Western sky a few minutes later, 30 miles south of Wichita Mon. 7 5 2010
Driving into a thunderstorm near Blackwell, Oklahoma Mon. 7 5 2010
5.7.10
Pictures, top to bottom:
Audrey and Bill, Sunday July 4th
Glen filling Pep (Audrey’s dog)’s water bucket- Sun. July 4
Looking from Audrey’s backyard to the cemetery on the other side of the street
Isabel doing her dog-treat ministry with one of Audrey’s grandsons’ dogs 7/4
Audrey’s house as we left it on Sunday 7 4
Deborah, Myanne, Audrey and Russell singing in worship Sun. 7 4
Gussie and Lorraine Sat. 7 3
Isabel, Gussie, Vicki and Lorraine Sat 7 3
Bill, Walter and Gussie Sat. 7 3
Solomon and Pastor Bruce at Essence Festival Sat 7 3
Audrey and Isabel with Audrey’s great-grandchildren, Fri. 7 2
Audrey’s grandson Mervyn painting with us, Sat. 7 3
Isabel and Vicki working on the alleyway side of Audrey’s house, Sat 7 3
Isaac, Isabel and Audrey working on the back side of the house early on Sat. 7 3
Lorraine, Glen, Vicki, Isabel, Isaac, Deborah, Bill, Bruce and Amber (from Ithaca, NY) as Bruce and Deborah are presented with a quilt made by our friend Susan- Friday 7 2
We four are in Wichita tonight- but we woke up this morning in New Orleans. We wrapped up our visit on Sunday with worship, one more visit to Audrey's house, and then with a visit to Mrs. Martin with Bruce and Deborah.
I guess we can judge how much we've been immersed in our work by how odd it feels to be away from St. John and from New Orleans in general. We were blessed to be there for more than eight days, but the time went by very quickly- just when I think I'm learning my way around in the car, it's time to go. When I go back, I will have to learn all over again. This time, Vicki, Isabel, Lorraine and Tammie got to find out how I drive in New Orleans- just about every trip includes a little extra sightseeing (Bill and Isaac were already familiar with this aspect of working with me).
On Saturday, Vicki went over to the Essence Festival (an enormous event at the Convention Center featuring seminars and concerts and all things "urban contemporary" She joined Pastor Bruce and Solomon and others from St. John at their HIV/AIDS Prevention ministry table, answering questions and providing free HIV tests. This was in the afternoon, after she had spent several hours painting at Audrey's house. It's great work, and it is sad to hear that the state has cut funding for the testing, so that St. John won't be able to provide that for a time. It makes me wonder how much each test costs...
We spent the evening with Walter and Gussie on Saturday, and so Lorraine and Vicki and Isabel got to meet them for the first time. It is good for me to see the shed out in the backyard, since I was blessed to help cleaning up the slab out there three years ago- Walt is now planning to add to the shed- That space is used by both of them, as Gussie collects and passes on clothes and other items, particularly to women who are in her congregation's transitional housing. Visiting with Gussie is something like visiting with Patricia in Biloxi was the other day- we receive encouragement and welcome beyond words to describe.
We spent a few minutes with Audrey on Sunday afternoon, and we will be anxious to hear what she finds out with regard to an estimate from the plumber. The people of Cross and Crown have been very, very generous, and so we look forward to contributing further to getting Audrey back into her home and then to hearing about how her grandchildren and great grandchildren pass by every day, just as they did before the storm, just as they are doing now in the rental home she is in two doors away.
July 4th came and went in New Orleans. I didn't hear many fireworks, mostly because of the air conditioner and fan noise. Being around Myanne in worship, and seeing those red white and blue ribbons in her hair, made me think of the holiday and think, also, about what Mike Ellis from Love Knows No Bounds (Ithaca, NY) had said to me- "I'm glad that we in Ithaca and you in Seattle have St. John covered from coast to coast." The people of St. John enjoyed hearing that- I have a little more trouble with it. On Wednesday night one member was speaking and was looking for a word to describe the status of people who had had to leave the city after the hurricane- I said "evacuee," but "refugee" came louder and clearer from more people. A "refugee" is someone who has to leave their country, like the Uzbeks who fled from Kyrgystan a few months ago. The people who have had to leave new Orleans- for a short time or for the last five years, are part of the same country that I am part of.
It's more than that- we're part of each other's hearts- part of a community that God decided to put together. I am very thankful for that.
GlenA
I guess we can judge how much we've been immersed in our work by how odd it feels to be away from St. John and from New Orleans in general. We were blessed to be there for more than eight days, but the time went by very quickly- just when I think I'm learning my way around in the car, it's time to go. When I go back, I will have to learn all over again. This time, Vicki, Isabel, Lorraine and Tammie got to find out how I drive in New Orleans- just about every trip includes a little extra sightseeing (Bill and Isaac were already familiar with this aspect of working with me).
