Musician's Village, New Orleans

Rebuilt homes in use!

Hope in Rebuilding

New Orleans Mission Trip

Shoveling soil in an alley in New Orleans, I watched as a young man rode up on his bike. He gazed back observing our work. He soon stopped and passionately declared all the problems in the neighborhood. So many people had not returned to this upper ninth ward area! Their lawns were overgrown, and houses were left in shambles! He was angry with the people who lazily waited for volunteers to fix their homes or for a charity to give handouts. As Gerald emphatically named the problems, I realized he was also naming the improvements that could be made. He really cared about the people of New Orleans and thought many could help themselves. He seemed to be a prophet of hope for what a great place New Orleans could again be. Gerald communicated his message even while he spoke in a stammering way due to partial deafness. I was amazed at his hope for others beyond any self-pity. He symbolizes the grace that I experienced while on a mission trip with youth from the parish church.

While in New Orleans in July of 2007, our group volunteered with Habitat for Humanity for the week. We did everything from deconstructing and building walls to painting and hanging closet doors. After all of the damage caused by hurricane Katrina there was no end to the work. The youth were surprised by how many tasks they could accomplish even without previous carpentry experience. Despite the heat and humidity the difficult work was not a chore. In serving people who needed help our work became an energizing gift, a prayer.

We received great southern hospitality from the people of New Orleans. A Fedex delivery guy stopped briefly from his work to thank us for coming to help. The Habitat volunteers who showed us what to do on the work site were incredibly helpful, patient with our mistakes, and encouraged us with their humorous spirit. Even people we met on the street would greet us cheerfully. I was surprised by people's many expressions of gratitude and encouragement.

While traveling through New Orleans in our free time, I was amazed by the extensive damage from hurricane Katrina and how much there still is to rebuild. Much of the lower ninth ward is abandoned with many people living in emergency trailer parks. Some rebuilding has been completed in the upper ninth ward where Musician's Village, Habitat's main build site, is located. However there is still much to be done. All over the city buildings sit vacant with damage. Rebuilding and repair does continue however. Bourbon Street, the French Quarter, and many places downtown have been repaired and are back in full use.

Part of the challenge of rebuilding in New Orleans is that many people have left and not returned. According to the Associated Press the current population of New Orleans is only sixty percent of what it was before the hurricane. Also many of the people in locations that sustained the worst damage don't have enough financial resources to rebuild. It seems that for many people in the ninth ward and other poor neighborhoods their house was all that their family really owned. In this perspective it makes some sense to want to rebuild a life where family and friends have always been despite the risk of future hurricanes.

August 29th marked the second year since hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. It seems appropriate at this anniversary to remember the suffering many people have gone through and to look for some way to share our time, talent, or treasure to help people rebuild.

The New Orleans mission trip was a gracious experience. I was blessed in working with such loving people. The young people showed much maturity and a willingness to serve. Hearing how the people of New Orleans survived the hurricane and flooding, made me realize just how insignificant my worries are about formation and studying. I was energized in moving out of self-absorbed concern and into real service for others. Blessed by the generosity and hope of people like Gerald I feel empowered toward doing more to serve those who are in most need. His witness of hope encourages me to trust that God's grace is present through even such terrible catastrophes as hurricane Katrina.