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A P R I L 2 0 1 2

The housemates on our fall retreat in Austin, TX.Back Row: Eric, Ashley, Lauren, Ji!ian, Tyrone, Laura, Bueana

Front Row: A!ison, Emma

ere you will find theexperiences of nine peopleliving and serving inintentional Christian

community through Presbytery ofSouth Louisiana and ChristianRenewal New Orleans.

! By way of AmeriCorps and thePC(USA)s Young Adult VolunteerProgram, the nine of us work with a

variety of organizations andcommunities here in New Orleans, andthrough the words on these pages wehope to share some of our experiences

with you.

! Thank you so much for yoursupport and interest in our journeys.

! Love, the YAV and ICC! ! Program.

We love. Because God first loved us.1 John 4:19

We believe. For we walk by faith notby sight.2 Corinthians 5:7

We live. For where two or more aregathered in my name, there I am withthem.Matthew 18:20

We serve. And what does the LORDrequire of you? To act justly, to lovemercy, and to walk humbly with yourGod.Micah 6:8

Ashley Bair..........................................2

Bueana Cox.........................................3

Laura Ek..............................................4

Tyrone Johnson..................................5

Eric Lipka............................................6

Jillian Manning..................................7

Allison Wehrung...............................8

Emma Wood.......................................9

Lauren Wright..................................10

Kathy Lee, program coordinator......11

Brief biographies of each housemate can be

found on his or her page.

Christian Renewal New Orleans

http://www.crno.org/

Young Adult Volunteer Program

http://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/yav/

AmeriCorps

http://www.americorps.gov/

Greetings from New Orleans!

HOurPro

grams

Reflectionsfro

m...

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Ashley Bairon Appetit

I have learned a lot from my family

about cooking. They stick to therecipe, every now and then tossing in alittle of their own flavor, but typicallyfollowing the directions to the tee;

what makes it taste so good. That's notmy personality. When I see a recipe, I

want to reject it.

"But, I can't use a recipe! What if Iwant to add 2 Tbsp of vanilla, insteadof 1? Who says I can't? It's tooconstricting."

I want to do it my way.

This was my attitude upon arrival inNew Orleans. God had led me on thisjourney of mission and I wanted tolearn as much as I could, leavingbehind the rules of the community andHis people to find something I wasn'teven completely sure existed.Mychurch.

Truth is, everything I reject andeverything I seek are in fact God's

church. Sometime I lose sight of thefact that God is the Creator. Not justof us, but of everything. Cell phones,computers, pop music, chemicallyproduced hair products, television, etc.;

all are made with a specific purpose.Just like the church. Somethingspecifically laid out in the Bible.

God has created a recipe of life for us

in the Bible through Jesus Christ.Wetry to interpret things our own way,and that's okay, but there comes apoint where we deviate so far from therecipe, it doesn't even taste like foodanymore.

This year has been a great year ofdiscovery for me. One of the manythings I'm learning is that a lot ofmymind, my selfishness,my control comesfrom the world. And my truth comesfrom Jesus. This was revealed to me

through my wonderful community. It'san awesome thing. In trying to find myplace in a community, I find myselflooking to others for approval and

guidance, and then realizing it fallsshort. If we take each action back tothe basic denominator- the Word- wefind ourselves looking to God for help.And that's a great place to be. Godreveals Himself to us through ourrecipe.

Maybe I will add those 2 Tbsp's after

all...

Ashleyis currently working with the

Non-profit organization Project

Homecoming, a New Orleans

rebuilding initiative started by

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and

the Presbytery of South Louisiana.Ashley's home church is Holt First

Presbyterian Church of Holt,

Michigan. She is currently an MSW

candidate at the University of

Michigan and plans to continue her

studies in the fall.To read more about

her experiences in New Orleans, you

can find her blog at http://ashbair-

livingoutloud.blogspot.com/

B

Also In This Newsletter

More Information on Some of Our Placement Agencies.....5What is intentional community, anyway?.............................6How You Can Support Our Community....................................7

Also keep an eye out for a few extra pictures and other words of wisdom onvocational discernment, New Orleans, and what it means to live in

community.

