The posts following are my memoirs of the week we spent in New Orleans with the youth of Batesville First Baptist Church. It was an amazing week with an amazing bunch of wonderful young people and their leaders! To enjoy reading it to the fullest you will need to scroll down to the last post and start with it...then read them by scrolling up to the next and the next. I wrote them as I had time and so the last to you is the first of the story...good luck with that!!
So, start with "Moments to Remember".
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Winding Down - MLNO/WP
Thursday morning arrived and by 6:45 am, most of us were in the cafeteria for our daily coffee, diet coke and/or runny eggs and a shout out from the lady whom we had lovingly named The Breakfast Nazi. Each morning she would give us a gentle shout that we had only 3 minutes left, although some of us had only been there for 2, before we had to get out of there. I have never seen biscuits and gravy stabbed whole by a fork and scarfed down in one bite by so many wet headed boys, in an effort to avoid the 30 second call, in my life! Following breakfast each morning we had morning devos. It was good to begin the day in the Word and with a fresh falling of the Holy Spirit for a day of service and submission.
The Excite camp BYBC ended on Thursday and so we made the decision just to pull out the stops and do everything we could to finish the week in three days. The dramas were an excellent way to relate the Word without having to do a traditional Bible story. The students really stepped up and made their characters come alive to effectively get the point across. They worked with last minute run throughs and very simple costumes and props. I kept reminding them that it wasn't "Broadway". We did a couple of crafts, played a couple of games, sang a couple of songs and finished with the dramas. To close the day, we used the "blooming flowers" to wow the children and left them with the message that God is love. The Excite campers and leaders gave us a certificate of appreciation as our time together came to a close.
Because I wasn't at the other BYBC, I don't have a play by play of what they did. I do know this, however - they were consistent and loved on the children every day. They could have easily just decided to go somewhere else or do something else, but they had made a commitment to these neighborhood children and their parents and they were determined to see it through. They endured the heat and humidity, the rough vacant lot they had to use as a playground, and the inconsistency of the children as they came and went freely. They were a great example of stability in a very unstable environment.
Thursday afternoon, some of the boys, Emily and Kayla and Greg decided to go to the 9th Ward to finish the yard which we had started on Wednesday. They had a mower and weed-eater available to them that day. They used shovels and rakes and removed stumps and weeds once again. They cleared the yard of metal and trash and in the end, they had made an incredible difference. Everyone worked hard. Everyone went away with a sense of satisfaction of a job well done.
Those who opted out of the yard work were sent to the food bank. We went with the expectation of making up boxes of food to be given out to individuals or sacking up beans and rice for individual distribution or something of that nature. We expected to be working in a clean air conditioned warehouse and didn't think about other people being there, too. Wow, did we get a surprise! We were shown a quick video of the jobs that are done at the food bank and given a brief overview of what to expect. On the video when they mentioned "ruined food" and "gnawed on boxes" that was when I realized that we weren't in Kansas any more. We were ushered out to a loading dock and introduced to our supervisor. I can't remember her name, but I wouldn't want to play a contact sport with her. We were told to join a table and just had to find a place to stand between seasoned volunteers and with others who were new to the work, as well. There was a group of senior citizens who volunteered on a regular basis at the food bank who were there in full force that day. They pulled, lifted, slung things, and barked orders. Some of them were gruff and I actually think may have growled. We were brought banana boxes filled with every imaginable kind of food and non-food items to be sorted. We would look them over and decide if they were keepers or if they needed to be tossed. We were told to use our judgement, deciding if we would want to take the product home with us to use. Scarlett and I agreed that we would not have taken any of it home with us. We saw crushed cereal boxes, out-dated products, slimy bottles of water, and even a box of food full of maggots - yuck! When we found something that was too old or had peanuts or tree nuts in it, we had to toss it out. All of the discarded food went into a huge dumpster bind that was on the lower deck behind us. At one point the supervisor began going through the dumpster, questioning our decision making and taking some things back out to be re-boxed. Finally everyone left except our group and we finished up the job and cleaned up the loading dock. I must say, this was my least favorite job of the week! I wanted to go back to the dorm and just stand in the shower! I was reminded, however, that when you are hungry, you will eat what is offered you. God is great, God is good - Let us thank Him, for our food! Amen.
Thursday night we enjoyed a time of worship again. We were awed that the Father planned for the MLab pastor to speak on Paul as a captive in his own house, under house arrest - the very lesson that our own Paul and Brutus drama had depicted to the children that week. This was not planned. Mission Lab did not give us the material and didn't know what we were using. I love the way God orchestrates the lessons He wants us to learn - giving them to us over and over in different ways and forms and through the words of different people.
The girls had a "To dye for" party on Thursday night. Their favorite guinea pig was Mickey. I honestly think they could talk him into anything. He is a sucker for the teenage girls in our youth, remembering days of old with his own girls. They had purple hair dye and were itching to use it in his lovely silver hair. They like to give just a streak or "high-light" of color to their victims, and so the process began. Amberly donned the gloves and the quirt bottle came out. There, surrounded by the experts, Mickey received his first streak of permanent purple dye. He will be having job interviews in the next week or two, hopefully...wonder how that will do? These girls have left their mark on him, but not only with a bottle of dye. He loves their drive, commitment and desire to serve their God. What a privilege to live and work among them!
Friday was our last day. Both groups worked together at the 7th Ward BYBC. There were way too many of us and so we made the decision for some of us to prayer walk the neighborhood. This was my favorite day. We split up into three groups, each having an adult and three to five students. The group that I was with were privileged to pray as we walked, stopping on occasion to speak to a passer-by or someone sitting on their porch and then to pray for their specific needs. No one was hostel, and in fact, not even negative. Everyone that we asked was ready to give us their requests and very glad we were praying for them. That day we, and the other prayer walkers, learned so much about the people of the 7th Ward. We learned that they, too, once had a life. They once had cars and jobs and family around. We learned that they live in fear of the crime surrounding them and that they don't want the crime to continue. We learned that Katrina had not only devastated lives but had also changed lives for Christ's sake. We learned that some people were happy and doing just fine and that others had illnesses and family problems. We discovered that community and family was important and that the people of New Orleans desired both. I was compelled, as were some others, to reach out and touch the people as we prayed for them. We prayed that through God's answers men would be drawn to Jesus. We returned to the street and the small vacant lot where the BYBC was still going on and joined the rest of the group there. It was a delight to watch the children leaving with their treasures in hand - hoola hoops, balls, and jump ropes - as they also took away the knowledge of a Savior who loves them as they were embraced by students who had been His hands and His feet that week.
