Thoughts from NOLA #4
Thanksgiving week was a busy one for me. Celebrations began on Tuesday with the Awesome Girls. They have a tradition of going shopping and then going out for a meal. Before we left we gathered around and remembered the girls who were not yet back in town with some of them naming the ones they remembered and missed. We then each said what we were thankful for, from family to a roof over their heads, from being somewhere safe and where they trust people to the program. I led a prayer giving thanks for all we have and for the gifts and uniqueness of each girl.
Unfortunately the restaurant they normally went to is still closed from the storm, so we took them to a Chinese/American buffet instead, but first we hit the mall! The girls were excited walking through various shops, and first went to Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, and so on. They walked out empty handed as everything cost too much. Then they spotted Coach, and asked if they could go in there. We went in and the girls were looking at the bags, wallets, coats and sunglasses. One girl, aged nine, tried on a pair of sunglasses and like the look of them…..until she looked at the price tag. “$188 for a pair of sunglasses” she exclaimed loudly, drawing stares from other shoppers. She couldn’t help but go up to each one of us and tell us how outrageous the price of these glasses were! Time was running out and so we took the girls to Claires, where they each managed to find something to buy in their price range.
We left the mall with happy shoppers, and went to the buffet. Mr. Rodgers had phoned ahead to book a table, so despite the crowds we were seated right away. Plates soon came back to the table loaded with shrimp, chicken, noodles, mashed potatoes, rice and sweet corn. As the girls ate they talked about their plans for Thanksgiving. One girl was sad to say that she had to go to Baton Rouge for the celebrations as they had no space to cook in the trailer, and another said that they were not having a big feast this year as there was nowhere to sit everyone. Then began a debate of which was better…to go somewhere you didn’t want to be or to not celebrate but be where you lived. They decided it was better not to celebrate as at least you could be at home, but they all agreed that they want to be back in a real house not living in a trailer park.
After the girls were full there came the test of the meal….to eat squid. The restaurant had boiled squid, and the girls went and got one on a plate. They each cut off a leg and on the count of three put them into their mouths. Only one girl refused, and the rest said they were okay, but too chewy. A couple of the girls went back to get one to take home to show their moms, as they had never seen anything like it before.
We drove the girls home, and I was able to see one of the trailer parks where two of the girls live. The trailers are surrounded by chain link fence topped with barbed wire. They are set on loose gravel and are parked as close together as possible. The atmosphere is oppressive and depressing. The trailers themselves are small, and have only one bedroom in them. The other beds are doubles up as couches and tables during the day. Both of the girls have 3 siblings, so there are five or six people crammed into each trailer. Rodents are rampant in the park, and there is nowhere to play outside or in. I left praying that these girls would soon be able to return to their homes and some sense of space and freedom.
On Wednesday I was doubly blessed by two packages that arrived in the mail. One was from my brothers and sisters at Trinity House, a beautiful care package stuffed with English chocolate, letters, drawings, bubbles and fall leaves. I have not seen autumn this year, so I especially touched by the leaves which I added to my altar. The other package was a complete surprise from one of the members of an early team from Las Vegas. The team had come with prayer shawls that members of their church had made, and I opened the box to be greeted by an amazing shawl. As I wrapped it around my shoulders I felt the love and blessings that came with it, and cried with tears of thanksgiving.
We had a team at St. Mark’s during the days leading up to Thanksgiving and one that came in the day after, so it was nice to have the day off and escape from people! I cycled up to the City Park and sat by the water, warmed by the sunshine, and surrounded by God’s awesome creation, broken by Katrina but returning to life once more. A spider’s web glittered in the sunshine reminding me of the resilience needed to build and the thin threads of faith that we cling to as if they were thick ropes. (and indeed that they are sometimes the only thing we have to hold on to!) The nature around me was a reflection of the people of
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