Lagniappe Church Blog

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2011-07-03T20:49:00.004-05:00

So. We've Moved!

2010-09-03T11:41:00.000-05:00

That's right. Lagniappe has moved. Since we transferred our lease over the LESM (Lutheran Episcopal Services of Mississippi) we continued worshipping as we always did. Same location. Same time. When LESM announced that they would be shutting down we needed to find a new home since we didn't have the funds to maintain the lease and utility costs. In God's great care for His church He provided another home for LPC to worship. Our great friends at Christ Episcopal in BSL have allowed us to rent their facility for worship. Not only have we moved locations, we have moved times. We are meeting at 912 Beach Rd. at 5:30pm each Sunday evening. If you are unfamiliar with BSL this is how you get there: From HWY 90 take Main St. until it dead ends into the beach. Turn right and continue past St. Stanislaus and the pier. Christ Episcopal is just past the pier on the right hand side of the road, directly across from the Gulf of Mexico. We have a great location! Come worship with us. For questions please call 228- 467-3887.

2010-06-15T10:10:00.003-05:00

Dear Lagniappe friends and family, In August of 2005 I never dreamed what God might be doing in the midst of a Hurricane called Katrina. I understood theologically that God could work ‘good things’ even in the midst of a tragedy, but had never clearly come face to face with His providence or goodness like I have witnessed here. In October of 2005, with great confidence, passion and zeal, I resigned my pastorate in Memphis to follow God’s calling to Bay St. Louis. On that day there were many who scratched their heads at that decision and questioned the wisdom of the timing. I smiled and assured them that God was calling me and He would provide all that was needed for His calling. He has shown that He can be trusted. I knew that God had called me to plant this church, but beyond that I was not firmly convinced of what His calling would look like. As Lagniappe transitioned from disaster response to a ‘normal’ church and after many years of wrestling I had resolved to transition out of my role at Lagniappe and get another job in Bay St. Louis while serving alongside the man who God would call to be our primary pastor. For years I have struggled with the tension between being a small church ‘parish priest’ type pastor versus a ‘preacher/teacher’ type senior pastor. At the end of that process, I became convinced that God was calling me not ‘out of the pastorate’ into some other vocation in Bay St. Louis, but rather that God was calling me out of Bay St. Louis and into some other pastorate. I was devastated. I wrestled in prayer and tears begging God to just leave me alone, but He is persistent and I guess I’ve been a bit softened by what we’ve seen here and acquiesced to His leading. So in May of this year with that conviction and with no safety net I announced to you that I would be leaving Lagniappe. I knew there were other open pulpits in the P.C.A., some were even intriguing, but I truly didn’t know if I would ‘fit’ anywhere other than here. I made that announcement with the firm conviction that my time at Lagniappe was complete and that the congregation, Presbytery and denomination would all have to rally together and participate in the future of this church. I knew it would be hard, but it would be best. In the weeks following that announcement we have seen the level of ‘ownership’ in Lagniappe dramatically increase. As you know we have a congregational meeting this upcoming Sunday to nominate a pulpit search committee and many of you are chomping at the bit to be involved in various other ways. God is working and stirring the hearts of His people. I have been encouraged and thrilled to see Him work in so many of you, even in this short period of time. In April of this year one of those intriguing church ‘possibilities’ had inquired about my willingness to ‘talk with them’ about their open Senior Pastor position. I told them that I ‘wouldn’t even pray about it!’ I also communicated that I was firmly committed to staying in Bay St. Louis, even if I ‘wasn’t at Lagniappe’. I was then challenged to ‘pray about’ praying about it. “Hmmmm,” I thought to myself, “I guess I couldn’t even consider myself a Christian if I said no to that.” I began to pray. I think God laughs at my firmly held convictions and I’m getting used to what I like to call the ‘Jonah toss’—that’s the feeling you get when you are sure you should be going one way and God throws you off the boat into the ocean like He did with Jonah. That ‘flailing in the air feeling’ is what I call the ‘Jonah toss’! In my own mind there would be ‘no other church anywhere’ that would be a fit for my personality, desire to primarily preach/teach, zeal for life, heart for the poor and love of the Gospel all rolled into one. There was one. I just didn’t know it at the time. Last evening, the session of Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama voted to call a congregational meeting for the purpose of voting on a unanimous recommendation from their search committee to call me as their Senior Pastor. I have accepted that call pending the important votes in the congregation and the other church committees and Presbyteries. I do understand that this will come as a great surprise to many of you and additionally there may be others who might experience varying degrees of frustration or elation along the spectrum of human emotion. Please know that this is not a decision to leave Lagniappe for any reason other than God’s calling. There is no ‘issue’, ‘underlying problem’ or a ‘real story’ that must be uncovered. It is God’s calling in my life and I hope you know by now that, if and when God calls me, I will go, regardless of the situation I am leaving or moving toward. When we left Memphis there were great needs in the church and God met those needs without me. When we leave Hancock County there will still be great needs in this community and at Lagniappe and God WILL meet those needs without me. Remember in the Old Testament that God spoke to his people through Baalam’s donkey (please fight the urge to draw too many parallels here!). He doesn’t need us, but rather rejoices in allowing His people to participate in what He is doing. Please know two things: my affection for Lagniappe and the people of Bay St. Louis/Waveland could never be overstated- in many ways my heart will always be ‘in the Bay’. Additionally, Lagniappe needs you to embrace her mission now more than ever! We have said hundreds of times that we ‘exist on the Mississippi Gulf Coast to participate in the restoration of creation…’ Beloved, whether you are reading this letter in Wayland County Massachusetts, Tacoma, Washington or sitting at the Mockingbird Café on Second Street you must participate. Withdrawal, complacency or bitterness are not ‘lagniappe’ options. To love her IS to participate. To appreciate this ministry IS to embrace it. In many ways it’s like being a Saints fan. There is no partial commitment allowed in the Superdome. You can’t simply give a ‘golf clap’ when Drew Brees throws to Jeremy Shockey- you’ve got to scream yourself hoarse and bear hug the person sitting next to you! Lagniappe needs that level of zeal from you now more than ever! Personally, it will be a bittersweet move for our family. School begins in Huntsville in early August. With appropriate ecclesiastical permission, we will move prior to the school start date. Jean IV will remain in Bay St. Louis for his senior year at Bay High. He will live with my mom and we’ll all be going back and forth a bit. God sold our house in 3 days for cash, no contingencies--- simply unreal. There will be other details forthcoming, but please know in summary how deeply thankful I am to our Father in Heaven for the opportunity to have served at Lagniappe and to have shared life with you. “The Lord your God is with you. He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you. He will quiet you with His love and He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 -Jean F. Larroux, III

Please Pray!

2010-04-30T10:49:00.002-05:00

I hardly know what to write...we're all a little heart broken around here. 5 years after Katrina, our town is finally coming back. We have the old historic light posts in the ground; shops are filling the Main Street buildings, and people are coming from New Orleans to buy antiques, go fishing, find art, and relax at the beach. But now we have 10 thousand gallons a day of oil spilling into our waters from the Deep Water Horizon wreck. We are in a nationally declared state of emergency, and this is projected to be one of the worst environmental disasters in decades. Planes are flying and spraying dispersant for hours a day. Booms are going up around the gulf trying to protect our coast line...but the reality is that the wind, the severe weather, and the magnitude of the spill are making that job nearly impossible. We are preparing for a disaster potentially worse than Katrina. An already weak job market and a town dependent on tourism (particularly of the fishing/seafood type) will not do well when the oysters, shrimp, and fish are gone. Please pray! Pray 1) that God would protect our shores, 2) that people would have hope in the midst of loosing their industry, 3) that God would raise up volunteers both locally and around the country to help us recover environmentally from this devastation, and 4) that God would receive all the glory from whatever it is He is doing here on the coast. I will be updating this blog further and more frequently as we receive more details and are able to give more concrete information/requests. Thank you in advance for your prayers and support-God is working but we just don't know how.

When the Saints go marching in....

2010-01-25T12:23:00.002-06:00

From WWL.com, “While the Saints lined up for the overtime field goal attempt, two elderly men, one black, one white...both decked out in black and gold, stood in the alleyway leading to section 313, nervously awaiting the play. As the football sailed through the uprights, the two strangers embraced, laughing, crying, jumping, shouting, lost in the unbelievable moment that had finally arrived: The Saints are in the Super Bowl. THIS year is 'next year.' Life is good.” Okay, it’s the morning after the ‘big game.’ As Jim Henderson said in his call on WWL870, “Pigs have flown, hell has frozen over, the Saints are going to the Super Bowl.” So what, you may be thinking, does this have to do with a ‘pastoral note’? I’ll get there but indulge me a few paragraphs first. What I love about the story is that it is really the story of a city, city that is first in all of the worst categories like crime, murder and corruption. New Orleans is also a city that is almost last in all of the positive categories like education, wage potential and housing. New Orleans is a city that is divided on socio-economic issues, political agendas and of course, race. Mayor Nagin’s comments after Katrina epitomized that struggle when he called New Orleans a ‘chocolate’ city. Almost everything in New Orleans divides us, almost everything, except the Saints. For a brief season every fall New Orleanians are not as much black and white as they are black and gold. As we left the Dome last night and walked down Poydras a black man put his arm out and embraced my children and me at a crosswalk simply exclaiming, “Who Dat!!!” People were dancing in the streets, hugging strangers, weeping and repeating over and over again, “I can’t believe it!” So again, what does this have to do with a ‘pastoral note’? Two words: common grace. Common grace is a theological term used to describe the ‘daily mercies’ of God that provide blessings in the little things. The term ‘common grace’ would be used to describe the joy that one would have in hearing a symphony playing in the park; the beauty of dancers performing the Nutcracker or watching excellence in sports. In the Movie Chariots of Fire the Scottsman, Eric Liddel is quoted as saying, “I know God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast and when I run I feel His pleasure.” That is common grace. The joy of using gifts from God as they were designed, whether it be in athletics, music, art or any number of other fields, that is the essence of common grace. Perhaps it just may be that when elections cannot bridge racial divides, political rallies cannot bring people together and 11 o’clock on Sunday morning continues to be the most segregated hour of the week God provides the Saints, a little common grace for New Orleans. Maybe, just maybe the “Who Dat” nation might take a lesson from some of our boys in Black and Gold and when we feel his pleasure in whatever successes He lays before us, we might kneel and point heavenward moving from common grace to thanksgiving. Saints player number 83, Billy Miller posted these three simple words on his Twitter account immediately after the game, “Thank you Lord.” Indeed.

Video Update from Dony St. Germain-Haiti Relief

2010-01-17T15:08:00.002-06:00

Disaster Response to Haiti

2010-01-15T11:12:00.000-06:00

Dear Friends of Lagniappe,
If you are seeking information about service to Haiti please check out the MNA website. MNA Disaster Response has a long-term partnership with Rev. Dony St. Germain and Rev. Brian Kelso, both MNA Staffers and leaders of the Haitian church planting network.

For more information please visit:
www.pca-mna.org

Donations may be made online. Please visit the online team registration for long-term relief. Teams will be received for relief and rebuilding when assessments have been made and it is determined to receive volunteers. Please be patient until that time. Thanks.

Curt Moore

Lagniappe Particularized!

2009-12-06T05:55:00.002-06:00

As you may or may not know Lagniappe 'church' has been a mission church of the Presbyterian Church in America since it's inception. Last night, December 5, 2009 Lagniappe was 'particularized' into it's own individual congregation. Elders from Grace Presbytery came and installed Curt and myself as pastors and ordained John Sabin and Andrew Thompson as our charter elders. It was a great service of celebration and remembering God's goodness to us in Christ. In true Lagniappe fashion we had the reception at the Mockingbird Cafe. Sorry for the infrequency of the blog entries, but we are finding that the people side of this ministry is more time consuming than the home construction...imagine that...thanks all of you who helped to make this a reality.

"What is the Church Doing?!"

