Third Time Around Reflections

David Eggert and others in the group getting ready for the day, loading tools in vehicles at Northshore
and later during a full-day of measuring, cutting, and hanging drywall at a home on Freedom St. in Slidell, LA.

Looking back on my third mission trip to New Orleans, I can say that this trip was the most positive in some ways. For the first time in my experience, we were building, not tearing down. Though the damage in greater New Orleans is still staggering, there has been great progress. And the organization that coordinated our work, Northshore Disaster Recovery, Inc., was impressive.

Northshore is a creation of United Methodist Committee on Recovery (UMCOR). Supported by more than 40 other denominations, UMCOR has organized and equipped 14,000 volunteers so far. They have re-built and rehabbed hundreds of homes in the northern suburbs and are now poised to move their efforts into New Orleans proper. They raise funds, identify needy clients, assess the needs of their homes, assist with financing, assign and direct the volunteers, and provide materials and tools. At our job sites we were shown what we needed to do and how to do it; we were given supplies and the tools we needed, and when we asked for more, we got more. This is a very impressive effort, deserving of the Disciples’ continued support.Looking back on my third mission trip to New Orleans, I can say that this trip was the most positive in some ways. For the first time in my experience, we were building, not tearing down. Though the damage in greater New Orleans is still staggering, there has been great progress. And the organization that coordinated our work, Northshore Disaster Recovery, Inc., was impressive.

Northshore is a creation of United Methodist Committee on Recovery (UMCOR). Supported by more than 40 other denominations, UMCOR has organized and equipped 14,000 volunteers so far. They have re-built and rehabbed hundreds of homes in the northern suburbs and are now poised to move their efforts into New Orleans proper. They raise funds, identify needy clients, assess the needs of their homes, assist with financing, assign and direct the volunteers, and provide materials and tools. At our job sites we were shown what we needed to do and how to do it; we were given supplies and the tools we needed, and when we asked for more, we got more. This is a very impressive effort, deserving of the Disciples’ continued support.

Why New Orleans, when there are so many other opportunities for mission? For me the answer is clear – the need is so great. Even two years after the storm, the damage to this major American city remains shocking. Thousands of homes are still uninhabitable, and many haven’t been touched. There are many other opportunities for outreach in our own backyard, but no place in America is more needy. I hope we can reach out to need in our area and also to need that is far away. I would readily go to New Orleans again.

It was a pleasure and an honor to join the other members of this mission trip. This mission was good for me. I returned proud of the work we did, with new friendships from a week of sharing work and living space, and with thanks for God’s guidance and


Why New Orleans, when there are so many other opportunities for mission? For me the answer is clear – the need is so great. Even two years after the storm, the damage to this major American city remains shocking. Thousands of homes are still uninhabitable, and many haven’t been touched. There are many other opportunities for outreach in our own backyard, but no place in America is more needy. I hope we can reach out to need in our area and also to need that is far away. I would readily go to New Orleans again.
It was a pleasure and an honor to join the other members of this mission trip. This mission was good for me. I returned proud of the work we did, with new friendships from a week of sharing work and living space, and with thanks for God’s guidance and protection.

David Eggert

Hello from Grace Disciples Church, Covington, LA

All 19 of us in front of Grace Christian, Weds, Sept. 26, 2007.

Our last evening together. Of course, we worshipped!

After our gracious dinner hosts went home, the 19 of us gathered in Grace's sanctuary for worship. Mark and Gail Ritchey got us started with guitar and singing. Gail Haverdill presented a cross that husband Tom cut from a live oak log cut from a tree in the Liberty home front yard. The cross reads "hope" and has our signatures front and back -- it will have permanent home at EACC. Gail Ritchey and Carol David read from Isaiah 40 and Matthew's story of the disciples being called from their nets to join Jesus. Our group homily for the evening was the story of the first Pentecost from Acts 2 when the disciples were bewildered by how they could understand in ways they never understood before. How could that be? It could be only because the Holy Spirit was at work. We shared with each other, with both laughter and tears, what it is we now "understand" that we did not before we left Cleveland and Indianapolis.



There were as many different understandings as there were people speaking. It was Pentecost all over again, I do believe. One that I will share came from Gail Haverdill who said she now understands "mission" -- that mission is not "mission accomplished" but "mission continues."



Isn't that the message of the gospel? The mission of those early disciples was not accomplished, but it continues through us.



