elephants in the flood waters

I'm just home from a brief stint in New Orleans attempting to assist in gutting houses with Samaritan's Purse. There is somewhere between too much to say and no way to put it all into words. The devastation has been well documented, pictorially and in articles, by individuals and news staff since the hurricane. What cannot be portrayed in a photo is the impact of the damage that is evident as you drive past miles and miles of demolished homes, or gutted homes with FEMA trailers parked out front. In the face of the enormity of the clean-up that will be necessary to restore some sense of normalcy to the coast it is seemingly impossible to know where to start in the process. More than once someone on our team or on the staff voiced the question, 'How do you eat an elephant?'. The answer, as we know, is 'One bite at a time.' The pessimist in me wonders if there is any good in eating an elephant if it is rotten beyond benefit by the time you finish. Many of the people of New Orleans have relocated as new opportunities have risen in their 'temporary' homes. There are continues to be red tape for individuals dealing with insurance or settlement issues. The entire clean up process is overwhelming in its magnitude as well as the interlaced and compounded issues surfacing through the process. I ended up thinking that perhaps you end up eating something other than an elephant. But, more so, the people affected have worked as community and neighbors to help each other when possible, but more importantly communicate hope.The greatest gift of the trip for me was the meeting the people that I worked and traveled (+40 hours) with. After the time spent with the team from Menomonie as well as the people of Samaritan's Purse it was quite difficult to think of returning to life without the camaraderie that was enjoyed all week. I have been in missions/ministry much of my life and after this trip I decided to just let it hurt to be separating from the people that I spent the week with. We spent some times together that have to be among the best memories of my life. (Not to mention that I have been taught how to remove a door frame.) The friendships formed remind me that one of the greatest gifts of heaven will be the time that we will have to spend with each other - regardless of schedules, obligations, or physical separation. Time spent with others within tight quarters and hot working conditions was an excellent opportunity for growth. After long days pounding down walls and shoveling plaster, I was still happy to see them when we left the work site. As a self-proclaimed hermit (half the time) this was notable to me - and now it is a bit sad to not have seen them for three days. I suppose when my schedule picks up and obligations increase, perhaps the physical separation will be less noticeable. In some ways, I hope not. I hope that we would learn the importance of community and serving each other before it takes a hurricane to call us to spend time with each other. Samaritan's Purse is an excellent charitable organization. Not only is the work being (albeit slowly) done, the gospel is being shared and individuals have ears to tell their stories too. The accommodations for volunteers are more than adequate as needs are met spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Our safety on the job site was of top priority as were our physical needs of food and water for the work days. The atmosphere created and encouraged by the Samaritan's Purse staff is conducive to enjoying the time there while in the midst of a lot of hard work as well as being surrounded by the destruction from the storm. The trip was the perfect combination of extreme de-construction (hot, sweaty hard work), French cuisine (or at least a French chef), and time spent as Christ's hands and with His people.

So the answer to the age old question 'How do you eat an elephant?' is the answer that has worked for thousands of years. It is best to invite friends and neighbors, especially those who are hungry, to a feast of togetherness and there, one bit at a time, devour that elephant.