Where He leads...: 2007

Today some of us from the office, along with four people from the local church and community set out for the Claiborne and Canal underpass and Duncan Plaza to feed the homeless. We took with us 250 bottles of water, 250 bananas, sandwiches and hot soup.

We set up camp at our first destination and many of them came to us for nourishment. Near the end of our time under the overpass I was glancing around to see about recruiting others to come over for a bite. There was a whole ‘nother area of people, but I kept looking at one man sitting alone across the street. My friend remarked that he could come over and get it if he was hungry, but I reminded him that pride can still be involved, even when you truly desire what people are offering. Besides, it was no big deal for me to just hop across the street, food in hand. So that’s what I did.

“Are you hungry?” I said as I plopped down beside him, sitting cross-legged.

“Sure!” I asked what his name was and I think he said “E.J.”, then he simply said “Earl”.

“Hi, Earl… I’m Hannah”. All the shapes and colors of his teeth smiled back at me his “pleased to meet you”.

“You from this area?” I asked.

“Born and raised!” he smiled again. “Where are you from?” he asked me with sincerity. I told him where I lived in East Tennessee, with the mountains and all. “Beautiful, isn’t it?” Earl replied.

By this time I was enjoying myself. Well, I’d say I was already enjoying myself when I started to head over to Earl sitting there alone. But he was a warm man… such a sincere smile.

He told me he was waiting for someone to pick him up so he could go to an appointment about receiving food stamps. He didn’t have bags with him like most who were sitting under the underpass. Nonetheless, I doubted the living conditions and job security Earl’s currently facing.

I asked about his family and if he’d be seeing them over the holidays. He said yes and lit up again, clearly looking forward to visiting with his family over Christmas.

Before I left I asked if I could pray with him about his appointment today—that it would go well—and also that he would have a safe and blessed trip to visit his family.

He said yes, so I did.

When I finished and before I could raise my head back up all the way, he caught my eye to ask, “What religion are you?”

“I’m a Christian.” I replied, then added, “I believe in Jesus!”

“I do too,” he said proudly, explaining that he grew up in a Catholic church but that he’s come to disbelieve some things about that religion. But the one true God… he believed in Him.

I probed further. “Do you believe that Jesus was the Son of God?”

Earl shook his head and added, “Yes”.

“Do you believe that Jesus came to Earth to die for our sins? So that we might live eternally with Him?”

Another emphatic “yes”.

“Do you believe you will go to Heaven when you die?”

With this question, his mood changed. I realized there was no confident “yes” to follow. Questions formed in his eyes and he opened his mouth to speak but nothing was uttered.

So I backtracked… I returned to the previous two questions, elaborating a bit about Jesus coming to Earth to die for our sins, raising to life again, so that we may have life through Him—forever! Earl listened intently. I again asked him if he believed those things. Again, he confirmed that he did. I told him that he could have assurance of his faith in Christ and God’s redeeming love by entering into a relationship with God through grace by faith. Earl wanted that. He wanted the peace of knowing with confidence that he would spend eternity in Heaven.

I told him that he could enter into this relationship with God by prayer.

“I don’t know how to pray,” Earl confessed.

“Do you know how to have a conversation with someone?”

“Yes,” Earl proudly replied.

“Well then you know how to pray!” I declared.

“I talk to God every night,” he shared.

“That’s prayer. Talking to God. Sharing with him about your day, your needs, your love for Him… Earl, do believe that you’re a sinner?”

“Yes.”

Again I repeated the questions I had before about Jesus being God’s son and coming to Earth to die for our sins. Again Earl believed.

“Do you want to follow whatever plans God has for your life?”

“Yes!” Earl’s entire body nodded.

“Would you like to pray to enter into that relationship with God?”

Earl hung his head. “I don’t know what to pray.”

“Would you like for me to pray with you? You can repeat after me.”

Earl agreed. And he repeated after me, not just words, but utterances of faith that I believe have the power to change a life for eternity.

After praying, Earl looked up excitedly, rubbing his chest. “I feel good!”

Indeed, Earl had reason to feel good. He is a child of God, ready and fit for the Kingdom of God because of the saving grace of the blood of Jesus. There’s not a more incredible feeling in the whole world.

I felt pretty good too, not because of anything I did… but because one number was added to God’s Kingdom today. And mostly because I’ll get to see my brother Earl again in Heaven!

Earl had some more questions for me before I left… some things he needed to settle in his heart. Things like his first wife who committed suicide. This subject hitting close to home, I firmly told him what the Bible says and I could see peace and reassurance and hope come back to him.

I offered Earl his first test of faith, “So tomorrow, will you still have confidence that if you were to die you would go to Heaven?”

”Yes!” Earl boldly declared.

“And next week?”

“Yes!”

“And next year?”

“Yes!”

“Good,” I confirmed. “Now as soon as you can, I want you to get your hands on a Bible. Like I said, prayer is you talking to God—uttering your praise and petitions to Him. But guess what? God wants to speak back to you! And one way He does that is through His living Word! The Bible! The Bible contains God’s words for your life!”

Earl agreed that he would find a Bible to read. I told him that if I ever saw him again I would for sure get him one. I’m still kicking myself I didn’t settle with him some way to definitely get him a Bible. Guess I was too excited about my new brother in Christ to think clearly!

I will trust God to take care of Earl. He’s the best Father there is. Meanwhile, I got my own lesson in what it means to feed those who are hungry.

May we all believe in and celebrate the redeeming love of Jesus during the Christmas season and always. I hope this story brought joy to your heart as it did mine. Let it be a reminder that sharing our faith is but a conversation away. And for those struggling to believe, it is my prayer that God reveals His love for you and that you will open your heart to receive it.

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9

I pray that you and yours have a joyous Christmas season!! I will be traveling home to spend mine with my friends and family in East TN! I hope to see many of you!

I've already enjoyed a little piece of home this week... We've had a volunteer group from the Baptist Campus Ministry of UT-Chattanooga. I even knew one of the guys from when I went there! So it's been nice to have some fellow Tennesseans around! They've been painting at a newly sheetrocked house, cleaned up at a local AIDS residence, cooked and served meals at a homeless shelter, and will go in the morning to a children's home for kids in state custody due to neglect, abuse, or behavioral problems. What a blessing they have been to the city of New Orleans!

Thank you for your continued prayers and support. 2008 should bring some more great adventures!! Stay tuned...

Meanwhile, try this delicious recipe as my Christmas gift to you! It truly melts in your mouth... (just had my first piece 5 minutes ago!)

Pumpkin Spice Cake
from the kitchen of Dr. Rhonda Kelley

1 pkg. spice cake mix
1/2 c. salad oil
1 sm. vanilla instant pudding
1/2 c. water
1 c. canned pumpkin
1 tsp. cinnamon
3 eggs

Mix and bake in greased and floured bundt pan for 45 minutes at 350 degrees. Let stand 15 minutes. Serve with dollop of CoolWhip, sprinkle with nutmeg and powdered sugar.