2009-10-05T13:23:00.002-05:00

That's a question we get a lot around here, especially because our church USED to host thousands of volunteers, repair hundreds of homes, and offer lots of benevolence money to those hurting from Katrina. What are we doing now? Well...I thought I would share with some of the front page article from our local news paper, the "Sea Coast Echo." VIOLENT CRIME SOARS "In the four years since Hurricane Katrina, there have been hundreds of inspirational stories of compassion, recovery, and rebuilding in Hancock County, Bay St. Louis, and Waveland. Katrina took away many of our homes, our businesses and government buildings, and for the most part our way of life, but a courageous community has persevered to bring most of it back. Four years later, homes have been rebuilt, businesses have reopened, and the local governments have recovered, but police officials say the same way of life may never return since a dramatic spike in drug use, suicide, murder, and other violent crime since Aug. 29, 2005, has has turned our sleepy little community into a volatile and dangerous place.[....] 'We have never had so many drug cases,' [Hancock County Sheriff Steve Garber] said. 'The explosion of meth has really created a lot of extra work for our people. [One reason for the dramatic spike] is that some people are turning to drugs as a way to escape their dire financial and emotional situations,' Garber said. The national economic situation along with the pressure of rebuilding their lives has driven some people over the edge, officials said. 'Each individual is different,' [Larry Smith, former psychology professor at Pearl River Community College] said, 'but generally, when people loose their support base, some will turn to drugs.' Since Hurricane Katrina, there have been nearly 48 suicides or intentional overdoses in Hancock County, and more than 250 attempts or threats. Records show there have been four suicides in Waveland, nine in Bay St. Louis, and 35 in the unincorporated area of the county. 'Prior to the storm, we had three or four suicides a year,' Garber said. 'In the past two weeks we have had three.' Another side effect of the emotional stress being felt in the community is domestic violence. Garber said that domestic violence has increased dramatically and it has played a part in seven of the nine murders in the county since Katrina. In the five years prior to Katrina, there were only five murders and only one involved domestic violence. Murder, meth, and domestic violence are not the only concerns of the law enforcement however. In the past four years, there have been two bank robberies, at least a dozen armed and strong armed robberies, home evasions, and hundreds of burglaries and break-ins." Dwayne Bremer, Staff Writer for the Sea Coast Echo. Drug use, domestic violence, violent crime, burglaries, and suicides....all of which have substantially increased since August 29, 2009. This article does not even touch on the hundreds of children displaced into an already overloaded foster care system by domestic violence, drug use, etc. Just last week, an individual known to many in our community committed suicide. A reputable relief organization in the area had recently rebuilt their home, but a home was clearly not enough. What do we do for those whose despair is greater than a new home, a new car, free clothes, or free lunch can relieve? The article was a sobering reminder that the psychological, emotional, and dare I say spiritual effects of Hurricane Katrina are as real as the physical. Lagniappe has set our course directly into this whirlwind of pain, fear, anxiety, anger, and depression. It is not easy. We have an active enemy-anxious to offer the residents of this community ANYTHING besides Jesus to fill their souls and fix their problems. Then we have to worry about us. I am almost as dangerous as Satan when I offer MYSELF to fix someone, rather than offering Jesus. Fortunately, God has been at work in this place long before we came, and he welcomes us into the already raging battle for the hearts and lives of Hancock County.

I Miss the Volunteers

2009-08-23T16:32:00.003-05:00

Just a thought as I scanned through the pictures on this blog. Looking at familiar faces and realizing we don't have the week to week rotation of great conversations around the table, on the deck, or passing the hallways. What an encouragement these men and women have been for almost four years. We'll have to run in to each other at PCA events or random encounters throughout the US. We might just have a reunion courtesy of another storm.

The Re-Creation of Helene's House

2009-04-14T15:28:00.003-05:00

I must say that of all the houses LPC has worked on, Helene Johnson's has sold me on the idea of 'Restoration'. This was one of those projects that I stood outside of - gazing up - thinking to myself, "Lord have mercy - please don't let this be it!" Well, in this case, this WAS it - rotten siding, stomach-turning colors; a structure obviously badly damaged by Katrina and VERY obviously lacking in TLC. As it turns out, Helene has had very little help since Katrina. A single, hardworking mom, and owner of the Bay's Fit First, she has had her hands full just staying afloat, and if that meant continuing to live in a house that made people RUN by, then so be it. LPC first met Helene when the Salvation Army called requesting that LPC act as construction partner for a grant recently approved for this house, and after a visit to the site by Jordan, LPC agreed to sign on. The pictures tell the rest of the story. I honestly almost drove off the road and into the ditch when I saw it the other day - it is beautiful! Andrew Thompson, LPC teams - congrats all of ya'll and THANK YOU for helping make The Bay beautiful one disaster at a time!!!

Bobbii and Troy

2009-04-03T15:19:00.003-05:00

HEAR YE ALL 2008 RUF BLITZ BUILDERS - Bobbii & Troy Lane (and all the rest of the family (including goat?)) are moving in!! Bobbii and Troy gave a shout-out to all of you who worked so hard in December to frame and dry-in the house. THANK YOU!! (check out Lagniappe Church Blog post 12-20-08 for pictures of the blitz.) Jordan, Andrew, Annette, and Troy complete a walk-through of the kitchen and livingroom. Annette works for Fuller Center Disaster Rebuilders, LPC's local partner organization, which completed the interior. (No, that is not a road down the middle of the room - thank you - it's a paper walkway to keep our mud-caked shoes off the new floors. For all of ya'll who've been down here during one of those "wash-out" thunderstorms we get around here - yeah, we had one yesterday, complete with tornados. (No one was hurt, thank goodness, but I did get frostbite after temporarily relocating my office inside the walk-in refridgerator, where i figured if nothing else, at least the roof wouldn't fall on my head...)) Here Andrew, Jordan, and Bobbii discuss the roof-line, weather-stripping, and the inherent evils of BirdBoxes...

Wayland to Waveland is BACK!!

2009-03-30T15:09:00.002-05:00

Peter and Crew are back in the Bay, this time helping to fund, frame, wire and plumb a home for Michelle Williams-Terry, her three children and two grandchildren! Michelle is a long-time resident of Waveland, a Katrina survivor, and one of LPC's most delightful friends. This house is a dream come true for Michelle; she looks forward to once again living in her own home, enjoying her garden, and living life with her kids. Please keep Michelle in your prayers - she is a hard-working single mom and grandma who fights hard every day to care for her family.

Participating in the Restoration - A Visual

2009-03-30T15:01:00.003-05:00

"Where there was once destruction, now there is beauty." Angelia Clark's new home.

Another Home is Finished!

2009-03-30T13:35:00.002-05:00

Lagniappe Church, Fuller Center Disaster Rebuilders, and Joining Hands celebrate the completion of Lynda Rich's home. Lynda lost her home and all her belongings in Hurricane Katrina; she lived in a FEMA trialer on her property until summer '08 when she obtained a temporary MEMA cottage. The cottage was removed from her property after it was badly damaged in Hurricane Gustav, and she and her daughter have been living in a camper trailer without water or electricity ever since. Construction on the home began in January 2009, and despite her own physical disability, Lynda has worked tirelessly alongside the volunteers on the construction; after three-and-a-half long years, Lynda is finally home again.

Veteran Volunteers!

2009-03-19T16:46:00.000-05:00

This week Lagniappe is full to the brim with, what we term, "veteran volunteers." The Cross (a campus ministry at the University of Tennessee) began coming to the coast before Lagniappe existed, and has a continued ministry of excellent service punctuated by a deep love for each other that spills out into all their interactions. They are a dynamic and hard-working group, and we love having them! Our second crew is from Pennsylvania, and are what we might term an "older, active" crowd. They have been given a very difficult task this week, and are working hard with great attitudes. So far, the students from the Cross have painted the Mockingbird, begun a foundation, framed up a house, and done a number of projects in the local high school. Our friends from Pennsylvania have installed windows and siding on a particularly difficult rehab project. (For more pictures, see the photo-album on the left side of the web-page.)

Scott Necaise Home Dedication

2009-03-19T09:06:00.005-05:00

A beautiful Friday afternoon in Waveland, MS, marks a great day for Scott Necaise - his house is completed, the dedication is underway; he has a new home! "I don't have any words except 'thank you' to everyone who's worked on my house," he says. Scott's house is the first built through collaboration between Lagniappe Church and Fuller Center Disaster Rebuilders, with Lagniappe completing all major framing and exterior work and the Fuller Center providing additional funding, construction leadership, and teams to finish out the interior. Thank you everyone who has participated in the building of this house. Please keep Scott in your prayers as he begins life in a new home. (photo: Scott (far right front) with family and Bartow Tucker of Fuller Center (front left))

Important Announcement...

2009-02-11T20:55:00.002-06:00

Please follow the link below to the Lagniappe Church homepage for an announcement from Lagniappe about our upcoming transition out of re-building toward development in the Bay-Waveland community. Click here to be taken to the LPC homepage

Learning to Pray

2009-01-22T11:05:00.002-06:00

When Lagniappe began, we had no idea what to do or where to begin...and our prayers were born out of deep need and desperation rather than piety. Today, having become more "self-sufficient" and organized, we often forget to pray. We forget the one who brings every volunteer, who sends every penny, who holds this place in the palm of His hand and directs the winds and waves. Well, He is reminding us, and drawing us back to Himself. Please pray for our staff today. Many difficult decisions are being made in the next few days that will greatly affect our next few months. We need money for houses, and the anticipated grants are coming later than we expected. Please pray 1) that God would teach us to trust. 2) That God would make it clear what our next steps should be. 3) That God would comfort those who are still without homes (many of whom are our clients). 4) That God would provide the money to build these houses-and provide it quickly. 5) PRAISE Him for His provision, and His promise that "He knows the plans He has for us...plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give us a future and a hope."

Go, Send, or Disobey

2009-01-21T10:52:00.005-06:00

This is a famous quote by John Piper regarding missions. It sounds harsh, but Biblically, Piper argues that the Christian is either called to GO to the mission field, or help SEND others to the field...neither is more spiritual than the other, but to do neither is disobedience to God's call. Many who read this blog are "senders." You support LPC financially; you support us in your prayers. You encourage us from far away in the ministry that God has called us to in Bay Saint Louis. FYI: Just because you send, does NOT mean you are not doing (or called to do) missionary and ministry work in your own community either! All that being said, we are thankful for the senders. We could not be here without your investment in the Kingdom. God uses you mightily in ways you cannot even imagine. However, it is exciting for us when senders become "Goers." (I know it's not a word, just give it to me). This week we have members of Lynne and John Sabin's church, Westminster Presbyterian Church in Greenwood, MS. This church has supported and encouraged John and Lynne--both financially and through prayer. But this week they CAME! They are here-doing the work that they have heard so much about these last 2 years. We are thankful for their partnership, thankful for their service, and thankful that some can go, some can send, and some have the privilege of doing both!

Therefore ENCOURAGE one another and build one another up, just as you are doing...

2009-01-09T09:30:00.009-06:00

Some days in Bay St. Louis, no matter how beautiful the weather or how "productive" the day may seem...we become weary. The task is too big. We do not have enough to give. Yesterday was one of those days. I walked through the main building thinking "I hate this town that takes so long to recover. I hate the systems that do not work; I hate the corruption that has harmed so many. I am weary, and what is worse, I do not feel the love for Bay St. Louis or her people that I am called to feel." I decided to go for a drive and deliver popsicles-get out of the office, bring some encouragement to the volunteers, and maybe remind myself of what we are doing. Instead, I was the one encouraged. God brought me a 5th time volunteer--a faithful friend and encourager of Lagniappe. He began, out of the blue, to tell me about God's work in His church back home. God is raising up missionaries. He is using Lagniappe as a spring board for His church to consider acts of mercy in their neighborhoods across the United States. "You cannot even know the way God is using this church to draw others into His mission of redemption and restoration," he said. "Please know that our church prays faithfully for you all in the trenches...it is all we can do." There is a Biblical mandate for encouragement because God designed us to need Him, and to need each other. Yesterday I was reminded of God's faithfulness, of His sovereign work throughout this country (and the world), and of His graciousness in using Lagniappe. I was pointed back to the cross, and drew encouragement from the words and prayers of my brother in Christ. I went to encourage the volunteers with popsicles, and I left encouraged myself by the prayers and words of those I went to serve.

RUF Blitz Build Photos

2008-12-20T17:00:00.003-06:00

Please click on the photo above and you will be taken to an online web album. From there you may download any of the pictures for personal or professional use. You may sell them or give them away. They make great stocking stuffers.

Day 5: 2:30 pm

2008-12-19T14:41:00.004-06:00

Thank you for your prayers...5 days, lots of rain, no injuries, and two houses later...the week is over! Both houses look incredible. Check out the slideshow on the website for more pictures of the week; I will be uploading them over the next few days. These college students did an incredible job-working through rain and mud, learning new skills, and encouraging each other and the staff! I have been amazed by their enthusiasm and rejoice that, 3 years after Hurricane Katrina, there are mission minded students interested in bringing restoration to a hurting area. Thanks to them for their time, their hard work, and their great attitudes!! Thanks to Bobby and Troy Lane (2nd house pictured) for frying up some delicious turkey for the crews this afternoon! Thank you to the staff (both of Lagniappe and Habitat) for the hard work and many hours they put into these projects. And finally, we thank the Father for all of the above along with safety, energy, and even the desire to serve.