Finally Friday afternoon arrived. This was the day designated for a trip to the French Quarter where the gift of the Worship Project would be given to the tourists, artists and shop keepers who passed by Washington Artillery Park. It turned out to be a rough beginning. We couldn't find the park and drove around and around. Finally, we found the park and realized that we would have to park a distance and walk with instruments and other items needed for the set up. Lacey got permission to park in front of the steps leading to the park where the Worship Project would be presented. That was a blessing. The instruments were pulled together and Renda and I "babysat" them until we realized that they could be moved to a location which would not require us to sit in the beating down hot sun. Finally, we found the electrical outlets that we had been told we would find and set up began. Mickey's "well oiled machine" went to work. Right on time, at 3:00 pm, the Worship Project began. We didn't really have a captive audience and only a few stayed to hear the complete message, but that is when we realized how powerful the words are and how critical that the message could be delivered in such a manner. The songs are full of single messages that are repeated and shouted out which can stand alone without explanation - "I can't image life without You", "Our God reigns", "You are stronger" "Chains are broken, lives are changed". Anyone hearing just a few words - maybe just one line - could be effectively ministered to, just by walking by. Jesus name literally hung in the air in the French Quarter. When the students had torn down all the equipment and it had been stored away, we all split up and became tourists ourselves. I think everyone had a beniet at Cafe Du Monde before we loaded up to go. We were so tired, but happy and felt blessed to have been a part of a week of missions and worship in New Orleans.
Saturday morning we loaded up early and headed back to Arkansas. As we dragged our suit cases into the camp dorm where we were staying on Saturday night, hardly a word was spoken. Everyone claimed a bed and some fell into it without even changing clothes. We needed sleep and to get prepared for the long day ahead. Sunday the Worship Project would be given to two small churches, Sunday morning and Sunday night, with many parents and friends in attendance. It was a great way to end a wonderful week, praising the Father and giving glory to His name.
The Excite camp BYBC ended on Thursday and so we made the decision just to pull out the stops and do everything we could to finish the week in three days. The dramas were an excellent way to relate the Word without having to do a traditional Bible story. The students really stepped up and made their characters come alive to effectively get the point across. They worked with last minute run throughs and very simple costumes and props. I kept reminding them that it wasn't "Broadway". We did a couple of crafts, played a couple of games, sang a couple of songs and finished with the dramas. To close the day, we used the "blooming flowers" to wow the children and left them with the message that God is love. The Excite campers and leaders gave us a certificate of appreciation as our time together came to a close.
Because I wasn't at the other BYBC, I don't have a play by play of what they did. I do know this, however - they were consistent and loved on the children every day. They could have easily just decided to go somewhere else or do something else, but they had made a commitment to these neighborhood children and their parents and they were determined to see it through. They endured the heat and humidity, the rough vacant lot they had to use as a playground, and the inconsistency of the children as they came and went freely. They were a great example of stability in a very unstable environment.
Thursday afternoon, some of the boys, Emily and Kayla and Greg decided to go to the 9th Ward to finish the yard which we had started on Wednesday. They had a mower and weed-eater available to them that day. They used shovels and rakes and removed stumps and weeds once again. They cleared the yard of metal and trash and in the end, they had made an incredible difference. Everyone worked hard. Everyone went away with a sense of satisfaction of a job well done.
Those who opted out of the yard work were sent to the food bank. We went with the expectation of making up boxes of food to be given out to individuals or sacking up beans and rice for individual distribution or something of that nature. We expected to be working in a clean air conditioned warehouse and didn't think about other people being there, too. Wow, did we get a surprise! We were shown a quick video of the jobs that are done at the food bank and given a brief overview of what to expect. On the video when they mentioned "ruined food" and "gnawed on boxes" that was when I realized that we weren't in Kansas any more. We were ushered out to a loading dock and introduced to our supervisor. I can't remember her name, but I wouldn't want to play a contact sport with her. We were told to join a table and just had to find a place to stand between seasoned volunteers and with others who were new to the work, as well. There was a group of senior citizens who volunteered on a regular basis at the food bank who were there in full force that day. They pulled, lifted, slung things, and barked orders. Some of them were gruff and I actually think may have growled. We were brought banana boxes filled with every imaginable kind of food and non-food items to be sorted. We would look them over and decide if they were keepers or if they needed to be tossed. We were told to use our judgement, deciding if we would want to take the product home with us to use. Scarlett and I agreed that we would not have taken any of it home with us. We saw crushed cereal boxes, out-dated products, slimy bottles of water, and even a box of food full of maggots - yuck! When we found something that was too old or had peanuts or tree nuts in it, we had to toss it out. All of the discarded food went into a huge dumpster bind that was on the lower deck behind us. At one point the supervisor began going through the dumpster, questioning our decision making and taking some things back out to be re-boxed. Finally everyone left except our group and we finished up the job and cleaned up the loading dock. I must say, this was my least favorite job of the week! I wanted to go back to the dorm and just stand in the shower! I was reminded, however, that when you are hungry, you will eat what is offered you. God is great, God is good - Let us thank Him, for our food! Amen.
Thursday night we enjoyed a time of worship again. We were awed that the Father planned for the MLab pastor to speak on Paul as a captive in his own house, under house arrest - the very lesson that our own Paul and Brutus drama had depicted to the children that week. This was not planned. Mission Lab did not give us the material and didn't know what we were using. I love the way God orchestrates the lessons He wants us to learn - giving them to us over and over in different ways and forms and through the words of different people.