Blessings today and always...

I hope each of you had a blessed Thanksgiving and had opportunity to spend time with those you love. I certainly had a great time visiting my family and friends in East TN--and even had a chance to see some of you! Thank you for your continued support and prayer even my updates are few and far between!

To catch you up and highlight a couple ministry opportunities I've had...

I'm still working as the Site Coordinator for MissionLab. Since we don't have a lot of groups coming during the winter months, most of my time is spent getting organized and ready for a busy Spring and Summer.

In early November, I had the opportunity to volunteer with Global Maritime Ministries. One of the main focuses of Global Maritime is as an outreach to seaman and cruise ship crew members. For examples, on a typical cruise ship, there could be 900 crew members--the majority of whom are from other countries. Global Maritime has a wonderful facility for hanging out, making phone calls, using the internet, and even facilitates airport and Walmart runs. I had fun playing foosball with a guy from Peru and then visited with a few guys from India. One guy was the ship's pastry chef. He is married and serves as the primary breadwinner for his family of five--his wife, siblings, and aging parents. He's apart from his family for 9 months at a time. He's a Buddhist, and was open to religious discussions. He spoke of the beauty of his country and city, and how it is a melting pot of multiple ethnicities and religions--and how neighbors are truly neighbors, despite their different views and backgrounds.

The Saturday before Thanksgiving I volunteers at a Thanksgiving banquet for the homeless at the New Orleans Mission. Instead of having a buffet style serving line, we set places (with menus!) for each individual. All were served turkey but they had a choice of various side dishes and desserts. Many commented that the meal made them feel special, as was the intention. They felt valued as servers took their orders and waited on them. It was a great experience, and they are certainly a group of people to be remembered and prayed for during the holidays... especially as the cold winter months approach. I'm sure many of them have precious memories of the holiday season... now their lives have taken them to a much different place...

In the coming months I will be reestablishing relationships with ministries and organizations around the New Orleans area so that we can partner with them as our new wave of volunteers come to the city. If you've got a group from your church or ministry that would be interested in serving with the above mentioned (or other) ministries in New Orleans, contact me so I can send you more information. I'd certainly love to see you! More importantly, I believe God has special tasks for each of us that lie outside our hometown and/or our comfort zones. Maybe He has something for you to do in New Orleans.

One great thing about living in New Orleans is having the opportunity to take some interesting classes here at the seminary. I was reading for class last week and came to a section in the book concerning God's call and receiving daily guidance from Him. Both of those are crucial throughout my walk with the Lord, and I've had numerous discussions with some of my friends about this very subject. So mostly this posting is for those individuals who have questioned me about knowing God's will and receiving His guidance. The words below are not my words, but the words of Thomas Hale, the author of On Being a Missionary. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in missions or even anyone who just wants to go deeper with your faith, to explore issues you may not have considered before.

There are certainly many books and publications that speak of how to discern God's will. This is just one source among those. I like it because it is clear and succinct. His bluntness on the matter challenges me. Maybe you will gain something of worth from it as well.

An excerpt taken from:
Hale, Thomas. On Being a Missionary. Pasadena: William Carey Library, 1995.

Many [Christians] have trouble with this matter of guidance. They say they're not getting clear signals from God; they're confused. In a few cases, the problem is one of patience: they are hurrying God. But in the majority of cases the problem is that they don't really want to do God's will above all. They haven't yielded themselves to God; they're holding back. They are putting conditions on their service. "I'll do anything, God, but... I'll go anywhere, God, but..."

Sure, maybe they don't want to do "that" or go "there". Maybe God doesn't want them to either. But God isn't going to show them what He wants until they have removed all conditions and reservations from their offer of service.

So, how to receive guidance?

First, present to God your body, your total self.

Second, choose to know God's will.

Third, promise God you'll do it. Knowing it is not enough.

Fourth, be obedient to what you know is God's will right now.

Fifth, listen to the Holy Spirit. If we don't listen, He won't lead.

As long as we do these things, God will unfailingly lead us step by step. If we obey God where His will is obvious, we will discern His will in areas that are not so obvious. Jesus said, "Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness" (John 8:12).

If you are not "getting through" to God, it is most likely because you haven't fully yielded your life to him. As long as that situation persists, you will not get clear guidance, must less a clear call. You will never have the confidence you are in God's will.

Praying for guidance isn't a matter of asking God to bless plans you have already made. It's a matter of saying to God, "I want your plan." And remember, God may reveal no more of His plan than you need for today. We keep worrying about the future—what we'll do after our training, for example. God says, "I want you to do my will today." It makes no sense to pray about God's will for our future if we are ignoring His will for our present.

Funny, but for those who are totally yielded to God, discerning His will isn't such a big thing. It's only when our will gets in the way that we have to "struggle" to know God's will.

Are some worried that they might get out ahead of God, misread His call, and dash off to Nepal or wherever by mistake? Yes, it may be possible, but not common. For every person who jumps the gun on God, there are ten people who don't get off the starting life. Don't worry so much about making a mistake. God can easily stop you. His problem is starting you. You can't wait until you're "absolutely sure" of God's leading, or you'll never move. Christians "live by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7).

A good friend of mine died last night, and yet I'm having trouble convincing myself that he is actually dead—that he is no longer on this earth.

I guess that's what it's like whenever you are separated by distance. Someone you may only see once a year, when gone, your life eerily goes on as before. You wouldn't have expected to see them tomorrow anyways, but you had assumed you would see them again.

It's not like the situation with Tiffany's friend, Darrell, a man she worked with and saw regularly from 9-5. A man who she notices daily is no longer around. A man she misses. A friend she admired.

With Bob—my friend—I am having trouble convincing myself he's gone.

I'm sure that his wife is not having this trouble.

No, his wife is having troubles of a different kind. The trouble of realizing every second of every minute that he is not there—that he is not coming back. The trouble of remembering her last moments with him—perhaps as he walked out the door for a routine errand, telling her he will see her in a couple of hours. The trouble, that despite her peace of knowing he is in a better place, she will have no more days on this earth with the man, the love of her life, that she has spent the past several decades with—by his side and no other.

I'm sad for this loss. My friend who every time I would visit West Tennessee, I'd have the blessing of meeting him and his wife, Geraldine, at McDonald's—my granddaddy's social hotspot. Bob and Geraldine would walk in, smiles beaming to see me. To see the changes life has brought me and to hear about my latest adventures. Bob would give me a hug, a kiss on the cheek, and call me his girlfriend. He would brag on his grandkids and show me a photo he kept in his wallet of "his Hannah", his beloved sister who had passed away years before. I never met her, but if she was anything like her younger brother, what a gem I'm certain she was.

I miss my friend. I don't like it when God takes a life from this earth unexpectedly. It's too difficult for my mind to comprehend the reasoning behind that. But I know… I truly know… that I must trust God. To find peace in knowing that God is sovereign, that He is in control, and that He doesn't make mistakes. Does that make it any easier? Not really. But I can thank God for allowing me the years of knowing Bob since I was a little girl. Growing up with an extra grandpa who supported me, encouraged me, prayed for me, and loved me.

