Mission Takes Us Deeper

On Friday afternoon, our second full day, we completed building the Community Garden. It was a time for rejoicing, even while being astounded at how far and fast we had come! Mission accomplished, we shouted, arms upraised. We had worked so well together, and to great effect. Being hot and tired felt really good.
At lunch that day my friend Charles and his wife Thirawer had come to St. John to join us for lunch. I was thrilled to see Charles again, and to meet the life partner he had talked so much about. Two years ago, it was Charles who had first told me about Churches Supporting Churches, and its plan--through partnership and God's leading--to rebuild devastated neighborhoods in New Orleans around faith communities (http://www.cscneworleans.org/). I had spent a weeklong conference retreat with three NOLA pastors--Charles Duplessis, Eric Rhodes, and Marvin Turner. When I returned to St. Andrew's, I shared the news and vision with the congregation, and we took steps to join CSC. At lunch, Charles and Thirawer told me that they had been able to move into their rebuilt home in the Lower Ninth Ward in March, three-and-one-half years after Katrina. Their CSC partner congregation, Flossmoor Community Church, helped resource the rebuilding, and volunteer labor from Mennonite Disaster Relief, another CSC partner, made this a reality. I asked Charles and Thirawer if we could visit, and they immediately invited us over for that evening.
We hurriedly had supper at the Mission House. When we started up the van, everyone was on board! This was no small thing. All had worked very hard and were tired, though gratified. Two days before, we had been in the Lower Ninth and had returned in silence, deeply impacted, even overwhelmed, but what we had seen. From my own personal experiences, I know that it is very tempting in such a circumstance to find a reason, almost any plausible reason, not to return to a painful reality. Yet everyone was there. I was deeply grateful for their faithfulness and solidarity. Knowing this group, I probably shouldn't have expected any less. Such love and regard I feel for each one of them!
We arrived at the Duplessis house and were delighted to realize we had seen it on Wednesday. It was situated in the midst of the striking new homes, the "signs of new life," that we had seen on Tennessee Avenue.
Charles and Thirawer welcomed us warmly, gathering us in in a circle in their living room. They had enough seats for all of us, as it is in their living room and dining room that the Mt. Nebo congregation now gathers on Sunday for worship. About thirty of the one hundred twenty member congregation are still here, and for three and a half years they had met for worship once a month at one member's home on the West Bank. Charles and Thirawer had been communting from Tuskegee, Alabama, five hours away. Now they are back in the Lower Ninth.
We asked them to share their story with us, which they did, lovingly and carefully, for more than an hour. I looked around a number of times at our folks, who were listening with care, leaning forward, opening themselves. We were on a journey, being transformed from a kind of missionary "tourism" to brother/sisterhood in the same inseperable family.
They told us of the thirty-eight person caravan from New Orleans to Tuskegee at the advent of the storm and the countless challenges involved. They talked of their neighbors, some of whom died in the storm. Charles pointed to the levee two blocks away, describing how inadequate and faulty construction, and an unmoored barge, had led to the levee break. Charles and Thirawer and their neighbors were not able to return to their devastated houses, churches, and neighborhood until more than two months after the hurricane! Congregation members and neighborhood residents were dispersed throughout the country. Mortality rates among survivors are very high.
Nearly 60% of the residents of the Lower Ninth own their own homes, but insurance and Going Home funds typically fall far short of what is needed to rebuild. Organizations like Make It Right (and, for Charles and Thirawer, partnerships like CSC) help to bridge and overcome such barriers.
When the Duplessis's finished their story, Charles reminded us that thousands of people had stories that needed to be told--and heard. There is healing present in such connection.
Charles told us about Mt. Nebo Church and its role in the larger community, especially among children. The rebuilding of their church building on Flood Street will now be a major focus.
I asked Charles if the original vision of Churches Supporting Churches, of rebuilding communities around their churches (in sixteen square block areas) was still alive in the Lower Ninth. His eyes shined with faith and hope.
When we said goodbye that evening, I think many of us believed we will be seeing Charles and Thirawer again, in the midst of their resurrected neighborhood. The ride back was quiet again, but teh conversation was full of life as we gathered in the kitchen at Hands-On. One mission accomplished. Another being revealed.