The girls had a "To dye for" party on Thursday night. Their favorite guinea pig was Mickey. I honestly think they could talk him into anything. He is a sucker for the teenage girls in our youth, remembering days of old with his own girls. They had purple hair dye and were itching to use it in his lovely silver hair. They like to give just a streak or "high-light" of color to their victims, and so the process began. Amberly donned the gloves and the quirt bottle came out. There, surrounded by the experts, Mickey received his first streak of permanent purple dye. He will be having job interviews in the next week or two, hopefully...wonder how that will do? These girls have left their mark on him, but not only with a bottle of dye. He loves their drive, commitment and desire to serve their God. What a privilege to live and work among them!
Friday was our last day. Both groups worked together at the 7th Ward BYBC. There were way too many of us and so we made the decision for some of us to prayer walk the neighborhood. This was my favorite day. We split up into three groups, each having an adult and three to five students. The group that I was with were privileged to pray as we walked, stopping on occasion to speak to a passer-by or someone sitting on their porch and then to pray for their specific needs. No one was hostel, and in fact, not even negative. Everyone that we asked was ready to give us their requests and very glad we were praying for them. That day we, and the other prayer walkers, learned so much about the people of the 7th Ward. We learned that they, too, once had a life. They once had cars and jobs and family around. We learned that they live in fear of the crime surrounding them and that they don't want the crime to continue. We learned that Katrina had not only devastated lives but had also changed lives for Christ's sake. We learned that some people were happy and doing just fine and that others had illnesses and family problems. We discovered that community and family was important and that the people of New Orleans desired both. I was compelled, as were some others, to reach out and touch the people as we prayed for them. We prayed that through God's answers men would be drawn to Jesus. We returned to the street and the small vacant lot where the BYBC was still going on and joined the rest of the group there. It was a delight to watch the children leaving with their treasures in hand - hoola hoops, balls, and jump ropes - as they also took away the knowledge of a Savior who loves them as they were embraced by students who had been His hands and His feet that week.
Finally Friday afternoon arrived. This was the day designated for a trip to the French Quarter where the gift of the Worship Project would be given to the tourists, artists and shop keepers who passed by Washington Artillery Park. It turned out to be a rough beginning. We couldn't find the park and drove around and around. Finally, we found the park and realized that we would have to park a distance and walk with instruments and other items needed for the set up. Lacey got permission to park in front of the steps leading to the park where the Worship Project would be presented. That was a blessing. The instruments were pulled together and Renda and I "babysat" them until we realized that they could be moved to a location which would not require us to sit in the beating down hot sun. Finally, we found the electrical outlets that we had been told we would find and set up began. Mickey's "well oiled machine" went to work. Right on time, at 3:00 pm, the Worship Project began. We didn't really have a captive audience and only a few stayed to hear the complete message, but that is when we realized how powerful the words are and how critical that the message could be delivered in such a manner. The songs are full of single messages that are repeated and shouted out which can stand alone without explanation - "I can't image life without You", "Our God reigns", "You are stronger" "Chains are broken, lives are changed". Anyone hearing just a few words - maybe just one line - could be effectively ministered to, just by walking by. Jesus name literally hung in the air in the French Quarter. When the students had torn down all the equipment and it had been stored away, we all split up and became tourists ourselves. I think everyone had a beniet at Cafe Du Monde before we loaded up to go. We were so tired, but happy and felt blessed to have been a part of a week of missions and worship in New Orleans.
Saturday morning we loaded up early and headed back to Arkansas. As we dragged our suit cases into the camp dorm where we were staying on Saturday night, hardly a word was spoken. Everyone claimed a bed and some fell into it without even changing clothes. We needed sleep and to get prepared for the long day ahead. Sunday the Worship Project would be given to two small churches, Sunday morning and Sunday night, with many parents and friends in attendance. It was a great way to end a wonderful week, praising the Father and giving glory to His name.
Mid-Week MLNO/WP trip
Wednesday afternoon was devoted to set up for the Worship Project at Edgewater Baptist Church. Our friends, Josh and Ashley Lane and Matt and Jacque Middlecamp had attended and worked in this small Baptist church while in seminary in New Orleans. The church was a victim of the flood, however, it has been remodeled and blessed to have the doors open to minister to it's hurting community. Mickey proudly stands back and watches as the youth set up the sound, instruments and lights for Worship Project. He smiles and says, "It's a well oiled machine!" Each student has a job and knows what to do proficiently. They unload, carry and set up the stage making ready for Mickey to come in and begin plugging in and adjusting the cords and knobs for a perfectly balanced sound. All the while Greg is moving about with the lights and others are helping set them up for the "icing on the cake". It is very amazing to watch this "well oiled machine". No one is complaining or slacking. Everyone knows their job and does it until it is complete. On that particular Wednesday night, the crowd was low with their youth being away at camp and the seminary students having gone for the summer, but the youth sang with conviction and an attitude of worship that reached and touched the lives of those who were there. Alison declared her little media room her personal space of worship and assured us all that the Holy Spirit did indeed abide within those walls. With servants' hearts the students began the tear down (a job that goes much more quickly than set up) immediately and Mickey was able to smile, once again, at the way they worked as a team - "a well oiled machine". As we returned to campus, we claimed a spot in the student center lobby for a time of reflection. Chase led us as we recapped some important revelations and spiritual markers that had brought us to that moment through the work and worship we had experienced so far in the week. We had a sweet time of prayer. By the time we were finished we had missed the window of opportunity for McDonald's ice cream, but no one minded that much. We knew we would face a full day the next day and headed to our dorms.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
More of MLNO/WP
On Monday afternoon, the students went to the local Lowe's store to give out care packages to the homeless men who congregate there. They are lined up hoping for a job opportunity. Many of the men have alcohol issues and/or mental illness issues. This was a real stretch for our small town, Arkansas students and leaders. Once they began handing out the packages, they got a little braver and began making light conversation with the men. Some of them just grabbed the packages and tore into them, eating what was in them and not responding verbally at all. Some of them wanted to engage in "crazy" talk - non sensible conversation with no point, and others said they could pray for them. Our students had never encountered people who were in this position in life, and I think it was a growing experience for most of them. I'm not sure of the real value of this type of ministry as far as bringing them to Christ, but it is a step and it is an opportunity to "do unto others".