And, so, because we are Disciples, we broke bread at the Table, standing in a circle and serving each other from whole-wheat sandwich bread slices and grape juice in a Grace chalice. Russ Goldner used as meditation -- when did we see you, Jesus? -- and wife Bonnie and our new Indy friend, Jerry Stuff, prayed for the bread and the cup.



To close, and already the tears are welling up again as I write -- we opened your beautiful letters and each person read one or more to the group. Thank you, dear Leslie, for making sure we felt this love and received this special attention. As we read, we described who you were to the men from GCC who do not know you, but now know your prayers. We also each received a forever gift made by Mahala Huff -- a beautiful bookmark with a flower from Huff's garden. What better benediction than receiving your love from this distance.



Today, we are working a half-day and then hitting the road. We came down somewhat "in convoy" but we are returning in all sorts of ways and according to some different time schedule needs. Many of us will see you on Sunday morning. If we could all fit in the pulpit, we'd certainly all have a message to deliver.



We are forever changed. We will be so glad to see you.



Pastor Kris

Never felt better about being together, though certainly we've looked better!

Can you make out who's at the top of the slide? Guess the cell phone coverage was better up there. (It's Camille!)

A rest break for Dr. Goldner who wears his do-rag proudly!

This is the "Liberty Team" -- the house we worked on is on Liberty St. Our supervisor, Tom Haverdill, allowed us this one break for a photo op -- then it was back to work!

Mark and Gail get as dirty as anybody but they clean up nice, don't you think?

David's drilling is only as good as his assistants who are holding the cabinet in place -- Holly and Pastor Kris.

It takes all hands, all sizes, all ages to do this work . David Burton and Ron from Indy work together.

Taking a break to hear Gary's hurricane stories.

Part of our group with the one for whom they did this work -- Homeowner, Gary.

Thursday evening at Grace Christian

These are the Grace Christian church folks who prepared our Thursday evening potluck dinner. It was much like our own back home at EACC -- except I don't remember ever having crawfish etouffee as one of our dishes! Grace is a small church -- a good Sunday is 50+ in attendance. Imagine the effort in providing dinner for mission volunteers nearly every Thursday evening for 2+ years!





Grace Christian had just moved to this building in Covington prior to Hurricane Katrina -- they were originally "First Christian Church" of Mandelville, LA and needing to downsize when this building became available from a Lutheran church that needed more space for their growing church. It was a trade from heaven!

Shannon Mangum, a member of Grace Christian, presents each mission group with a "cross of shards" before they return home. She and others have collected these broken pieces of glass from all the homes where work has been done -- from that brokenness comes this beauty. We'll have the cross with us on Sunday so you can see the beauty for yourselves.

Looking for Signs of Hope

Not much about this house has changed since we (Northwood Christian Church in Indpls) gutted it in Jan 2006. Even though the inside of the house is just rafters and sub-floor, the front window still shows the love Miss Winnie had for the children of her distressed neighborhood. She made these paper angels with those children who came over after school for a safe haven and lots of love.

Miss Winnifred's home on Lizardi Street. I am so grateful we found it again.

Mark wrote so beautifully last night. I'm grateful for his willingness to write when I'm not sure I could have. I did not expect the lower Ninth Ward experience to be so emotional for me, this, the third time I've seen it. I expected to be everyone's pastor, prepared to get anyone else through the experience. But as we approached the worst of the destruction, the tears were already welling. I had questioned so many times why these houses that were damaged beyond repair were not just bulldozed away. Most are gone now, along with the debris, and weeds have taken over all but the edges of driveways.

So, where are the people? What has happened to these people who had just a little piece of land and a shotgun house to call their own? Are their children settled into new schools? Have their parents found work? Have the elderly and ill been taken in by family?

We'll never know of course. But the questions make this personal and made it a priority for me to try to find out about at least one of these people. Miss Winifred -- the first homeowner we met in January 06. We gutted her house over a period of three days. Her house is on Lizardi street -- just blocks from this complete devastation. We found this little pink house -- and though I wish I could say that it's been re-done by other volunteers, it appears that nothing else has been done since we left. The FEMA trailer that is in the back yard is one that is being used by a neighbor, not Miss Winifred because she is now living in Mandeville, LA with her daughter. I remember her daughter wanting 85 year old Miss Winifred to move in with her, and her mother resisting. (A similar story for many of us, yes?) But this neighbor still talks to Miss Winnie every week and promised to call her last night to tell her her church friends from up-north were back for a visit. Knowing she's OK, togther with her people, and still connected to her long-time friends was enough to also put a face on the hope we have to feel to be down here doing this work.