Dont ask what theworld needs. Ask

what makes youcome alive, and go doit. Because what theworld needs is

people who havecome alive.

Howard Thurman

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Bueana Coxm not going to write you a lovesong because you ask for it,because you need one. Writing

this was the hell of me. Literally, I satprying through moments aftermoments and experiences afterexperiences that I have had here inNew Orleans; moreover, sendingmyself on a self-caused emotionalroller coaster. I spent my Easter insolitude because the night before Imourned the death of the one thatmeans the most to me. I bawled myeyes out and as the Holy Spirit came tocomfort me I was assured that nothingon this Earth mattered if I did notshare with others this sweet love

relationship I have with Jesus. Whocared how many times I ate freshseafood that you could smell the

goodness a mile away? Who cared if Ipainted some homes in Holly Grove?Who cares about the difficulties andjoys of living with eight people? Whocares if I had to call roadside service

more than ten times in less than a year?Who cares about emotions provokedby the live jazz bands music oozingfrom all the bars down Frenchmen?Who cares about the kids that I workwith? The ONE that does at all timespast or present, died and rose so that Icould have these many experiences andmoments.While you may try and Imquite thankful NO ONE can truly careabout every moment of my life, whichis TOTALLY okay. The ONE thatdoes died and rose so that I could havethese many experiences and moments.I arose the next morning with a peacethat surpassed my own understanding.I was joyful!! He cared!!! To him I

dedicated my entire Easter day. This isnot what you needed, but Jesus haswalked the seas well before I believedthat theres a reason to write you a lovesong today.

Bueanacalls Chicago, Illinois home,

and studied Business Administration at

Southwest Baptist University. She is a

member of AmeriCorps here in New

Orleans and works with TrinityChristian Communitys after-school

program, as well as helping them

rebuild homes throughout the Holly

Grove community. She has many ideas

of what she would like to do at the end

her term, but your prayers are

APPRECIATED!!!

I

Laura, Lauren, Emma, and Ji!ian learned about Mardi Gras Indians atthe Backstreet Museum during our February community day.

Weve learned that living in New Orleans, being a Saints fanis mandatory. Who dat!

At a February gathering, wetook Cajun and Zydeco dancelessons with other volunteers

in the New Orleans area.A(er our lesson we headed

out to Rock n Bowl to soak uplive Zydeco music and brush

up on our bowling ski!s.

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Laura Ekgood friend once told me: Ifyou dont look back a yearago and say I didnt have itfigured out then then you

havent grown. This year is no

exception. Flipping back through myjournal pages, I found a piece of paper

with words I wrote on the warmsummer night I found Jesus. I amalways with you. Wait. May it be.Inhale love, exhale peace. Breathedeeply. He took my hand then, gentlyand firmly promising to lead methrough anything. This did not justhappen: like an insistent teakettle, Icouldnt shut God out.

Everyone's spiritual path looks

diferent. Fleetwood Mac sings inNever Going Back Again: She brokedown and let me in, made me see

where I've been. And I realize I cantturn away. Not with this calm flame ofever-pure love no human heart canfulfill. While wadding through the mudof life, occasionally Im givenincredible glimpses of insight in thelight. Grappling as all humans do atsome point in life with questions onspirituality and the existence of God, Ichose God. And I started living thatbelief. I moved to New Orleans topursue service work living with fellowbelievers in a Christian communityhouse. I even go to church now.

Coming to New Orleans, I anticipatedmy individual spiritual transformation.I expected an easy transition into thisnew Christian life. The truth is, werarely envision the hardship before us.If we saw ahead of the curve,would we ever take that next bend

in the road? Serving at the JohnsonSchool and Community Gardenopened my eyes to the people we shareour world with: their struggles andconcerns overshadowing my own.Poverty and violence became very real.Despite challenges, I felt called to stayand continue to serve this parking lotsized piece of the world.