Just a side note...while the students went to Lowes, Mickey and I went to Target. It was necessary trip - for some "necessities"! Mickey forgot unmentionables and I forgot PJ's! Some other folks forgot other things such as shampoo and body wash. We also realized that water was not provided by MLab and that it was most definitely a necessity. It was a two story Target, a new experience for these old small town people. First we discovered the elevator that was designed to carry not only us, but our cart also. We quickly discovered the escalator, which had a nifty cart carrier attached to it, as well. It was so much fun that although we didn't intentionally have to make two more trips upstairs, we were a little giddy with the option.
Tuesday afternoon was very interesting. The Worship Project was taken to a Juvenile Detention Center which housed young men in the age range of many of our students. Some of the wards of the center were there for a short stay and others were there for the duration of their teenage years. We pulled up at the front of the building and sat in our vans waiting to enter the locked down facility to begin setting up in their gym. The students had to surrender their personal ID's and leave everything electronic, as well as bags in the vans. Finally, the guard came to the walk in gate and we filed in single file to the location where we would begin making ready for delivery of the Worship Project. Mickey and Greg had to be led to a back gate where the van and trailer and Yukon were ushered inside. They were asked at one point to move the vehicles further away from the razor wire fence as a security precaution. The guards were concerned that an inmate might try to escape via the top of the van and over the fence. The atmosphere in the building was less than exciting and the captive audience not so much engaged, however, the message of the Worship Project is simple and clear and just to be in the room, I am sure that someone caught the idea and a seed was planted. The students did an excellent job in a difficult situation. They were all very glad to be able to leave and to know that freedom for them was just a key turn away. Our vehicles which were inside the securely locked gates waited as a guard attempted to unlock and free us without success. Mickey, who was walking, was asked to help turn the key - a humorous moment and picture opportunity - however, another guard had to be called and finally we were free to go. We were late for supper but made it just before the closing of the cafeteria. We just had time to clean up and make it for worship.
Wednesday, the Excite BYBC was not meeting and we needed to find another project to do. With the help of the MLab site coordinator, we received another assignment. We were asked to help clean up a yard in the lower 9th Ward, the area of the city where the flooding from Katrina had been most devastating. It is 4 years since Katrina invaded New Orleans and the levies broke and the lasting effect is still overwhelming. As we traveled to the 9th ward, we saw the results first hand. On many of the still standing yet totaled homes were big X's. Some of them had numbers on them, some had words written indicating a pet was found inside, some were marked with TFW (toxic flood waters or totalled by flood waters), and yet others were big red X's indicating that a body had been found in the house. There were a few rebuilt and remodeled homes sprinkled in among the devastated neighborhood, but still so many that had been completely ruined by the hurricane and flood that followed yet standing. The yards of many of those unoccupied homes were just as they had been left the day of the flood. The grass and weeds were as tall as the house and they are a breeding ground for insects, mice, rats and vagrants. The yard that we were asked to tackle was not unlike that which I have described. An elderly lady lived next door and had no means by which to clean up the yard. We were issued rakes and gloves by MLab and then given hack saws and sling blades by the home owners association of the lower 9th Ward. The pastor and his wife who are overseers were very grateful and as helpful as possible. The group began working on the yard, hacking and slinging and pulling and picking up trash. Everything had to be put in the street for pick up because the city will not go on to private property. Many of the homes were abandoned and no one will ever return to clean them up or claim them. Those without flood insurance lost everything and there is no incentive to return, however, it is still private property and so the city can do nothing with those houses. Those who did have insurance had to build back on the original foundation and now are just waiting in their new homes for the next flood right next to a totaled, devastated property. It is very sad. The students and Greg worked very hard to make the property look good and in the end discovered a house behind the weeds and grass. While we were at it, we began cleaning up the front yards of two of the houses across the street. One of them was a big two story house with the front door missing. The barred storm door which was missing the glass had been chained to a whole in the door frame to prevent entry. There was a rusted little "Welcome" sign still hanging on the door. As we peered through the bars we could see the gutted out down stairs and the rotting parkay flooring which was once the entryway into some family's home. The stairway was opened up by the missing sheet rock and we could see to the second floor. It almost looked as though you could have gone up stairs and lived still - the white walls and ceiling fan. The boys, and a couple of girls, and Greg returned on Thursday afternoon to finish well. Our job was done and at least we had cleared some of the rubble left from the devastation of 4 years prior. It was a very small effort toward a massive undertaking of which New Orleans is in a desperate need. As we entered the ward we saw the new "Brad Pitt" homes which have been built with solar panels and on stilts. Although they are an oddity for this crumbling neighborhood, they are also a sign of hope. I suppose that a newly cleared lot is also a small sign of hope for those living around it.
Just a side note...while the students went to Lowes, Mickey and I went to Target. It was necessary trip - for some "necessities"! Mickey forgot unmentionables and I forgot PJ's! Some other folks forgot other things such as shampoo and body wash. We also realized that water was not provided by MLab and that it was most definitely a necessity. It was a two story Target, a new experience for these old small town people. First we discovered the elevator that was designed to carry not only us, but our cart also. We quickly discovered the escalator, which had a nifty cart carrier attached to it, as well. It was so much fun that although we didn't intentionally have to make two more trips upstairs, we were a little giddy with the option.
Tuesday afternoon was very interesting. The Worship Project was taken to a Juvenile Detention Center which housed young men in the age range of many of our students. Some of the wards of the center were there for a short stay and others were there for the duration of their teenage years. We pulled up at the front of the building and sat in our vans waiting to enter the locked down facility to begin setting up in their gym. The students had to surrender their personal ID's and leave everything electronic, as well as bags in the vans. Finally, the guard came to the walk in gate and we filed in single file to the location where we would begin making ready for delivery of the Worship Project. Mickey and Greg had to be led to a back gate where the van and trailer and Yukon were ushered inside. They were asked at one point to move the vehicles further away from the razor wire fence as a security precaution. The guards were concerned that an inmate might try to escape via the top of the van and over the fence. The atmosphere in the building was less than exciting and the captive audience not so much engaged, however, the message of the Worship Project is simple and clear and just to be in the room, I am sure that someone caught the idea and a seed was planted. The students did an excellent job in a difficult situation. They were all very glad to be able to leave and to know that freedom for them was just a key turn away. Our vehicles which were inside the securely locked gates waited as a guard attempted to unlock and free us without success. Mickey, who was walking, was asked to help turn the key - a humorous moment and picture opportunity - however, another guard had to be called and finally we were free to go. We were late for supper but made it just before the closing of the cafeteria. We just had time to clean up and make it for worship.