He would have spent today with my granddaddy. They had made plans to see the air show, something they had done years before and enjoyed so much. I guess Bob had an air show of his own—a meeting not with planes or pilots, but with the One who created Him and who does all things by His perfect timing. I trust that God welcomed Him last night with open arms, much in the same way as Bob always welcomed me.

"We forget how precious each day is and how it can all be over so quick. Our faith in a better life, that Our Lord has promised, sustains us, but our memories are real and long lasting. I know that I will try to be thankful for each day and to see the best in others." – George Younger, my granddaddy

Although I am unsure of when Summer officially ends, as far as I'm concerned… Summer is over! Aside from the blazing heat that still remains here in New Orleans, Summer MissionLab has completed its course for 2007 and I am back to a more reasonable pace of life. Don't get me wrong, these past few months have been incredible. Seeing those young people accomplish so much through their God-given strength and talents was a tremendous blessing and source of encouragement to me and the rest of the team. God will always move in miraculous ways when people choose to surrender their time for His mission. Everyone who came to New Orleans on mission could have been enjoying their summer in a number of other ways, yet they chose to be a part of what God is continuing to do in this city.

So what is God doing in New Orleans? Plenty!

Just this past weekend nearly 400 individuals united in prayer during a conference called Out of Range. We had an amazing time of worship and study of God's Word as we were reminded not about the power of prayer, but of the awesome power of the God to whom we pray! We were led in worship by the Andrew Ogea Band, Leeland, and speaker Dr. David Platt. Saturday afternoon groups went out across the city, saturating the streets with prayer. During that time, I had the privilege of packing a 15 passenger van with helping hands and about 75 leftover Chick-fil-A boxed lunches and cold drinks. We drove down Broad Street for about an hour, passing them out to families spending the afternoon on their front porch, construction workers weary from their labor, passers-by curious as to what we were doing, and we finished up at a carwash packed with shiny vehicles and hungry bellies.

I am excited for the fall because I finally feel settled into my life and ministry here. MissionLab is slowing down some for a few months in terms of volunteer groups coming from out of town. I will stay busy, however, as I feel God calling me to pursue ways to connect local churches and students with the continuing rebuilding efforts in New Orleans. There are also several opportunities for me to plug into some other great ministries throughout the city. HIMnI, a once-a-month young adult worship gathering, is one example (www.himni.org). Meanwhile, our staff will be busy reorganizing and re-strategizing for MissionLab 2008. I'll even be traveling some, setting up booths to promote the MissionLab program. I'll be in Arlington, TX in October and Alexandria, LA in November. Beginning in February, we will be launching the MissionLab Your Glory Tour where we take our staff and the Andrew Ogea Band to churches across the U.S. to assist them in hosting a "MissionLab" in their hometown with other churches in their area. If your church would like information about hosting your own MissionLab weekend, please send me a request and I'll forward along the basic info. I'd certainly love to come for a visit!!

As you may know, today marks the 2nd anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's landfall on the Gulf Coast. With its destructive 145 mph winds and powerful storm surge, Katrina drowned 80% of the city of New Orleans, killing over 1500 people in Louisiana alone, leaving behind $82.2 billion dollars of damage. NOBTS, the seminary, is hosting a work day today and hundreds of students and faculty will be scattered throughout the city rebuilding, evangelizing, and so on. I'll be leading a gutting team. My favorite! Please continue to pray with me today, and throughout the days ahead, that residents here will remain strong in their struggle to rebuild. Pray for the Christians here that we will be bold in our testimony of faith in Jesus Christ as we encounter those who've rejected Him, who are living without Him, and some who have never even heard of Him. Pray that God would continue to send people to this city and other areas of this world in need of humanitarian efforts and most importantly, in need of God's love. And finally, as I learned this past weekend, pray to God because you long to spend time with Him... to sit quietly with Him as His glory surrounds you… humbled by the very fact that you can approach Him boldly. He knows us. He sympathizes with our needs. And He will stretch out His arms of mercy and grace to help us. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

Thanks for your continued support. Keep me posted on what's going on in your neck of the woods and how I can be praying for you.

Peace and blessings,

Hannah

"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:14-16)

This was a piece of artwork that we designed for Out of Range. I was up for many long hours working on it with other volunteers. One day I spent 14 hours straight on my part.

It was enjoyable to be a part of its creation and it turned out well! I think Daniel 9:17-19 is now my favorite prayer in the Bible.

This was part of our prayer for the weekend. Kaitlin did the design and we helped with the frame, etc.

Simple, but I wanted to point out the artwork to the left and right. An artist from the French Quarter named Ron let us borrow those pieces for the set and on Saturday during our reflective prayer time, he designed two more “live” and donated them to the ministry. It was incredible to watch an artist at work like that and a privilege to get to meet him.

At the end of the summer I was able to come to Tennessee for a road trip with 4 of my friends I’d been working with all summer long. We had a blast hiking, canoeing, whitewater rafting, and camping.

We hiked Ramsey Cascades. It was extremely intense and next time we’ll know to bring more water!

My brother Matt came for a visit a couple weeks ago. We had a great time! Pray for him as he makes decisions for his future concerning his job and all that.

My intention this summer was to write an update for each week. Obviously that did not happen and I apologize immensely for not staying faithful to that.

A million thanks to those of you whom I know have stayed faithful in prayer for me throughout these busy weeks. Looking back, I know I couldn't have gotten by so well without those prayers. The summer has continued to be intense and extremely challenging physically, mentally, and spiritually. My heart is continually breaking for the enormous need that surrounds me here. I'm one to get easily caught up in the physical brokenness of this city… the abandoned homes that adorn every street… the unkempt yards that are now jungles… having to actually search for the sound of laughter… all signs of a city destroyed—as if it's been forgotten. In many ways, I think it has.

But as depressing and overwhelming all of that is to me, I have to continually remind myself that I'm here for a far greater purpose than swinging a hammer, hauling a wheelbarrow, and pulling weeds. My most significant purpose here isn't even to rebuild homes. I believe with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength that God has me here to be a part of the transformation of lives that is taking place throughout New Orleans. As my boss Rob reminds us each week, "God's glory is being proclaimed in this city like never before!" Hallelujah! What a wonderful place to be! I hear of—and talk to—so many who are scared to come to this place. They hear the news of the National Guard being stationed here, of the murders and crime, of the mold and mildew, and they are frozen in their life of security. They've seen the news, but have they seen the faces of those who are hurting here? Have they looked into the eyes of a woman who has lost all earthly possessions? A woman who is broken beyond description… who sits on the porch of her FEMA trailer all day long praying for a miracle… praying for someone to drive down the street with good news. Good news just this once. Maybe this is the day that something does not go wrong. That a contractor will actually keep his word and finish the job she has paid him for (unlike the last one that ran off with thousands of dollars and uninstalled sheetrock lying on the floor). Maybe the day is soon coming when her two boys can come back home, because now, the trailer is too small for all three of them. Her two boys who she loves and who want to protect her, because face it—in this city, a mother could use the safety that two older boys could bring to her home simply by her not having to live alone.

