Feeling Blessed Today

By Sara Jo Hooper
2 days ago
One of the best Thanksgivings I have had…ever. I spent it with my lovely family of course. We are an eclectic group—African American, Caucasian, Mexican, Creole. You would barely know we were related by blood. Confused? I am talking about the blood of Christ. His death on the cross and an empty tomb makes this group one big family. And all God’s children said: Amen.
Kim’s Diner is a place to find good food and good times. After Hurricane Katrina hit in New Orleans, Kim Stuart was one of the first in the lower 9th ward to have her restaurant back in business. This is hard to grasp but that is a huge deal; even President Bush stopped by while he visited the devastated city. Not as well known as George W. Bush, is my mom! On our very first trip in 2006 my mom and a few others stumbled upon Kim’s diner. She met the owner, Miss Kim, who is the most gracious and generous woman you will ever meet in your life. My mother and her immediately bonded and this one conversation sparked an idea. To host a Thanksgiving meal to those in need in the lower 9th ward of New Orleans. Since then there has been an annual meal given out at Kim’s diner on Thanksgiving served by Kim’s staff and family as well as my family and friends. This year marked our 4th meal and definitely not the last.
Back to today…You would have never known there was a hurricane—The diner was bursting at the seams with LOVE. Gumbo, jambalaya, stuffed bell peppers, macaroni, turkey, ham, and pralines were being served all day long at, “The Spot.” I talked with so many people that just brightened my day. Maybe it is being in the South; everyone gives you smiles and calls you baby…that would warm anybody’s mood. But I truly think it was the work of God amongst His people. We had gathered a big group together before the meal started and prayed and gave thanks to God for all He had done in our lives. When it came my turn to pray aloud I thanked Jesus for how He brought together all of these different people who, in normal circumstances, would most likely not interact with each other at all. I know God works in mysterious ways and that He orchestrated all of these individuals coming together. And I also gave thanks for His love because with it He loves us and allows us to love others. And throughout the day all I felt was HIS LOVE being poured out in abundance on me and through me. We served 250 plus people :) :) :) !!!!
That was Thanksgiving joy number one::: Now for Thanksgiving joy number two!
After the big day at Kim’s, it is tradition that we go and visit some of our good friends for a second meal. We gutted this family’s home in March of 2006 and they have impacted me beyond words. Now when I say we gutted their home, I mean we literally went in there after the storm and pulled everything of theirs that was left. In one day we tore apart their home and had pulled all of their belongings. A wedding dress hung from a tree and pictures were being sorted through on the side walk; mounds of water damaged furniture and dry wall on the side of the street grew taller and taller as the day went by. Since then they have been in and out of FEMA trailers and unstable homes. This year I am glad to report that things are looking up for them as far as having a house goes! Anyway, as always they gave us more food than we knew what to do with and we watched an intense Saints game—now that was an experience! Afterwards we watched a video my mom had brought that was made the year we worked on their home. I was nervous to stick it in, in front of the whole family (15ish people) because I was not sure what kind of response it would being out in them. It is some pretty touchy stuff as you could imagine. All this family had once known we were shoveling out of their house,…that stings a little? And to re-watch that? On Thanksgiving? Aw jeeze, I was prepared for the worst. When it was playing my eyes scanned the room. There was so much laughing at how little they all were five years ago and everyone was excited while recalling old memories. Then tears came to their eyes. When it was over everyone was still and emotional. My stepdad took the floor and expressed to them how much of an encouragement they have been to our family. More tears from everyone. In return they then told us how much it means to them that we continue to come see them year after year so faithfully. We were all laughing and tears were still rolling. As we were all sitting there someone said, “Boy, am I glad I saw that because 1.) Looking back on it I didn’t think New Orleans would ever recover and 2.) I sure feel blessed now seeing where we were stuck five years ago.” I am so blessed beyond what I can even express to know this family. They have their fair share of issues but who doesn’t? Difference is, they are strong and have faith in the Lord. They weathered the storm and I am glad I get to weather it along side them. Truly an honor. As we were leaving the dad of this family embraced me in a hug and said, “I love ya’ll and if I have faith in nothing else…I have faith you will be back next Thanksgiving to be with us.”
With that I will say, best turkey day yet!

