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Mission
Trip
New Orleans, July 2007
When I went to the first meeting about the
mission trip I was inspired. I saw pictures and heard stories of people
who really needed our help. I decided I would ask my Director if I could
rearrange my work schedule so I could join the group. I must admit though,
as the months and days drew closer I began to wonder about the sensibility
of my choice. Fitting this trip in was going to be stressful, but I kept
telling myself every time I started to fret, to remember what inspired me
in the first place, and when it was all over, that I would be glad that
I went.
I don’t think the true impact of what we did those hot days
in Louisiana really came into perspective for me until we were driving
back. As we drove along, I continued to look out the window expecting
to see homes and businesses still abandoned and emblazoned with the tell
tale red X showing that a building had been searched. It made me realize
how wide spread he damage was, because I had gotten so used to seeing the
effects of Katrina for miles around, almost everywhere we went.
Everyday for three of the days we were there, I went past a school
that they were finally trying to put together again so children could once
again play on the playgrounds and fill the classrooms, and sat in the car
with the a/c blasting at lunchtime under the shade of trees in an abandoned
medical complex. A couple of trucks were just beginning to do some work
there. A Rite Aide had a sign “we’re open in the trailer”, and many buildings
still showed evidence of how high the water had been, about four feet in
this particular area. It reminded me very much of when we had the unfortunate
occasion to visit Orlando the day after hurricane Charlie hit. That was
days following a hurricane, and already life was getting back to normal
for most - I remember a sign there stating, “We may be ugly, but we’re
open” – But this was not a few days, it has been two years, and still the
cleanup continues. Some people will probably never return to that area.
Knowing that Lutheran Disaster Response plans on being there another 8 -10
years speaks to the enormity of the work to be done.
Knowing all this, what struck me most was the friendliness and resilience
of the people that we met. The ones I spoke to weren’t bitter, just thankful
for what they did have, and amazed by the fact that people would use their
valuable vacation time helping them. I saw one family sitting outside their
FEMA trailer in the 9th ward on the concrete slab of what was once their
house, having a barbeque, children playing ball. Life goes on.
I heard stories every evening as I lead small group devotions
about where we had seen God that day – believe me, He was everywhere!
I personally saw God daily in the staff at the camp we stayed at, Camp
Atonement. They’ve made a commitment to be there no matter what, day after
day teaching and re- teaching and telling and re-telling what needs to
be done and how it needs to be done- and almost always with a smile, and
always with patience. I also saw God in everyone in our group. Everyday
we put in hours of hard work and sweat,(and boy did we sweat) and for the
most part, actually enjoyed it! God had to have a hand in that. Anyone who
thinks or says that teenagers are lazy has never seen this group.
Leaving the site I worked at was hard because I felt and wished I
could have done more. There’s so much to do, it seemed like just a drop
in a very large bucket. When I really think about it though, the work we
did collectively as a group did make a difference, not only in the lives
of those we helped, but in our lives too.
When I arrived home, I tried to share my story with someone I knew,
but they were way too absorbed in what was going on in their life to even
begin to think or understand about my experience in New Orleans. It was
quickly brushed away so they could talk about something else. I walked
away thinking, how sad, they just don’t get it. We expect the government,
or at least “somebody else”, to take care of it, we are just too busy,
with way too much going on in our own lives. I myself almost fell into this
trap. I’m so glad I talked myself into going, because just as I thought,
now that it’s all over…..I’m glad I went.
- Carol Genalo
If you were part of the Mission Trip and have a
story you'd like to share,
please e-mail Bonny McCabe.
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