8am-12pm, Day 1 of the College Blitz

2008-12-15T14:26:00.005-06:00

These photos were taken between 9-11:00 am this morning. Check out the website tonight to see pictures of the afternoon! The volunteers and construction staff are cruising and both houses are moving incredibly fast. So far the rain is holding but you can see the ominous clouds in the back-ground.

College Blitz Build Underway!

2008-12-15T07:54:00.002-06:00

As I sit at my computer, 6 students from the University of North Carolina are cleaning the kitchen, and 30 more college students have driven off in green vans and Honda accords to the Lagniappe work site! This week Lagniappe is partnering with Habitat for Humanity, and 2 houses will be dried in (that means framed, sheeted, sided, painted, and roofed) by Friday. The students come from North Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, Florida, South Carolina, and Alabama. Many just finished their finals on Saturday and drove down on Sunday. It is a tremendous sacrifice of time and money on their part, and we are thankful for their participation in the ongoing work! Please keep them and the staff of both Lagniappe and Habitat in your prayers this week. We will be updating the blog daily and hopefully will have some pictures of the progress by this afternoon!

I Didn't Vote

2008-12-04T14:45:00.002-06:00

This was writtten by a friend of Jean, Grant Scarborough, who works at an inner city medical clinic that he co-founded in Augusta, GA. It is profound. Occasionally I get inspired to write and this happens to be one of those days. I woke up early to vote for our next president. This is important. Four years of leadership that has the capability of changing our cities, neighborhoods, and even our very lives. Today was the day I made a difference. Standing in line with my diet coke can and granola bar in hand, I waited. One hour I waited. Then my time came, I thought. But they could not find my name. They found my wife's name. I informed them that I lived with my wife. I even told them she was pregnant, I thought that gave me credibility. Still, no name. They called downtown and I was not listed there either. I walked away dejected. I couldn't even get an "I voted" sticker. I asked for the sticker and the sweet lady said, "did you vote?" well – you know – I just kept walking. What a wasted hour, well not completely wasted. For over an hour I talked with a lady who was trying to start an inner city medical clinic in a nearby community. Her eyes lit up as we talked, "I've heard about you," she said. We exchanged phone numbers all the while talking with the next guy about his desire to start a once monthly dinner for the homeless. Then my two new Methodist friends used my wifes favorite word "providential." They smiled as they used this word while I stared in disbelief – or maybe old fashion confusion. Yes, by the time I reached the clinic I was a providentially dejected voter without even a sticker or an opportunity to change the world. I would even say that this is the curse of my mother, but she might read this one day. All I can do now is pout and see patients. I am good at one of those and not so good at the other and I will let the reader decide. My first patient was a middle aged man from rural South Carolina. He showed up with his CAT scan report in his hand. I read the results before I even saw him – "a destructive invasive neoplastic lesion" obvious cancer that even a good "pouter" can interpret. The CAT scan was performed over a month ago (the words destructive and invasive came back to mind). Where have you been? Seemed like an obvious question. In unbelief I heard a story of rejection. He has been to four different hospitals that refused to help since he had no medical insurance, 2 were even state hospitals. No one was willing to give him chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery. I yelled quietly, "What in the heck is wrong with this place?" This guy created in God's image can die and no one cared. Breathe, exhale and keep going. Patient 2 – A kind inner city man with just your basic medical problems of high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol. He says everything is fine except…then he points to his head. "I don't trust nobody doctor." He tells a tale of sitting in his chair all night long and looking out his blinds every time he hears a noise. He stands alone at the bus stop. He walks alone and turns around if anyone is behind him to make sure he is not being followed. He is big and intimidating but has become imprisoned mentally. His wife passed away over 20 years ago and his son is in Iraq. "I don't trust nobody doctor," he repeats again and again. We pray for his tormented paranoid mind that has imprisoned him. After prayer, the man gets ready to leave and then nervously speaks "Doctor…. one more thing…" I don't have time for 'one more thing.' "There was an old lady out front who couldn't pay her co-pay. What's going to happen to her?" I inform him that people have to pay a little bit to be seen. It teaches them responsibility or something. "Well she said she could pay in a couple of weeks, but I don't know how she will be able to – Do you mind….. I mean …..Can I pay her co-pay?" I have never seen a borderline paranoid schizophrenic reach out and care for a stranger like this man. I walked back in a closed exam room and wept. Is a president really going to change the world or will it be you and me and my paranoid friend. Has Christ not called us to this time and place to build His Kingdom and love His people? Are we going to change the world in the ballot box and then go home and wait for it to happen? We are his ambassadors, to build his kingdom, love a neighbor, serve the poor, and die to self. That sounds great, but now what? My nurse is having a yard sale, why don't you come? In fact, she has gathered a couple of friends to help, because economics tells you the more stuff at a yard sale, the more you make. And she wants to make lots of money. The yard sale is for Calvin – a quadriplegic, that comes to our clinic. He was recently hospitalized because Medicaid does not give him enough gauzes and supplies for all his wounds and his bed is not ideal for his thin quadriplegic body. My nurse was thinking about writing Calvin's name in for the presidential election, because if he became president he would have better supplies. Instead, she decided to raise the money through a yard sale. She is "wasting" one entire day so a new friend can have gauzes, wraps, and lotion to stay a few more days out of the hospital. Talk about changing the world! She has started with loving her new friend through a yard sale, more than I have done in a long time. It is Election Day and I did not vote; but if I could, I would vote for you, the reader. We need you to walk outside and love those around you for the sake of Christ. Go, serve, build, and die unto the glory of Christ. Have a yard sale, pay for someone who cannot afford his bill, care for someone dying of cancer - - can you see the world beginning to change?

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, or the Top Ten Reasons To Be Thankful

2008-11-24T08:24:00.006-06:00

As I was pondering my life during the wee hours of the night last night, I was amazed at what God has done in my life since God moved John and I to Lagniappe, and I began to review the good, the bad and the ugly. The GOOD involves the amazing journey beginning in April of 2006 when God arranged (for years) a divine appointment at the RUF Mississippi State University Crawfish Boil with Andy and Cammie Chapman, and our lives as we then knew them were over. That day began an eight month journey of experiencing God literally moving our hearts and spirits in another direction, a direction that was unexpected and even shocking. I still sometimes experience the shock of what God did, but I know as sure as I'm typing this that God did it. How odd of God to take a crooked stick like John, who said for years, "I'm not a missionary and I'm not going anywhere", and a crooked stick like me, the chief of sinners, to plop us down in the middle of what I am convinced is the most incredible picture of God's restoration of creation - the restoration of US! Which brings me to the BAD........we have learned so much of our own brokeness...........and the UGLY..........that we are much more sinful than we ever dared believe.........which brings me back to the GOOD..........that we are much more loved than we can even imagine, to the point that when God looks at us, He rejoices over us with singing! The blood of Jesus hides the BAD and the UGLY so that when God looks at us, He ONLY sees the GOOD! How amazing is THAT? Can you even picture God in Heaven rejoicing over US? With SINGING? It is incredible. Top ten Reasons to be Thankful 1. That Jesus' blood covers the bad and the ugly and God only sees the good, which isn't even ours, but is Jesus'. 2. That the same God who makes things broken then proceeds to restore them. 3. That God can use ANYONE to accomplish His will, even broken people like us. 4. That God is in control of all things, even the Kings, Presidents, Pastors, the details of my life and the number of hairs on my head! 5. That God established marriage as the perfect picture of Jesus' love for His church. Christ loved his Bride enough to DIE for her! 6. That God is still on the throne and history cannot and will not be changed. The Alpha and Omega has established it from beginning to end. 7. For the fellowship of the saints, the most fulfilling fellowship and communion we can ever experience on earth. 8. For the Beauty of the Earth 9. For Music 10. For the promise of Heaven and getting to see Jesus face to face. That's it! The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, ending with the GOOD, or as they say in the Bay, "It's All Good!" Have a Blessed Thanksgiving week.

Thank you Cammie!

2008-11-23T17:10:00.002-06:00

As you may or may not know one of our staff members is moving to another part of the coast to continue the restoration work in a different capacity. Cammie Chapman and her daughter, Kate will be moving to Gulfport, Mississippi and she will be working with R.S.V.P., a program that allows local senior citizens to serve their 'own' communities. Many of you know Cammie as the friendly voice behind our reservation hotline. She has helped provide 'air traffic control' for over 10,000 volunteers who have served at Lagniappe. She has done an amazing job and will be a great assett to Harrison County. We are sad to be losing her, but she is only moving her 'vocational' work. She is still part of the Lagniappe family, an active member of the church and deeply loved in this community. Cammie, thanks for all you have done. We know that the work of restoration will be furthered by your participation through the Harrison County Chamber and R.S.V.P. P.S. Lynne Sabin will be picking up the torch on reservations, so please call or email her with any reservation needs!

Mockingbailout....

2008-11-01T03:40:00.004-05:00

If you have not yet read Sarah Denton's blog about the Mockingbird Cafe' please read it. It describes well the community attachment to the cafe'. If you have been to Bay St. Louis as a volunteer then there is a good chance that you have spent the better part of one or many evenings enjoying the porch and the culture that surrounds the Mockingbird. I recounted to Martin (one of the owners) how I hoped that one day Lagniappe would be as beloved as the cafe'. It may be hard to get your mind around, but as Jean IV recounted to me, "Dad, there were hundreds of people there Thursday night- everyone was there. (NOTE: Jean had gone home early and we live about 1 block from the cafe'. At present I am out of the country so this story was recounted to me via Skype on the internet) He continued, "about midnight I heard this roar and cheering. It was louder that anything I'd ever heard in Old Town, then I got a text from Connor. It said, "They're not closing!" As the city contemplated the closing of this beloved establishment I had one resident say to me, "We might as well just move!" Funny isn't it? Katrina galvinized the city, but when faced with the thought of losing community, residents would rather move than be isolated from each other. All that to say that I'd like to encourage you to give. Not give to get. Not give to have a tax deduction, but give to help. We have had hundreds of thousands of dollars given to help individual families, but this is a place that helps all of us cope; all of us gather and all of us have community. The Mockingbird is trying to raise $10,000. I'd love to see them raise $100,000. Please consider sending a check to them. As is popular to say these days, "We bailed out Wall Street, but what about Main Street?" Here's your chance. Their contact information is as follows: Mockingbird Cafe', 110 South Second Street, Bay Saint Louis, MS 39520, Attn: Mockingbailout. 228.467.8383. Here's a link to the Sun-Herald story about the bailout.

Blocks and Brooms

2008-10-31T17:07:00.001-05:00

The Arden Presbyterian (SC) team brought this 1927 Singer sewing machine that runs like a dream. The tag attached to the machine reads -- To: Sewing Women @ Laginappe Presbyterian Fm: Jay Migeras @ Arden Pres. The machine will be given to Donna Skinner, one of Lagniappe's home owners. Block and foundation work was the focus of the Arden volunteers this week in the community. They also entertained us as they danced with and pushed brooms cleaning in the main building here at Lagniappe.

The Mockingbird Phoenix

2008-10-31T14:53:00.004-05:00

For over 2 years, the Mockingbird has been the local coffee shop, burger joint, music venue, and living room for Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. You could not go without seeing a familiar face, and no matter where you were from, walking through the front door was like walking into your own home. Kat Fitzpatrick (a local artist) was quoted by the Sun Herald saying, "When many of us were living in trailers, it was our living room." For a lot of people, it still is. People who don't have an office do business there, and students study there. It's like the best part of a City Hall and a rural post office." It is where Lagniappe held our weekly staff Bible study, and where we went to meet about business, or escape business. Nicknamed "the Bird," the coffee shop / restaurant was the eclectic haven for folk music, art, Lazy Magnolia, and the best burgers in town. Any given day you could find the punk rockers, the prep-school students, the soccer moms, and of course someone on the Lagniappe staff sitting by a window. Monday morning, October 27th, patrons were shocked by a sign that read, "The Mockingbird will be closing its doors Friday, October 31st. Thank you for letting us be part of your lives." It was a blow no one anticipated-a sobering warning that this town's economy is fragile. No one could imagine downtown Bay St. Louis without the Mockingbird. So we prayed. Lagniappe spent the last week, corporately and individually praying for this coffee shop and their owners, Martin and Allicin Chambers. Why does a coffee shop matter so much? It matters because people matter, because culture matters, because art matters...because God cares about conversations over coffee or burgers and loves folk music! It matters because it served as a community center-a catalyst for relationships, and a place of beauty in the midst of chaos. The garden at the Mockingbird has, at times, been one of the few places in this city with green landscaping cascading over handrails and around foot paths...in a town under construction, green things become increasingly valuable. Thursday night was their final goodbye, the last night of music and food before they closed their doors. "Full cyrcle" band played, and the Bird ran out of food and beer by 8pm!! Allicin stepped the mic and the several hundred patrons quieted down, expecting a farewell speech...but through some tears and smiles Allicein managed a quiet "we aren't closing!" Little was heard after that. People's bank had come through to refinance them-recognizing the incredible importance of this cultural hub. The Phoenix came; the Mockingbird is staying open! It was a sobering reminder to all of us that Bay St. Louis is far from recovered. Small businesses are still in desperate need, and without them this town cannot hope to recover. But God is faithful, and we still have good coffee, great beer, and a living room on Second and Main. For more information check out http://www.sunherald.com/living/story/921029.html and http://www.sunherald.com/business/story/917288.html

Popsicles!