Towards the end of a particularly coldand windy community gardening day, I

looked up to see one of the 7th gradestudents of the school sauntering up.Headphones tangled up in his dreads,he waved to me and said Hi Ms. Ek!I smiled and asked how hed gotten

here. He lifted his skateboard inresponse. Now, I know Jacob lives inthe 7th ward, which is quite a waysaway from the garden. So I asked howlong it took him on his skateboard.About 8 miles, took me 4 hours, hereplied. I welcomed him into thegarden, and told him he couldplant whatever he wanted. I dontlike vegetables that much, but Iguess I like beans. Lucky for Jacob,it is planting time for beans. As wetraced our trowels in the ground to

make furrows, and hung the string forthe beans to one-day climb, I feltincredibly blessed by this youngmans presence.

Last week watering plants in thegarden, a woman across the streetwhom I often speak with across thefence asked if she could come into the

garden. I didnt know it would be thatday, but the timing was perfect. Webegan to water the plants. After we

watered, we weeded. After we weeded,we planted. And then we wateredagain. People walked by, some shoutingto her, surprised to see her in the

garden. She waved and responded totheir inquiries: See, Im tryingsomething new. Better thansitting on the couch. Day in andday out, I shared conversation withthis woman. And if we were too far totalk, at least we exchanged a wave. Andfinally, one day, she picked up her feetand walked over. Community

requires ef

ort; its not just for mycomfort. Instead community is therefor mygrowth: a humbling realization.My character at home in Christiancommunity and in service workstretches like hot pulled taffy. Andthrough all this mess, Ive come to findthat life is first and foremost relational.

Instead of a New Years resolution thisyear (loose weight, eat healthier, bekinder to strangers), I chose to Let go

and let God. And like a paddledipping into the still lake, these rippleslap every edge of my shores. God asksof me for my best self, but catches meevery time I fall. Slow down. Let

God change you. And theres been nobetter place to learn this than thefittingly named Big Easy. This year isthe most rewarding struggle of my life;Ive grown more than I could imagine.Heres to next year.

Laurais originally from the

Willamette Valley of Oregon. Herfamily currently resides in Maryland

near the Chesapeake Bay. Laura

obtained a B.A. in Anthropology and a

minor in French from the University of

Arizona in 2010. Now located in New

Orleans, Laura serves full time

between the YAV and AmeriCorps

programs as a Garden Educator at

James Weldon Johnson School and

Community Garden, and a Volunteer

Village Manager through Project

Homecoming(a rebuilding

organization). She plans to reside in

Louisiana next year, continuing

graduate studies in the fall.

A

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Tyrone Johnsony experience this year livingin the I.C.C house and

volunteering can be summedup in one word---Stretching.

I have never been challenged moreemotionally, spiritually andpsychologically than this year. This

year I have learned more about myintrospective self then ever before andalso learned what the meaning ofCharacter-building really means.Balancing my schedule: with work,intentional living, and other ventures Ihave learned about time managementand and being dedicated to priorities.

God has really stretched me while

living here and in New Orleans byhaving me live outside my comfortzones and learn to overcome barriers Iused to shy away from.

At work, I lead volunteers in rebuildingprojects and work at an after-schoolprogram working as a mentor to preteens and a fitness instructor to middleschool and elementary school children.I love my job but God really stretchedme in this capacity as well, especiallylearning patience with little children.

All in all this has been the moststretching year of my life, however

through this experience I see Godshaping me to be the man of God, Godhas called me to be.

Jesus answered him, Very truly, I tell

you, no one can see the kingdom ofGod without being born from above.John 3:3

Tyrone is an AmeriCorps volunteer

working with Trinity Christian

Community. He is originally from

Randallstown, MD and is an alumni of

Lee University in Cleveland, TN where

he studied Pastoral Ministries.

M Project Homecoming (Ashley, Laura, and Eric):

http://projecthomecoming.net/

Trinity ChristianCommunity(Bueana andTyrone):

http://www.tccno.org/

Global Maritime Ministries

(Jillian):

http://www.portministry.com/

Mid City Ministries(Jillian):

www.carrolltonavenuechurch.org

Chinese PresbyterianChurch(Emma):

http://chinesechurchkenner.org/

CHART(Lauren):

http://chart.uno.edu/

MoreInformati

ononSomeof

OurPlacement

Agencies

Home sweet home on SouthDerbigny Street.