Wednesday, the Excite BYBC was not meeting and we needed to find another project to do. With the help of the MLab site coordinator, we received another assignment. We were asked to help clean up a yard in the lower 9th Ward, the area of the city where the flooding from Katrina had been most devastating. It is 4 years since Katrina invaded New Orleans and the levies broke and the lasting effect is still overwhelming. As we traveled to the 9th ward, we saw the results first hand. On many of the still standing yet totaled homes were big X's. Some of them had numbers on them, some had words written indicating a pet was found inside, some were marked with TFW (toxic flood waters or totalled by flood waters), and yet others were big red X's indicating that a body had been found in the house. There were a few rebuilt and remodeled homes sprinkled in among the devastated neighborhood, but still so many that had been completely ruined by the hurricane and flood that followed yet standing. The yards of many of those unoccupied homes were just as they had been left the day of the flood. The grass and weeds were as tall as the house and they are a breeding ground for insects, mice, rats and vagrants. The yard that we were asked to tackle was not unlike that which I have described. An elderly lady lived next door and had no means by which to clean up the yard. We were issued rakes and gloves by MLab and then given hack saws and sling blades by the home owners association of the lower 9th Ward. The pastor and his wife who are overseers were very grateful and as helpful as possible. The group began working on the yard, hacking and slinging and pulling and picking up trash. Everything had to be put in the street for pick up because the city will not go on to private property. Many of the homes were abandoned and no one will ever return to clean them up or claim them. Those without flood insurance lost everything and there is no incentive to return, however, it is still private property and so the city can do nothing with those houses. Those who did have insurance had to build back on the original foundation and now are just waiting in their new homes for the next flood right next to a totaled, devastated property. It is very sad. The students and Greg worked very hard to make the property look good and in the end discovered a house behind the weeds and grass. While we were at it, we began cleaning up the front yards of two of the houses across the street. One of them was a big two story house with the front door missing. The barred storm door which was missing the glass had been chained to a whole in the door frame to prevent entry. There was a rusted little "Welcome" sign still hanging on the door. As we peered through the bars we could see the gutted out down stairs and the rotting parkay flooring which was once the entryway into some family's home. The stairway was opened up by the missing sheet rock and we could see to the second floor. It almost looked as though you could have gone up stairs and lived still - the white walls and ceiling fan. The boys, and a couple of girls, and Greg returned on Thursday afternoon to finish well. Our job was done and at least we had cleared some of the rubble left from the devastation of 4 years prior. It was a very small effort toward a massive undertaking of which New Orleans is in a desperate need. As we entered the ward we saw the new "Brad Pitt" homes which have been built with solar panels and on stilts. Although they are an oddity for this crumbling neighborhood, they are also a sign of hope. I suppose that a newly cleared lot is also a small sign of hope for those living around it.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Moments to Remember MLNO/WP Trip
We just spent an incredible week with an awesome bunch of young people from Batesville First Baptist youth group! Under the direction of Lacey and the leadership of Chase, they spent a semester learning the music of Hillsong - doing all of their own instrumentation and vocal work! Some were skeptical of their possible success but pushed through and with a lot of hard work, they were exceedingly successful! By May 31, The Worship Project was ready to debut! They exploded into the summer at First Baptist Church, surprising and pleasing the gathered parents and friends with their professionalism and excellence. The most critical element however, was the worship - they truly brought all who listened and observed to the Throne in an act of worship. They were, indeed, ready to take their worship event on the road and New Orleans was waiting for them. Lacey and Chase had planned a trip which would include Mission Lab of New Orleans Theological Seminary, a program which is intended to give home missions experience and opportunity for young students and their sponsors. Because of their desire to present the Worship Project as a part of their trip, Mission Lab set up opportunities around New Orleans as a part of their plan.
Following the early morning service at First Baptist, 30 people (22 young people and 8 sponsor/leaders) set out for a long drive from Batesville to New Orleans, with high expectations. Little did we know the challenges of entering another culture, climate, and life style that we would encounter and overcome by God's grace that week.
First of all, we knew the mileage when we left and knew that New Orleans was a long way from home. The trip was still new when we stopped outside of Memphis to pick up the Barnes and eat a little lunch. We were very tired, and definitely ready to arrive by the time we found the seminary and finished our registering process that evening. We got in on the end of the first Worship session and to our surprise were asked to follow a staffer from Mission Lab to the student center! IT WAS SO FAR...and we were walking! Mickey and I decided at the last moment to ditch our Hotel room and opted to stay with the rest of the "trippers" when we discovered that it would be possible. We all gathered in our designated room for "church time" - the last time I actually saw that room that week...but we did indeed experience "church time" again through working together and sharing our hearts.
What a great, pleasant surprise that our mattresses were new and very comfortable! Our rooms were clean and adequate. The showers were a little cramped and I am convinced that a do-do must design those things...come on, couldn't you design them for a little more privacy and convenience? Anyway, other than the very loud flushing toilets and the room doors with slats (which allowed even whispers to escape down the hall), our home for the week was nice. I thought the food was actually excellent...well, it began that way, any way. By the end of the week, my daily breakfast was grits with Splenda (VERY GOOD...I don't care what you say!) and a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios along with a diet coke. I tried the bacon and sausage and they just tasted like someone had sliced them straight off the pig and served them...the eggs were powdered, I'm sure. Lunch every day was a good old ham sandwich on white or wheat, depending on what was left (was there also turkey?) a package of mayo or mustard, a bag of chips and a cookie. Every day. Until we got smart enough to do something about it, the drinks were hot - and really not enough variety to please everyone - but we survived. We had our lunch on the sidewalk in front of the dorms under the shade trees. It was really too hot for us to care much about what we were eating. No one complained. Supper was really pretty tasty. Chicken strips, spaghetti, red beans and rice, chicken alfredo and noodles...not bad. One night everyone went to the Dairy Queen for ice cream...that was fun to watch. On Friday night, we ate at the French Quarter - I think everyone had beniets - even me!
