Kirsten's heart...

For me, the highlight of the trip was our visit Monday to the 9th Ward. We were divided into four teams, and each team was assigned to a particular street to walk down- surveying the destruction and praying over the lives that each home (or now empty lot) represented. Before we took off, my (Red) team huddled up and prayed that God would touch our hearts and fill us with compassion.

We began walking in silence… for the devastation of the empty and abandoned lots was extremely humbling. The sun was peeking out through some clouds, and the air was hot and humid. Suddenly an enormous CRACK of thunder broke the silence (and caused me to jump a foot in the air and grab the arm of the girl walking beside me!!!) Then one of the other girls on my team turned around and said to me “I think that’s God saying, ‘I hear you!’” Soon it started to drizzle, and the sky turned gray… to me this made it seem as though God was saying “Hey, this makes me sad too.” Not long after the drizzling started, the winds began to blow and black clouds were quickly approaching- torrential downpour!! After only a few seconds of standing in the rain, we were completely soaked. The church truck appeared to whisk us back to shelter in the vans, but the ride through the rain as we stood in the back of the truck was truly unforgettable. The strong wind tugged away at the umbrella that I shared with others, and fat raindrops drenched my back and sloshed into my sneakers. I remember thinking “Wow, thank you Lord”, for I know he was giving me a sense of His power as well as a slight example of what it was like during Katrina.

Wet and cold, we sat quietly and continued to pray once we were safe in the seats of the van. As we prayed, I stared out the window and watched the winds blow the tall unkempt grass that now took over an area of land that was once called “home” to someone. Someone whom my God loves dearly.

The rains stopped, and the sun came back out. Still quite soggy, we went back to where we left off, and my thoughts were filled with the lyrics of the Casting Crowns song,

“As the thunder rolls, I barely hear You whisper through the rain, "I'm with you". And as Your mercy falls, I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away. I'll praise you in this storm, I will lift my hands! For You are who You are, no matter where I am. And every tear I've cried, You hold in your hand. You’ve never left my side, and though my heart is torn, I will praise You in this storm!”

I don’t know where each of those families are today. Deserted toys were scattered across the street… where are the owners? Are those children safe? Fed? Do they still have parents? They are God’s beloved children. What I gained from that morning in the 9th Ward was a heart that breaks for God's people, especially those affected by disaster. They are not some headline in the newspapers, they are humans who are in desperate need for love when they have nothing else. Do they know the God whom they can praise in the storm?

~ Kirsten