I have seen her face. Her name is Michelle. And there are tens of thousands of Michelles in this city right now.

I've had the opportunity to pray with her twice, and now I'll ask you to please pray for her as well. Pray that God will give her the strength and renewal she needs for each new day—and that SHE will seek Him for that strength. Pray for a volunteer crew to come to the city that knows how to sheetrock so I can send her some help. (And I have 40 other homes on my list that need sheetrock also. My list has 157 homes on it altogether with needs ranging from yardwork, to painting, to roofing, flooring, and everything in between. It grows daily.)

We've got two full weeks left of MissionLab. Then our wonderful summer staff leaves and it'll be time to breathe and time to regroup and reorganize. Volunteers will slow down some, but the work remains. Pray that God continues to send teams down here to help rebuild throughout the year. Pray that God sends people here who are not afraid to work long, hard hours… but most importantly, who aren't afraid to share the name and the love of Jesus Christ. May His love transform us as we transfer it onto others.

Be blessed. Seek Him first.

Week 2 of MissionLab can be summed up in one word "incredible"! And it truly was. I guess getting kinks ironed out the first week helped the second week go a bit smoother. One thing that I had to learn is that I can't (and don't have to) do everything on my own. I loaded my own self up with a lot of responsibility the first week, and had to re-learn the importance of delegation! And more importantly, I had to lean on God for strength, patience, and endurance… all of which He provided this past week.

MissionLab basically offers groups an opportunity to come to New Orleans as part of a customized missions experience. And during the summer, the youth camp even has all the bells and whistles of summer missionaries, worship bands, camp pastor, and amazingly great cafeteria food! But a major aspect of the program is the flexibility of ministry sites. Groups work with me (the Ministry Site Coordinator) to design their week in the ways they want to serve while in the city. Some spend a lot of time in daycares, food shelters and nursing homes, while others may spend all their time on a construction site, working with a homeowner or in a local church or school. To give you an idea of my workload, I have a spreadsheet on my computer that currently has over 140 requests from homeowners for various projects they still need help with. Their needs range from yard clean-up and landscaping, to gutting and sheetrock, to roofing, fencing, and beyond. The key is to match volunteer groups with the skills they have and those required at any given mission site. In a perfect world, I'd have an unlimited supply of skilled volunteers, but that's typically not the case. We do, however, have groups on occasion that have leaders and even high schoolers who have the ability to do some of the heavy construction jobs.

Our ministry sites come from a variety of sources. For example, as many of you know, MissionLab has a radio spot on the local Christian station (Lifesongs: www.lifesongs.com -- you can listen live) at 9am & 4pm CST. I'm typically the one being "interviewed". There was a young lady by the name of Dana who caught the very end of a segment the other week. She heard about MissionLab and the work the volunteers were doing. Although she didn't get all the information while she was listening, she got enough information to inquire about it and eventually tracked us down. She called our office and told me of her need. Dana is 9 months pregnant, lives alone, and her house was all but destroyed from Katrina. Her immediate need was a fence for her two dogs that would need to live outdoors once the baby arrives. I told her I'd try to schedule a group for the end of the following week. We had some skilled roofers in that week, and the homes they were supposed to work on fell through because of various issues. They needed me to find a new worksite for them. I remembered Dana had mentioned needing help with her roof, so I called and asked her if she could get the materials by the next day. She was unsure, but called her sister who jumped at the opportunity to help since volunteers were present. That week, a group from First Baptist Church North Augusta completed Dana's roof and took up a donation from the students to buy her a lawn mower and weedeater to manage her yard. The next week a group from Bethel Baptist Church in Snead, AL installed a wooden fence around the back perimeter, built a kennel for the dogs, and raised about $200 as a love offering. They invited Dana to the worship service we put on at First Baptist Church New Orleans Thursday night. She came and I had a chance to meet her. She's the cutest thing ever. Wednesday they will induce her if she hasn't already had her baby. She is interested in getting plugged into a church here, so I'm going to keep in touch with her and try to find her a church family to encourage and love on her. Pray for her, her soon-to-be baby, and others like her who still need encouragement and repairs over 20 months after the hurricane.

This week has started off well. There was a major thunderstorm today that slowed down some of the work, but hopefully the rain will hold off enough throughout the week so that progress can still be made. I got to see one familiar face today and a beautiful Big Orange "T" on the back of a Blount County bus! There was a group from First United Methodist Church in Maryville, TN along with one of my favorite Maryvillians, Dale Ross. He called me this morning to remind me they were in town, so I drove by their jobsite to say hi and see the Habitat house they were working on in the 9th Ward—a rough, but desperate area. I also phoned in a favor through some of my National Guard buddies to take some extra strolls through the neighborhood throughout this week while they're working there, so they stopped by and visited for a while.

I'm excited for this weekend because I made a last-minute decision to get myself to West Tennessee for less than 48 hours and spend Saturday with my mom, sister, brother, and granddaddy (3 of which I haven't seen since Thanksgiving or Christmas). I'll leave Friday night, missing the evening service, fly to Nashville where my bro will pick me up and take me Dyersburg, I'll spend Saturday with the family (as soon as my sister and mom get there from Maryville that morning) and then I'll take a 4am train back to New Orleans to arrive for the beginning of Week 4 by 5pm! It'll be a whirlwind, and it's a chunk of money for just one day, BUT… like the commercials say "some things money can't buy". And you can't put a price on family… especially mine. :)

Blessings to you and yours.

Talking with a lady who organizes some of the work we do to clean up local parks, etc.

A precious pup at one of the homes our groups worked at

Week 1 of "my summer" has ended, and Week 2 kicked off with new groups having just arrived Sunday. For those of you who need a refresher… "my summer" is defined as MissionLab Youth Camp. From June 3rd until Aug 4th, we run 8 weeks of summer camp (excluding the week of July 4th). This is an extremely intense time for my ministry here. I'd like to say that everything went smoothly this past week, but to be honest with you, this was a difficult week for me. It was physically draining, and when you're pulled in so many directions, your weaknesses shine through a little more than you'd like them to. Basically, this week taught me many things about myself that still need improvement. So pray with me as I continue to ask God to transform myself into the woman He created me to be.

There are so many amazing stories I could report from the volunteer groups this week. We had groups out gutting homes, cleaning yards, playing with children at daycares, leading activities for nursing home residents, singing in the French Quarter, helping with backyard Bible clubs, and more. We even had one group take the initiative on several occasions to set up a free lemonade stand! Ice cold lemonade in this hot and humid city is a wonderful blessing! It also provided an opportunity for the students to listen to the stories of survival and perseverance that so many residents of New Orleans and the surrounding areas still want to share.

