"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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