Western
Jurisdiction
United Methodist Volunteers
In Mission
The Gumbo is On
The gumbo is on the stove. Y’all are welcome. To give you the flavor of our UMVIM New Orleans team, St. Mark’s host and a United Methodist deaconess, Joanne Finley, writes: “Just an update to let you know another team from the California-Nevada Conference was here for one week, from 25 November - 1 December. They were a wonderful group of people who took me total out of my comfort zone. They blessed the kitchen with a stove. We are still waiting on the construction guys to finish up the kitchen and we will be able to move everything into it and start preparing full course meals, but that did not stop Lydiabelle (the cook) from cooking on a two-eye burner and in a crockpot. Yes, the team brought their own cook and she was wonderful. I ate well. It was a sad thing to see them go as it is with most of the teams...”
A few team members season the summary: It was good to see that life goes on after Katrina. But in New Orleans it will be 10-15 years before all signs of devastation are removed. We tried to finish cleaning the debris (we had pulled) off the floors of our houses and pull the nails from the studs. It was warm and humid. After working hard for the last 3 days, we enjoyed a “play day”...Making the tours of “Nawlins” by car or foot and meeting the people -- musicians, shopkeepers -- made us think how much we take for granted. St. Mark’s Community Center mentors at-risk girls, “The Awesome Girls,” to build self-esteem and to walk with God. We had dinner a few blocks away at St. Anna’s Episcopal Church that helps support local musicians who have lost their “gigs”and offers medical care. A few attended welcoming St. Louis Cathedral for worship and holiday folk concert. Four were walkers who saw the French Quarter from a different perspective, a great way to have conversation too. Growth is good: California intern and theology student Alison Henley worked hard and was an integral part of our team. Brian and Martha led in singing, and Martha had devotions based on a book she designed for our team. The group divided so some could go with Brian to the Metairie UMC that had supported Brian and Barbara 3 years ago. St. Mark’s UMC offered jazz music during worship and a dinner following. We met so many people in this city that smile and laugh and thank us for coming to help. Sharing the New Orleans culture with its warm residents was a rewarding and insightful week with new friendships formed and God’s love experienced each and every day. This has been a wonderful week for me and the team. We came with the intention of helping others and have been blessed tenfold ourselves. It’s amazing what teamwork can accomplish! May UMVIM keep coming...