The responsibility I have this summer has grown tremendously since my time as a summer missionary last summer. I am embracing the new challenges. This past week I had the opportunity to use my "position of authority" in a special way, and I can only thank God for that opportunity. There is one house that was on the list for the week to be gutted. The house belongs to Ben and Janet, members of a local church here. The pastor had contacted me weeks ago and requested help for this couple who lost everything during Katrina. A team is coming to donate sheetrock and labor later this month, and they desperately needed the house gutted before the sheetrock and volunteers arrive. I had scheduled one youth group to gut their house, but after they saw the house and the mold, they did not feel comfortable gutting it without "professional" masks and suits. Knowing, 1) that couldn't force the volunteers into an uncomfortable situation and 2) that this house was a priority, left me with a problem. I was determined to at least try tapping into my resources to see if I could help out the situation. I called in a favor with a friend who has some heavy-duty respirator masks, and I called Pastor Mel of Bethel Colony South (the men's ministry) to see if he had masks and/or men to help with the job. The next day I would go to the house myself and gut it with whatever help I could find from a couple summer staff. Turns out, our whole summer staff team wanted to go (minus Stacy who was sick) and Pastor Mel gave me three of his men for the day. I borrowed masks and bought suits for all of us. We worked HARD!! When I took off my suit at the end of the day it looked like I had been swimming. It was hot, but we accomplished the task well enough that the youth group was comfortable going in after us to finish the job (since we'd removed most of the moldy sheetrock from the walls and ceilings). So I was excited that I got to be a part of the physical labor I love so much here, and especially because God used me and the resources I have here to accomplish something that would have otherwise been an obstacle to complete.

There are adult teams here as well. A couple of the summer missionaries buddied up with them when they arrived Sunday night. The senior ladies of the group started asking them all kinds of questions and it ended with the ladies telling our guys that Wednesday night they'll come over to the guys' dorm and cook us all chicken and dumplings. One of the ladies said, "We'll even stay up until 9 o'clock!" :) So we're all looking forward to that! Thank God for Grandmas!!!!

I'm excited for this week and all that God has in store! I can already tell a difference in myself this week in terms of my attitude, stress level, etc, and I can only praise God for that. Continue to pray for me and the MissionLab staff as we coordinate the summer and lead these students and chaperones into an effective time of service and worship.

Just wanted to give you all a quick update from my surgery. I CAN SEE!!

It appears (by sight) that all went well. I am back at work and have a follow-up visit today. Continue to pray that all truly went well and the results will be excellent. (I do NOT want to do this again.) My friend Lucy checked on me a couple times after my surgery... I'm sure I entertained her. :) I was so out of it, but managed to sleep most the afternoon/evening and definitely all through the night. I spent most of the morning trying to get all the sticky stuff off my face from the plastic shields they taped over my eyes. (I was not very successful.)

If any of you are interested in the exact details of my LASIK experience and what I thought about it, I'm happy to share. This is simply a quick message for those of you who simply want to know the results. But shoot me an email/message if you're curious about LASIK or might be interested in getting it yourself but are nervous about what to expect. I'll tell ya all about mine!

Lastly... I wish to donate my prescription glasses. This email will serve to get the word out if you know of anyone who has this need or if perhaps you or someone you know are soon to take a medical missions trip. My prescription is OD 2.75 / OS 2.75 (sphere). They are small, brown, trendy glasses for a woman/teenage girl. I will go through a program online if I get no response from this email.

And since my burden is deep for those less fortunate than myself, I wanted to close by sharing with you some statistics from Unite for Sight, an organization working in the U.S. and developing countries to provide eye care services and educational programs to those who otherwise could not afford or have access to them.

• Over 1 billion people in developing countries need eyeglasses but cannot afford them.
• Over 4 million pairs of eyeglasses are thrown away each year in North America.
• 25% of the global population needs eyeglasses.
• 50% of children in institutions for the blind in Africa would be able to read normal or large print if
they had eyeglasses.
• The price for glasses in Benin and other African countries can exceed three months' average salary.

As we thank God for the success of my surgery, let's also ask Him to keep our hearts burdened for others who are in need of even the basics of life. Every day we should ask Him what we can do to help those who can't help themselves.

If you have a pair of glasses (or even sunglasses) that you no longer use... check out organizations like Unite for Sight or Lions Club International for donation ideas.

Thank you for your prayers!!

Yes, I have been super busy since my last update... but the main reason you haven't heard from me in a while is because I've been doing more office work than "field" work these past few weeks. So I don't really have any exciting pictures to share... unless you want me to creatively capture myself creating spreadsheets and making dozens of phone calls!

As some of you know, I was able to take a break from work long enough to get home and visit with some family and friends. The main reason for the timing of my visit was to present a scholarship to a graduating senior of Maryville High School in memory of my sister Liz. Always a great honor. It was also a special blessing to be home for Mother's Day with Mom and Kelly... and to attend my home church (the first time since January!).

What's next?? We're gearing up for summer. We anticipate 300-400 volunteers a week during our intensive summer camp (June 3rd - Aug 4th). Summer camp is a time where volunteers (mainly youth groups) come to minister to the city, meanwhile, our staff ministers to them through worship services, devotional times, taking care of their needs, etc. And as I (and others of us) have time, I'll pick up a hammer, gut out some homes, paint some fences, play with kids, hangout with homeless people, whatever needs to be done! And I'm greatly looking forward to all of that. Meanwhile, there is lot of preparation to do in terms of scheduling all of these groups throughout the city. I'm a bit overwhelmed, and I must rely on God's strength and wisdom DAILY to even attempt to get all this done! We are short-staffed, and I'm not complaining, but I do covet your prayers because God has appointed me and others to our positions here, but we are stretched and sometimes I feel it's humanly impossible to really accomplish all that needs to be done. Truly I don't know how to I'm going to do it, all I can do is trust by faith that it will happen. As Linda says, "You do ALL that you can do... and then you leave the rest to God." So that's what I'm doing. I'll do my part, and trust Him for the rest.

Prayer requests: My body gets tired and I need it to be energized, my mind gets scrambled and I need it to remain sharp and focused, my heart gets overwhelmed with the needs here and I need it to be burdened but effective. Even in full-time ministry you can get thrown off course, please pray that my distractions will be few, healing will come when needed, and that I will stay obedient to my calling. Also, today (Tuesday) at 3pm CST, I am having LASIK surgery. I am very excited and blessed that I can have this done. The thought of the procedure makes me a bit nervous, but we can all pray that it goes smoothly and that I will not need any enhancements (as they are not included in the price). Years down the road my eyes may weaken, as is common, but for the most part I hope it's a huge success for the next year and many many more!!

It was so good to see the few of you I was able to see this weekend. To all of you, thank you for your continued support. I hope all is going well for each of you. Please keep me informed of what's going on in your life as well... any blessings from above or anything I can be praying for you about.

