Only days remain until I make my first trip back to New Orleans! I am excited about being back in a city that 6 months ago was so empty – desolate – a war zone in many ways.
What has changed? What is still the same? I can still remember the smell, the texture of the mud mixed with dry wall and former treasures that littered the homes that we gutted! The people that we met when asked the most basic question of “how are you?” would simply break down in tears. Those not knowing what they were going to do, where their community of neighbors were at and if they had left before the storm.
How does a city, a people regroup from such destruction? There were signs all over the city that said, “Keep the Faith”! My heart goes out to those who have lost everything and just the simple act of waking up in the morning is a reminder of all that once was.
I hope that my trip back will be one of opportunity! Opportunity to work, sweat, share hope, love and grace to a people who are so in need of Jesus!
