 |
| From Katrina 1 Year Later... |
Okay here's the real question...Do you have tickets or access to tickets to next Monday night's football game- the men of Lagniappe are salivating to go to the Monday Night Football game between the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons- so if you have connections, tickets, box seats (wow, would that be nice!) or any suggestions let us know and then look for us on ESPN!
Good question right? This is Sarah Denton (banana yellow) and Kim Allen who went with Lagniappe Church to the PCA women's conference in Atlanta, Georgia this weekend. Our booth at the exhibit hall was directly across from the PCA bookstore and these aprons were 'back by popular demand'! The girls didn't buy these I don't think, but I think they really felt like Lagniappe needed to make some similar 'evangelical wear'- we are presently considering a line of Carhart overalls that say, "Have you gutted anyone's house today?" or perhaps little crosstiched wall plaques that read "Trailer, sweet FEMA trailer". Thanks to all the girls who came and helped this weekend- you are definately part of the Lagniappe family- we miss you already and think about you all the time- we WOULD NOT be where we are without you!
This week we are preparing to go to the PCA womens conference in Atlanta. Hope to see many of you there. We are excited to be able to get on the road and share what God is doing in the Bay. Even on a rainy day! 
This Wednesday we finally receive our shipment of the most requested item from teams this summer- T-Shirts! Everyone wants something with Lagniappe on it, so here you go! We are going to add a web page order form where you can buy the T-Shirts, Hats and also embroidered logo golf shirts. T-shirts will be $15, hats are $20 and golf shirts are $25- a portion of each sale goes to support the ministry of LPC, so buy one for your friends too!
As one of the newest staff people here, I think I have the best job of them all; I get to meet people every day who are open to what God is doing in their lives and are willing to laugh and cry with me and pray. I also find out about funding opportunities to help folks repair or rebuild their homes. One opportunity came up recently and I was able to get money for Mrs. J., pictured here. This narrative was written for the application: “Mrs. J. is a sixty-one year old grandmother who lives with four grandchildren ages 14, 16, 17 and 19. Her seven-year old godson also lives with her. She has raised her grandchildren for twelve years since their father, her son, was incarcerated and their mother left them in her care. Mrs. J. has a three bedroom house which is paid for. She is on disability for a seizure disorder, back and neck injuries, asthma and high blood pressure. She also receives money from the foster care system for the children. When Hurricane Katrina occurred, she took the children to a friend’s home further from the Gulf in
Mrs. J. has a son who is blind and diabetic, living in a trailer next to hers. He requires some care; she hopes to be able to have him join her in her home when her house is repaired. Mrs. J. has been able to repair her roof and purchase an air conditioner with the money received to date. She states she has been depressed and had stopped going to her church until recently. This past year has been hard on her children as well; Mrs. J. hopes having her home repaired will give them the stability they all appear to need.”
What a privilege to meet this grandmother and to see how our God brought this opportunity to rebuild her home to us and then to her. Please pray that we will continue to find the families--they don’t have to know Him as Savior and Lord, just be open to whatever God gives us to offer them.
Today I drove around the Bay to record some photos to take and show at the PCA women's conference in September. It was sobering. At every turn I continually said to myself, "No one is going to believe that these pictures are from today....noone." It was a bit surreal. We spend everyday driving by houses and FEMA trailers, piles of debris and tattered American flags, but to drive around to SPECIFICALLY 'take it in again' was sobering. I kept looking for sheds we had built or homes we had repaired and was struck by the fact that there is so much still to be done, so little we have done. Please pray for the Bay, please. It is in desparate need. We are in desparate need. We need teams, support, prayer and stamina. All over the city tattered American flags wave in the Gulf breeze- the residents of the Bay will not give up, neither will we.