I'll have many exciting updates throughout the summer, so stay tuned! :)

Spending this past weekend in Matamoros, Mexico met and exceeded all my expectations. What began as a last-minute decision to re-visit my friends and the place I once considered home, ended as a very rewarding and refreshing experience with many new memories to bring back to the States.

Seeing an opportunity to make good use of my long Easter weekend, I considered making the 10-11 hour drive down to Matamoros from New Orleans. Although you’re all aware I’m not afraid to travel solo, I thought it would be nice to find a travel buddy since all the trip would require is a few days and a sense of adventure. A couple girlfriends I had in mind that I hang out with here in New Orleans couldn’t get the time away from work/school. I remembered I’d met a girl named Elizabeth at the Spanish church. She was teaching ESL there on Sundays. I’d only met her once, but we had briefly discussed a common interest in Mexico and she lit up when I spoke of taking roadtrips to visit my friends there. Luckily, I’d kept her business card and I sent her an email asking first if she remembered me, and second, if she’d like to accompany me to Matamoros. To my surprise, she accepted! So last Thursday was not just the beginning of our trip together to Mexico, but it was the beginning of a lifelong friendship. God is so good! :)

The drive to Matamoros wasn’t too bad… aside from arriving in Houston at 6pm and getting stuck in rush hour traffic for nearly 2 hours! We arrived at Pastor Bob’s house at 1:30am (obviously much later than I’d hoped). I got out of the car to open the gate and immediately a rush of excitement came over me as I inhaled the smells of Mexico! Yes, I’m weird. Most people are not excited about the unique smells of Mexico, but to me… it was as if all the wonderful memories I had of my time in Matamoros joined together in one instant and poured out all around my body and throughout my spirit. It was a good feeling, to say the least!

We spent most of Friday visiting with Hilda’s family in the colonia Cabras Pintas. Hilda can best be described as my mother in Mexico. And her family is my Mexican family. We brought them some puzzles, coloring books and crayons, a soccerball, and I brought Hilda a praline from New Orleans. Elizabeth enjoyed getting to know the family and became instantly attached to Rebecca, the 88 year old great-grandmother. Rebecca is one to be admired. She is more active than most 30 year olds I know, dividing her time between caring for her garden, visiting with her family, and reading her Bible.

Saturday came with cooler weather and dark clouds. We set out for Las Granjas with my friend Pedro, also a pastor in that colonia that exists solely with the bare essentials of life. The majority of the houses are made of various scrap materials of wood and tin metal. I wanted to show Elizabeth another side of Matamoros, and also be reminded myself of how my middle-class status in the U.S. is one of abundant wealth compared to the majority of the world.

We visited two families there. One family had just received volunteer assistance from Johnson Ferry Baptist Church who had built a new addition onto their small house. The family was so proud to show us the new room. How quick are we to complain of every little thing that is wrong with our own homes?... and yet, this family is absolutely elated to have a new addition with another bed, a donated area rug, actual windows with curtains, and a doorway that connects it to the kitchen of their original house—a doorway created by cutting out a jagged opening in the kitchen wall.

Our next visit was with Clara and her four children. It amazes me to realize that so many people can live in such a small place. Like many children here at home, they were shy at first, but by the end of the visit were laughing and rough-housing with each other as if putting on a show for us. But unlike many children I’ve seen here in the States, you can tell how much love the siblings in Matamoros have for one another. If our families were forced to live together in a house not even 100 sq. feet in size, how much love would be portrayed within those walls? How long would it take before we’d go crazy? All I know is this young mother, caring for her four young children under a broken roof, is passing the test. Before we left we prayed with her. I prayed that God would continue to shower down His blessings upon her life, because truth be told (although we are slow to notice it compared to our standards of living) I think He already has.

And Clara’s dog had just had puppies barely a week before our visit. They were precious, eyes still closed, and of course, the thought crossed my mind to bring one home. (But I’m not allowed to have pets in my apartment…)

Later that day, we went to the orphanage, “Pan de Vida”, with Hilda and Kelsey (an American I was in the program with in 2005. She’s since spent another year and a half in Matamoros and has been my main connection with the work that has continued since I came back to the States). By the time we arrived, so did the rain. It was a slippery drive (and equally muddy walk) to the doorstep of the orphanage. We arrived during their lunch and movie time. Since they were already engaged in an activity and since the weather was bad, we didn’t have a typical playtime visit with the children. But it was still nice to be reunited with several of the ones I remember from my time in 2005, to sit with them, and fulfill their request to take (and instantly view) photos with my digital camera. They love that. :) I brought a box of games and supplies to leave with them, and Elizabeth and I had packed over 60 Easter eggs for an Easter egg hunt. Since we couldn’t organize the hunt ourselves, we left them with Esther to do at a later time. I was excited to learn that Pan de Vida has an enormous renovation/construction project underway! God is blessing Esther’s ministry in a mighty way and I’m certain that the next time I visit Matamoros I will not even recognize the new site. Meanwhile, I’ll be monitoring the progress online at www.pdvmex.org. Esther mentioned that soon she’ll be taking applications on-line for substitute parents-- volunteers who come in for a week, or a month or more, and help care for the children, thus greatly relieving the currently small and exhausted staff. That is exciting for me to hear, but I wrote it also because I know some of you who’ve spent time there and may be interested in that possibility. Or maybe it even tugs at the heart of some of you who haven’t yet been. You know where to find me if you want further details!

Easter Sunday was cold and muddy. Because of that, we ended up having the service at Pastor Bob’s house. It was the first time I’d worn jeans to a Easter church service, but it was freezing because naturally the house does not have heat and I wasn’t about to wear my summer dress! Pedro preached on the Passover and the significance of what Jesus did for us on the cross. He also led us in worship, and now Elizabeth joins me as huge fan of Spanish Christian music.

We had a quick drive home Monday compared to Thursday. It was good to be greeted with slightly warmer weather. There is so much more to tell of my brief time in Matamoros and the many things that God revealed to me while I was there. But I will close for now by saying that each time I take myself away from the normal day-to-day routine we get stuck in and open myself up to truly experience God at work (wherever that may be), I am reminded of how much more efficient I could (and should) be with my time here on Earth in regards to doing more for Him and less for me. Yet another reminder that it’s not about me.

I pray that you’re already in a place of God blessings and that He continues to bless you. If you’re not in that place, I pray that you will open yourself up to be.

March was a very busy time for the relief efforts in the city of New Orleans. Thousands upon thousands of volunteers poured into the city during the various Spring Break weeks. MissionLab hosted over 400 of those volunteers. The groups ministered in a variety of ways throughout the local communities. One of our groups traveled 24 hours from Amherst, Mass. to be a part of our program and help rebuild the city! Praise God for servant hearts like theirs! Each group, whether large or small, made an enormous impact in the lives of so many!