2008-10-30T13:01:00.002-05:00

Popsicle season is almost over, and we are moving into the hot chocolate deliveries, but here is one of the last popsicle crews. These students are from Grace Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, LA. Grace also has a private school through the church, and the school sends anyone from the senior class interested in a missions trip! So the students get a week off of school and the opportunity to volunteer and learn many new skills. These students hung all of the insulation in Donna Skinner's house; thanks to their work all of the sheet rock is now hung and waiting to be finished!

Training YOU!

2008-10-22T16:58:00.004-05:00

This week Lagniappe has been privileged to partner with a group called Training You in Mississippi. The program is a 6 week course in construction skills-including 3 weeks of classroom training and 3 weeks of on the job training. Training you teaches adults Hancock County valuable job skills, and even trains them for specific jobs that companies in the Gulf Region specifically requested. One of the greatest needs in Hancock County is job skill training. Training You has recognized that need and seeks to fill it in a unique way. Volunteers have come from all over the country to help rebuild the coast; Training You is equipping the people who live HERE to be able to give back to their own community. It is an incredible program that gives adults in this community an opportunity to give back while simultaneously equipping them for gainful employment. Oh, and the training is FREE!! Lagniappe has a lot of projects; Training You has a lot of skilled and semi-skilled people...one might call it Providence! The instructors will tailor their classes and education based upon our needs-meaning that we can ask them to do almost anything and they will take on the challenge as an educational opportunity for their students! They are currently hanging sheet-rock in Mr. Moore's house.

2008-10-20T17:14:00.009-05:00

This week we have several teams hanging sheet rock, while others are setting block for a new foundation. We have had our first hint of fall weather, which is bringing a breeze and lower 80's temperatures for the first time in a while! The Lord continues to bring people, despite difficult economic times and busy fall schedules...we are incredibly thankful!

God is still bringing volunteers

2008-10-16T14:40:00.005-05:00

Sometimes things seem slow here; when the building is empty and our staff fill up only one table at lunch. On those days, I tend to panic. "Where are the people? How will finish the job? Does anyone remember?" This weighs espcially heavily on me as the "Resource Coordinator;" recruiting volunteers is my job! It is on those days that I walk to our main building and look around at the signs on the walls and remember that God brought all of those people; He will bring more. Then, like the 9 lepers, I often forget to return to Him in praise when our parking lot, lunch-room, and bunkhouses are full! This week we have volunteers from California, Rhode-Island, and North Carolina helping to hang sheet-rock and finish a foundation. We are especially excited that Ruth Friant's father is volunteering here this week! Ruth has shown him little mercy-sending him out to pour concrete and hang sheet-rock, but he has everything with a great attitude. Our Northern friends have been a little frightened of our bugs down here-apparently our dragon-flies are like F 250s, and our wood-roaches are the size of armadillos....but they are hanging in there! Popsicles have a way of making every day better, as the picture makes clear. Thank you to all the volunteers who have remembered and returned. Thank you to our Heavenly Father who has never forgotten, who never sleeps, and who will surely finish the good work He has begun.

Fall is upon us...

2008-09-29T08:24:00.004-05:00

As the weather begins to cool in Bay St. Louis the work continues forward. Many homes are 'in process'. The church continues to gather on Sunday mornings worship, fellowship and the Lord's supper. It is a great encouragement to hear so many people in the community consistently compliment the work that our staff and volunteers do in this area. The boards are still on our windows at the Larroux house, but we are hopeful that we can take them down in mid-October at the end of Hurricane season. Keep us all in your prayers and please schedule a trip to Lagniappe when your schedule permits. Blessings and grace, Jean.

Lagniappe shelter on WLOX Biloxi

2008-09-09T21:18:00.003-05:00

Sorry for the commercial, but thanks to WLOX for their coverage of Hancock County!

Lagniappe Update

2008-09-06T10:21:00.005-05:00

We are sorry for the lack of communication these past few days, but we have been fairly busy. The last of the staff was able to return last night and were relieved that all staff homes survived with no damage. The Lagniappe facility had some of the fence down, a few leaks in the roof of the big building, but we are up and running again. While our construction crew assesses the needs in our community, our facility has become a Red Cross Shelter. We are housing about 25 Red Cross Volunteers and expect to receive about 75 refugees from our area today. So many of you have sent emails asking about the houses you worked on on previous trips, and we are happy to report that not one of the Lagniappe houses we have built was damaged! We are still assessing damage to other homes you might have worked on, and we can only report that many homes in Waveland did have damage due to flood waters, and our current mission is to take care of as many of those families as we can house safely to meet their immediate needs of food and housing. Our previous mission of participating in the restoration of the Gulf Coast through the declaration and demonstration of the love of God shown to us in Christ Jesus has not changed, and we will be here no matter what. MNA Disaster Response Director, Arklie Hooten, is staying with us and is seeking to establish a relief site in Baton Rouge, a community greatly effected by Gustav's winds. For information about that, please check the MNA website @www.pca-mna.org. Please pray for the people here. They are so weary. Also pray for us, that the love of Christ would be displayed in word and deed. As Curt Moore has stated, we have entered into yet another area where we are over our heads and depending on grace. Stepping into these waters is ALWAYS fearful at first, yet we know it is the canvas upon which the Father loves to display His glory and grace. Thanks so much for your prayers and emails!

Photos taken during Hurricane Gustav

2008-09-05T23:00:00.002-05:00

All photos come from complements of Frank and Susan Underwood.

National Guard HQ at Lagniappe

2008-09-05T14:40:00.000-05:00

Lagniappe Staff Alert

2008-09-01T22:31:00.003-05:00

Since many area residents sustained flood damage in Waveland, Lagniappe will be opening it's bunkhouses to families in need of shelter, and will also open it's kitchen to begin serving meals as soon as possible. Highway 603 was flooded today, but is expected to reopen by midmorning on Tuesday, so all Lagniappe staff is asked to return to the Bay as soon as possible to facilitate disaster response at Lagniappe. Please pray for travel mercies for all those returning home.

Gustav Update

2008-09-01T21:00:00.001-05:00

Governor Barbour just reported, with limited access, the effects of Gustav. 10 foot tidal surge in Waveland. Several hundred homes damaged in Waveland. Several main roads in Hancock Co. sustained flood waters; Dunbar, Hwy.90 in low spots. All assessments were done from boats. Unable to check rest. Curfew in effect 6pm-6am.

Will report more in the morning.

All Lagniappe staff safe and sound.

Thank you for your continued prayers.

6:10 PM

He maketh the storm a calm.........................

2008-09-01T08:05:00.004-05:00

It's early yet, but it appears that the Bay has been spared any serious damage so far. Jean reported that there has been rain and wind, but very little storm serge and no water has made it to Highway 90 anywhere on the Mississippi coast! Waveland has completely lost power, but there has been little wind and tree damage! Praise God from whom all blessings flow! He has obviously answered our prayers as we have watched the east side of Gustav pretty much fall apart instead of causing havoc! Thank you, Jesus. Please continue to pray for Mississippi, Louisiana and especially New Orleans, that their levees will be able to withstand whatever flooding ensues there. Thank you so much for keeping us in your prayers! "Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!"

No Church on Sunday, Remaining staff evacuating

2008-08-30T20:27:00.005-05:00

With the upgrade of Gustav to a Cat 4 and probably a Cat 5 by morning we have determined to cancel service tomorrow and ENCOURAGE all remaining LPC members and families to head for higher/safer ground. We did not want there to be any reason to remain in Bay St. Louis longer than necessary. John Sabin and I are the last two remaining staff members in the Bay. We will finish boarding up the church in the morning and then John will be heading to Brookhaven, MS and I will be going to Necaise, MS (about 40 minutes north of Bay St. Louis). We would ask you to please remember Hancock County in your prayers. There is a heaviness in the air here. The sentiment that I have heard over and over again is, "I just can't do this again..." I find myself nodding in agreement. For tonight Bay St. Louis is peaceful. There is a band at the Mockingbird and I saw a clarinet player just playing to himself on Main Street this afternoon. This town has a soul that is resilient, but she is tired and weary. I know how she feels. NOTE: Lynne Sabin will be updating this blog so check back during the storm. I will keep her updated via Satellite phone. Blessings and Grace, Jean P.S. Please read Psalm 107:23-32 and pray those truths for Bay St. Louis!

Governor Barbour announces mandatory evacuations

2008-08-30T10:17:00.004-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Aug. 29, 2008 PEARL - Governor Haley Barbour issued mandatory evacuations for Harrison and Hancock counties beginning Sunday morning for people living the following: • FEMA travel trailers • FEMA mobile homes • Mississippi Cottages • Residents in designated flood hazard zones. "There is no question we are taking this storm seriously, but there is no need to panic," Governor Barbour said at a news conference at the National Guard Armory Readiness Center in Gulfport. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, David Paulison, Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and MEMA Director Mike Womack also attended the news conference. "As we prepare for the worst, we must pray for the best," Governor Barbour said. The Mississippi Army National Guard will launch a door-to-door campaign on Saturday to notify people living in low-lying areas, flood hazard zones, FEMA travel trailers and mobile homes and Mississippi Cottages to seek alternative shelter because of the threat of severe tropical weather. The State Emergency Response Team, which is comprised from MEMA and several other key state agencies, will also deploy to Gulfport this afternoon. Once there, the SERT will establish an Emergency Operations Center so they may monitor and assess resources and needs for local governments as Gustav approaches. Due to the large number of people expected to evacuate from Louisiana, Governor Barbour said Mississippi and Louisiana officials are planning to use the contraflow plan for both Interstates 55 and 59 this weekend. An exact starting time for the reverse laning of the interstates has not yet been determined. More than 7,000 Mississippi families still live in state and federal disaster housing. These units are temporary units which is why they are not elevated to heights to protect residents from floods and many are in flood prone areas, said MEMA Director Mike Womack. "MEMA's primary concern is for the safety of all Mississippi residents," Womack said. "But with so many people living in low-lying areas, these residents need to understand that this housing may be susceptible to flooding in a situation like this." According to the National Weather Service since 1970 there have more than 600 deaths attributed to flooding from tropical weather. More than 60 percent of those deaths occurred from inland flooding. Gustav is forecasted to become a strong hurricane as it enters the Gulf of Mexico in the next day or two. The National Hurricane Center expects Gustav to make landfall on the Gulf Coast as early as Monday or Tuesday. For more information and updates visit www.msema.org. or call MEMA's Public Information Line at 866-519-MEMA

Lagniappe Closed for 2 Weeks!

2008-08-20T12:37:00.002-05:00

If you are trying to get in touch with Lagniappe staff members please note that we will be closed to teams and out of the office beginning 5 p.m. August 15th until September 8th. We will be out of the office for those 3 weeks- the first two weeks provide down time for the staff following the summer push of teams and building. The third week is for staff planning, training and spiritual focus. Please keep us in your prayers during that time. Please note that staff have been instructed to turn off cell phones, not check e-mail or work at all, so please understand if you don't get calls back or emails returned. It is a sign of a healthy staff resting and believing that the Kingdom of God will go on for 2 weeks without them, not of indifference toward your needs. NOTE: We will worship every Sunday during the break at 9:30 a.m. at the church, join us then!

WORLD MAGAZINE- August 23

2008-08-19T21:44:00.002-05:00

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa—After the Cedar River crested June 13 at nearly 20 feet above flood stage, this city of over 120,000 feels deserted. An agrihub dominated by Quaker Oats and Cargill food processing facilities, Cedar Rapids in its downtown area saw floodwaters reach 12 feet above its worst flood on record, set in 1851. Nearly two months later, you cannot mail a letter, buy a bagel, check in at the Crowne Plaza, or check out a book at the city library.