Before telling about the exciting days of ministry, I just have to devote some time to how God protected our group. The trip to New Orleans was fairly routine - no big bobbles or loop de loops. Mickey and Greg drove the whole way, pulling trailers and Alison spotted me in the Yukon. It was an incredibly long day and we were very tired by the time we saw the red full moon over Lake Pontchartrain. That we made it safely, with no major incidents was an amazing act of God in itself. We wandered around in New Orleans some during the week, not knowing where we were going exactly. The caravan, however, was able to stay together and made it through the many stop lights and turnabouts without too much hastle. Everyone was sun burned and a few people got blisters and minor cuts, but no trips to the hospital. Good health, for those of us with some issues, was well maintained. We were made keenly aware of a phobia that Alison has while on the trip. Alison was driving to the correctional facility as we entered the Huey P. Long bridge. She had said earlier that she didn't like bridges and so we all became a little anxious for her. This bridge was the highest, longest and most dangerous looking bridge in New Orleans! To top it off, there was construction going on and we entered the very narrow bridge beside a bus. Alison was petrified! She sat up and held on to the steering wheel with all of her might! It turned out that the construction work was a blessing - traffic had to streamline and travel in one lane which put the bus in front of us instead of beside us. We made it across the bridge safely and I drove on the return! We were never in real danger, but the perceived danger was unnerving and God's protection was very real. The time for us to leave came with few problems and other than every day aggravations, our week had been uneventful and we had been watched over and cared for by the Father. We all loaded in the vans and Yukon and headed back to Arkansas. As we rounded the second corner, the second van "kerplunked". Greg stepped out to access the situation and got quite a surprise. As he had driven over the speed bump, the trailer had come loose from the van! Even in this moment, we recognized God's hand over us. Had he not hit a speed bump, we might have discovered the loose trailer on the interstate and it could have been a tragedy. This says something for speed bumps in our way, doesn't it? It could have only been God's protection. The long trip home finally began. We were nearing lunch time and planned to stop soon. The trip had been uneventful and everyone was tired enough to sleep - well, except for Mickey's van, who were bored enough to play "hide-n-seek" in the van (don't ask, I don't know). Suddenly everything went wrong. I could see a white car ahead, stopped dead still on the interstate and Greg was sliding toward it. The car which had gotten in between us was throwing on its brakes and I was pumping mine, thinking about how I could get out of Mickey's way to give him more room while watching him swerving, smoking and breaking in my side mirror. There was no possible way that we would all come out of this unscathed. But we did! Praise the Lord! No damage, no injuries came from any vehicle involved in the potential pile up. The students on Mickey's van said he was literally standing up on his brake! Isn't our God good? We knew and felt that it was His total protection. We exited and took a much needed lunch break, looked over Mickey's tires and thanked the Lord for His watch care.
One week prior to our trip we were alerted that we would need to provide for our own Back Yard Bible Clubs. At this late hour, Bro. Gary helped to secure some materials for us. While the students spent hours practicing the Worship Project, I spent an unscheduled day cleaning out the resource room at the church in an effort to see what we could use for crafts that would be cost effective. This was important because we really had no money allocated for this part of the trip. To my delight, I found a lot of left-overs from Vacation Bible School the following year and used my years of pre-school experience to develop some ideas using the available materials. On Wednesday before we left the curriculum that Bro. Gary had ordered came in. I went to work, editing and planning out days of what I hoped would be flexible material to meet our need in any situation. I thought it was really good material and would work well for what we needed. Our students complied with my request that each of them get a costume and play a part in the on going dramas that we would present to the children. They each brought a small blanket or towel to use for sitting on the ground. I think that everyone kept up with their own packet which included a script and information to help with the daily Bible Verse and craft that we would use. These young people are amazing. For five years, many of them have been involved with Terrific Tuesdays at our church. It is a free morning event, offered to the community's families for children 4 years through 5th grade, every Tuesday. The students work the program leading the children in games, crafts, music and Bible stories. Terrific Tuesdays served them well on this trip. We really didn't have a lot of information about the places that we would be leading in a Back Yard Bible Club, so we knew that to be flexible would be important. (Put your index finger out and move it down and out and back in...our sign for flexibility for the week). One of the groups would be at an indoor location working with a community based program with the children already gathered and ready to begin. The other group would have to gather their children by going door to door and would have a vacant lot to meet in. Both places presented their own challenges, but the empty lot group definitely had to stretch themselves and be more creative and flexible.
The community based camp, "Excite", was held in an air conditioned building with two available rooms for us to use. They also had a canopy set up in a small grassy field across their parking lot which was great for early gatherings, snacks, and games. Mrs. Penny and Mr. Jerrold were the directors of the program and were very cooperative and helpful. The children were already divided into three groups by age when we arrived. The big surprise for us, was older children - tweenagers. The students each took a group to lead and developed relationships with them quickly. Victoria was the lead teacher for the older students and adapted so well that you would have never known that she didn't expect it. We "flew by the seat of the pants" changing the schedule and adapting to the unexpected arrangement of the rooms. Quickly we knew that we would need to use "Matt's Place" a coffee house atmosphere and the room the middle age group of children used for crafts and Bible verse learning, as our large group gathering where we would do our dramas and our music. My biggest surprise was that we discovered a stand up comedian among us. I had asked Spencer Barnes to play the on-going part of Paul and Zach Smith to play the part of his Roman guard. The first day we were all left in stitches and amazement at Spencer's delivery - totally relating to the children but effectively getting the message across. Zach was appropriately mean and scary and the children immediately sided with a captive Paul who was under house arrest. On the second day, Mrs. Penny told me that Wednesday was not going to work out for them, as a water slide was coming for the day. She also told me that Friday was field trip day, so we would not be needed then, either. I must admit that I was a little disappointed that we would not be able to do everything we planned with the children, but put up my finger and flexed. This meant that we would be available for some other mission for two mornings, but what that would be, we didn't know. On Thursday, our last day with the children, we decided to do all of the dramas for Day 3, 4 and 5 and all of the Paul and Brutus skits as well. We also brought along a couple of guitars and the djembe drum to sing a couple of Worship Project songs for the children. All through the week, the students stepped up. They taught songs they didn't even know themselves, loved on the children, maintained order - even through the fire ant attack - and pulled out games and songs from their past T-squared experience. The children and the directors were happy and grateful.
