Katrina -- All But Forgotten?
I remember how moved I was by the television coverage during the first few days following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina back in late August of 2005. Sue and I immediately began asking how we could help. A couple of weeks later we brought several members of our church (New Song United Methodist) with us for a meeting with conference officials who told us that at that time no one was being allowed into the area but that emergency supplies were needed. So our church collected boxes of materials to be shipped to the affected areas.
It wasn’t until January, 2006 that it was possible for us to actually travel to the area. By that time I had initiated a relationship with a United Methodist church in Bay St. Louis, MS. That area, including neighboring Waveland, had suffered the brunt of the storm surge with massive destruction. The airport in New Orleans had just been reopened and some flights were available. So, accompanied by Jerry & Judi Brawner, co-directors of Mission and Outreach Ministry Team, we set out to Bay St. Louis to survey the area and determine what we could do, as a church, to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Words cannot describe what we saw. The extent of the destruction along the coast was unbelievable and the community of Waveland was literally wiped off the map. Our main question to the pastor of the Bay St. Louis church was this: would it be better to send money or people? With the cost of sending volunteers (approx. $500 per person) it might make more sense to send the money. But his answer was simple and unequivocal – send us people. He told us that having volunteers working there to help rebuild homes presented a powerful message of hope. He said the biggest fear was that people would forget about them once the next disaster hit somewhere else.
I made a return trip in April, 2006 with seven other church volunteers and the Brawners, God bless’em, have led a total of eight work teams. Another work trip is planned for this fall. Some progress has been made but some of what that pastor feared has taken place. People, as a whole, have forgotten about the Katrina victims. That’s why I was so pleased and excited for the recent successful fund-raising dinner that raised nearly $3,900 for Katrina missions at New Song. Even though I am no longer at New Song the Katrina missions remain special to me and I am glad they are continuing. I hope as Spirit Song grows that we too can be actively involved in mission projects like Katrina that impact the lives of so many people. If you have a passion for missions, let me know. Let’s see what we can do to serve Christ and others in the world!
Blessings,
Steve
04-14-08 06:56 PM
Pastor Steve,
As you know, I have had the blessing to go on two trips to Waveland, Mississippi with Jerry and Judy and the team of volunteers from New Song, Faith Methodist and a wonderful man by the name of Carl whose place of worship is a Catholic church.
My life has been dramatically changed by the experiences I had on those two trips. I believe I've become more tolerant, loving and giving and have a renewed understanding of what it is to be totally devasted by Mother Nature.
Often we ask how God can allow such an event as Katerina and other worldwide "natural disasters." I believe these acts are put before us as teaching tools for each one of us to learn the lessons that have been put forth in the Bible and the answers to our prayers are with God. We can grow and become closer to God when we are challenged to use every ounce of courage, stength and belief to extend towards those in need.
I truly feel blessed to have been involved in this experience and willingly would do so again.
Blessings,
Barb
04-23-08 01:43 PM
Hi Steve,
Your post really touched my heart. I, too, was heartbroken when I saw the devastating effects of Katrina. I tried to go to the area immediately, but it was so dangerous, they weren't letting people in. I finally got to Slidell, LA on November 4th, 2005, with a team from our church. We got to spend some time in New Orleans, as well as making a trip to Waveland. I thought the destruction was terrible in LA, but I was unprepared for what I saw in Waveland...entire homes had been swept off their foundation and all you saw was the concrete pad where the house had once been. Horrible! And the stories we heard from all of the residents there were so sad. :(
What amazed me, and you probably saw the same, were the volunteers. We didn't see one single sign of FEMA. No government workers. Nope, what we saw were churches and people from churches around the country. These were the folks who were providing the rescues, the food, the basic neccesities of life. It was humbling and awe inspiring in one. I could go on and on about everything I remember from that trip! But what struck me deeper than anything else was the reality of what church is. Church is not a building. It's not a place we go every week. Church is not something we do...it's something we are. As the body of believers, we ARE the church. Jesus has called us to be that very thing. Every minute of every day, we have the opportunity to BE the church. When I was in LA, I had the opportunity to visit churches in devestated neighborhoods, in broken down buildings, in temporary shelters. But the best churches I saw were the ones were people were singing together to the Lord under FEMA blue tarps. Or helping chainsaw trees off of neighbors' roofs. Or sharing a donated meal together in the middle of a relief center parking lot. Just being together, caring for one another, meeting needs...that's the best church I've ever seen. Wouldn't it be great if that's the kind of "church" we all were?