In addition to the flood-damaged post office, the hotel, the library, and food outlets like Bruegger's are about 100 flood-damaged blocks containing department stores, theaters, and government and other offices. Many commercial properties are hollowed-out or boarded-up shells of their former selves following heavy rains and days of standing floodwater in June. Those that survive sit idle, stripped of wallboard, flooring, and furnishings. On empty streets the hum of utility pumps and the generators to run them continues day and night.

Waterlogged are businesses, bars, banks, city hall, the city jail, and dozens of neighborhoods—in all, city officials say, about 18,000 structures, including around 15,000 houses. In many areas flood survivors are racing a deadline set by city officials for debris removal later this month; after that, officials say, it will be too late to salvage buildings overrun by mold and too difficult to haul away flood wreckage with the approach of cold weather and snow.

The degree of the urban devastation—if not its size—brings to mind Hurricane Katrina's wreckage in New Orleans and other Gulf cities. And that's what got to Keri Norwood, who followed news of Iowa's extensive flooding via the internet from her home in Bay St. Louis, Miss., 1,000 miles away. "What I saw was very similar to the way houses looked in Bay St. Louis after Katrina. I thought, 'We have been given so much with volunteers and help. It's only appropriate that we should give back.'"

Norwood ran an ad in her local paper soliciting volunteers to help in the Midwest. In late July she and a dozen other Bay St. Louis residents drove north to begin mucking out houses and cleaning up in Cedar Rapids. The group is multi-denominational: Catholics, Methodists, Presbyterians, and others. Norwood, 28, is on staff at Lagniappe Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Bay St. Louis, a church just 40 minutes outside New Orleans that continues to be at the center of Gulf Coast rebuilding ("Dark to daylight," Aug. 26, 2006). Lagniappe currently has seven houses of its own under construction and is hosting this year about 200 volunteers a day as part of a cooperative arrangement with Habitat for Humanity—three years after Hurricane Katrina.

Haven't Gulf Coast residents seen enough flood-related cleanup? "Coming here is therapy," laughs Curt Moore, another team member and an ordained pastor who now coordinates relief activities through Lagniappe.

Said Norwood: "If there is anyone who understands the pain and emotion of losing your home, it's these volunteers." Three team members did have their Gulf Coast homes wiped out down to the foundation, and they moved into new homes only earlier this year. Bob Delcuze of Bay St. Louis lost his home of 40 years in Katrina, and with the help of volunteers moved into a newly completed—and elevated—home on the same site in February. He decided to come to Cedar Rapids to help with flood cleanup here because "I feel like I owe it to somebody," he said. The damage in Cedar Rapids, according to Delcuze, "is almost like a normal hurricane, not like Katrina, but if your house is flooded, once it gets to the ceiling it's all equal. The issues are the same—am I going to rebuild? Will anyone help?"

Members of the Lagniappe team also understand the red tape. Insurance claims can take months to process and buyouts can take years. June's flood-waters breached an earthen levee along the Cedar River, causing the most extensive damage in old neighborhoods abutting the riverfront. Yet many were outside the floodplain and not eligible for flood insurance. And until the city comes up with a plan to extend or rebuild the levee, houses in those areas are in limbo.

Altogether the Lagniappe team members "mucked out" three houses in under five days—removing plaster, damaged wall studs, carpeting, kitchen appliances, and cabinetry. Along the way they and other volunteer teams have found themselves also hauling out personal belongings and helping residents sort the sentimental from the largely unsalvageable: photo albums, Christmas ornaments, toys, and wedding dresses.

One of the houses Bay St. Louis residents cleared sits at 80 22nd Avenue SW in a 100-year-old, largely working-class neighborhood. Owner Leland Maynes, who does delivery and other work for the Cedar Rapids Gazette, lived there alone after his wife died 14 years ago. Many residents here bought their homes from first- and second-generation Czech immigrants, who came to Cedar Rapids in a wave beginning in the late 19th century to work in packinghouses or to set up businesses of their own. Maynes' two-story frame bungalow, like every other home that lines the street, is sooty with mold climbing up to its second-floor window. Foot tracks cross front porches still an inch deep in river silt. Sunflowers and other stray volunteers spring up in foot-high grass no one's thought to mow. At dusk 22nd Avenue is soundless and absolutely empty of people. Street lamps won't come on, as electricity to flooded neighborhoods is cut.

The floodwater came up seven feet into Maynes' main floor, he said, while some homes in the neighborhood saw water lines extend 2-3 feet into the second floor. Now gutted, the home sits like thousands of others, windows and doors propped open to the street, drying, waiting. The front door bears a yellow placard. Under a color-coded system instituted by the city, yellow means limited entry at one's own risk. As of late July over 4,000 structures had been issued yellow cards. Others on the street have purple cards, meaning they will be demolished, and a few have green cards indicating they are now safe for occupancy.

Maynes is living outside the city temporarily with a friend. "I am prepared to wait, " he said of his house, "but I might give it away." That kind of ambivalence is everywhere. "Will sell for $10,000," is spray-painted on one boarded-up house, but around the corner is a vacated automotive store with, "You loot I shoot."

And that's where the Lagniappe team comes in. They can speak to disaster-dazed residents from a future flood victims don't yet see. "My goal is that this is the beginning, for us and for them," said Norwood. Already she has assembled another team to return to Cedar Rapids in mid-October. They are prepared to continue cleanup but hoping that some skilled labor—and reconstruction—will be on the agenda, too.

Copyright © 2008 WORLD Magazine August 23, 2008, Vol. 23, No. 17

Thanks Clyde!

2008-08-14T07:31:00.006-05:00

This week marks the last week on staff for one of our contractors, Clyde Baker. Clyde resigned in the spring to pursue work with a mission in Belize. Clyde will be working with a mission school setting up a woodshop to teach students how to make and install custom cabinetry. NOTE: Clyde was a cabinet maker in Virginia Pre-K (before Katrina). The staff and interns gathered last night at the Mockingbird Cafe' for a celebration of Clyde's time with us at Lagniappe (and a little roasting as well). It must be said that Clyde has left a huge impression on the city, it's residents, the volunteers and on Lagniappe. He will be sorely missed, but undoubtedly back in the Bay in the distant future. If you would like more information about Clyde's new ministry in Belize please email him: cbaker@lpcpca.com. Clyde is also raising monthly support so please consider him in your giving. Lagniappe is proud to be sponsoring Clyde in this new endeavor. Thank you Clyde...Soli Deo Gloria!

A Lesson from Tater Tots

2008-08-12T21:57:00.008-05:00

Last night was the last intern Bible study of the summer. We have been working through the book of Galatians, seeking to apply to gospel in very real and practical ways. During the discussion time Ashley Myhal gave the following application:

A lesson from tater tots

What can we learn from a tater tot? Yesterday, I went to dinner with some youth girls. We all ordered at Sonic and our food was delivered -hot, delicious popcorn chicken, sonic burger, onion rings, french fries, tater tots and sonic blasts. Yum! However, as soon as we passed the food around the car, two of the girls started to bicker over a stray tater tot. "It's mine!" "No, it was in my bag!" "But you got french fries!" I was mildly offended: after all, I had bought them dinner! They didn't have to pay for it, it was free! They had fries and onion rings! They even got Sonic ice cream! How could they argue over one, lone tater tot? Then I realized what a clear picture the Lord was giving me of what my own life looks like. I have been given awesome grace - free, unearned grace. I so selfishly grab for more - the tater tots of life. For some reason, I'm convinced that I won't be happy unless I have grace AND:grace AND that relationship; grace AND approval of my boss; grace ANDan easy life. I am essentially throwing my hot, delicious Sonic dinner on the ground - burger, fries, and a Sonic Blast, even! - and pouting because I am missing out on tater tots. What is wrong with me? I'm so grateful that through the gospel, I can look at those tatertots and not try to convince myself that they're not good - they are. Sonic tater tots are awesome. Friendships and approval are good things. However, I don't have to chase after them or fight for them. The Lord provides awesome things to me without me even asking. He gives according to His GREAT love, and what He knows that we need and what we don't need. I can trust Him with my life, completely. Funny how God can use Sonic tater tots to teach me about my sin and His awesomeness, huh?

just a few pictures

2008-08-11T00:17:00.000-05:00

Just a few more days till we close; here are some pictures from last weeks teams. Thanks for coming ya'll!

Audience of One

2008-08-04T15:06:00.006-05:00

What does it mean to have an audience of one? It's become a cheesy line we throw around in Christian culture to minimize self-consciousness. Today it became something more for me. Today I spoke with a team leader who has worked at Lagniappe in the past. He told me of an encounter with a gentleman who claimed he could play the guitar. The leader noticed that the man's guitar was missing some strings, as well as the chord that connected the guitar to the amp. An avid musician and lover of music himself, this leader bought the man new strings, tuned his guitar, and hooked it up to the amp with a new chord. As he and his students gathered around to hear the man play, they were surprised. The sounds coming from the guitar sounded nothing like what they expected. It was loud; it was discordant, and the students began to grumble. "I thought he said he could play," they laughed..."this isn't music." The leader stopped them. Pulling them aside he said, "you are not his audience. He plays for an audience of one. These sounds which sound so awful to you are making His creator smile. Whether he knows it or not, this man plays before God. You are just privileged to stand in the arena and watch." Suddenly the attitude changed. The students began to cheer. The discordant sounds became almost beautiful as they listened to them with the ears of the Father. This is what Paul means when he says, "But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose was is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God" (1 Cor. 1:27-28). This is why high school students can build houses in a week. This is why 19 year old college interns can have an incredible impact on our staff and the Bay St. Louis community. This is why sinful men can be pastors. This is why I-who am quick to run into the slavery of my own idolatry-can lead a Bible study about the freedom God offers us as His children. The beautiful part about this is that our lives are chaos. They are a mess...we turn the amp up as loud as we can, we "tune" the guitar all morning, and all we can make are discordant sounds. But that is not what God hears. And not only that, it is not what the world hears. Paul says that God chose the foolish things to "shame the wise." He does not say it just pleases God, but he actually says it affects others. Suddenly we can be friends with people, even though we know we will let them down. God might just use our failures to point our friends to His total sufficiency. We can be bold in our work, even when it is overwhelming-He promises to use the weak to shame the strong. We can be content when we are despised by the world; God promises to use the "low and despised to bring to nothing the things that are." God takes our chaos and makes it beautiful-not just for Himself but for the world. I hung up in tears, excited now "to boast all the more gladly in my weakness...for when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Cor. 11:9b, 10b).

Kevin Costner, " Field of Dreams"

2008-08-01T21:17:00.003-05:00

Ray, people will come Ray. They'll come to Iowa for reasons they can't even fathom. They'll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they're doing it. They'll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. Of course, we won't mind if you look around, you'll say. It's only $20 per person. They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack. And they'll walk out to the bleachers; sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon. They'll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they'll watch the game and it'll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they'll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come Ray. The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh... people will come Ray. People will most definitely come.

Iowa-Day5 Postscript

2008-08-01T15:07:00.003-05:00

After having breakfast in Iowa City we drove around the campus of The University of Iowa. The flood waters are still high but not threatening. The buildings in this photo are of the some of the fraternity houses. There was over $240 million in damages to the university.

An abandoned upper scale neighborhood. Arklie said that the community spent $2 million dollars to a private company to sandbag, gut, and remove debris. Looks a lot like the Coast

On the Coast we buy plywood to cover our windows and doors. In Iowa they pack sand. Apparently they didn't stack them high enough.

Removing sandbags. Tomorrow a volunteer group will come to this neighborhood to assist the removal of the sandbags.

Iowa-Day 5 The Long Ride Home

2008-08-01T11:46:00.029-05:00

Self-Portrait Friday Morning

The team left Hope Church in North Liberty (20 min. South of Cedar Rapids where we were working) at 5am. I flew in and out of Orlando and won't leave until late Sunday evening. My plan is to worship at the host church and visit with the members here. Needless to say it is very quiet around the church. Arklie Hooten, Disaster Response/Short-Term Coordinator is still here and we went to breakfast this morning. Arklie has been here for 5 weeks setting up the program of relief. Please pray for him as he has not been home in that time. If you contribute to this ministry of the PCA please know that your donations are put to good use. I'm going to tell on him now-As I mentioned he hasn't been home in 5 weeks and desperately wants to see his family. Looking for tickets in such short notice the cost is quiet high, over a $1,000. Arklie said, " I couldn't justify spending that much of MNA's money for a ticket." Well things will turn out well because his wife Kat, son Grey, and a team from East Tennessee State arrive late Sunday so it should be a good week for Arklie. Please pray for more leadership to move to this area of need; site managers, project managers, case managers. Volunteers are still coming but the need is great.