Although I wasn't at the other BYBC site, I realize they were the real heroes of the week. They had to "find" their children. It wasn't easy and keeping the ones they found was hard, too. Many of the children they had attend were very young - preschool age. They found their vacant lot and found a disappointing surprise. It was a small grassy lot (too grassy - needed to be mowed) with sticks, glass, and trash on it, sandwiched in between two houses. They were blessed by the gracious people who lived in one of the houses who offered their tiny front porch as a shade from the blistering heat. Each day they would go expecting more children. Each day they would go and there would be different children, most of whom would come and go through out the morning. It was hot and it was hard, but the students and leaders were consistent and loving and flexible. They lost balls under the house and gave away the rec equipment as the children left. These children of the 7th Ward lived in poverty and came from homes that are surrounded by crime and the threat of disease and devastation. It was an honor to send them home with a craft and with a new ball or hoola hoop or jump rope and with a glimmer of hope that someone cares.
I must stop here and publish and post...I will continue this blog at another time...so much more to tell.
Following the early morning service at First Baptist, 30 people (22 young people and 8 sponsor/leaders) set out for a long drive from Batesville to New Orleans, with high expectations. Little did we know the challenges of entering another culture, climate, and life style that we would encounter and overcome by God's grace that week.
First of all, we knew the mileage when we left and knew that New Orleans was a long way from home. The trip was still new when we stopped outside of Memphis to pick up the Barnes and eat a little lunch. We were very tired, and definitely ready to arrive by the time we found the seminary and finished our registering process that evening. We got in on the end of the first Worship session and to our surprise were asked to follow a staffer from Mission Lab to the student center! IT WAS SO FAR...and we were walking! Mickey and I decided at the last moment to ditch our Hotel room and opted to stay with the rest of the "trippers" when we discovered that it would be possible. We all gathered in our designated room for "church time" - the last time I actually saw that room that week...but we did indeed experience "church time" again through working together and sharing our hearts.
What a great, pleasant surprise that our mattresses were new and very comfortable! Our rooms were clean and adequate. The showers were a little cramped and I am convinced that a do-do must design those things...come on, couldn't you design them for a little more privacy and convenience? Anyway, other than the very loud flushing toilets and the room doors with slats (which allowed even whispers to escape down the hall), our home for the week was nice. I thought the food was actually excellent...well, it began that way, any way. By the end of the week, my daily breakfast was grits with Splenda (VERY GOOD...I don't care what you say!) and a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios along with a diet coke. I tried the bacon and sausage and they just tasted like someone had sliced them straight off the pig and served them...the eggs were powdered, I'm sure. Lunch every day was a good old ham sandwich on white or wheat, depending on what was left (was there also turkey?) a package of mayo or mustard, a bag of chips and a cookie. Every day. Until we got smart enough to do something about it, the drinks were hot - and really not enough variety to please everyone - but we survived. We had our lunch on the sidewalk in front of the dorms under the shade trees. It was really too hot for us to care much about what we were eating. No one complained. Supper was really pretty tasty. Chicken strips, spaghetti, red beans and rice, chicken alfredo and noodles...not bad. One night everyone went to the Dairy Queen for ice cream...that was fun to watch. On Friday night, we ate at the French Quarter - I think everyone had beniets - even me!
Before telling about the exciting days of ministry, I just have to devote some time to how God protected our group. The trip to New Orleans was fairly routine - no big bobbles or loop de loops. Mickey and Greg drove the whole way, pulling trailers and Alison spotted me in the Yukon. It was an incredibly long day and we were very tired by the time we saw the red full moon over Lake Pontchartrain. That we made it safely, with no major incidents was an amazing act of God in itself. We wandered around in New Orleans some during the week, not knowing where we were going exactly. The caravan, however, was able to stay together and made it through the many stop lights and turnabouts without too much hastle. Everyone was sun burned and a few people got blisters and minor cuts, but no trips to the hospital. Good health, for those of us with some issues, was well maintained. We were made keenly aware of a phobia that Alison has while on the trip. Alison was driving to the correctional facility as we entered the Huey P. Long bridge. She had said earlier that she didn't like bridges and so we all became a little anxious for her. This bridge was the highest, longest and most dangerous looking bridge in New Orleans! To top it off, there was construction going on and we entered the very narrow bridge beside a bus. Alison was petrified! She sat up and held on to the steering wheel with all of her might! It turned out that the construction work was a blessing - traffic had to streamline and travel in one lane which put the bus in front of us instead of beside us. We made it across the bridge safely and I drove on the return! We were never in real danger, but the perceived danger was unnerving and God's protection was very real. The time for us to leave came with few problems and other than every day aggravations, our week had been uneventful and we had been watched over and cared for by the Father. We all loaded in the vans and Yukon and headed back to Arkansas. As we rounded the second corner, the second van "kerplunked". Greg stepped out to access the situation and got quite a surprise. As he had driven over the speed bump, the trailer had come loose from the van! Even in this moment, we recognized God's hand over us. Had he not hit a speed bump, we might have discovered the loose trailer on the interstate and it could have been a tragedy. This says something for speed bumps in our way, doesn't it? It could have only been God's protection. The long trip home finally began. We were nearing lunch time and planned to stop soon. The trip had been uneventful and everyone was tired enough to sleep - well, except for Mickey's van, who were bored enough to play "hide-n-seek" in the van (don't ask, I don't know). Suddenly everything went wrong. I could see a white car ahead, stopped dead still on the interstate and Greg was sliding toward it. The car which had gotten in between us was throwing on its brakes and I was pumping mine, thinking about how I could get out of Mickey's way to give him more room while watching him swerving, smoking and breaking in my side mirror. There was no possible way that we would all come out of this unscathed. But we did! Praise the Lord! No damage, no injuries came from any vehicle involved in the potential pile up. The students on Mickey's van said he was literally standing up on his brake! Isn't our God good? We knew and felt that it was His total protection. We exited and took a much needed lunch break, looked over Mickey's tires and thanked the Lord for His watch care.