HousematesplantedtreeswithBayouRebirth

forourDecembercommunityday.

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Eric Lipkaefore I came to New Orleans, Ifelt like God was calling me tomake some huge difference inNew Orleans; however, I didn't

realize just how much of a difference

he would make in my life. Iremembered seeing the motto of theYAV program: "a year of service for alifetime of change." That snippetabout change is what enticed me to theprogram. I've always wanted to make achange and I thought this was a great

way for me to do it.

I get out of bed each morning andrealize how much I love my job. Sureat times it can be rough, I mess thingsup in the home building process, but

what makes my job fantastic is the factthat I have the honor of working withpeople from all over the country. Itamazes me how far people will come tohelp out for just last week. I worked

with Gerd, a German who came downwith his brother and niece to help outin New Orleans. While it is great to

work with all of these wonderfulpeople, it also can be hard, because atthe end of the week, I have to say

goodbye to these connections that I'vemade.

Speaking of connections, lets talkabout the connections I've made in thehouse. Whenever someone asks me

what it is like to live in this intentionalcommunity, I usually start with a laugh,because the fact that 9 people rangingfrom 18-25 can be brought together

into one house, from all sorts ofbackgrounds, upbringings, and faithstories is pretty funny. After the laugh,I tend to take the question seriouslyand talk about how lucky I am.

Personally I don't think that there is abetter thing that I could be doingstraight out of high school. Thisopportunity to live with people 4-7

years older than me, in a house, in anew city, where my closest relative is inNorth Carolina, is a huge step. I alsotake a second and describe what therelationships in the house are like,because they are a stronger bond thanmany friendships that I have ever had.The reason for that is because ourfriendships are built offof Christ. I

truly believe that the strongestfoundation in a relationship is Christ,and that is just what we have in ourhouse. So sure, in the house there willbe trials, tribulations, and storms, andthe foundation may be shaky, but it

will never fail, because God promisedto never fail us, to never leave us.

The people that I have met andcontinue to meet in New Orleans areamazing. Especially the home ownersthat I have met. They thank God forevery tile that is placed, for every pieceof baseboard that is installed, andevery door that is hung, because everylittle step makes up one big step forthem to come home.

I've made some little steps on all of thehouses that I've worked on, and also

little steps on the homes that I havecompleted, but all of those little stepsare going to turn into one big step forfinally bringing the wonderful peopleof New Orleans home.

Eric works for Project Homecomingas a Work Site Manager. He came toNew Orleans to help in the rebuildingprocess so that after many yearsfamilies can finally come home. He isoriginally from Matthews, NC and

graduated from Providence HighSchool with the class of 2011. He will

be attending Maryville College withhopes of excelling in their Pre-Medprogram. To read more of Ericsexperiences in New Orleans, visit hisblog at: http://cominghometoneworleans.blogspot.com/

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What is intentional community, anyway?! People live in intentional communities all over the world, in both faith-based and secular contexts. Eachcommunitys inner workings vary, but here is a brief glimpse into ours: All nine housemates are currently serving terms with

year-long volunteer programs in New Orleans. In addition to simply sharing our living space with each other, we gather everyTuesday evening for meetings that include discussions on book and Bible studies, vocational discernment, social justice, and

what it means to live in community. These weekly meetings also provide the time and space for us to check in with eachother and address any issues that may arise. In addition to our weekly time together, we go on three retreats over the courseof our year together, and come together one Saturday a month to participate in a service project and to share a meal. While

we combine resources for this monthly meal, our other expenses are typically handled individually through our stipends.

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Jillian Manningam already halfway through myservice yearor less than halfwayto go for those pessimists outthere..and what have I stumbled

upon during these months in new

orleans as a yav? too manysights..lessons..and experiences for meto count no doubt..but overall myexperience this year has been all aboutlinking.linkingpeople..ideas..concepts..culturestogether.

