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