Since I didn't do so earlier in the week let me introduce you to the team from Bay St. Louis/Waveland. Carol Wasielweski, LPC staffer with the perpetually perky smile. Carol was whereever there was a need and served with a smile. Plastic anyone?Driving from the worksite back to the church with particles of fecal matter on your clothes is not something you want to get on the upolstery, even if it is only a rental.Raw sewage backed up from the teatment plants and settled into basements and throughout houses; in and through furniture, carpet, walls,etc... I doubled over several times and Simon got sick once but for the most part it was not bad. Really. I wore a respirator, not a paper mask. Thankfully no one was sick due to adequate clothing and preparation. I don't suppose these are the things you want to advertise if you are recruiting for volunteer projects but it's good to know up front. Prior to the trip I asked Arklie if it was necessary to have the rubber boots. I bought them from Walmart and I'm sooooo glad I did. It was the best $15 I have ever spent. Walking in dark muddy waters with good traction is necessary plus you don't want dookie in your socks. Yesterday, just as we were about to stop working, Aaron started to remove kitchen cabinets at Louis's house. Taking wild swings with the 25 lb. pry bar he lost his footing on the slimy vinyl flooring and hit the floor. WHAM! Keri being the great team leader drove him to the hospital where it was confirmed that he broke his thumb clear in two. He is ok and still managed to be his cheerful self, laughing and smiling throughout the evening, even forgoing pain medication.

Aaron Davenport of BSL testing out the chair with the hole in it. "What's this?," he asked. Aaron is a very thoughtful and inquisitive young man. Yesterday he had a phone interview with Americorp and will begin working with them sometime this year.

Bob Delcuze is from BSL and lives one block north of the LPC facility. Bob is a member of Main St. Methodist Church and a member of NOMADS, a relief and mercy wing of the Methodist Church. Bob is 71 but he worked circles around all of the young people. Bob retired from Stenis where he was a Mechanical Engineer. Bob was the go-to guy if we had a question yet with all of his experience he humbly directed with great gentleness and humor. It was a joy to get to know him. He knew why there was a hole in the chair. I suppose that came from being a MS State grad. They teach you those things there you know!

Bill Currie, from BSL. Bill works at Stennis Space Center and is an AWESOME guy. I can't say enough about Bill. I think he was one of my favorite people on the trip (though it's both difficult and unfair to state such a thing. I guess it was because I spent a lot of time talking with him). He, like Bob, is wise beyond his years and is humble and fun to be around. We debriefed last night and the common statement was that we couldn't imagine another team being any better. I couldn't believe there were NO interpersonal problems, fussing, or bickering. There was only a common goal to serve. There were no egos. There was service to the community and service to one another. Bill is a member from Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church. The only reason I state that is because we truly had a representative picture of the body of Christ working is love and service. I was truly blown away.

Penny Foret and Arklie. Penny decided to come two weeks prior to the trip. She has such a kind and gentle spirit. I suppose that comes from owning and running a day care. She's just happy to be away from all those children. I know it's safe to say, and I speak for everyone, that we have all made wonderful new friends. We are already planning our next gather which will be a meal together on the Coast.

Victoria Romano from Milsaps. I guess I am the old guy who can now say, "Those young folk are amazing." Victoria always had a smile, was always working, and loves to talk politics. I am serious when I say this, but look for her to go places. She is a special young lady.

Keri Norwood, team leader. Keri did a precious job of leading the group. She was truly an AMAZING leader. Organized, humble, smart, and a little sassy. She was the perfect team leader. I know this was an encouragement for all of the long hours of planning. The Lord truly blessed our team by appointing her as our leader.

Steven Passman, Milsaps student and Long Beach resident. Steven came because Victoria invited him to come along. Another sharp dude. He was a great addition to the team. We even found out that I know his dad pretty well. It's a small world. Pictured below is the elusive Kathleen Monti. I never could get a photo of Kathleen without her mask or without her shyly moving away from the camera. Kathleen told us last night that this kind of trip was out of the ordinary for her but she saw the add in the paper and really wanted to come. She worked tirelessly everywhere, from shoveling debris to preparing the food she was such a servant. As with the rest of our new friends I look forward to seeing her again on the Coast.

Simon Davenport is Aaron's brother. Man these guys really love each other and were the hit of the party. Simon just became a Christian this last year and is so excited to talk about God's love displayed in Jesus Christ. Aaron is a drummer and plays in the marching band at Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. He has lots of great questions, laughs a lot and truly loves life. He is is planning on taking this next year off to tour with a band and is hopeful that they will 'take off.' Simon stepped on a nail that went through his boot and had to go the hospital. He testified during the Wednesday night service about the sovereignty of God in bringing the nail so that he could spend time with Leland. Leland drove him to the hospital and it was there that they were able to connect in a deeper way.

Iowa-Day 4

2008-08-01T11:17:00.005-05:00

Thursday we started work on our 4th house. Wednesday while working on Leland's home his next door neighbor, Louise, dropped by just to check on her home. She wound up sitting, talking, laughing, and eating lunch. We told her we'd work on her house Thursday. Several team members were still working on Leland's while the rest began work on Louise's home. By mid morning Louise showed up with fresh peaches and ice cream. Our work began to take on greater joy and vigor having interacted with and gotten to know the families we are helping. They were truly the reason we came. The gutting/mucking was the vehicle. There is the possibility that the city/county won't allow rebuilding but that is still in discussion phase. Regardless, it will be sad for the families not be back in their homes and yes it might be easy to say, "Why did we come?Why did we spend a week sweating, lacking sleep, slugging away with body aches and pains?" The answer is that we were able to provide the declaration and demonstration of the love of God shown to us in Christ Jesus. Hope was brought to two individuals as a reminder that the God of Heaven is there and is not silent. He knows, He cares, and He is able.

Taking a break. Louise is the lady on the far right. She was so joyful and thankful that we helped. As you pray remember her. I believe Michael Langer connected with her very well and will follow-up.

This is Leland. Not only did he work side by side with us, doing exactly the same work, he joined us at the church dinner/service Wednesday night, ate hot dogs with us a local restaurant (Their Benignos, Russos, Mockingbird...). He also joined us Thursday night at the church for dinner, bringing fresh sweet corn. We added a Louisianna flavour by sprinkling Tony Chesheries Cajun mix over the corn which was delish.

Carol in front of Cedar Rapids equivilent of Benignos, The Flying Wienie

Pictured are three flying wienies, Simon, Steven, and Leland.

Iowa-Day 3

2008-07-31T07:20:00.007-05:00

The homeowner we worked with on day three was Leland, a man who moved into his home 7 months prior to the flood. He is a widower whos wife died 14 years ago. He lived in his home alone. He spent the entire day working with us, side by side. He even joined us at the church where we stayed for dinner and an evening worship service. What a great guy. We have another friend. He was enfolded into the group like he had been with us the entire time .We are all looking forward to tomorrow to working on his home.

Looks like home immediately following Hurricane Katrina. A Salvation Army truck stopped by Wedsnesday to deliver water and snacks. The man in the photos is a volunteer from North Dakota. He made 4 trips to the Coast to assist residents and deliver food and water to volunteers. 'It's like dejavue all over again.'

This is commentary from Michael Langer, church planter of One Ancient Hope:

It's funny that I actually thought I was the one who was going to come up with the ministry focus of the new church plant. Swinging sledgehammers and carrying molded drywall was not in any of the first drafts of my plans for the church. And that was just the problem, they were my plans - not God's... One thing this disaster has reminded me of is the providence of God - the ways in which this disaster is serving his purposes for the advancement of the message of hope that is offered in the gospel. I am acutely aware that these brief glimpses into the the way in which God is working through this event reveals the frequent fickleness of our hearts. Today I can say, "Wow, look at how God is in control, and in the midst of this situation." Yet, I will say tomorrow, in the center of my own world - where is God? Why doesn't he do something?" I pray that God would use this flooding of my hometown to encourage me to more faithfully trust in Him.

Kathleen Monti posing with 'code' electrical. This code was from 30's or 40's

We discovered after day one that we could work more efficiently and conserve more energy by having a ramp for the many wheel barrow trips down flights of stairs. Kathleen bought and donated this ramp which saved both time and backs.

Carol Waseilewski pulling nails. The pic below is Steven Passman, a sophomore from Milsaps. This is what I call his Jack Nicholson pose. Recalling the movie The Shining- "Here's Johnny."

Iowa-Day 2

2008-07-29T22:46:00.006-05:00

I guess I put these in the wrong order. This pic was taken at the end of the day as we began to put the tools away. This picture is from the front bedroom looking into the living room. Everything had to be removed, bedding, appliances, furniture, clothing. Day two was spent pulling down the ceiling lath and plaster, also finishing the walls to prep them for pressure washing tomorrow. We were all very tired. At the 10:30 water break it was difficult to begin working after resting. The temperatures rose higher than yesterday and we were physically drained. Trying to remember to work smart and pace ourselves. We were able to interact with the home owner who arrives daily to talk and sort through items pulled out. Several family members stopped by to look and talk describing the loss of a family homestead. The home had been passed down 4 generations. They are uncertain wheather they will be able to repair as money is not as available from FEMA as was on the Gulf Coast. I talked with Shirley, the homeowner who gave us the 20.00 yesterday. She cried on the phone as she thanked us again for helping. She is handicapped and couldn't come to the home. She said she was so grateful, stating, "You'll never know how much I appreciate this."

Aaron posing as he complete an awesome move of pulling down the tin ceiling in the kitchen. What a mess. Water rose to the second floor and receded, depositing water which waited for the group from MS to pull down the ceiling and pour water on the volunteers working in the kitchen.

Entry to the basement. A dirt floor that was filled with sewage. We had to go down into basement and pull out the washer, dryer and other items. This part had to have been the nastiest part of the work. I'd trade 4 roofs (shingling them) for one muck out. At one time I swipe a bunch of the slimy junk off the top of the washer and almost became ill. Keri was down there for several hours yesterday.

A picture of one of the basement walls after debris removed. It was very small, dank, and scary.

Day two pile of debris on the side of the yard awaiting pick up from FEMA. We still have more to pull out and drag to the street.

Iowa Day 1-Hard Work and Ice Cream

2008-07-28T16:42:00.008-05:00

It was officially day one for the group from Bay St. Louis/Waveland though they spent two days traveling. From the photos you can tell the similarity of the relief work on the MS Gulf Coast though for everyone on the team it was much different. Bringing God's lagniappe to those in need gives energy that motivates through the muck and the mire and the smell and the heat. Sewage came into every home and the smell can only be described as profound. Well, it was a great day. What a wonderful group of people desiring nothing but to serve. As I write this blog everyone is taking showers, cleaning the mess off. I am once again amazed at God's grace in calling each individual to come and serve and love doing this kind of work. Talking with Carol we agreed that we have a much greater appreciation (if that is possible) for the volunteers who come to the Coast. As a side note a really cool thing happened today. One of the residents was unable to come to the house to sign a release waiver because she had to take her daughter to the doctor. Instead she sent a note with her ex-husband (who was amazing to help all day) giving him authorization to sign on her behalf. She also included a $20.00 bill and a word of thanks. We were amazed at her generosity but what happened next blew us away. You have to remember that the area in which we are working is like the 8th and 9th ward in New Orleans after the storm. There are blocks and blocks of abandoned homes, resembling a ghost town. Within 10 minutes of opening the note we heard the sounds of what appeared to be an ice cream truck. We were astounded and dumbfounded to discover that it was actually an ice cream truck. The $20.00 was used to buy everyone an ice cream. Wow. God is good giving his grace of great fellowship and work and ice cream from nowhere. What it inspired in each of us was worship to the God of heaven who delights to delight his children and bring them joy in the midst of challenging circumstances. Praise God from whom all blessings flow, even ice cream from nowhere.

RYM

2008-07-28T14:04:00.003-05:00

Last week Lagniappe had about 200 high school students from around the country come down for a Mercy in Missions Conference. After the one week we have now gather many photos during this time. Since so many have asked from them we have created a web album of and the link is posted here. http://picasaweb.google.com/LagniappePresbyterian/RYM

Bay St. Louis in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

2008-07-27T23:48:00.003-05:00

The team from Bay St. Louis, headed up by Keri Norwood arrived at Hope Evangelical Presbyterian Church in North Liberty, Iowa around 9pm tonight. I met them because I flew in from Orlando after attending my parents 50th wedding anniversary. Great party. Great flight. Only two hours verses two days driving that the team performed. Thirteen people are on the team. Keri, Carol, and I are the only Lagniappe staff. The rest are residents from BSL/Waveland who wanted to give a little Lagniappe to those in need of assistance. Due to the flooding in this region over 5,000 homes sustained significant damage. Arklie Hooten picked me up from the airport and gave me a tour of the area. It looked like New Orleans in the 8th and 9th wards. Tomorrow we begin gutting out of homes. Will fill you in as the week progresses. Thanks for your prayers. P.S. "The Weather is Here I Wish You Were Beautiful."

