Boy, as I sit here and reflect on our week in New Orleans..........what first comes to my mind is how neat our young people are, what an awesome experience it was for me and my family, and what a cool ministry we were able to be a part of.............(there are so many highlights so picking one or two is really a challenge!) thanks for allowing Bryan and I to be a part of it!
A major thought that I've had over and over concerns he spirit of the woman Margarite, whose garage we gutted and whose home interior we de-nailed and cleaned up. Margarite was soooooooooooooo thankful that we would come and help her. Years before the flood her husband passed away and her daughter lives far away; Yet Margarite remains strong and hopeful of putting her home back together again even though she is quite alone in New Orleans. She recognized and spoke openly about God's hand in her life, especially the day we came upon her out on a neighborhood porch. She shared with us that just that morning she had been telephoning trying to find help in getting her garage gutted even though she had no money to pay for help. We were able to meet her need and get to work the next day. Margarite was moved to tears when we showed her an antique chair, a pretty iron bed, and a Gumbo pot that we found in the rafters of her home............her husband used the pot to make his special gumbo. Although her home sits as walls and rafters and the contents of her husbands garage were on the street being rummaged through by passers by, she did not seem bitter or angry but thankful that we would come and help. She joined us in a circle prayer in her driveway like an excited little kid...........thrilled to be a part of our prayer time and our group. She even joined us for a peanut butter sandwich. To me, Margarite is a face of New Orleans and the people there that I will always remember.
What further touched my heart is the "stuff" of life and a different perspective on my material possessions. The posessions we were calling debris and throwing on the curb were memories and tangible links to the past for Margarite and the people whose homes were destroyed in the flood. While much of our stuff brings us joy, accomplishes some task, and may remind us of people places or events that are dear to us, it is all just stuff. New Orleans and the destroyed homes and piles of debris so vividly made that point. But I wonder, if all of my "stuff" was destroyed or taken away.................would I have a thankful heart? If I couldn't go home again, would I be hopeful that the Lord would provide for my future? I hope and pray that I will work on the perspective that we were to follow at Urban Impact: People first, projects second and keep the stuff of my life in the proper perspective and focus on that which is eternal................
~ Carolyn
A major thought that I've had over and over concerns he spirit of the woman Margarite, whose garage we gutted and whose home interior we de-nailed and cleaned up. Margarite was soooooooooooooo thankful that we would come and help her. Years before the flood her husband passed away and her daughter lives far away; Yet Margarite remains strong and hopeful of putting her home back together again even though she is quite alone in New Orleans. She recognized and spoke openly about God's hand in her life, especially the day we came upon her out on a neighborhood porch. She shared with us that just that morning she had been telephoning trying to find help in getting her garage gutted even though she had no money to pay for help. We were able to meet her need and get to work the next day. Margarite was moved to tears when we showed her an antique chair, a pretty iron bed, and a Gumbo pot that we found in the rafters of her home............her husband used the pot to make his special gumbo. Although her home sits as walls and rafters and the contents of her husbands garage were on the street being rummaged through by passers by, she did not seem bitter or angry but thankful that we would come and help. She joined us in a circle prayer in her driveway like an excited little kid...........thrilled to be a part of our prayer time and our group. She even joined us for a peanut butter sandwich. To me, Margarite is a face of New Orleans and the people there that I will always remember.
What further touched my heart is the "stuff" of life and a different perspective on my material possessions. The posessions we were calling debris and throwing on the curb were memories and tangible links to the past for Margarite and the people whose homes were destroyed in the flood. While much of our stuff brings us joy, accomplishes some task, and may remind us of people places or events that are dear to us, it is all just stuff. New Orleans and the destroyed homes and piles of debris so vividly made that point. But I wonder, if all of my "stuff" was destroyed or taken away.................would I have a thankful heart? If I couldn't go home again, would I be hopeful that the Lord would provide for my future? I hope and pray that I will work on the perspective that we were to follow at Urban Impact: People first, projects second and keep the stuff of my life in the proper perspective and focus on that which is eternal................
~ Carolyn
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