Here's your invitation to check out "Lagniappe and Life" a new personal blog. I decided to post mostly 'church' related blogging on the 'official' Lagniappe Church website and post my thoughts, etc. on my own blog- please check it out, leave a comment, say hello and check back often- be sure to read the 'header' on the blog and it's disclaimer! Happy blogging! P.S. the web address if you didn't click above is www.lagniappeandlife.blogspot.com
Its been about a year ago since I first arrived on Sept. 9 to Hancock Co, Ms. and been able to see a mountian being moved! The mountian of broken spirts that I met when first arriving, lives turned upside down and dreams washed away by the flood waters of katrina. Families searching for any means to get their lives back to normal. Watching families liveing in tents untill their F.E.M.A. camper, working with Water Missions International providing pumps for hundreds of families, and how importian a shed was for the family. I would not belive that someone would cry about receiving a shed, What I saw was the tears were because someone cared for them. Its been a year and still so much to do! I sit back home in Georgetown SC and write this in the comfort of our home! My heart is back in MS. for many of the families who struggle getting back into their home! Last Thursday before leaving, looking at the list of families we are still helping with finding the resorces to get them back into a home, seems overweling, I belive that by faith we have gotten this far, and it is that Faith, that will see us thur! Our Lord tells me to love my neighbor, because of Gods Love I will return and keep helping our neighbors in MS. Its the body of Christ that is alive and working in our world today that seems so filled with trouble! Is God alive? Yes, you only need to come and see him at work in MS! What better way to fill an empty part of your life, just like myself, than to come and show a neighbor Gods' Love! For me, Life was just working, paying bills, just day by day! Today by me forsakeing my own needs, the reward is knowing that by faith, my life has a scents of meaning! Its not easy, faith never is, but the feeling in my heart is one that I have searched for so long! You know? What have I done to make a difference in my county, State,the world? Does my existants even matter? Life has passed by so fast, Today I have new Brothers and Sisters in Christ from around the world! Dear Friends in MS! My life is filled with so much Lagniappe! If you feel the emptiness in your life, step out into faith and come be a part of the restoration of the Bay St. Louis MS area. Help us, together by faith we will move this mountain!
Your friend in the Bay!
Conrad
Okay, here's my personal post of the day...It's a lazy Sunday afternoon and I just couldn't resist giving a shout out to everyone who plugged back into the matrix and is gone from this summer! Tom's face sums it up well- You wouldn't believe LPC right now- I'll blog some photos tomorrow- you will really NOT believe it, the place looks great and you had so much to do with it! We still have Rynnie with us and that is a joy! You would LOVE Ruth (an R.N. who is interning with us until December and ate lunch with the family today). Aunt Kitty is working 2 days a week at LPC and in a strange time warp of the universe Conrad conjacked himself back to South Carolina to help with Hurricane Ernesto- I'm not kidding. Special kudos to the Furnace girls- and yes, pappa bear is coming to Furman on the weekend of Parent's Weekend (no one get too jealous, I was already scheduled to be there for a conference all weekend). On a side note I may get to see Dave and Haley in a couple of weeks- I'm about to head to Conneticut to see my cousin Paul who lives in Gardiner, N.Y. and make a 1,450 mile motorcycle, head-clearing, ride back to the Bay. I'll give you more details as they become available. I'm trying to route through Tuscaloosa, Knoxville, Memphis, Lexington, K.Y., Washington, D.C., Morgantown, PA- HELLO Kenley & Sarah! I really miss you guys, thanks for the pictures- I can't wait to see you again!
"Did you bring the camera?" Jean asked as we exited the truck. After accusing him of being a media hog we laughed and walked over to the crowd. It was 11:45 and we had just arrived for a 12:00 media blitz sponsored by Habitat. As a ceremonial dedication the cameras and community surrounded this small, 1,200 sq.ft. dwelling. It was an event marketing reps. salivate to attend, a time to "brand" their logo for all to see. Habitat had their logos displayed proudly, the mayor of Bay St. Louis was there, Lowes was present, as was the financial institution making the loan, the NAACP, NPR, Americorp, Habitat of Jackson and Habitat International. Oh yes, Lagniappe was also there. BY INVITATION. Jean concluded the service by read from Scripture, proclaiming God's glory revealed in Jesus, and prayed. It was succinct and lasted only 5 minutes but it displayed clearly the purpose of Lagniappe's presence in the Bay, to declare and demonstrate the love of God. Could we be accused of pandering to the media? You bet and we'll declare and demonstrate the love of God in Jesus Christ at every invitation. 
Hello Kim Larroux! Always there to greet with a smile and kind words of encouragement. Kim is our a.m. receptionist/greeter. Families entering our facility for the firt time are greeted by Kim's smiling face. Kim also answers the phones, takes messages, contributes to the organizational planning, and taking care of #III (Jean Larroux III). Great job Kim.
