Jack Newfield
I have a new appreciation for the concept in scripture that “chaos” is represented by “the waters” and the need for the “mighty wind” of the Spirit passing over the waters to bring order. The devastation of floods is so total and the area affected so widespread and uniform as to leave no spot where a community’s life must not be rebuilt.
I definitely saw the “Spirit” in the welcome and support of the local Presbyterian Church community. I am sure that we and other relief groups were constant factors requiring “work arounds” in their lives but there was nothing but joy in the atmosphere. One evening a lady saw my attempts to balance a soup bowl and a plate and she jumped up and came over and helped carry my food to the table. As her story developed, she had lost everything in her basement to the flood but no one would have known that she faced this kind of loss from meeting and talking with her.
Another inspiration from the week was that of the various disaster relief groups that cycled through the Church while we were there. You know that it cannot be easy for an 80 year woman to “camp out” in a church and spend the day mucking out a house but never was there a word of complaint from any of the workers.
My impression of the city was that there was this was a community of the poor and lower paid workers. The fact that major factories were located in the heart of the downtown area certainly had something to do with this impression, that and the size and conditions of houses that had nothing to do with the flood. This was definitely a pocked of need.
As usual it was a blessing working with the LCR community and the “can do” attitude of the group. Sharing time in the evenings both discussed sources of hope and effected hope.
Thanks for making a space for me.