Our time together at the Gumbo Shop for dinner and Cafe du Monde for a beignet and cafe au lait was much appreciated. We needed to laugh after our earlier tears. We needed the distraction. We needed to appreciate each other as church friends who are committed to making a difference. And, to be grateful that we were not alone with our questions with no answers, but together as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Tomorrow, we go back to work. There is hope in new drywall and freshly cut grass.

Pastor Kris

The Definition of Destruction...

• Picture 1: Inside of a house that was near a levy breach just east of the 9th ward
• Picture 2: the inside of a Church Sanctuary located in the Lower 9th ward.
• Picture 3: our group is walking in the 9th ward. a neighborhood with hundreds of homes spaced very much like East Cleveland or Euclid (average lot size was 40' x 100')

Wednesday september 26th, a day that has come and gone. A day that I will never forget.

Today the 19 of us worked a half day. It met with many successes, and the anticipation of much needed rest. Rest in the form of a tour of downtown New Orleans which ended in the Lower 9th ward.


I can not begin to describe the incredible feelings that built with each stop that we had. Seeing less evidence of recovery as we got closer to the end. Seeing evidence in homes of the level of water. Seeing the piles of rubble that are over 2 years old. Seeing hundreds of drive way aprons and no evidence of homes or buildings. The realization of life affected and lost was completely overwhelming. After experiencing first hand the many accounts and evidence of this disaster, I can not express the magnitude of this event.

The definition of destruction is: The termination of something by causing so much damage to it that it cannot be repaired or no longer exists. based on the events and experiences of today. I have a new definition of destruction: KATRINA

In His Service, Mark Ritchey

The end of a productive day

Some are already fast asleep on their air mattresses. Some are reading. Others are checking e-mail. Nine of us just finished a wild and crazy game of "Apples to Apples." We're setting wake-up times for morning. We want to be on the road to our jobsites by 7:30 am. To a person, we're tired. And, to a person, it's the best sort of tired. We worked a full day, ate a hearty meatloaf dinner, and shared with each other how and where we saw God at work today. We saw God in how well we worked together. We saw God in the patience of our "site supervisors" Mark Ritchey and Tom Haverdill. We saw God in the hospitality of this "little church" that opens its doors to volunteers like us. We saw God in the breeze that saved us from exhaustion this hot afternoon.

Tomorrow is a half day of work, followed by an afternoon of visiting the lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans. We'll have dinner together at the Gumbo Shop on St. Peter's St. adjacent to Jackson Square. Though we are looking forward to this --you should hear all the good-natured grumbling about losing a half-day's labor at the two houses where we are working. We had a tough time getting Gail Haverdill to leave this afternoon -- "just give me 30 minutes more and I"ll have this room finished!" That is the spirit among all 15 -- whatever it takes, whatever we have to give of ourselves, with whatever strength God give us!

Thanks for your prayers. Now, it's time to sleep ....

Pastor Kris

It was a productive day. It was a good day.

We have so much to tell you, and yet these pictures say even more than we could if we used words. We hope you can see God at work in us. We felt God with us in everything we were able to do.

The Do-Rag Crew

Ron and Jerry from Geist Christian Church and their new friend and co-worker, Russ Goldner.

Re-building Houses in Slidell, Getting Really Dirty for Jesus!

The day in pictures .....

13 of us worked at two different locations in Slidell, Miss -- Trish and David Burton stayed behind to make sure we had a delicious dinner when we got home. Can you identify all 15 EACC workers in these pictures?

The Trip down!

Greetings fellow believers,

I am tired but in good spirits. after 17 hours of travel we have arrived at Grace Christian church. I wanted to give you some items to help you create a vision of what it is like to ride 1000 miles on 4 different interstate highways. passing through or near by 6 Sizable US cities, (Columbus, Cincinnati, Louisville, Nashville, Huntsville, and Birmingham).
Items I saw specifically on the drive down. (in no particular order)

1. Flea Fair.
2. Flea Swap.
3. A number of flea markets.
4. One Armadillo. (on the side of the road)
5. 5 "boozefighters" Motorcyclists.
6. Late 1930s Willy's Jeep being towed by a old Mazda pickup. (we passed it at least 3 times)
7. Mid 60's Ford Fairlane (and other Vintage automobiles)
8. Corvette museum. (Bowling Green Kentucky is were they make the corvette currently)
9. Saturn III rocket "rest area". (this was a real NASA Rocket right next to the Road)
10. Countless Bug "Splats" on the van window.
11. 1 auto accident (thankfully)
12. Approximately 40 miles of road construction.
    