We Were Fed

As we are driving home, (yeah, got through Texas a few hours ago!), it is hard to capture all that we experienced on Thanksgiving Day. We prepped late into the night Wednesday, making Pralines, sweet potato pies, gumbo, cornbread and shrimp pasta, then arrived back at the diner early Thanksgiving to serve the meal. Throughout the day, we met many who looked forward to seeing us again this year--we were surprised that they remembered us; we met new people the Lord brought, and we gathered with more volunteers than we have seen in year's past---we each shared special moments with people that would be hard to capture on this blog. Suffice it to say, as we served in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we were fed.

Thankful......Blessed!

I have struggled with what to say this week about my experience here in New Orleans. I have found myself in neighborhoods talking to people that I would never have thought I would find myself in and what a blessing it has been. Everyone that we have met has welcomed us with open arms, a hug, a plate of food, an expression of grattitude. I am overwhelmed by the experience. The people here have little in possessions and yet are so rich in their faith! They know how blessed they are to even be alive and each one has a different story, a storm story. Hearing these stories remindes me of how blessed our family is and how thankful we need to be for every minute that the lord gives us here until we meet him!

"Geaux Saints!" by Sara Hooper

http://sarajohooper.tumblr.com/

New Orleans, Louisiana: a city that holds a very special place in my heart. After Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, I ventured down south with a team for the first time and I fell in love. We gutted homes that had been completely flooded and built relationships with the home owners who graciously and willingly told us their devastating Katrina stories. It was an incredible trip and I have been going ever since, once or twice a year. Now a days it is mostly me and my family that come down here. We’ve named our ministry Family Serve. People think there is no need here in New Orleans because it isn’t plastered all over the news anymore. If you would have given me that response like so many have already- I am here to tell you that you couldn’t be more wrong! Driving around today in the 9th and lower 9th ward there are homes that have not been touched! Absolutely insane and so, so sad.

We visited a good friend of ours this afternoon, John Mullen. Half of his neighborhood has disappeared because he lives right where the levees broke. However, John is always cheerful and running around taking pictures with one of his 3 cameras. He still faithfully maintains the community park that is across the street from his house even though barely any kids play there any more these days. While we were helping him out today I got side tracked by a small concrete slab. It used to be the foundation of someone’s home sweet home. I walked the pathway that lead to what used to be the porch and stepped over the thresh hold of the non existing door way. All I could think of was the fact that this used to be a home to a family. A place filled with laughter, the smell of food, friendly voices, familiarity, and comfort. There were spots on the concrete where tile was still somewhat intact..a kitchen perhaps? Bathroom? My mind was racing with the story I was standing upon. It hit me hard and I felt an emptiness in me as I realized that this slab was once a lovely hide out to the world, and now it was just a piece of concrete in an empty lot.

Do me a favor, next time you think of New Orleans, think about just this one family that lost their home. Then think about the thousands more. Then please, pray for them.

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Hope for a better day By: Bryce Phipps

I was walking with our group picking up trash and handing out flyer's for the thanksgiving meal. When we met five men hanging out on their porch. We started to talk to one of them. His name was Brian. He told us how the Thanksgiving meal is making the community stronger by having people join together for fellowship. He then told us that we were giving them hope for a better day. That makes me feel like I'm helping others in their struggles. I'm looking forward to seeing Brian at the meal tomorrow.

Day Two

We spent today in the neighborhoods by Stewart's Diner and House of Hope Fellowship church. We talked to the people in the neighborhoods, cleaned up trash and debris, and handed out fliers for Thursday's Thanksgiving dinner. One man we came across, Ben Gardner, had just lost his daughter and burried her last Saturday. As we talked with him about the Thanksgiving meal he shared his loss with us telling us that his daughter had been responsible for cooking their Thanksgiving meal every year and no one knew the recipes she cooked with so their traditions had changed forever with her passing. We asked if we could pray with him and he was so appreciative and receptive to our presence and our prayer... so there we were, a group of total strangers, praying in the driveway with a man we had just met.

