Back in LA

It's Sunday. We're back in LA -- exhausted and running on fumes. I woke up this morning at the crack of dawn (after getting home past midnight) ready to jump out of the bunk and dry-wall. Regardless of what fumes I'm on, there's certainly a feeling of accomplishment by the team. We've added our hard work, care and love to an area of the country still reeling from the aftermath of a hurricane that struck over two and a half years ago.

On Friday during our lunch break, a few of us visited Miss Lilly, whose house we dry-walled and mudded last year. Unfortunately, the house remains unfinished. Absolutely mind-boggling. Yet…Miss Lilly remains positive, upbeat and hopeful (and smiling in the picture w/ Johnny, Stephanie and me). As we drove away from her property though, it was unsettling to think something so close to being completed over a year ago hasn’t been. It's just not right.

Yesterday, on the road back to New Orleans, we swung through the Lower Ninth Ward. The devastation was unfathomable. Most of the population in this section of the city haven’t returned to their former homes. Why not? Because there’s nothing to return to! Ruefully neglected would be putting it kindly, and the blame can’t be placed on the residents – at least in my opinion. They have relocated for good reason. The shame lies in the lack of action by those in leadership – from all sides.
How is it that the richest country in the world hasn’t taken care of its own? In one of the worst natural disasters we’ve experienced as a nation, immediate and full action should’ve happened. The coastline of Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama should’ve been cleared, cleaned and re-constructed. It isn’t – by any means of the imagination. As I mentioned in one of my earlier blogs, progress has certainly been made,…by inches…not by feet or yards. And the financial aid is about to run out from organizations such as the Red Cross and Samaritan’s Purse. “Out of sight, out of mind” is what these people in the South are experiencing.

To return to Waveland has been an honor. As team leader, I was extremely pleased and proud to work side-by-side with this diverse team of 14 from Hollywood UMC (and one from Westwood UMC, one from North Hollywood UMC and one from Grace UMC [Iowa]). We left from LA with few work skills between us. At the outset, we had three cooks to oversee the kitchen. That was our strength skill-wise. We ventured forth on faith – utterly and completely. By week’s end though, our strength became the unity of spirit and the tenacity of seeing a job done well. We left this place in better shape than we found it, and we personally left in better shape too.

A few days ago, an African-American woman from Camp Gulfside said, “Without the volunteers, these grounds (Waveland) would have remained hollow.” That’s almost frightening to hear and to write. Upon reflection of her words, I challenge folks to read the book of James in the Bible as our team did during this past week. There is so much richness within its contents, it’s difficult to sum it up, but in a nutshell, if you know something is right and needs to be done, what are you waiting for? To know that many are in need, we are each called to act – however and in whatever way possible.

Thank you to all who have thought about us, prayed for us, supported us in this journey. You have enriched and filled our lives, and for that we are eternally grateful. Blessings and peace.

- Mark