One week prior to our trip we were alerted that we would need to provide for our own Back Yard Bible Clubs. At this late hour, Bro. Gary helped to secure some materials for us. While the students spent hours practicing the Worship Project, I spent an unscheduled day cleaning out the resource room at the church in an effort to see what we could use for crafts that would be cost effective. This was important because we really had no money allocated for this part of the trip. To my delight, I found a lot of left-overs from Vacation Bible School the following year and used my years of pre-school experience to develop some ideas using the available materials. On Wednesday before we left the curriculum that Bro. Gary had ordered came in. I went to work, editing and planning out days of what I hoped would be flexible material to meet our need in any situation. I thought it was really good material and would work well for what we needed. Our students complied with my request that each of them get a costume and play a part in the on going dramas that we would present to the children. They each brought a small blanket or towel to use for sitting on the ground. I think that everyone kept up with their own packet which included a script and information to help with the daily Bible Verse and craft that we would use. These young people are amazing. For five years, many of them have been involved with Terrific Tuesdays at our church. It is a free morning event, offered to the community's families for children 4 years through 5th grade, every Tuesday. The students work the program leading the children in games, crafts, music and Bible stories. Terrific Tuesdays served them well on this trip. We really didn't have a lot of information about the places that we would be leading in a Back Yard Bible Club, so we knew that to be flexible would be important. (Put your index finger out and move it down and out and back in...our sign for flexibility for the week). One of the groups would be at an indoor location working with a community based program with the children already gathered and ready to begin. The other group would have to gather their children by going door to door and would have a vacant lot to meet in. Both places presented their own challenges, but the empty lot group definitely had to stretch themselves and be more creative and flexible.
The community based camp, "Excite", was held in an air conditioned building with two available rooms for us to use. They also had a canopy set up in a small grassy field across their parking lot which was great for early gatherings, snacks, and games. Mrs. Penny and Mr. Jerrold were the directors of the program and were very cooperative and helpful. The children were already divided into three groups by age when we arrived. The big surprise for us, was older children - tweenagers. The students each took a group to lead and developed relationships with them quickly. Victoria was the lead teacher for the older students and adapted so well that you would have never known that she didn't expect it. We "flew by the seat of the pants" changing the schedule and adapting to the unexpected arrangement of the rooms. Quickly we knew that we would need to use "Matt's Place" a coffee house atmosphere and the room the middle age group of children used for crafts and Bible verse learning, as our large group gathering where we would do our dramas and our music. My biggest surprise was that we discovered a stand up comedian among us. I had asked Spencer Barnes to play the on-going part of Paul and Zach Smith to play the part of his Roman guard. The first day we were all left in stitches and amazement at Spencer's delivery - totally relating to the children but effectively getting the message across. Zach was appropriately mean and scary and the children immediately sided with a captive Paul who was under house arrest. On the second day, Mrs. Penny told me that Wednesday was not going to work out for them, as a water slide was coming for the day. She also told me that Friday was field trip day, so we would not be needed then, either. I must admit that I was a little disappointed that we would not be able to do everything we planned with the children, but put up my finger and flexed. This meant that we would be available for some other mission for two mornings, but what that would be, we didn't know. On Thursday, our last day with the children, we decided to do all of the dramas for Day 3, 4 and 5 and all of the Paul and Brutus skits as well. We also brought along a couple of guitars and the djembe drum to sing a couple of Worship Project songs for the children. All through the week, the students stepped up. They taught songs they didn't even know themselves, loved on the children, maintained order - even through the fire ant attack - and pulled out games and songs from their past T-squared experience. The children and the directors were happy and grateful.
Although I wasn't at the other BYBC site, I realize they were the real heroes of the week. They had to "find" their children. It wasn't easy and keeping the ones they found was hard, too. Many of the children they had attend were very young - preschool age. They found their vacant lot and found a disappointing surprise. It was a small grassy lot (too grassy - needed to be mowed) with sticks, glass, and trash on it, sandwiched in between two houses. They were blessed by the gracious people who lived in one of the houses who offered their tiny front porch as a shade from the blistering heat. Each day they would go expecting more children. Each day they would go and there would be different children, most of whom would come and go through out the morning. It was hot and it was hard, but the students and leaders were consistent and loving and flexible. They lost balls under the house and gave away the rec equipment as the children left. These children of the 7th Ward lived in poverty and came from homes that are surrounded by crime and the threat of disease and devastation. It was an honor to send them home with a craft and with a new ball or hoola hoop or jump rope and with a glimmer of hope that someone cares.
I must stop here and publish and post...I will continue this blog at another time...so much more to tell.
Friday, June 05, 2009
"Free as a Bird!"
Today was Mickey's last day in the secular world - working that is. His company no longer has the need for his services and in a world gone mad and an economy that is stinky - there was not much he could have done about that. Here we are at 52 years of age, having been married for very close - in one week and a half - to 31 years, and facing a new horizon. It is exciting and amazing, if I can just remember to breathe! It is very strange to have no real plan. A few weeks ago I was reading in the Perspectives Reader and there was an article that helped me form a clear understanding of where God wants us to be. The article said that in general, we all would like to have a map, while on the journey, but God provides us with a compass. The compass is His Word. I would like to add that not only do we have a compass, we have a personal Guide - the Holy Spirit, who was present at the creation of the Universe! He knows all! The article reminded the reader that a map can only take you as far as another has gone, with a compass you can go outside the boundaries of a map into uncharted territory. So...that is where we are - in uncharted territory! The page is blank. I can't wait to see how God shows up and where He is going to guide us. Two things...a couple of years ago, I believe he alerted my heart to "expect big things" and I have been praying for a power encounter that I can be a part of - to see Him show up in an unusual way and be aware that it is only the work of His hands. My heart is becoming more and more tendered toward the lost...I weep for them. I pray for divine appointments. God has now freed up my partner to live life dangerously for Him, so here we go!!
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