November 16, 2006

Last week I had the opportunity to serve the people of Louisiana in Saint Bernard Parish (a suburb of New Orleans) who were victims of Hurricane Katrina with people from some local churches here in Southern California. There were 12 in our group and we served with other groups from all over the country. It was one of the best weeks that I have ever had. I worked with some of the best and hardest working people that I have ever met. I am truly blessed to now call them both family and friends. Together we worked in unity to bring joy to those who are downcast, hope to the hopeless and a smile to the faces of those with tears in their eyes. We hugged those who felt helpless and just needed a shoulder to cry on. We listened to many people who told us that they had lost everything. We encouraged the empty handed to take generously from the tables that were stocked with food to take back with them and we helped them carry their things that they had been blessed with. So many broken people walked into the tent where we worked and stood in line. They were hesitant to take more than they needed for the day as they were not used to taking, but buying. We talked but mostly listened to the people who cried or didn’t cry. Most everyone wanted to tell us their story. It was traumatic. The whole town of Saint Bernard Parish was destroyed due to the levy that broke. A pastor named Pastor Randy showed us his church that was destroyed. It had been flooded with 9 feet of water. There were no walls left as they had all been washed away. Broken glass and thick dried mud coated the floors that used to be only carpet. He told us of his friend who, after the levy broke, jumped out of his window and onto the 9 foot wall of water that covered the entire town. He grabbed onto a piece of fence that was made of styrofoam and was rushed right passed the roof of the church. He finally grabbed hold of part of the roof of a local building and rode the storm out there. He was later rescued by a man on a jet ski. The entire town was filled with people who had everything taken away from them in a matter of days. I don’t understand what this is like, but my heart weeps for them. Christ would have had compassion on them were he here. He would weep with those who weep. He would hold them and share in their suffering. The experience that I had this week was like none other that I have ever experienced. I have never worked so hard in my life and I have never been so blessed.The destruction in Saint Bernard Parish was eminent as was the helplessness on the faces of her citizens who returned to their homes for the very first time since Katrina hit. I hope to return and I pray that God would send more people to Louisiana and Mississippi to volunteer. There is a need. I urge whoever reads this to try to find a way to get involved in making a difference in someone else’s life by giving of their time, not their money. Whether it be a trip to Louisiana or even a trip to the local homeless shelter. You are valuable and have the power to change someone’s life.