13. Sun shine and clear sky all the way to Birmingham AL. (appx 2/3 of the trip)
14. Dale Earnhardt Commemorative License plate. (for you nascar fans)
15. Dozens of Crosses by the side of the road indicating the tragic death of some one while en route to their destination.
16. Orange wild flowers filling the median strip between the interstate roads (at least 3 miles worth)
    
17. 4 Tennessee Troopers and 4 automobiles pulled over. (not sure what they did but they were all within 500 feet of each other)
    
18. 4 Church Steeples in the Nashville valley (the reminded me of our beautiful Steeple)
19. A Man sitting on the berm of the free way. (please note that there was no stranded or disabled car in sight in either direction)
20. Driving rain for appx 20 minutes (we slowed to 5o miles and hour as we could not see more than 100 feet in front of our vehicle)
21. "Jesus saves" Graffiti on the back of a Semi.
    

I am thankful for our safe and uneventful passage to the New Orleans area. I am excited for the effort that we are about to expel.

God's Grace to you and those around you!

Mark Ritchey

We made it to Grace Disciples Church safely!

This will be brief, as it is getting late and we leave for the worksite at 7:15 am! All 15 EACC volunteers arrived safely -- the 13 who left the church parking lot Saturday am, plus Russ and Bonnie Goldner who left separately to visit with family on the way down. We're joined by 4 men from Geist Christian Church in Indianapolis. We've been busy dividing up sleeping rooms -- the men are sleeping at various points in the sanctuary, and the women are occupying 4 Sunday School classrooms. Air mattresses have been inflated -- you should ask Russ about his deluxe model!

Our local site coordinator, Josh Baird, gave us an overview of the enormous work effort by the Disciples and told us to "expect chaos" tomorrow morning when we join up with other volunteer groups in Slidell, Miss. We are part of a greater network, Northshore Disaster Recovery, Inc. He compared these Monday mornings to being in business for yourself and having anywhere from 50 to 250 brand new employees showing up for work for the first day -- skilled and unskilled, and you have some idea what this relief effort is like every week! Patience, flexibility, patience, flexibility, patience, .......

We missed being in worship this morning, but we wouldn't be anywhere else than right here! Having made it here safely, we are excited to begin.

Good night -
Pastor Kris

What a send-off!

It's not everyone who was there bright and early Saturday morning -- but it was everyone we could gather together for this send-off picture.



Thank you, thank you, thank you! Keep reading below for what Mark Ritchey has to say about the experience so far.



Pastor Kris

Wow we are on our way

As I prepared this week I found the problems and tasks for the week became less and less urgent. I truly believe that God was preparing me for this trip. I find my self thinking less about the day and more about the experience I am in.

The send off today was nothing short of amazing. To see 30 plus people at church at 8 AM was something that I will never forget. Even now, I realize that everyone there was anxious to see this happen. To participate in what will be a life changing experience.

Thank you Mr. Kidd for your prayer. Thank you Leslie for your CD. (I have listened to it 2 times already) Thank you to the Reeds and my in-laws for attending to my children. Thank you all for your generosity which enables us to carry out Christ's commission to love one another. My hope is that you all receive blessing like I have experienced these last few days.

God Bless you all!

Mark Ritchey

Getting There is Half the Fun

15 Euclid Avenue Christian Church members are all smiles after being treated to a pot-luck dinner following worship this past Sunday, September 9. The tally from a silent auction fundraiser and many other cash contributions had just been announced. Our congregation was so very generous that we will be able to travel to the Gulfcoast on September 22 for a week's hurricane disaster relief work. And, not only is this trip fully funded, but enough money was raised to ensure that another trip can be planned to wherever God might be calling us to "Get Dirty For Jesus!"

Pictured in our "Disciples Disaster Relief" red t-shirts are: (seated l-r) Holly Coughlin, Bonnie Goldner, Gail Ritchey, and Gail Haverdill. Standing (l-r) Carol David, Trish Burton, Mark Ritchey, David Burton, David Eggert, Elaine Harkless, Chris Hawkins, Camille Newlon, Pastor Kris Eggert, Russ Goldner, and Tom Haverdill.