New Orleans Mission Team
November 2007

We Y Marion Jackson & Family

On November 10th, 2007 a group of volunteers gathered very very early in the morning to begin a heart and mind opening journey. They traveled to New Orleans Louisianna where they were moved by the many people and lives that had been affected by the hurricanes of 2005 as well as the general poverty of then entire region. My great thanks goes out to all volunteers from Middletown, NJ and Mt. Olivet UMC North Carolina. The two biggest things I noticed while we were down there:
1. THERE IS HOPE! The recovery and return to (somewhat) normalcy that we witnessed this year was overwhelming. There was traffic and people and stuff going on, the trolley has begun to run again, and the Saints are marching on in their renovated stadium. There is hope!
2. There is still a long way to go. People all over the Gulf States are struggling with getting back on there feet, getting out of the tiny FEMA trailers that they have been living in for 2 YEARS, and finding the strength of heart, mind and body to get back to 'the way things were before...' They will continue to need our help, love, support and PRAYERS for many years to come.

The bottom line for me was that we can learn a heck of a lot from the Creole, Cajun and Nawleans folk. They take it easy, focus mainly on family and cook some of the best gosh darn food you've ever had. And while we surely are helping them so very much by giving of our time and energy, they helped me just as much (if not MORE) by opening my eyes to genuine thank you's, hugs with warmth that touches your very soul, the necessity of family and neighbor, and the real true important things in life.