Overwhelming, But So Much Hope
Please pray against discouragement for the New Orleans team, who are doing what they can to help people reclaim their lives and homes. The group started the week touring the city, which gave them a glimpse of the magnitude of the problem. They saw blocks that were once neighbourhoods and now are just rows of foundations. They saw houses piled on top of cars and on top of each other. It is utterly overwhelming.
The discouragement comes from absolutely gutting three houses in three days, right back to studs and joists, but having to walk away knowing that the people have no insurance and no money for gyprock and plywood. Phil has been amazing, managing the team and sitting down with homeowners at night to go over plans of what to do next. Amanda says that they wouldn't know what to do without him. They are all working very hard, but finding new needs everywhere. In fact, the mission has stopped scheduling them for projects because they are meeting people and finding work right around them. There are many contractors in the area, but many of them are there to make money and get out. Lots of people are getting ripped off. One family was told that it would cost $3000 to do what our team did in a day and a half. But many others are really there to help - in fact one contractor bought the team supper last night!
The hope comes from the people they are serving. They have so much hope, in spite of losing everything. The area where the team is working used to be a huge drug ring, and now that it is devastated the people who are moving back are mostly believers. The team was especially encouraged by the first family they helped. They were blessed getting to know the mom, who prayed with them and offered what little she had. God has not deserted this place. On a prayer walk, they met a guy who used to have a hall where people would come and dance, and they listened to his dreams of rebuilding.
Several on the team are talking about going back, and they want to bring others down there with them. Sounds like this story ain't over yet either. But please pray for this team!
The discouragement comes from absolutely gutting three houses in three days, right back to studs and joists, but having to walk away knowing that the people have no insurance and no money for gyprock and plywood. Phil has been amazing, managing the team and sitting down with homeowners at night to go over plans of what to do next. Amanda says that they wouldn't know what to do without him. They are all working very hard, but finding new needs everywhere. In fact, the mission has stopped scheduling them for projects because they are meeting people and finding work right around them. There are many contractors in the area, but many of them are there to make money and get out. Lots of people are getting ripped off. One family was told that it would cost $3000 to do what our team did in a day and a half. But many others are really there to help - in fact one contractor bought the team supper last night!
The hope comes from the people they are serving. They have so much hope, in spite of losing everything. The area where the team is working used to be a huge drug ring, and now that it is devastated the people who are moving back are mostly believers. The team was especially encouraged by the first family they helped. They were blessed getting to know the mom, who prayed with them and offered what little she had. God has not deserted this place. On a prayer walk, they met a guy who used to have a hall where people would come and dance, and they listened to his dreams of rebuilding.
Several on the team are talking about going back, and they want to bring others down there with them. Sounds like this story ain't over yet either. But please pray for this team!
posted by Jim Badke at 3/16/2006 11:49:00 p.m.
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