Hello friends! I am so sorry it has been absurdly long since I last posted, but I am determined to catch y’all up and post more from now on!
Back before we headed overseas, the whole squad loaded into vans and we drove from AIM base in Georgia to New Orleans, Louisiana. I never had imagined I would be in New Orleans, but this God I serve seems to rarely obey our expectations!
We set up our sleeping pads in a church that was hosting this years Samaritan’s Purse outreach team. We spent 2 weeks here joining forces with volunteers from across the country to help relieve families from hurricane Ida’s damage to the community. Samaritans Purse (or affectionately called SP) is an incredible organization that mobilizes volunteer teams to respond to natural disasters and poor conditions across the world. It was incredible to join in their mission of “helping in Jesus’ name”.
I had always heard of hurricanes effecting this far-off city called New Orleans, and seeing drone footage and photos on the news. But it is a completely different experience walking through a demolished house as you speak to the family who is recalling childhood memories from that place. Seeing it on T.V. is not even comparable to driving through neighborhood after neighborhood of broken, tortured houses and patches of tarps waving in the wind.
As we gutted houses and cared for homeowners, I learned that we(SP) was the very last group to be working relief for Ida.
We were literally many people’s last hope.
We began every visit with a prayer with the owner, assessed the damage to the house, then pulled our tools from the truck and started tearing out compromised parts. As a bunch of previously untrained teens, we learned all the tool names and how to use them and much more involving demolishing work. One time a contractor came in after and said that our time at a house had saved the owners over $6,000. It was incredible to be able to help and serve people in such a tangible way.
Something else that I learned during my time in Louisiana wasn’t involving houses at all. During our time at a house, our team made sure we worked efficiently and thoroughly, but we always prioritized the homeowner above all else. We did our best
to comfort them, be with them, and most of all, listen to them. I had naively assumed that we would solely be the ones helping others, but these people had so much to teach us through their stories and perseverance.
One homeowner, Valerie, sang with us as we worshiped while we worked. She had bought her home mere months before the hurricane, and it was now reduced to a skeleton of wooden bones and a cracked concrete foundation. Yet she stood there with tears slipping down her face in thanksgiving to God. Yet she raised her hands and voice in awe in front of a dozen strangers. Yet she never let go of the unchanging anchor of Christ, even in the wildest seas. She humbly accepted words and prayers from people 5 decades younger than her, and showed me what faith really looks like.
We were put on this earth to love, so that’s what we do.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and strength” and “Love your neighbor as yourself” [Mark 12:29]
Since knowing God, my definition of love has been turned on it’s head. One thing I always remember is that love is a verb, an action, not a feeling. So we really do have the ability to love everyone and everyone that we meet. Oftentimes, true love simply looks making sure a person feels seen, worthy, and listened to.
Spending a whole day at a home working with the homeowner was just so sweet. Oftentimes these ordinary people stuck by something out of their control were just seeking anything to hold onto. Any hope. Sometimes our team and the homeowners had spontaneous dance parties as we pulled out (endless) nails from the studs and swept. Sometimes we exchanged life stories and testimonies over sack lunches. Sometimes we took out a guitar and sang their favorite hymn in worship and praise to God.
While we could see the result in our physical work in a house, we could often feel the result of Jesus working in their minds and hearts through us. What an honor to be used! To build a house out of so much more than planks and drywall. To build a community that can never be torn down. To put our treasure in a place that thieves will never break into, moths will never eat away at, and natural disasters can never touch. [Matthew 6:19]
This what we live for.
Thank you for reading! We were in New Orleans in the month of October. And currently, our squad is living and working here in Guatemala. We have had multiple route changes due to COVID and closed borders, but our route right now is: Costa Rica, Guatemala, eSwatini/South Africa. Stay tuned!
All the Love,
Grace
Beautifully written, Grace!
Your narrative captured NOLA perfectly.
There is truly nothing like walking through storm ravaged streets after a hurricane like Ida hits, it’s very surreal.
I love your take away, and the scriptures the Lord gave you blessed me. It is amazing how we can answer the call to respond to people who are in need, thinking that we will be ministering to them, when the reality is that God has brought them into our life to teach us so many different lessons. But the most important lesson God can teach us is what faith in action looks like, loving the Lord our God through the loss of everything we might have, and still being able to speak simple truth like one man spoke to me.
“I have lost everything thing I love, but I lost nothing that Loves me back and I thank God for that. And when you look around at all this destruction you can find peace, because only what man has made is gone but everything the He has made is right where it’s supposed to be. The stars are still shining, the sun is where it belongs, and the ocean is in its place. It’s going to be ok. He is still in control.”
– Ben Puckett Elbow Cay, Bahamas. Survivor of Hurricane Dorian, 2019
Job 38:4-11
Thank you for the update! You are in my prayers as you continue on the mission the Lord has put before you.
2 Timothy 3:14-17
– Veronica Esterly
Grace!
Love your post, keep them coming. Praying the Lord’s protection, presence, and peace over you. Blessings and Favor ~Jill
Really nice update honey, God’s blessing and protection over you all. Love Dad
Wonderful update & gorgeous pictures! So thankful you are well & doing such important work. Sending you our love from Sitka!
Thanks for the update, Grace! It is encouraging and inspiring to read of the good work you are doing in Jesus’ name. Keep on shining for him! I will keep praying for you.
Thanks for taking me back down memory lane for a few moments. This is what we live for.. Jesus is who we live for!!
And so much continues to unfold.
We see you becoming more and more of who God created you to be.
The journey has just begun.
Thanks for the pictures that provide pictures of your group serving with you. What hearts of love! Grace, this trip is a life-changing adventure. God changes you as you serve Him and others. You blessed them and they blessed you — that is God at work. When you see people that have lost almost everything, it puts our value systems in proper order. People still being alive is important, things can be replaced. Lots of love to you from Sitka. We love you. Mae
Grace,
Such a beautiful testament of the work God is doing through you and in you. Saying YES to God . . . a life-changing experience for those you are reaching out to, and a life-changing experience within you. Praying safety, blessing, and growth for you continuously. Hugs! Sue Riggs
Hello Grace!
Thank you so much for this post. It is so eloquently written and illustrated. I’m in awe at the depth of your insight, and keenness for seeing the Lord at work from every angle of a situation. We all know, intellectually, that He does that all the time. But to see it clearly in the moment and so vividly describe it as you have is a gift!
Continuing to pray for you!
Grace!!!!
Loved hearing your “voice”… sending you love, peace and hugs. xo
It’s incredible to hear how God used your team even there in New Orleans! Keep seeking HIs truth! May God bless you!
This is incredible. I AM SO PROUD OF YOU, GRACE!!!
Thank you for giving us a glimpse into how you and your team served as true vessels for the Lord’s love. You are the hands and feet of Jesus, and your stories and photos beautifully display that.
Sounds like you’ve experienced what I’ve experienced while helping others. I often learn and gain more from others than I’m able to give them! Keep up the good work and giving… you will receive so much more in blessings! <3