Tired and Challenged in NOLA

Hello Again - today was our second day with Habitat for Humanity (Yeah Habitat).

We had meetings, we worked as teams, doing siding, moving dirt, and finally - raising walls - what a wonderful set of fellow spiritual-journey-people.

The neighborhood is on a block of homes, two that were burned out, that Habitat in Partnership with RHINO (Rebuilding Hope in New Orleans) is building, two of which are slated for homeowners.

I walked around this neighborhood today, with boarded-up apartments and stores, burned out homes (imagine during the Katrina Flood getting to burning homes), and wondered - Is it enough, can we do enough to help. These wonderful residents - Jim who cooks for us at St. Charles who spent the days on a roof in Baton Rouge and now feeds those willing to help, have had to cope and have the courage to persevere through it all.

I have a hard time with words and intangibles - but from my fellow journey-persons - with whom I mostly sit and listen during nightly devotions - I have learned from them - this is faith!

I now wonder whether what I do is enough, and am I enough of a person of faith to help here. I do not despair, but I do question and the devastation is real and palpable. Am I enough of a Christian? I don't know - but I do know I will go and help again tomorrow.

My fellow journey persons are a wonderfully eclectic mix of devoted people - powerful persons-of-faith - many nights after devotion, I am in awe of these people.

The Carols (there are 3!) - all of whom have repeated this journey, some twice some more than three times. There are couples - Irv and Kathy who spending their 42nd Wedding Anniversary - helping others?! Bill and Sylvia who have repeated this journey again, together. John and Jane who have organized this trip, yet again for at least a third time.

Robin and Katie - Pastor and Elder - who bring energy and life to the work site.

Again - I wonder - am I enough and is this enough? Wonderful friends are being made as we toil to rebuild a little piece of New Orleans.

Tired and Challenged. Rob L.