I strive to be a positive influence androle model for the children I serve

with the hopes that they will makesmart and healthy choices as they growup I hope that some of my work will

inspire those I serve and possiblycreate a chain reaction that motivatesothers and even though I could be

getting ahead of myself here..but oneof my biggest hopes is to have an effecton the broader conflicts in the city andeven in our country maybe by just

giving my time and attention to thechildren I work with they will see thatthey matter to someone..and in thelong term maybe this will give them apositive outlook on life and

themselves..which could link toreducing their likelihood of gettinginto crime yes I realize this is a bit ofa stretchbut I am quite the optimistand this is what gives me a flake ofhope when i feel like I am trudgingalong without a lot of instant

gratification..I link the small thingsthat I do on a daily basis to what couldbe in the future..to link their reality

with their potential..

while working with the seafarers I amprovided a face with many of the socialjustice issues and global issues that areoccurring in our worldI am able tohave a first hand account as to the factthat thedecisions I makeon adailybasis have an impact onthose allaround the worldit makes a verypersonal place in my heart to fight forthese issues and provides me with alittle bit more passion in myconvictions..

Ive learned that making a personalconnectionthat link..makes quite thedifference..it gives one hope andpassion..it bridges the gap literally andfiguratively on who and how wehelp..and helps us realize it is christ

who brings us together for a greaterpurpose..

be a lamp, a lifeboat, a ladder. helpsomeone's soul heal. walk out of yourhouse like a shepherd. mevlanarumi

peace & love

jillian

Jillianworks at Mid City Ministries

with their tutoring and mentoring

program along with Global Maritime

Ministries where she works with

seafarers that are on the cargo and

cruise ships that port in New Orleans.

She graduated with a masters in social

work from Bethany College and is

from Greensburg, PA. She hopes to

pursue her passion in social work in

the fall. Jillians blog can be found at

littlepostcardsfromnola.blogspot.com/

I

How You Can Support Our Community

1. Through Prayer. Please pray for our Intentional Christian Community program, and that we can continue buildingstrong relationships with each other and the communities we serve. Please also pray that as our time together ends in afew short months, we will each transition into our next steps as smoothly as possible.

2. Through Donations. Those of us living with CRNO through the YAV program are each asked to raise $6500 toassist in providing our stipends and housing. If you would like to contribute to our fundraising e fforts, checks may bemade out to Presbytery of South Louisiana and mailed to the address below. Please include YAV in the memo line,along with the name of the YAV, if you choose to designate your donation towards a specific volunteer.

! Site Coordinator! YAV Program! 2221 Filmore Ave.! New Orleans, LA 70122

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To be engaged in some sma!way in the revival of one ofthe great cities of the world

is to live a meaningfulexistence by default.

Chris Rose

Allison Wehrungts quite hard to believe that Ihave been in New Orleans formore than seven months. Since Imoved here in August, Ive met

countless people who have left their

mark on my heart. One of thosepeople is Ronald. Two housemates andI met Ronald back in October, in themidst of soaking up music (andhumidity) at the Blues and BBQFestival.

Ronald, who was being pushed in awheelchair, approached us that eveningand proceeded to tell us that he doesimprov poetry, and he wanted to shareone with us. Offhe went, rhythmicallyrhyming in an on-the-spot poem hetold us was called "Three Queens." It

was all about these three princesseswho just wanted to take offtheircrowns for a day and enjoy regular life.About how the king and queen were

worried for the princesses, but theprincesses just needed to get awayfrom the castle for a while and see

what life was all about. They weregoing to be just fine. After he wasdone, Ronald told us he just wanted tosay that he could see the light and the

love in our faces, and that he justwanted to remind us that we'rebeautiful.

Ronald literally left us speechless.Often I've retrospectively seen God'spresence in a certain situation, butfriends in that moment I felt like I wasstaring God right in the face. Itseemed so unbelievable to me that arandom man in the park could get somuch right about us. About me. Manyof us embark on these year-long

adventures outside of our proverbialcastles, often to places far away both

geographically and culturally. Sure,folks back home might be worried:What is she doing with her life?