During the past couple weeks our volunteers have roofed, pressure washed toilets, painted, cleaned up yards, played with kids to relieve daycare staff, helped in the rebuilding process of a local church, installed new flooring, tore off rotten siding, and of course... various gutting projects (among many other things!). One group was able to gut a family's home who has relocated to Alabama but still has the stress of dealing with the flooded mess. I received a card thanking MissionLab and the volunteers for (in her words) "doing something we never thought we could have done". There are so many needs in nearly every neighborhood here in New Orleans.

On a personal note, I had a special visit from my mom and her aunt Gwen. Of course we spent some time in the city, eating some scrumptious Cajun food, driving by the old homes, and seeing the French Quarter. But I also put them to work! :) They went out one day with a MissionLab group on a gutting project and learned that about a billion nails go into building a house and all of those billion get to be pulled back out when a house is gutted for rebuilding! One morning I was able to get away from the desk and help them on a yard clean-up project. We teamed with the men's ministry at Bethel Colony South. This corner lot had become a common location for vagrants and drug-users. The neighbor called Pastor Mel and wanted the yard cleaned up to discourage them from squatting there. Several hard hours later, we had it spic-and-span. We were all sore the next day. Mom and Gwen enjoyed building relationships with the men at Bethel. These are men that you don't usually find yourself partnering with normally, but a great out-of-your-comfort-zone experience that I believe is so valuable. Connie, the neighbor, invited us in her home to a beautiful table setting with red beans and rice she cooked for us as a thank-you. It was so delicious! A cancer survivor and a great mover-and-shaker in the community, Connie shared with us and encouraged us to embrace life and make an impact during whatever time we have on this earth.

At MissionLab our motto is, "Learn missions. Do missions. Be a missionary." Missions is not just about leaving your hometown, crossing the country or crossing the globe to help others. Missions is serving God by serving others WHEREVER you are. We encourage each individual that comes through our program to not only take the memories of the week back to his or her hometown, but to take back with them the habit of serving others and furthermore, to make it a lifestyle.

Some things you can pray about during the upcoming weeks:

- Safety for our groups traveling.

- Safety on job sites and ministry sites in the city of New Orleans.

- Stamina for our team as we guide them and meet their logistical needs.

- That lives will be changed in our groups as well as throughout our city.

- A personal request: Last week my uncle Jimmy was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The mass has metastasized to his liver. He started chemo last Friday. Please pray for Jimmy and his family. Pray also that God will heal him spiritually and that Jimmy will open his heart to the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

It is such a blessing to know I can count on you all for support through encouragement and prayer. You are all so appreciated.

I want to close by letting you read some reflections from Mercy House (the college group from Amherst). They brought along a group journal to record their experiences throughout the week. It's such a blessing to me to hear firsthand how the ministry of MissionLab is able to bless the hearts and encourage the lives of so many in New Orleans and throughout the United States. There are many challenging days ahead, and these are reminders of why I am here and the fuel I need to keep on truckin'.

I hope each of you finds eternal purpose daily in all that you do. Let me encourage you to keep on truckin', even when the road gets rough, remember... when you turn your life over to God, He promises that He is always with you (Deut 31:8) and He has a plan for YOU (Jer 29:11).

"Todays work was tiring (plus I guess my arms are pretty weak). It was interesting talking to the lady whose backyard we cleaned yesterday. Hers was the most heartbreaking story ever. She lost pretty much everything due to flooding and now she is having a really difficult time getting the insurance company to pay her. She has no kids, no husband and she is having to do all the legal stuff by herself (because the lawyers are charging ridiculous fees). At least we were able to do our little bit to love these people. And thank God for Missionlab and Beacon of Hope. God bless 'em."

"When Hannah talked to us one morning about making God Lord of your life I realized that this is a serious area I need to work on. And she said that she'd been a Christian basically her whole life, but had not been properly discipled and I was like, Dude! Me Neither....so I am excited to learn about these things with the people at Mercy House."

"I have learned so much on this trip so far not only about others but also about myself. For me this has been so much MORE than the charity work, I have opened myself up more to God in this one week than I have possibly in my entire life. The only times that came even close to feeling this good and this close to God were over 8 years ago. I'm so glad I came."

The dynamics of my weekly schedule have changed considerably since my last update. We are no longer waiting for our volunteer groups to arrive… THEY HAVE ARRIVED! We started the Spring season out slowly last week, which is good since I am still trying to get the hang of everything! Last week, our only group was a group of 8 senior adults and their leader Ricky Allen, all from First Baptist Church of Statesboro, GA. A vast majority of my job description involves matching volunteer groups up with project sites throughout the city. I am constantly building relationships with local residents, ministries, organizations, and schools so that I can effectively put our volunteers to work when they arrive. FBC Statesboro requested that they work in a nursing home, encouraging the residents, playing games with them, building relationships, and all of that. And indeed they were a tremendous blessing to the people there. Here's your fact of the day, the mean age of nursing home residents in New Orleans has dropped considerably (i.e. from 85 to 65 in some places). The reason… as you may guess, when the floods after Katrina wiped out their homes, many of the senior citizen population had no other choice but to move into an assisted living facility prematurely. They found themselves homeless. I remember hearing about Pastor Mel's 80-something parents last summer. Their home flooded over 8 feet. They had it paid off, but the only assistance they were able to get to rebuild their home was in the form of a loan. At 80 years old, taking out a $60,000 loan doesn't make the best financial sense, does it?

I must add, however, what was most fascinating to me about this group. They were willing also to do some relief work, so for two days I partnered them with Bethel Colony South, the men's rehabilitation ministry I've written about several times. Pastor Mel told me they would be gutting out a house that hadn't been touched since the storm, now 18 months ago. When FBC Statesboro arrived, I sized them up as they walked in. The group consisted of Ricky, one other man named Mooney (easily in his late 70s, early 80s) and the rest were women all over 60, one of them was 84 years old! I turned to Linda and whispered, "Do you think I should call Pastor Mel and tell them he may want to rethink the gut-out idea?" She, having seen this group at work in previous months, assured me that they were beyond capable for the agenda of the week. I'll admit, I still had my doubts.

So on the days they were to gut the house, I had to go see for myself. And as you can see from the pictures… they proved me wrong! These guys, well mostly gals, were tough! Nothing was an obstacle for them, not age, not the heat, not the dirt and the mold, nothing.

I mention all of this not just to tell a story, and not just to report how I was encouraged and blessed by this group. I say all this to encourage and challenge you… to throw aside any obstacles, real or imagined, that are keeping you from doing all that you can do to make this world a better place, and if you're a Christian, to spread the love of Christ to a hurting world. If an 84-year old lady can gut a house, imagine what you can do!

