Friday, 11 April 2008
This was our last work day. That seems incredible. I know we’ve only been working for a week, but the shared experiences and splendid camaraderie make it seem much longer. The last day of a mission trip is an emotional one, full of diverse mixed feelings of sadness at leaving this group of people, pride in the good work completed, and joyful anticipation to soon be seeing family and friends back home.
We really have completed some good honest work here. The sheetrock house is complete and almost ready for painting. The mud needs to dry a little more, and then a fair amount of sanding is necessary. But that’s it, and this is a remarkable accomplishment in just 5 days. The UMVIM site coordinators were very impressed by our “professional work”. At noon, Reggie, the Chef who lives next door, brought over lunch for everyone as his way of blessing us for being a blessing to the community. It was terrific - roast beef, corn, rice, garlic toast and juice. He brought a plate to each of us, along with a napkin and utensils. The meal was simply presented on paper plates, with a plastic fork from Wendys, and eaten while sitting on upturned buckets on the porch of an unfinished house on an ordinary side-street in New Orleans. But to each of us it was much more valuable and glorious than a feast in a fancy restaurant. Reggie is very clearly not wealthy, but he is just as clearly a man who knows God as well as any of us, and we were humbled by the thoughtfulness and effort that he put into personally providing this meal for us. It was one of those amazing events that almost stun you with the unexpected goodness of God’s people. At our orientation here on Monday, the first speaker told us how much more difficult it can be to receive blessings and kindness than it is to give them. That concept seemed a little odd to us, until we were the recipients of Reggie’s blessing and kindness. Thank you, Reggie, for the powerful lesson.
At Mary and Rondell’s home, the team stayed late because they just didn’t want to leave anything unfinished. It was very difficult, and a more than a bit tearful, saying good-bye to Mary and Rondell. We truly feel like part of their family. Much more than some Montana/Wyoming sweat and labor went into their home. A lot of care and love went into every piece of work, and this was warmly felt by Mary and Rondell. It was such a joy to get to know these good people, and such an honor to be part of rebuilding their home.
At the end of the work day, our team began to unravel. Carol has gone to the airport already. Frank and Jan moved into a hotel down in the city center. Chad, Morie, and Dave have hitched up the tool trailer and hit the highway for home. Before breaking up, a few of us had some fun touring the French Quarter in the middle of the New Orleans Jazz Festival. Even though we abandoned the city well before dark, it was easy to see that there was a fine party getting started down there.
Tomorrow, many of us will take part in a Swamp Tour, and then the poignant good-byes begin to be repeated. Hugs and wet eyes will mark our separations. This has been a unique experience with a team of 18 people plus Jesus. We know we’ll probably never all be together again, and we’ll certainly never be able to reproduce the particulars of this mission trip together. It has been more than a joy to get to know each other better, to work and eat and play and joke and pray together. All of us share a very special and warm bond, and we’re so blessed to have been together for this time in New Orleans.
This was our last work day. That seems incredible. I know we’ve only been working for a week, but the shared experiences and splendid camaraderie make it seem much longer. The last day of a mission trip is an emotional one, full of diverse mixed feelings of sadness at leaving this group of people, pride in the good work completed, and joyful anticipation to soon be seeing family and friends back home.
We really have completed some good honest work here. The sheetrock house is complete and almost ready for painting. The mud needs to dry a little more, and then a fair amount of sanding is necessary. But that’s it, and this is a remarkable accomplishment in just 5 days. The UMVIM site coordinators were very impressed by our “professional work”. At noon, Reggie, the Chef who lives next door, brought over lunch for everyone as his way of blessing us for being a blessing to the community. It was terrific - roast beef, corn, rice, garlic toast and juice. He brought a plate to each of us, along with a napkin and utensils. The meal was simply presented on paper plates, with a plastic fork from Wendys, and eaten while sitting on upturned buckets on the porch of an unfinished house on an ordinary side-street in New Orleans. But to each of us it was much more valuable and glorious than a feast in a fancy restaurant. Reggie is very clearly not wealthy, but he is just as clearly a man who knows God as well as any of us, and we were humbled by the thoughtfulness and effort that he put into personally providing this meal for us. It was one of those amazing events that almost stun you with the unexpected goodness of God’s people. At our orientation here on Monday, the first speaker told us how much more difficult it can be to receive blessings and kindness than it is to give them. That concept seemed a little odd to us, until we were the recipients of Reggie’s blessing and kindness. Thank you, Reggie, for the powerful lesson.
At Mary and Rondell’s home, the team stayed late because they just didn’t want to leave anything unfinished. It was very difficult, and a more than a bit tearful, saying good-bye to Mary and Rondell. We truly feel like part of their family. Much more than some Montana/Wyoming sweat and labor went into their home. A lot of care and love went into every piece of work, and this was warmly felt by Mary and Rondell. It was such a joy to get to know these good people, and such an honor to be part of rebuilding their home.
At the end of the work day, our team began to unravel. Carol has gone to the airport already. Frank and Jan moved into a hotel down in the city center. Chad, Morie, and Dave have hitched up the tool trailer and hit the highway for home. Before breaking up, a few of us had some fun touring the French Quarter in the middle of the New Orleans Jazz Festival. Even though we abandoned the city well before dark, it was easy to see that there was a fine party getting started down there.
Tomorrow, many of us will take part in a Swamp Tour, and then the poignant good-byes begin to be repeated. Hugs and wet eyes will mark our separations. This has been a unique experience with a team of 18 people plus Jesus. We know we’ll probably never all be together again, and we’ll certainly never be able to reproduce the particulars of this mission trip together. It has been more than a joy to get to know each other better, to work and eat and play and joke and pray together. All of us share a very special and warm bond, and we’re so blessed to have been together for this time in New Orleans.
No comments:
Post a Comment