When's he going back to school? Arethey safe there? But we sneak outanyway, just to see what it's like. And

we'll be alright. That is not by anymeans to say that our adventures willbe free of struggle and hardship, but

well make it.

During a recent community meeting,my housemates and I were posed thequestion: How is it with your soul?Oh, no big deal, right? Just describethe well-being of yoursoul. But Iquickly realized that the reason thatquestion intimidated me so much wassimply the abundance of answers Icould provide for it.

My soul is grateful, for the city of NewOrleans and my community here. Mysoul is inspired, by the Young AdultVolunteer program and the work thatit is doing. My soul is weary, becausethis year has tested my confidence inmany ways. My soul is hurting, for

people who are without homes oradequate food, and for those whoencounter violence on a daily basis.

And my soul is renewed. Whilechallenges are still ever present, I amso incredibly grateful for theexperiences I have had through theYAV program. I have learned so manythings about myself during these two

years, and its very intimidating tothink that this major chapter of my life

will be over in a few short months.

Perhaps my community and the YAVprogram have become another of thecastles of which Ronald spoke, and itsjust time for me to go explore the restof the world. So with a grateful,

inspired, weary, hurting, and renewedsoul, I will continue my journey fromcastle to castle, in constant wonder of

who I will meet and what I will learnalong the way.

Allisonworks in Ochsner Health

Systems Spiritual Care Department,

and came to New Orleans after a YAVyear in Nashville. She is originally from

Davidson, NC and studied religion at

Furman University. She will be

attending Columbia Theological

Seminary in the fall. For more YAV

stories, find her blog at http://

allisonswanderings.blogspot.com

I

I give you a new commandment, that youlove one another. Just as I have loved you,you also should love one another. By this

everyone wi!know that you are mydisciples, if you have love for one another.

John 13:34-35

Vocation iswhere our

greatest passionmeets the worlds

greatest need.FrederickBuechener

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Emma Woodhen I think about my timein New Orleans, it is hard tobelieve almost two yearshave passed. I feel like God

tethered my heart to this place, long

before I came. The first thing you willnotice about the city in the summer(when I first arrived) is the oppressiveheat. You are thinking to yourself thatthere is no way you will make itthrough weeks of this kind ofhumidity. Just when there seems noend in sight, you are sitting on yourporch in the evening and all of suddena cool breeze sweeps its way up thestreet and across your face.

New Orleans often projects a similar

attitude. It seems too broken to befixed. The politics are too muddied

with corruption and nepotism. Theviolence is an unstoppable inevitability.Most of all, its structurally illogical tocontinue to rebuild in a place wherethe wetlands are dying and the land issinking. Who are we to hope sorecklessly for a place that is beyondrestoration?

As a part of my time as a YAV in NewOrleans, I have encountered some of

the most amazing people; the childrenof the S.T.A.I.R., tutoring program

where I spent time teaching readingskills, and how they race in and fill upthe space with their joy and curiosity.The Chinese immigrants who findChinese Presbyterian Church in searchof a piece of familiarity in a foreign andconfusing place. The members of myintentional community who hold meup in Christ, and provide me with thelaughter that I often really need.

The most life-changing individual Ihave met in New Orleans is the pastorof my church, Pastor Claire Brooks.Pastor Claire has taught me endlesslessons on life, ministry, and faith. Ihad been working very hard to get aprogram moving in my church, and I

was encountering a few hardships.Feeling very low and ineffective, I tookmy concerns to her, hesitant to admitthings were not going well. As I beganto explain myself, it became clear the

Pastor Claire was listening to me andnot at all upset. After I was done shepaused for a moment and said; Emma,sometimes we serve faithfully andthings work out. Sometimes we serve

faithfully and things dont work out.But, we still serve faithfully. I carrythis advice with me everyday. I repeatit to anyone who will listen (probablyan obnoxious amount). Yet, when Ithink of a woman that I would like tobecome one day, I think of PastorClaire.

The people of New Orleans are thewind moving slowly againstdespondence. I owe so much of the

growth within myself, and the lives Ive

been able to touch to P.C. USA andYAV. Without this program, I wouldnot have found these people and

grown so strong in my faith.

