows how fun having a thirteen year old can be. I've done it five times now. This last one might do me in.

Me on Saturday MORNING (meaning I had already had my fill of thirteen year old for the day!): Let's make a deal. I won't speak to you and you won't speak to me until you turn 14, okay?

Clay: And what if I haven't changed by the time I'm 14?

I can't bear the thought!