After lunch we gathered the food that the kids had raised in their food drive at school, along with a couple of additions and put together food packages for delivery to three separate families that Pastor Gerald and House of Hope Fellowship church had helped us to find. The kids were so excited to deliver the food to these familes. At each stop they anxiously jumped out of the car each wanting to help carry the food in to the recipent family. It was quite a site to see our caravan of cars pulling into these neighborhoods, and a group of 14 people jumping out of the car in bright green shirts. People who had seen us earlier in the day recognized us by our bright green shirts. As we were driving to the last two houses we passed a group of cheerleaders who were fund-raising on the street corner. Recognizing us instantly by our green shirts, the girls cheered and yelled "Yah, green shirts" as the caravan passed.

The last two houses were down the street from one another so we spent a little bit more time in the neighborhood talking to the people who were hanging around outside while the kids put together a pick up game of ball in the street. At the last house we met Ms. Clarice, a 91 year old woman who fully plans to make it to 100. Despite having very little, Ms. Clarice was so full of life and had a clear vision for the future. She thanked us for the food and blessed us as we went away.

It was so nice to get to talk to the people and hear their stories. We met so many wonderful people today, We set out hoping to encourage and build up the people in the neighborhoods we went into, and ended up being encouraged and built up equally as much by the people we talked to (well with the exception of the guy who chased Chuck off with a machete).

We spent the evening in the French Quarter with Mark Lewis from EFCA and his family. We got to hear Mark's story and how Touch Global came about as well as the vision and plan for the future. We also got an unexpected call from Chuck's sister who will be traveling through New Orleans tomorrow. We've made plans to meet up with Christiane for breakfast tomorrow morning and will have the unexpected blessing of sharing some time with family we don't often get to see this holiday.

Wanna Play?

Jack's experience playing football with local kids.

Playing football with those kids was fun. The kids name's were Chris and Tony. One was seven years old and the other was eight. I thought we were going to have to go easy on them. Boy was I wrong. Chris could run fast. Tony could block. And both took a hit like it was nothing. I loved playing football with those kids because it shows how things as simple as football can unite people that don't even know each other.

The Levine family finally made it into New Orleans early Monday after getting stuck in Dallas with a broken plane. With a few hours of sleep, a quick devotional with the McCain and Phipps' families, a most wonderful breakfast of eggs, pancakes, coffee, bacon, and yogurt we were off to work doing beutification and clean up for House of Hope Fellowship church in the 9th Ward. We worked mowing, weed-eating and cleaning debris from the neighborhood where this new church is being built.

It's hardly a church by what most of you would think... it is a corner church still under construction but the basic framing, roof and walls are complete and the drywall has been hung. Despite still being under construction the church is still full of chairs and holds regular services for its members-another great example of the spirit of New Orleans.

While we were working at the church a couple of neighborhood kids came by and struck up a game of football with the boys (Bryce, Jack and John) in the area next to the church that we had just cleared. It was a beautiful site and a great example of the small ways you can minister to a community.

After a quick trip over to Stewart's Diner for a potty break and a sandwich lunch in the driveway of the church, we were off to visit John, a surving storm vicitim who lives in the lower 9th Ward. John made his way to safety by climbing through a hole in his roof during Katrina five years ago, and you can still see the hole today.

John, a retired school teacher was mowing the neighborhood yards when we arrived and shared stories of how the government will reclaim the land once it is overgrown and unruley. John has a riding mower that one of his neighbors helped him get and mows several yards (at least 6 that we could see) and takes care of the neighborhood park.

Talking to John, I could not think of anyone I know like him in San Diego that would take so much care and pride in his neighborhood that he would willing spend all day taking care of his neighbors yards. It really made me think about what the world would be like if there were more people like John it.

The streets in the lower 9th ward are full of potholes and ravaged by overgrown lots, water damage and lack of maintenance by the government. As we made our way back we couldn't believe that these conditions still exist here in America today. So many of the homes have been buldozed, from what used to be a population dense area. The remainder of the houses are mostly what we would consider abandoned, although they are occupied by people too poor to fix them.