Emmais 25 and from Elizabeth City,NC. She graduated with a BA inEnglish and Communications and a

minor in Political Science. She is a 2nd

year YAV super senior serving inNew Orleans, and plans on staying inNew Orleans and pursuing a Masters inCounseling Education. She works atChinese Presbyterian Church. Herblog can be found at http://ewood336.blogspot.com/

Please enjoy this poem I wrote about NewOrleans:

Dear City

The streets are broken,

fractured by lumbering oaks that

cast kaleidoscope shadows.

The walls broke and flooded the

streets.

Time escaped what hands could reach.

There is a layer of dirt,

and a righteous stench.

Vines cover the graves of those who

built it,

while neon lights highlight survivors.

The lost souls have pulled me under.

Eyes locked to the faces, I dont not

recognize.

I am you dear city,

you are mine dear city.

The sounds are triumphant,

the taste is resilient.

Hope never rose,

because I saw what you didnt see.

Fingers reaching out to grab a hand.

Months waltzing into years.

There was not a moment to despair,

for what we can repair.

I am you dear city,

you are mine dear city.

W

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Lauren Wrightwas sitting in my favorite coffeeshop, Fairgrinds, working onsome things, and a man walked upand asked me what I was up to.

At first I thought that this particularconversation was going to be a quick,shallow exchange, but I should'veknown better. Nothing is quick orshallow in New Orleans. I soon foundout that there was nothing shallowabout this man named Dirk and whathe had to share with me. It's noteveryday that someone takes interestin your life, and it's not everyday that

you hear stories that tug at your heartstrings... but this day was different.Days like this seem more frequent here

in New Orleans. Everyone has a story,everyone has scars and experiences andtriumphs to share, it's true. But here inNew Orleans it's different. People are

willing to share. People walk aroundwith their hearts and hands open,ready to give and receive. Ready toteach and learn from experiences, tofreely give these things that put thelifeyness into this crazy time we spendon Earth.

Can you imagine boarding up your

house in preparation for a storm? Youdon't know what's coming, but you'reas prepared as you'll ever be. You lookout through a crack between some ofthe boards and you see a 30 foot tall

wall of water headed straight for you.What do you do?

Sitting at Fairgrinds, I found myselftransported to this situation as Dirkshared his friend's story with me.Dirk's friend didn't tell his wife what

was coming. He didn't tell her there

was a wall of water headed for theirhouse.. he just told her they needed tohead to the back of the house, andthey prayed. The wall of waterengulfed their house and they thoughtthey were dead and gone. Eventuallythe water subsided, and there was acalm. The eye of the storm was passingover them and they stepped out ontothe porch in the peaceful silence.Everything around them was gone. The

two pine trees in front of their househad stopped a wall of debris, cars andrubble that the wave had carriedcarried towards their house. Thosepine trees had grown for centuries toprotect this couple on this day. Godhad awakened these seeds hundreds of

years before to root these beautiful,lifesaving pines.

Dirk shared another story of a friendwho returned home to his parent'shouse from college, not knowing thathis parents had evacuated their housedue to Katrina. He found the houseempty, and hunkered down for thecoming storm. A 35 foot wave

consumed the house, but this guy wasprepared. He had his suroard and alife jacket, and rode the wave out ofthe third story window of his house.He rode it for 3 miles through the

woods until the wave brought him to astop. God had instilled a passion forsurfing that would prove to serve him

well.

I think these stories are extremelypowerful and speak volumes, but they

wouldn't speak without being

shared.Theses stories are sounbelievable that they almost don'tseem real, and they wouldn't instillhope, or awe without being told toanother person. I also think it is thesimple stories about relationships andconnectivity that can be the mostmeaningful, and also the point.