Familiar faces
This past weekend was great for several reasons. I started off my Saturday morning bright and early, going out with Hoot (campus police chief), and 4 guys from Bethel Colony South. We went back out to Violet, LA where Hoot and some of his ministry partners are transforming a nursing home (heavily damaged by Katrina) into another rehabilitation ministry for men. Once again, we were up on the roof replacing the shingles. I'm getting the hang of it now, and my hammering skills are definitely improving! I also spent some time with Sue, the previous owner of the nursing home and now partnering with Hoot, who is living in a trailer on the property. She is going through a very rough time, as most people are who lived through the storm and are starting a new life. All of it is putting a strain on her marriage, her walk with Christ, and everything else. So please join me in lifting her up in prayer. I am going to try to hang out with her a couple times a month to try and encourage her during this difficult time.

Saturday, one of my best buds Melinda and her boyfriend Tyler came to visit. They stayed for several days and we had a lot of fun hanging out in the city. They helped out his granddad who lives near by and visited his grandmother who is in a nursing home. It was such a blessing having her here. There were a couple of occasions that we were just busting out laughing at stuff, and I realized that it was the first time I had laughed that hard since I moved here. Of course, I have met new friends here and we have a good time together… but there's nothing like spending time with the friends and family who know you best.

Also, a group of seniors and chaperones from The King's Academy, my last place of employment, was passing through on their way to a Spring Break cruise. I'm jealous! Sunday morning they attended Gentilly/Elysian Fields Baptist Church with me (two churches have merged as a result of Katrina… the pastor of one church left, and the building of the other church was destroyed, so it was the best option). As of this week, the church is meeting in the gym as they begin repairs on the sanctuary (you can still see the flood line on the sanctuary walls). After church, I led them over to Pontchartrain Park, a nearby neighborhood that was heavily damaged by the recent tornado. From there I took them to the Lower 9^th Ward, one of the most devastated areas from the Industrial Canal breach. Even though their time and interaction with Post-Katrina New Orleans was brief, I believe that it left a lasting impact on each of them. And hopefully, many of them will return at a later date to get their own hands dirty here in the city.

This past week and upcoming…
The groups this week have been phenomenal. They have each blessed me in a unique way. A college group from First Baptist Church of Powell, TN (go Vols!) had the opportunity to work across the street at Indian Village. They did some yard clean-up, house gutting, trash pick-up, and more. One thing to remember is that even though we're sending groups to work on houses and yards, each house and yard is owned by a person or a family, and they each have unique stories and needs. I always love it when our volunteer groups share with me what goes on throughout the week to put a name and a story with the work that is being done. One house they worked on is owned by an elderly man. When the waters rose, his wife panicked. She could not swim, and to his (and now our) horror, she shot herself. Another house that the team from Solid Rock Baptist Church worked on is owned by a woman in her 80s. Just weeks before Katrina her husband died, followed by the death of her daughter. And then came Katrina to take away everything else. These are not just destroyed homes after destroyed homes I pass by everyday, these are stories after stories of hurting people trying to pick themselves back up after such great loss of both loved ones and possessions.

I can only hope that God continues to move in a mighty way through the work of the groups that are continuing to come as volunteers to this city. Next week we will have over 200 volunteers coming through MissionLab. Praise God! Continue to pray for me and the MissionLab team as we prepare for their arrival. Include a prayer of safe travel for each group. And pray for all of us as we meet the needs of the upcoming week.

Blessings to you all,
Hannah

Cleaning up after the storm

As you all know from both the news and my last update, a tornado ripped through this already broken city last Tuesday morning, taking the life of one woman, and stealing hope from countless others.

Saturday morning was my first time to survey the damage. The images were all too familiar, as I remembered my tours last summer of the 9th Ward post-Katrina. The tornado's path was mapped out by complete destruction. On either side of the path, roofs were ripped off houses, windows had been blown out, and debris was everywhere. A thing to remember here in this city, this "debris" was once a part of someone's home, a part of his or her life and history. Imagine losing all of your precious photographs, your great-grandmother's dining table, the china given to you on your wedding day by your parents who have since passed away. Granted, life is not about storing up treasures while on Earth, but there is a sadness involved in losing what is familiar to us and having to start over. And that is what so many families have had to do in this city. And what many are having to do once again after last Tuesday's wretched storm.

More than just seeing the damage, I had the opportunity to help clean up. A team of us went out from the seminary to the neighborhood of Ponchatrain Park (within a mile of the seminary). We were joined by teams from LSU, the Arkansas Baptist Association, and various journalists from local and national agencies who volunteer for clean-up when they get the chance. The house we were assigned to belongs to Melvin and his wife Mary. Mary suffers from arthritis and is confined to a wheelchair. They are living out of their FEMA trailer while their house is slowly being worked on. It is still completely gutted and lacks a roof. Luckily, the storm didn't damage the house, but the backyard (which has remained a wreck since Katrina), received further damage and needed desperately to be dealt with. That was our task. We worked for several hours and were able to clean it up completely. It was a massive undertaking, and we were all proud to have accomplished it! God truly gave us the strength because I heard many comment on the impossibility of the project. I am a firm believer of remembering how God has worked in the past. Last summer, I saw Him assist His laborers in some amazing undertakings, and I expected no less from Him on Saturday. With His strength, we finished the task and I pray we were a special blessing to Melvin, his wife, and also to the neighbors and FEMA workers who observed our efforts. May God receive all the glory.

Mardi Gras

In stark contrast to last Tuesday, this Tuesday marks a big, fat celebration, Mardi Gras. My main complaint about this holiday that is celebrated here for approximately two months… traffic is horrendous! Although I'm not big on crowds, I did feel it my responsibility to do this city the honor of attending at least one parade. Saturday I went to Endymion (the name of the parade) with a few girlfriends and our friend Edmund. We were on the family-friendlier side of the parade. Most of the "craziness" occurs miles down the road in the French Quarter. It started off slow, but we ended up having a fun time. Taylor Hicks was the Grand Marshal. My friend Emily caught a string of beads from his hand.

The band Journey was the Co-Grand Marshal, and Styx was on a float as well. (Both of those a bit before my time, but I'll include pictures in case any of you are fans!) We didn't stay for the entire parade… our pounds of beads around our neck got the best of us. Edmund called us Mardi Gras divas.

So I can now say I have been to a Mardi Gras parade. I get invited to one about every day, but I don't have the energy to keep up with all of that! And… I have homework to catch up on.

I know I mentioned the Mardi Gras festivities in my last update, but I neglected to ask you to pray on behalf of all those out there in that colorful mess. I saw at least three young girls before even 6pm who couldn't even hold themselves up to walk because they were so drunk. It is saddening to me that so many people think that moments like these are the highlights of life. There is so much more to life… so much more to life outside of the "what's in it for me?" and "how much fun can I have?" attitude.

I am praying for wisdom for myself this week... lots of scheduling and coordinating. As I've said before, it's a giant undertaking. Please continue to pray for me as this is what God has called me here to do, and I want to do it well… not to mention the upcoming groups and the ministries/organizations throughout the city are depending on me for it.

Happy early Fat Tuesday to each of you! One good thing about Mardi Gras for me… it's a paid holiday.

Blessings,
Hannah

About Me

Blog Archive

Popular Posts

Hope For Life Children's Home

Some Great Links