On Saturday, Vicki went over to the Essence Festival (an enormous event at the Convention Center featuring seminars and concerts and all things "urban contemporary" She joined Pastor Bruce and Solomon and others from St. John at their HIV/AIDS Prevention ministry table, answering questions and providing free HIV tests. This was in the afternoon, after she had spent several hours painting at Audrey's house. It's great work, and it is sad to hear that the state has cut funding for the testing, so that St. John won't be able to provide that for a time. It makes me wonder how much each test costs...
We spent the evening with Walter and Gussie on Saturday, and so Lorraine and Vicki and Isabel got to meet them for the first time. It is good for me to see the shed out in the backyard, since I was blessed to help cleaning up the slab out there three years ago- Walt is now planning to add to the shed- That space is used by both of them, as Gussie collects and passes on clothes and other items, particularly to women who are in her congregation's transitional housing. Visiting with Gussie is something like visiting with Patricia in Biloxi was the other day- we receive encouragement and welcome beyond words to describe.
We spent a few minutes with Audrey on Sunday afternoon, and we will be anxious to hear what she finds out with regard to an estimate from the plumber. The people of Cross and Crown have been very, very generous, and so we look forward to contributing further to getting Audrey back into her home and then to hearing about how her grandchildren and great grandchildren pass by every day, just as they did before the storm, just as they are doing now in the rental home she is in two doors away.
July 4th came and went in New Orleans. I didn't hear many fireworks, mostly because of the air conditioner and fan noise. Being around Myanne in worship, and seeing those red white and blue ribbons in her hair, made me think of the holiday and think, also, about what Mike Ellis from Love Knows No Bounds (Ithaca, NY) had said to me- "I'm glad that we in Ithaca and you in Seattle have St. John covered from coast to coast." The people of St. John enjoyed hearing that- I have a little more trouble with it. On Wednesday night one member was speaking and was looking for a word to describe the status of people who had had to leave the city after the hurricane- I said "evacuee," but "refugee" came louder and clearer from more people. A "refugee" is someone who has to leave their country, like the Uzbeks who fled from Kyrgystan a few months ago. The people who have had to leave new Orleans- for a short time or for the last five years, are part of the same country that I am part of.
It's more than that- we're part of each other's hearts- part of a community that God decided to put together. I am very thankful for that.
GlenA
3.7.10
Pictures top to bottom - Isabel gives snack to bull terrier at Audrey's house, part of her dog treat ministry here; Glen at St John summer camp, Lorraine with Wandrelle and Tyree and spray-mist-fan; Isabel and Wandrelle,Audrey, Tyree, Wandrelle, and Lorraine; a tarball on the beach in Gulfport, MS (consistency of fudge, size of a cookie); Audrey receiving quilt from raffle; leaving David and Patricia's house, Fayard St. in Biloxi; David with grandson Branton, Patricia; Virginia and Isabel, Bill Johnson's studio.
We have not been able to put much on the blog, having been busy and
having no easy internet access- We went to Gulfport/Biloxi on Thursday
and visited with Virginia T, Bill , and David and Patricia K.
We moved some things around for Bill, as he is putting some bookcases out in the public area of his studio/warehouse. He is feeling well and working on new things --paintings and sculptures. Bill will be 90 on January 10th.
Seeing David and Patricia was a lot like having dinner with Walter and Gussie will be tonight- we had a chance to visit for a short time and we received encouragement from Patricia and David.
Virginia is well- we were sorry to hear that her husband John died recently. He was a very sweet and gentle man.
Our painting group is nearly finished putting the main house color on today, wor our last day painting as a group. There will be trim and touch-up work left to do. One of the best parts of this week has been the involvement of Audrey, our friend and homeowner, her grandsons Mervyn and Donovan, and her great grandchildren Wandrell and Tyree, in the work. On the first day of work, before the rain when it was 95 outside, Audrey took pity on me and brought a paper towel with some ice cubes in it for the back of my neck. Yesterday, Audrey looked wiped out, and so I was able to return the good deed in the form of a paper towel with ice cubes, telling her that a smart person had taught me this. I like that, because it never has been about give-ers and give-ees here or anywhere else. We are in this together.
We will visit Walter and Gussie this evening, go to church tomorrow, visit with Audrey tomorrow afternoon, and then all of us but Bill will be on our way home by Monday morning.
Food- sweet potato pie, succotash with Okra, macaroni and cheese, greens, broccoli rice, chicken, roast (from Deborah)- lasagna, beans and rice, salads (Audrey).
Peace
GlenA
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