Dirk then spoke of the coffee shop andstory of it's survival through Katrina.After the storm when people wereallowed to return to the city, Fairgrinds

Coffeehouse was a safe haven for himand many in the community. They

weren't open for business, the insidewas gutted, there was nothing therebut a single coffee pot that the owner

would sit outside the coffee shop. Thecoffee was free, but people wereinvited to leave a dollar or so to keepthe coffee pot filled all day everyday.Dirk said once the pot was empty,someone, anyone who was there and

willing would brew another pot, andthe people who were gathered sharedtheir stories and gathered in the wakeof the storm. Coffee became enoughfor them at this time, relationships,and the power of their stories were thepoint.

I'm glad to know the story of thecoffee shop I love so much. I love iteven more now. I think that's how it is

with life. Some of the most meaningfultimes and stories in our lives come inthe wake of a storm. It is true that thepeople of New Orleans have beenthrough alot. They could've given upand left this place to die. But they

didn't, and their hardships andexperiences fuel them as they moveforward. I think I have a lot to learnfrom the people here and this city. Ithink I'm beginning to learn what itlooks like to have an open heart andopen hands as I walk through this life.Relationships are the point, and Ithink New Orleans might just have itfigured out.

Laurenis serving at Bayou Blue

Presbyterian Church and CHART

(Center for Hazards Assessment

Response and Technologies) doing

wetlands advocacy. She is originally

from Signal Mountain, TN, and

studied Journalism with an emphasis

on Media Design at Middle Tennessee

State University. Read Laurens blog at

http://selahren.wordpress.com/

I

8/2/2019 4512 S. Derbigny

11/11

Kathy Leeoung Adults & the Church

Later this month, I will attendthe 2012 PC(USA) National

Multicultural Conference and will give

a presentation on Young Adults andthe Church. Where are they? How dowe reach then? What do they want? Iam often approached for answers tothe young adult dilemma because ofmy role in the YAV Program and thechurch, and because I myself am

young, and an adult.

I wish I had a formula for churches toattract young adults, but thats theproblem with ministry, isnt it? There isno formula.

Most often, the volunteers I serve withare desperately seeking discernment inall areas of life. How can I feel usefulat work? Do I want to go to gradschool? Does Gods silence mean no?Is this a good way to spend my timeand money? Again, there are noformulas to figure out the rightanswers.

Like most volunteers, I am also a doer.I make to-do lists almost every day, and

I feel a sense of pride when Iaccomplish tasks. Our programconstantly reminds our volunteers thattheir experience is just as much aboutbeing as it is about doing. Being

doesnt just mean standing around andjust existing. Being occurs whenhousemates help each other to takeout the trash for the week. Beingoccurs when you listen to a co-worker

verbally process a stressful day. Beinghappens over coffee with a mentor orover a book you read with a child.

Conversations and relationships helpshape our faith and our perspective onlife. While we each have a personalrelationship with God, it is with othersand in community that we experiencelove and growth and are challengedand comforted. As our intentionalcommunity is reading the Book of Acts

together, I am surprised about all thedetails of the relationships betweenthe apostles and the early church. Theyhave debates and discussions. Workingrelationships begin and end. Newmembers are invited in to be leadersand participants around the circle.

No matter what questions we face inlife, my prayer for all of us is that welearn to bewith one another. Yes, thistakes time and sacrifice. Our laundrymay go undone for one more day, but

we may grow in wisdom and light withjust a few words shared between oneanother.

For it is in loving, as well as in beingloved, that we become most truly

ourselves. No matter what we do, say,accomplish, or become, it is in ourcapacity to love that ultimately definesus. In the end, nothing we do or say inthis lifetime will matter as much as the

way we have loved one another.Daphne Rose Kingma

Kathyis the Site Coordinator for theYAV Program of the Presbytery ofSouth Louisiana and the ICC programof CRNO. She is a native NewOrleanian, and studied advertising atPepperdine University. After

completing her fourth year as a SiteCoordinator, Kathy will attend AustinPresbyterian Theological Seminary inthe fall. Thomas is the assistant to theSite Coordinator and will be moving toAustin for the brisket and tacos. Morereflections from PSL YAVs can befound at http://pslyav.wordpress.com /

Y

May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to

live in harmony with one another, in accordance with ChristJesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God

and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 15:5-6