Clyde Baker came to Lagniappe after running the MTW Disaster Relief site in Moss Point. He faithfully served there and came to the Bay occassionally to visit. Clyde is now a regular, having moved to the Bay. He even brought his own housing, a 10'x 16' structure. It was a shed in Moss Point, it's now his home. Clyde cheerfully gives of his time freely, raising support for his "basic" expenses. Clyde built home for a living and brings a great amount of skill to Lagniappe. God is wonderfully bringing the people we need to do what we do. Ryn has been with Lagniappe since June, having coming as a 'tern.' Ryn has returned to serve during her Fall semester at William & Mary. Ryn loves people, loves to work, and will 'gladly' oblige any request to help. It's amazing to witness the maturity in this 20 year old.
Let me introduce you to Mimi. Mimi was one of two PCA families in the Bay prior to our arrival. Mimi lost everything and continues to live in a FEMA trailer. Daily she commits to coming in and helping out where she can. She calls families we have helped, asks how they are doing, and does basically anything we ask her to do. She also attends worship regularly with her daughter who comes down weekly to worship with us. Her daughter lives in Hattieburg. We are overjoyed that Mimi is a vital part of the Lagniappe family.
Lagniappe Church has a team that is featured on National Public Radio on Tuesday, August 29, 2006. You can click on the this link to find the broadcast time in your area. If you miss the 'live' broadcast the entire story will be available on the Day to Day section of the NPR website after 3 p.m. eastern on the 29th.
The Story is about 'where the Katrina money has gone'. The section featuring the Lagniappe work team is about the rebuilding effort on the home of Mary Perkins, a lifelong Bay St. Louis resident.
On August 29, 2005 Hurricane Katrina made the anticipated landfall on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. Today marks the anniversary of that tragic day. One year ago today life changed for every person on the Gulf Coast- beach drives would be forever different, family estates would vanish in her waters and family members would cross the threshold into eternity. The winds of Katrina blew farther than the coast. They changed cities like Arden, South Carolina; Brookhaven, Mississippi and Memphis, Tennessee. They also changed people. The meteorologists called her a Category 5, but there were no categories for the impact which she made. Oceanographers measured storm surge. Officials measured 100 year flood maps, but no one could have anticipated the real impact. Governor Haley Barber reported that 45 million cubic yards of debris have been removed from the Gulf Coast. The closest amount of debris removal from a natural disaster was Hurricane Andrew in Florida with only 23 million cubic yards. Only about half as much. Government reports measure cubic yards of debris, but remember included in that debris were wedding pictures, letters from friends and millions of memories that now exist only behind the tear-filled stories of their owners. Katrina was a strange storm. She drove many away from their homes and many to homes they never expected. She destroyed churches and planted others. She destroyed hope and tilled the soil of a greater hope. She took family members away and began to knit others together as 'family' they had never met. It is important that we remember both sides of Katrina today- the Katrina who took and the Katrina who gave. If we remember only the Katrina who took, then we have only despair and hopelessness today. If we focus only on what she gave, we will miss the heavy, dark backdrop on which the present picture is being painted. Friend, there are many who need your prayers today. Municipalities will have 'moments of silence' in remembrance, but we would ask for more than silence. There has been too much silence since Katrina. There are playgrounds which are quiet, living rooms loud with empty echoes and families missing the laughter of loved ones. Consider more than a moment of silence today. Take a moment to speak. Speak to Katrina's creator. Ask the God who 'stirs up the tempest' and 'quiets the waters'* to continue His work. There is a God in heaven that has purposes greater than what we can see. He was at work last August 29th and IS at work today. Take a moment, even right now, to pray. Ask Katrina's creator to continue His work- on the coast, in us and in His people whom we have yet to meet. There is still an immense need on the coast. Pray that God will raise up men and women to labor with us!I would be negligent if I didn't thank those who have already been the hands and feet of Christ in this community and part of Lagniappe. There are so many who have given so much. I fear if I started 'thanking' there wouldn't be enough time to read all the names. That having been said let me say this: we inherited a great phrase from the Reformation- Soli Deo Gloria- "to God alone be the glory!" May the names of all of us perish and may the coast remember only Jesus and the storm of mercy and love that He stirred long after Katrina had gone.
*Reference, Psalm 107:23-31