The distrust of outsiders was evident in the wary looks we received from most of the people we saw, although we never tired of waving to all the people sitting in their front yards watching us. It is a truly wonderful blessing for us to be here, to put in perspective what blessed and abundant lives we really have. Well we are off for now but will try to write more as time permits...

If you clean it, they will come and play!

On Monday we did lots of yard work--cleaned the yard around Pastor Gerald's church(House of Hope Fellowship), a neighbor's yard and a park in the Lower Ninth Ward with our dear friend, John Mullen. Put some power tools in a boy/man's hand, and it is amazing what they can accomplish. And, only minutes after the lot was cleared, the local kids came to play football. This is the very reason that John Mullen has committed to mowing many vacant lots in the 9th ward and the local park since the storm. If you clean it, the community will thrive! How is your yard work coming today?

All the Way to New Orleans for Thanksgiving?

Yes, the McCain's and Phipps made it here today after driving for two days (the Levine's are still in flight!) Thank you for your prayers and your support. Some of you have supported our efforts in New Orleans for the past 5 years, starting with gutting/rebuilding trips to New Orleans shortly after Hurricane Katrina. This year, the McCain, Phipps and Levine families committed to travelling to New Orleans to serve the meal and you helped fund the meal itself. We are grateful. Since some of you are new to this journey, a little background is in order. . . just why do we go all the way to New Orleans to serve a Thanksgiving meal??

It started on March 13, 2006: the first day of our first post-Katrina short term mission trip, some of you were with us. My journal notes remind me that we worked in the lower 9th ward on a brick house. We spent all day gutting this house. Everyone worked so hard and we still didn't finish on the first day. Jeanne and I were happy to take a break to find lunch for the team (we had been instructed to bring our own lunches along, but thought we would just pick up some sandwiches during the lunch break.) Little did we know that the neighborhood had no services, no street signs, no lights, nothing. We kept driving trying to find something, but nothing was there--not even a fast food or a grocery store. Everything had been destroyed by the storm and its aftermath.

We drove up and down the streets to no avail. Feeling frustrated and a bit nervous, we made one right turn and saw a bright and freshly painted red and white, shiny diner named "Stewart's Diner." We walked into Stewart's diner and it sparkled with glossy paint, new tile and new furniture. Praise the Lord that the diner had just reopened for business one week before. We ordered 14 "President's Specials" from the Owner, Kim Stewart. Ms. Stewart shared her Katrina experience with us and told us that President Bush visited the diner just the week before (his first visit to the 9th ward) and ate there too, hence the "President's Special!" (red beans & rice w/ potato salad, smoke sausage and cornbread) ! It was delicious. This meeting was the start of an eternal friendship, one based in our mutual love for our Lord and Savior and a call to serve our neighbors as ourselves.

We would travel to New Orleans several more times to gut and rebuild houses, and to serve and love our neighbors in New Orleans. Each time brought us back to Ms. Kim's. Each time we left, we knew we would meet again. Now, our families serve our neighbors in New Orleans together: the Stewart's and their family and friends; and this year, the McCain's, Levine's, Phipps and YOU, our family and friends. Thank you for being a part of family serve. Please pray that the message of the Lord spreads quickly as we serve in His name.

Almost there!

We arrived in Katy Texas last night at 11:00 pm.  Katy is just outside of Houston.  21 hours so far which is 1 hour longer than our goal.  We stopped early Saturday morning and rested for a few hours in the car. We will leave Katy within the hour to head out to New Orleans. The Cracker Barrel was delicious and we will be going again on the way back. The kids have done great.  Ashlyn, Bryce and Jack completed a 30 hour fast that they were part of with their youth group at church. We are excited about today and what God will have in store for all of us.  God Bless!

5 days and counting

Welcome.  We hope this blog will allow you to share with us what God is doing right now.  There are 3 families that will be going on this Mission Trip from San Diego to New Orleans.  The McCains, Levines and Phipps.  All of the families will be adding post as we travel together and serve for one week.  Our prayer is that you will not only be blessed but that you will be encouraged along the way.  Please pray for the many people that we will be in contact with as well as these families that are going.   Thank you and God bless!