Short week, long memories

Hey once again from Louisiana--

It's been such a short week. Seems like the days have flown way by,
and we are near the end of another wonderful mission trip experience.
But as time as flown by, significant, deep memories have been etched
in our spirits--and will last a lifetime. Like the memory of helping
to reopen the fire station that was near one of the major dike breaks
and that captured the entire break on video -- showing water coming from
under/within the structure, not over its top. Like the memory of helping
clear and landscape homes that are unoccupied as part of the impressive
Beacon of Hope project (http://www.lakewoodbeacon.org/), and all of
the friends and stories that have resulted. And, like the memory of
Rusty, the *impressive* lead home-builder from "Crossroads Missions"
that has partnered with the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana.

Under God's call, Rusty has moved his family *to* New Orleans,
including his three children and lovely wife, to work full-time
for Crossroads in the rebuilding effort. As Rusty told me today,
God has fully provided for them as Rusty's potential role became
clarified and funding came in -- including a substantial amount
from the Episcopal Church here. Imagine moving your whole family
to a storm ravaged area to do this kind of ministry...... for
Rusty, mission *is* his vocation.

At the end of the day today (Friday), some the group that has been steadily
working the four new homes at Jericho Road gathered for a picture
(above). Rusty is pictured to the left with his son Zach. We will
have many more pictures, stories, and experiences to share with each
and every one of you when we get home. Thank you so much for your
prayers and support while we have been here. JohnnyMac

Another Perspective from New Orleans

The amount of work remaining to be done in the city, even 2 years after what is locally call "The Storm," continues to boggle my mind, but the faith-based volunteer effort that is continuing in the area is even more awesome!!! I occasionally stop and try to strike up a conversation with local folks that I meet on the street. Sometimes the stories are "downers" like the lady that pointed to a vacant lot and told me that it was where her grandmother's house used to be - the house that her mom, and her, and her kids had lived in until "The Storm" took it away. She was not a happy person, and wasn't even willing to talk much - just saying that her family was struggling to make it from day and telling me that sometimes you just "gotta do what you have to do to keep something in your belly." Her life had been changed drastically, and she did not see a future for her to get out of her misery.

Sometimes the stories are uplifting, like the 60 year old fellow whose front yard looked like it could come from the TV series "Sanford and Son." He was separating some scrap metal stuff that he had collected to recycle for a few dollars. He told me that he had worked for the school system for about 30 years, but with so few schools open after "The Storm" he had been laid off, but with a promise that as soon as he turned 60 he would be officially retired from the school system and get his pension. Well, turns out he had turned 60 a couple weeks ago, and he had a big smile on his face as he talked about fishing, and rocking on the porch, and playing with his grandchildren. His house had been damaged, but was repairable and had been pretty much repaired he told me. He had "kept alive" with the money he had made from recycling the scrap metal, and commented that for him life had pretty much returned to normal. But, in the next breath, he kinda got a faraway look on his face and said, "You know, this neighborhood ain't never gonna be the same." A real mixed bag of triumph and tragedy and emotions.

I'm sure their stories have hundreds of thousands of parallel ones all over the area - and that's why we are here. That's why we are called by God to be "our brother's keeper," and why we are challenged over and over to live our faith through our actions, more than just through our words. I am grateful for each of the mission team members that gave of their time and money and talent to come and help make a difference. I am grateful for the support from the St. Michael's family that makes trips like these possible. I am grateful that there are groups like the Episcopal Office of Disaster Relief that can so effectively coordinate the efforts of such a diverse group as all the volunteers. But most of all I am grateful to the loving and omnipotent God of the universe who has shown us through His son, Jesus Christ, how we should live in this world, even in the midst of sorrow and misery, and that, yes you can make a difference.

Hungry Ya'll: First Reflections from New Orleans

Greetings to all back at St. Michael's:

Hungry Ya'll? That was the question asked out the door of the Loaves and Fishes Mobile Feeding Program pick-up truck today as we drove through the neighborhood immediately behind Christ Cathedral Church on the near east side of New Orleans. This is one of the neighborhoods that has been chosen by the Jericho Road project that many from our St. Michael's team have been working on these first two days. The two of us from St. Michael's that were volunteering with Loaves and Fishes had just stopped to offer lunch to the many volunteers at Jericho (first 3 pictures below), and there was extra left over. The out-of-work folks on the street looked somewhat surprised that a truck with free lunch food and other personal hygiene supplies would simply stop in the middle of the neighborhood and ask if they were hungry...but that reminded me of Jesus' feeding of the 5000 and how surprised and overwhelmed the crowd must have been. As we quickly handed out about 10 lunches consisting of ham and cheese sandwiches, fresh fruit, cold water, chips, and chocolate chip cookies, personal shampoo, and a small sewing kit, the look of surprise turned to gratitude as we shook hands with those that were the recipients of what, to them, must have seemed like a miracle.

But this was not the greatest mircale of the day. Not only is St. Michael's providing volunteers to Jericho, but so are several other Christian groups including a large group of youth and adults from Columbus Ohio, and a group of about 12 from St. Stephen's (Episcopal) in Richmond. We have all bonded together to accomplish more than we ever thought possible as individual groups, with 25-30 of us under the direction of skilled house-builder "Rusty" and his colleagues Cliff and Emily from Crossroads Mission -- the organization that has teamed up with the Episcopal Relief effort here to provide an important long-range new home building program similar to Habitat for Humanity. And with all these Christians from different churches and backgrounds working together, denominational and parish differences have been quickly put aside to complete wrapping a house in TYVEK, complete hoisting and setting forty roof trusses, accomplish most of a roof shingling job, paint several rooms, install plumbing and electrical components, ceiling fans, and many other jobs on the way t0ward finishing construction on the first six of a planned 150 new homes!!!

And, that doesn't even tell the story of the crew that has been working on the yard and home clean-up phase of this years mission trip to NOLA!!


As we packed up the van and headed back to St. Augustine's Episcopal where we are living, we witnessed this beautiful rainbow over the Superdome (picture below). It was as if God was using this sign of the covenant to bless His ongoing work of renewal and redemption in New Orleans, and in particular that small part of it we have partaken of these first two days. Hungry Ya'll? God is ready to provide His feast! JohnnyMac

Adult Missions Prepares for NOLA '07

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ on
this Thursday evening, October 11, 2007:

As our newest team of about 20 St. Michael's adults prepares to
head for New Orleans to continue our ongoing work in Katrina
recovery, I am reminded of the awesome responsibility and great
gifts we have been given by the Lord. As ambassadors for Christ,
we are called to witness to the love that Jesus Christ has shown
each one of us and to our whole St. Michael's community. And,
through the gifts we offer to share with the people of New Orleans,
we are called to become earthen vessels filled with the Grace
that only He can give.

Using this Michael's Missions blog, we plan to make regular posts
throughout the week to keep all of you informed and up to date about
our work and daily life in serving those affected by Katrina. And, in
so doing, we invite and ask your prayers that we might live into the
ambassadorial role to which we have been called.

God's continued blessings,
JohnnyMac