Mr. Bill comes to Lagniappe!

2008-07-24T18:10:00.002-05:00

It is so wonderful to have a sense of humor at Lagniappe! Lagniappe's chef, Elizabeth Holman, not only is a FABULOUS cook, but she has an AMAZING sense of humor! (And no, Mr. Bill did not really cut off Mr. Bunny's head.)

Incarnational Ministry at Trinity Pres., Jackson

2008-07-24T16:57:00.004-05:00

Trinity Presbyterian Church of Jackson, MS held its' annual Mission Conference in April of 2008. John and I were invited to speak on the topic of "Incarnational Ministry", and after thinking long and hard about what that really meant, we decided that we would simply speak about God's calling on our lives to live out the gospel, particularly in the arena of our lives at Lagniappe. In God's sometimes amazing sense of humor, it just so happened that He sent several tornadoes through North Jackson on Friday at noon, just as John and I arrived in town. Several homes of Trinity families were severely damaged, and instead of speaking on Incarnational Ministry, we ended up demonstrating it, along with many of Trinity's members, as we took to the neighborhoods to clean up and help the families who had been impacted by the storm. Even one of Lagniappes' interns from last summer, Dee Temple, came quickly when we called on her to come help. Not many young women can wield a chainsaw as well as Dee! Lagniappe exists to participate in the restoration of all creation, and we were very privileged to participate in the restoration of Hinds County.

Mom of the Year at Lagniappe

2008-07-24T12:00:00.000-05:00

Shown above are our Reservation manager, Cammie Chapman, and her lovely daughter Kate. They were spotted recently eating their vegetables for dinner, which in my book, makes Cammie Chapman "Mom of the Year"! We love you, Cammie and Kate!

With A Heavy Heart

2008-07-23T21:59:00.002-05:00

Lagniappe this week lost a staff member and a dear friend. After two years of working at Lagniappe, Meri Spencer has returned to her home in Wisconsin to finish college. Enclosed is her letter which was left behind for us…

“I would just like to thank everyone at Lagniappe for making me feel at home these past two years I have been down here. I can’t believe this day is here! I can’t believe I am leaving! It seems like yesterday my mom, aunt and myself drove up to this place. I think about those first few days and compare it to now and how much has changed. Y’all have done great thing for this community as well as myself! You have given me a home unlike any other. A home full of friends, laughter, and fun. Y’all have given me prayer and support when things got rough as well and I would like to thank you so very much! I AM coming back as soon as possible, but until then I pray that the Lord will keep this place going stronger than ever. I can not say THANK YOU enough! God bless, Meri Spencer”

From all of the staff at Lagniappe to Meri, you shall miss you. You will be in our thoughts and prayers and we wish you the best of luck with college. May God truly bless.

Wanna Pray?

2008-07-21T16:18:00.002-05:00

160 High School students, multiple job sites, 4 days....we need your prayers, starting right now, for a few things this week! 1. Protection and safety on the job sites 2. Respite from the heat (it is a consistent 95 degrees every day, with humidity you wouldn't believe) 3. Stamina for our construction staff, kitchen staff, interns, ect.... 4. God's blessing over the Word as it's preached every night We are so excited; we just know we can't do it without prayer.

2008-07-19T14:41:00.002-05:00

For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Hebrews 13:14

Covenant Pres – Little Rock, Arkansas

2008-07-16T09:40:00.003-05:00

This week Covenant Pres from Little Rock, Arkansas has been working at both the Harry Favre and Seymour homes. Harry Favre's home

The Seymour house

Water Fight

2008-07-16T09:35:00.002-05:00

Full Sail

2008-07-12T14:32:00.009-05:00

A special thanks goes out to David Brand and family for hosting the Lagniappe intern sailing excursion. We sailed out of Long Beach harbour this morning and sailed around for several hours, relaxing and enjoying the quiet of the gentle breeze.

First Pres – Dumas TX

2008-07-10T09:51:00.004-05:00

At the Seymour House, First Presbyterian Church from Dumas TX has been working at the site. Even though First Pres Dumas has been staying with and at First Presbyterian Bay St. Louis we are more than happy to partner with them and have work on one of our sites. The Seymour house The team working on the roof First Presbyterian of Dumas TX team

The Roof Comes Down

2008-07-10T09:42:00.003-05:00

The de-construction re-construction house no longer has a roof at this time. The next step will be to start taking down the walls and then move the house to its new location.

Punch Out Work

2008-07-10T09:34:00.002-05:00

Since the Habitat – Willow Creek Blitz Build, it is now time to finish the homes with final details, or known the “punch out” work. Currently a Habitat team from south central Florida are working on the 7 homes.

Michael Desselle

2008-07-10T09:17:00.002-05:00

In Bay Side Park, Lagniappe has been working on the home repair for Mr. Desselle. Currently, our teams are hanging drywall in the house.

Harry Favre and Bridgette Vincent Homes

2008-07-05T10:30:00.000-05:00

Lagniappe is continuing to work at other house like the Favre and Vincent homes. At the Favre home teams have been working the roof and siding. At Bridgette Vincent’s house teams have been putting down the floor so that she can move in very soon. Harry Favre's Home Bridgette Vincent’s Home Working on flooring

After the team finished putting in the floor it was broken in by a good dance.

New home build – Scott Necaise

2008-07-04T10:17:00.002-05:00

Lagniappe has begun a new home build for a Mr. Scott Necaise. The posts were dug out by many of the Lagniappe interns and the Trinity Pres from Orangeburg SC have been working on the home this week. Funding for the home has been provided by Mississippi Protection and Advocacy Systems Bridge. The Necaise when digging the post holes and setting them Interns Christina, Claire, and Ansley The Necaise as of this week

Manor Pres at Seymour

2008-07-04T09:05:00.003-05:00

Work at the Seymour house has been done this week by Manor Presbyterian from Penn. Manor Pres is a very special church for one of our staff, happens to be the home church for Andrew Thompson. They have been working on sheeting the roof.

De-Construction Re-Construction

2008-07-04T08:41:00.003-05:00

In helping with the restoration of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Lagniappe is helping move a historical home. This will be the first time that any historic home will be able to be moved and keep its historical status in all of the United States. Teams from Grace Presbyerian Church in St. Louis, MO having working on the site this week. Intern Allison Dunn from Morganton NC shows some siding that has "New Orleans" written on the back.

All the siding has to be removed so that so it can be used in the rebuild of the home And everything must be numbered Intern Christina Kammer of Hattiesburg MS with Allison lead the team at the house And all the work is being done under the ever watchful eye of the Mississippi Department of Having a Good Time

Wolf Unger – the MAN

2008-07-04T08:32:00.002-05:00

We here at Lagniappe would like to pay thanks to Wolf Unger. Wolf is the MAN responsible for flipping the main room around so that worship can face away from the kitchen. Thank you Wolf! The screen now facing the other way

Yea!

2008-06-30T17:51:00.000-05:00

Jordan was really sick last week. We are thankful he's better! I was just looking through some photos and found this one from 2 years ago.

Monday's Blitz Build

2008-06-24T11:51:00.002-05:00

this is what we are working for

2008-06-20T17:02:00.002-05:00

"At that time, declares the Lord, I will be the God of all the clans of Israel and they shall be my people. The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness. When Israel sought for rest, the Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. Again I will build you, and you shall be built, Oh Virgin Israel! [...] Again you will plant vineyards; the planters shall plant and enjoy the fruit. [...] Behold I will bring them from the North Country, and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, the pregnant woman and she who is in labor, together; a great company, they shall return. With weeping they will come, and with pleas for mercy I will lead them back, I will make them walk by brooks of water, in a strait path in which they shall not stumble, for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn. Hear the word of the Lord, O Nations, and declare it in the coastlands for away; say 'He who scattered Israel will gather him, and will keep as a shepherd keeps his flock. for the Lord has ransomed Jacob, and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him.'" Jeremiah 31 (selections) This is the kingdom we are proclaiming. This is ultimate rest, the ultimate restoration of all things. We are called to proclaim it, we are called even to begin ushering it in...but only in the confidence that one day it will be fully and finally present. There are days that I drive around the Bay and just want to walk away...the pain is big-bigger than any of us is capable of restoring. I watched the movie Hotel Rwawanda the other night, and I wept because the pain is so big. It's beyond any of us. It is more than any human, any program, and social service, military strategy, or philanthropic organization can handle. It's a hurt that runs to the deepest part of human beings. The beauty of this verse is that God promises, PROMISES to "redeem Jacob from the hands too strong for him [Jacob]." This is the all encompassing redemption that no social service can offer. It is why, when Lagniappe was planted, we were planted as a CHURCH, not a relief program. It is the only reason we can continue serving in a community with overwhelming need...there is one behind us who is sufficient for the task. There is a King coming; of this we are confident. "I will turn their mourning into Joy; I will comfort them and give them gladness for sorrow...and my people will be satisfied with my goodness," declares the Lord.

Working on the Roof

2008-06-18T09:11:00.004-05:00

This week, at both the Favre and Seymour homes, the main goal has been to get the roof constructed. Since the framing is completed the next step is to get the trusses onto the houses and plywood to begin the roof. The pictures of both the Favre and Seymour homes are with just the trusses completed. The Sam and Tina Seymour home

You might notice that there are no volunteers in the background, about 5 minutes before this photo was taken the group working at the site decided to go and take an ice cream break. So work site leader Clyde Baker and “re-tern” Thomas Wedeking (Lexington KY) are here by themselves with a bag full of popsicles. Artistic photos waiting for volunteers (Complements of Ansley Quiros) There we go The Harry Favre home Mr. Harry Favre is on the far right in this photo

KaBOOM Build Featured on ABC

2008-06-17T16:39:00.000-05:00

The KaBOOM Build that happened this last Saturday was featured on ABC’s Good Morning America on Tuesday June 17. The link below will connect to ABC website video player to see the new story features on Good Morning America http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=5183689

Signs

2008-06-17T16:23:00.001-05:00

One of the things we love to ask our volunteers to do while they are here is to make a sign which reflects something about the town, church or organization they come from. We never cease to be amazed at the creativity that goes into each sign, and we love the color they provide our "industrial" looking building! Please visit our web album which contains a photo of every single one of our where yat sign. So please be thinking about your sign or look up the sign that you left behind or enjoy the rest. Click here to link to the photo web album!

Morning 17 June

2008-06-17T06:43:00.002-05:00

Spurgeon: "Help, Lord," will suit us living and dying, suffering or laboring, rejoicing or sorrowing. In Him our help is found, let's not be slack to cry to Him. The answer to prayer is certain, if it is sincerely offered through Jesus. The Lord's character assures us that He will not leave His people; His relationship as a Father and a Husband guarantee us His aid; His gift of Jesus is a pledge of every good thing; and His sure promise stands,'Do not fear, I will help you'." A remarkable, short prayer, but there is a good deal of directness, clearness of perception, and distinctness of utterance in this petition of two words.

KaBOOM

2008-06-16T08:59:00.004-05:00

On Saturday all of the Lagniappe Interns helped participated in the 100th KaBOOM build. KaBOOM builds build playgrounds in cities that were hit by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The very first KaBOOM build was in Bay St. Louis and they came back here for the 100th park. The park was named in honor of Martin Luther King. Beginning of the build Intern Ashley Myhal of Tega Cay, SC helping move part of the playgroud equipment Intern Tim Fangmeier of Hebron, NE assembling the playground equipment The Martin Luther King Park basketball court The ribbon cutting ceremony for the park opening

First Pres Jackson

2008-06-13T17:06:00.002-05:00

After a week of rebuilding, First Presbyterian Church from Jackson is heading home. Here are some pictures from their work at the Seymour and Favre work sites The Favre home The Seymour home

Another New Home Build

2008-06-11T16:43:00.002-05:00

On Monday, Lagniappe began new construction on a new house for Mr. Harry Favre. We are building this house in partnership with Habitat for Humanity. This week First Presbyterian from Jackson, MS is working on the home. A look at the Favre home from Monday to Wednesday Andrew Thompson leading the work site. James Hildreth (intern) of Brewton AL is helping at the site

More Walls

2008-06-10T10:43:00.004-05:00

More walls are going up at the Seymour home this week. Most of the exterior walls are now up and a large portion of the interior walls are as well. This week First Pres. from Jackson, MS are working on the house. With over 90 degree heat plus humidity we encourage our volunteers to sit down and take a break in the shade now and then.

