Alternative Spring Break

Our very large group has been broken up into five teams for the purposes of reflection and connection.  These teams are:  The Mighty Magnolias, The Catahoula Hounds, The Green Tree Frogs, The Honey Bees, and the Eastern Brown Pelicans.  Our first reflection is from the Mighty  Magnolias

Our first day at work was a long one! We started early with a 6am breakfast and had some time to get ourselves ready to set out to our work site at 7:30. Upon first arriving at the site, the remains of what once was St. Margaret’s Nursing Home in the 9th ward, we were giving an orientation from the director of Operation Nehemiah, Fred Franke. He emphasized how grateful the New Orleans community is that we are here to help (this point was driven home when one of the local residents came out of his house to thank us personally.) We then split up into three groups; a little more than half of us stayed to do demolition work on the former St. Margaret’s buildings and others bused over to the new, operating St. Margaret’s Nursing Home to talk to residents, and our nursing students went door to door offering health screenings for the local clinic. Volunteers at the new St. Margaret’s building helped to prepare  and host a St. Patrick’s Day party, enjoyed music with residents, read to and got to know the residents as well.  Some projects at eh demolition site included removing sinks and light fixtures, clearing debris and knocking down walls (all of which was fun but tiring!)  The former St. Margaret’s site was very interesting because many of the residents’ belongings have remained untouched since the storm.  It seems, in the 9th ward, as though Katrina stopped time and many of us found ourselves imagining this place on August 29th, 2005  under 7 feet of water, when so many people had to leave their lives behind (and many of them, to this day, still have little or nothing to return to.)  We continue to reflect on what we are doing and why we are here. We are challenged to keep our minds turning throughout the week and even longer, seeing that our impact and our reflection doesn’t need to end when we return to Bloomington this weekend.  After a physically and mentally exhausting day, sleep seems like a great gift before we are ready to start a new day tomorrow!  

Bright and early on Sunday morning, 20 people in our group join families and friends in St. Bernard’s Parish at Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Catholic Church and Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church of America for Palm Sunday worship.  The people of the Catholic parish embraced students and asked them stand to be introduced in worship for all to meet.  The students were even included in the liturgy having been invited to bring the gifts to the Altar.  If this were not overwhelming enough, the president of the parish invited our entire group for dinner sometime this week.  What a reception!

Gethsemane ELCA was alive and energetic.  This congregation had just taken the tent (where they had worshipped since Katrina destroyed the church) down the day before.  Fully ensconced in a new sanctuary, the congregation checked on each other, sang joyfully together, shared the sacraments of Eucharist and baptism.  All in all, it was a wonderful, welcoming experience.  Rebirth from the devastation of Katrina and new life found through the willing and helpful hands of volunteers who enter and leave this community week after week.

 After church, we took a group picture, loaded the bus and headed to the French Quarter. Wow, what a ride it was into the Quarter! We divided up into our five teams and headed out to find places to eat to enjoy the real New Orleans cuisine. Many enjoyed different types of dishes and get-to-know you discussions over lunch. We were on strict schedule to get back so after enjoying a beignet (a deep fried doughy, yet crispy treat with lots of powdered sugar) we all headed back onto the bus and then back to Camp Hope.

On the way to Camp Hope, our bus was able to drive through the 9th Ward area–an area where nothing is left standing anymore, but tall green grass. (We heard later that night that Bill Clinton and Brad Pitt were in the 9th Ward earlier that day with students!)

After a hardy dinner in the cafeteria, we had an orientation meeting to St. Bernard Parish. John Boothe, a local older gentleman, shared his experiences–a powerful message we will carry with us as we begin our work today!

 Here are a few questions we continue to ask ourselves:

Why are certain areas of the city restored and others not, even two years later?

 How can we contribute when we live so far away?

How have people survived with this kind of devistation in their face everyday?

What can we learn from these survivors?  How can we take their spirit of faith and hope back with us to Illinois?

Saturday, March 15 @ 4:00 a.m. …  4:20 a.m. …  5:00 a.m.

 Pictures wouldn’t load … still working on it