CCLC in New Orleans Summer 2010

2010-07-05T20:43:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-05T20:29:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-05T20:08:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-03T12:14:00.000-07:00

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.

2010-07-03T11:54:00.000-07:00

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

Pictures from Day 2 of Work

2010-06-30T13:20:00.000-07:00

As I write this from the French Quarter of New Orleans, I can't think of anything to tell you except that tonight, Tammie, Lorraine, Glen, Vicki, Isaac and I are going to Snug Harbor to hear Delfeayo Marsalis play there. More reports tomorrow. For now, here are the few pictures from yesterday that aren't blurry.

This post is by Pastor Glen

2010-06-30T13:09:00.000-07:00

This morning we decided to go straight to Audrey's house in the hope of avoiding a steady rain and of being able to do some painting (primering). We were able to get two hours or so in before the rain came. Today it has rained steadily, more like rain in Renton than the 2-inches-in-forty-minutes we saw the other day.
We are thankful that we are able to work and to visit and to eat with Audrey and with her grandson. Yesterday she told us about getting on a bus with her family members after hurricane Katrina and being taken to the Astrodome, of the kind care they received there, and of some of the painful pieces of that time- seeing parentsand children being separated--some of the events that we saw on CNN almost five years ago.
Tuesday evening's Bible study was led by Tammie, with music from St John members Lionel and Linda and Chantelle. We had a beautiful dinner prepared by Deborah, which followed the beautiful lunch which Audrey made for us. Tonight we will be back in church for "Hour of Power"- an opportunity for people (including us, if we are moved to do so) to name things for which we are thankful.
I am thankful for the welcome we are having, for the opportunity to work side by side with Audrey, for those whom we have met at St John, for everyone in our group, for the opportunity to see Bill J. in Biloxi tomorrow, and for bringing us this far
and walking with us through this week. Glen A

First Day o' Work

2010-06-29T06:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we started work on Miss Audrey's house. All we could really do was put primer on the outsides of the house, but we did a lot of that. At the Lowe's, we got big wood and metal sticks that you can attach like a roller or brush to, so you can reach up higher. We were working really hard on trying to finish the one side of it, but then there was a HUGE wind and we had to leave. Afterwards, we went to church for the Bible Study that my dad led. Later, we talked with some of the kids from St. John.My mom was really happy because she got to hold the little 1-year-old of one of the members of St. John.

Today we are going back to work priming Miss Audrey's house, so hopefully there won't be any more huge winds. Just a breeze would be nice!

-Isabel

Visiting

2010-06-29T06:29:00.000-07:00

6-28-10
We got to experience a great thunder and lightning show today with a huge downpour. I loved it! It's nothing like the wimpy storms we have in Washington.

I had the opportunity to visit a few people with Pastor Bruce. One woman in particular really touched my heart. She was diagnosed on 2004 with cancer in her neck and then underwent radiation and chemotherapy. The radiation created inflammation in her neck which made breathing difficult. Then she had a tracheostomy placed. With the tracheostomy in place she was unable to eat anything, so a feeding tube was placed. Then came August 2005 and Katrina. She now had to travel to Baton Rouge to access the medical available to her, as healthcare professionals in New Orleans were difficult to find. The radiation had caused her esophagus to close due to scar tissue. She made many attempts to be seen in Baton Rouge to have the esophagus surgically opened and appointments were cancelled because no one was available to see her. She was finally seen after 9 months and was then told nothing could be done to open the scar tissue. She is now stuck with a tracheostomy and feeding tube for the rest of her life and is unable to eat or drink anything. I feel like the healthcare community really failed her. She, amazingly, holds on to the hope that she will be able to eat red beans and rice with Pastor Bruce again.
Vicki

Miss Audrey and her House

2010-06-28T06:48:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, all present CCLC workers(Bill and Lorraine have yet to arrive) went to visit Miss Audrey, whose house we will be working on. The first thing we can do is do some primer on the outside of her house. So today, we went to the Community Cafe in the French Quarter, and then we are going to Home Depot to get primer and brushes and things.

On a different note, I don't think we will run out of cold things to drink this week, because we went to the closest Winn-Dixie yesterday and got at least 100 bottles of water, Gatorade, etc. Also, when we met Miss Audrey in church yesterday, she said that she would have a bunch of cold stuff for us. There isn't much chance for dehydration, as far as I can tell. 8*D

-Isabel

We are Here!

2010-06-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday the Aabergs arrived by car in the afternoon and were immediately greeted by Pastor Bruce Davenport. Later that night, Tammie flew in and we all went to dinner. But before that, Pastor Bruce gave us the tour of the neighborhood. Pastor Bruce also introduced Vicki to a tan Cadillac-which she drove around the neighborhood. While driving in the church van with Pastor Bruce, we learned two ways to tell native new Orleanians from tourists: Locals don't wear seat belts. Or signal.

Today, we are all going to St. John's Baptist Church in the morning.
See you next time, blog readers!