A Look Inside A (almost) Completed Lagniappe House

2008-06-10T10:09:00.003-05:00

The twins are two Lagniappe homes that are almost completed. Right now all that is needed to complete is to get the water and electric done and then the families should be ready to move in. But here are some pictures from the inside of a Lagniappe house. Dustin showing the kitchen and dinning area of one house Kitchen Bedroom Warp-a-round deck

Getting ready for the PCA General Assembly

2008-06-06T14:36:00.002-05:00

At the PCA General Assembly in Dallas, Lagniappe will be bringing a mock house for other churches to see everything that goes into building a house. Many of the interns have been helping on the building of the house with instruction from master carpenter Andrew. Moving the mock home so it can be worked on Andrew, master carpenter Sam Berton (intern) of Kearney, Nebr Working on the paint job Interns Lauren Spigner of Manning, SC and Ansley Quiros of Atlanta, GA

William Davis Home

2008-06-05T16:42:00.004-05:00

Also this week Lagniappe began work on a home repair for Mr. William Davis. This week Trinity Presbyterian from Kearney, Nebraska came down in-spite of the fact that tornados hit their home town to still work and help others. Chad Anderson of Trinity Pres. Working on adding Tyvek to the side of the home John Holl Mr. William Davis

See more of Seymour

2008-06-05T16:31:00.004-05:00

Work continues at the Seymour and many of the exterior walls are now up. Today volunteeners from Redeemer Pres. and some of the Lagniappe interns worked there today. Working on the outside walls with intern Dustin Smith (of Alexandria, VA) reviewing the work Claire McCoy (Intern) of Columbia, SC working on framing Julia Schmidt (Intern) of Columbia, SC

Lagniappe Featured as a Sunday in America

2008-06-05T11:02:00.003-05:00

From the inside jacket; In her tour of more than thirty states, Shea: Knocked knees with President Jimmy Carter at his Plains, Georgia, Baptist church on Independence Day. Got a wake up call from Anne Graham Lotz, Billy Graham's preacher daughter, at a sprawling conservative church in South Carolina. Followed the signs for a hot tub dealership that, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, has become a new Presbyterian church in Mississippi... An excerpt from the chapter: I chose neighboring Bay St. Louis because I wanted to visit a church in a town largely ignored assistancewise and publicitywise, and that is still suffering. A year later, the barriers where I-90 halts at a no-longer-existent bridge over wide St. Louis Bay hammer home the fact that Katrina's winds and water were higher and stronger there in rural Hancock County than anywhere in the ninety thousand square miles declared as federal disaster areas. More than half the county's nineteen thousand homes were obliterated, commercial areas were destroyed, landscape transformed to postnuclear skeletal. One year later, the $110 billion in revitalization funding promised by the government is as hard to access as the other side of the bay.

The Christian Aristocracy and the Emerging Social Chaos

2008-06-04T21:11:00.003-05:00

The Christian Aristocracy and the Emerging Social Chaos - a ministry update from Mo Leverett -

The Church is a fellowship of sinners. And no matter how much we accomplish, how far we pilgrim or how high we climb, we are fortunate to never forget that.

Sanctification is primarily the process of cleansing and binding our wandering hearts to God. It is about the advancement of His Kingdom in us and conforming our rebellious nature to His. Moreover, it is about His turning our reluctance into readiness for the advancement of His Kingdom through us. Above all else, it is a removal of the greatest obstacle to all the aforementioned objectives - the obstacle of our pride.

Central to God’s strategies for sanctification is His sovereign and surgical use of pain in our lives. Pain is the inevitable, unavoidably blunt instrument of Christian sanctification. I once heard Chuck Swindoll, a leading evangelical pastor, say, “When God wants to do the impossible, He takes an impossible man…and He crushes him.”

I heard another popular author quoted recently, saying that “sanctification is akin to open heart surgery without the anesthetic.” It should be added that the longer this invasive procedure is delayed, the riskier and more painful the reality of any prospective future surgical maneuver. Pain makes us desperate. Pain makes us dependent. Pain makes us desire not only relief but healing and change. In other words, pain breaks us and leads us to God.

When I was a younger Christian, my overly simplistic understanding of sanctification was that it was a movement away from pain - a progression of compounding personal righteousness toward a nearly perfected spiritual adulthood. I thought that I would gradually advance toward a plateau popularly called maturity. This maturity, I felt, was gained through the accumulation of a critical mass of knowledge and obedience. Sanctification, I believed, was a spiral spiritual staircase facilitating our upward mobility - away from pain. My perspective has changed.

Soon after the Katrina floods had receded, and going into the ministry’s kitchen and into its industrial sized walk in refrigerator and freezer, I discovered a room full of rotting meat and shelves full of other spoiled food products. Both the sight and the scent turned my stomach.

There were a variety of insects crawling over and through the boxes and containers - bugs I did not recognize. Under everything there was slithering movement. There was a thick cloud of gnats. It took a full day, maybe two, if my memory serves me correctly, to finish emptying both the refrigerator and freezer. I did the work mostly myself with some help from a reluctant but dedicated staffer. After the task was done, some many wheel barrow loads and hours later, the penetrated odor was so strong that all of my clothes had to be disposed of, even after two lengthy washings. It seemed the foul aroma only intensified with each attempt at cleaning.

And never before had I cherished a shower so intensely.

I remember thinking…THIS is the sanctification process. This task begins to approximate the efforts of the Holy Spirit excavating my soul of the stench, darkness, death and spoilage within. Our fallen souls are never entirely made clean of its filth, until we are removed from this shell of a body and this train wreck of a world. And so His work in us tarries.

But the enterprise of removing the filth from the freezers is also a good picture of ministry in the midst of social chaos. It is simply a dirty and sometimes painful business. There’s no way to enter into a place of great need without becoming needy. There’s no way to enter into a place of intense dysfunction and disease without requiring healing and cleansing yourself. So even as you administer the gospel, you eventually stand in the need of it.

I read this week that 1 out of every 100 Americans is now in jail - a higher percentage than ever before in our nation’s history. This clearly, is not a positive social indicator. Of course the urban youth crisis, which has become my professional ministry focus, represents a growing bulk of the incarcerated population. Throughout the years, I’ve had occasion to visit the courthouse at Tulane and Broad to assist those who buttress with their many problems these social statistics. I’ve found myself there as recently as last week.

One of the reasons that ministry in this setting is so important and effectual is that it is within the confines of prison cells, or the serious threat of such, that men and boys finally face themselves and are thus readied to hear the gospel.

In my many years of ministry, I’ve met individuals who have committed murder, those who are self-described whore mongers, drug dealers, thieves and other various violators of the conscience. But believe it or not, they are not the most difficult category of persons I’ve dealt with in my life. None of these persons thought of themselves as holy. In other words, they thought of themselves rightly.

The most distasteful of sinners, the ones most difficult and painful to deal with, are the ones who believe they are not so - ones that believe that they are mature. They tend to pontificate about the declining culture around them, but do not see how they contribute by action and inaction to it. In other words they believe they have been “sanctified” above the social chaos. They are the Christian aristocracy.

Yet Christians are at our best when we are helping others out of a sense of mutual need, a common state of desperation and a deepening sense of universal moral vulnerability. We are at our worst when we assume moral superiority. Those who are subject to delusions of moral superiority fail to see themselves as God does and thus internalize and spread a distorted view of the cause we have been enlisted to represent. Rather than removing the stench, by our spiritual pride we contribute to it.

Christians are God’s appointed sanctifying force in society. We are called and commissioned by the Savior to be salt and light - externalizing our own personal transformation in good works towards the preservation and illumination of the culture that surrounds us. This is true, but may we never forget the source of that sanctifying force. When we think of ourselves rightly we never judge, lest we be judged. On the contrary, we are merciful, so that we might receive mercy.

I read recently that Evangelicals have overtaken Catholics as the predominant Christian sect in America. As we look at the declining social conditions in our country and the emergence of the evangelical church - we have to ask ourselves this question: Why, when we are at our peak in numbers, that we are the least impacting on our culture?

Could it be that our view of sanctification is principally responsible? Could it be that instead of an upwardly spiraling staircase away from pain and problems, that sanctification is actually a descending staircase into them? Could it be that the purpose of sanctification, instead of lifting our heads, is to bow them? Is it possible that when looking at the cultural degradation around us, that it is we, the proud, who are the first who need to repent?

If we do, we will find as always, that God draws near to those who are made low! Moreover, we will rediscover His cause among the least and the lost. Then we will begin to address the social chaos that is presently consuming us.

Lagniappe is pleased to support Mo as one of our missionaries. You may check out the ministry of Rebirth International at www.myrebirth.org

Lagniappe starts construction on a new home.

2008-06-04T16:28:00.004-05:00

On Monday, Lagniappe began construction on a new home. The Seymour home was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina and the home owners, Sam and Tina Seymour, set out to re-build. They were doing just fine on the rebuilding effort until the unfinished house was hit by lighting and burned to ground. Now, for a second time the rebuilding begins at the Seymour worksite. This week Covenant Pres. from Birmingham, AL have been working on the home. Lifting a wall. Holding it in place. Clyde is leading the work on the site. The Convenant team taking a break in the shade.

God's Transforming Patience and Grace

2008-06-01T20:22:00.005-05:00

Many that live deserve death. And some die that deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then be not too eager to deal out death in the name of justice, fearing for your own safety. Even the wise cannot see all ends.

J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings

Lacking full wisdom and driven by sinful passion for personal justice it is easy to retreat into a critical spirit and launch into behavior that would seek revenge. Having recently experienced betrayal by a friend I made an offhand comment to a friend today that went something like this, “If I were in the mafia I’d call for a hit on this person.” What I was really stating was that if I were God I’d punish this person in this way. I am so grateful that God is not like me and that I’m not in the place of God. What comfort the parable Jesus told in Luke 13 is to me.

“And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”

What mercy, patience, and enduring grace the father grants to me as well as to my enemy. Lord grant me mercy to love and pray for my enemies that you might bring them to repentance and restoration. Thank you that through Jesus your love inclines toward this sinner with patience, love, and grace that transforms. Because I don't see fruit doesn't mean it will not come. Your patience brings grace that produces fruit in season, producing a harvest of righteousness.

I believe; help my unbelief

2008-05-27T08:17:00.002-05:00

I have seen the Gospel at work in my life over the years, punctuated and perhaps accelerated by my time here. I know that the truth of the Gospel is transformative; that indeed prostitutes and perfectionists are both brought to the foot of the cross-loved. I have seen, for two summers, God do this incredible work in the lives of college interns. I have witness walls torn down, sins confessed, brokenness acknowledged, forgiveness and love extended and accepted. It always happens-not because of Lagniappe's magic formula or particular genius, really it's quite the opposite. It happens most often when our "magic formulas" and genius are revealed for what they are-good ways to avoid Jesus. Why then do I doubt? Why do I fear that God will not bring about that same transformation in the lives of the new interns He brought this year? Why do I climb onto the hamster wheel of performance-trying desperately to come up with a brilliant formula to transform them. It's as though I think, "God's done it well for the past two years, but now He wants to see if we can do it." Well surprise... we can't!! Fortunately, for these interns and the rest of the world, my inability to change them doesn't matter. They are more wicked than they could ever imagine and more loved and accepted than they could ever dare hope (Tim Keller sort of ). I watched last night as 15 college students, who met 1 week ago, began to accept the transformation of the gospel again-acknowledging sin, extending love and forgiveness, and encouraging one another in the ways God has uniquely made and gifted them. It was like sitting on the front row of God's symphony-watching as the instruments began tuning, warming up, and preparing for the incredible concert...all under His direction. So as not be one of the nine lepers, walking away thankless, let me offer up my thanksgiving to God for His provision of each of these interns. Let me also gratefully acknowledge His already powerful work in their lives and look forward, with belief, to the great work that I know He will accomplish in and through their lives this summer. Father I believe; help my unbelief.

Memorial Weekend, Gulf Coast Symphony in the Park

2008-05-26T13:54:00.001-05:00

Seafood

2008-05-26T09:07:00.004-05:00

For any future teams coming down to work at Lagniappe over the summer that might be asking the question, “Where can I get some good seafood?” Well the answer is Lagniappe. Every week we will have a seafood boil for all of our volunteers. So please come hungry. Our master cook Elizabeth and crawdad king John Sabin

A pot full of crawdads Davis holding up a crawdad which was given the name "Dinner" Davis and Ashley who also help the Elizabeth and John, put the pot into boil. Time to eat Everyone is happy