The Heat is On!

The answer to last nights quiz is.....
Pastor Elaine! We are assuming she didn't look as suspicious as the rest of us. So she didn't get the special screening.

This is the day the Lord is made and we all went to Beacher UCC for a worship service where the water crusted at about 6 feet and settled at about 4 ft. The electrical and plumbing systems are being put in the church, but there is Very little dry wall in the church thus far. There were messages from other work crews that have helped at Beacher written in black marker on the beams, ceilings, 2x4's and entrances of the church. They were all messages of bible stories, inspirational quotes, and music lyrics. It was a wonderful thing to see there.

This is an African-American congregation and the pastor, Rev. Donald Morgan - who has been there for three years - is also the assistant executive director of the Back Bay mission in Biloxi, Mississippi where we will be going next summer (May 31-June6). And wouldn't you know, when we walked in, Pastor Elaine recognized him from previous mission experiences! This was his farewell sermon and let me say, it was an inspirational and soulful one at that. We got to meet and talk with some of the people and hear what their lives have been like since Katrina.

After the service we all met together in their 'future' fellowship hall for a send-off celebration for Rev. Morgan, which was made complete with spicy chicken wings and drumsticks and two special New Orleans style rice dishes, and REALLY blue cake!

Afterwards we piled in the the van with 6 people from New Ark, Delaware to tour the devastated area. Christine remarked about seeing three or four devastated homes in a row and then seeing one totally rehabbed home. She wondered what it would feel like to be living in one of those new homes, yet still be completely surrounded by all the devastation and destruction. We all commented on how the homes have been labeled after the flood for those who have perished and dead or abandoned animals.
Although hot and tired, Amanda took a few dozen pictures of the writtings on the beams of the church.
Virginia noticed that many roofs were covered with plants that had probably taken root after the storm.
Pastor Elaine sat in the far, FAR back seat and complained about the poor conditions of the roads, and lack of shocks in the 15 passenger van, still after three years from Katrina.

Today was a day to get to know our other members of the mission team. Together we soaked in some of the neighborhoods and rode the Streetcar to the French Quarter. This might not have been the best day to go because of the Essence Music Festival. Some like it hot, but we would have preferred (A) less humidity (B) fewer people and (C) Streetcar that actually ran. A couple of us checked out Bourbon street, while Pastor Elaine "prepared" supper at the Subway!

Tomorrow the work begins... it's 11:02, and we are writing this with a flashlight under Virginia's bed...