New Orleans Tribute and Plea

Unless you have traveled to New Orleans or spent time living there, the events of August 29th and the following days may seem a little far off. I lived there for about a year and in that time had the blessing to get to know many committed Christians. New Orleans is a wonderful city. I hope I will never have to say "was". It is my belief that if the state and city governments weren't so corrupt, the city would have been prepared for Katrina. Hurricane Ivan, which spared New Orleans, gave the city a dress rehearsal. It was discovered at that time that there was a lot of work to be done to speed evacuation. Improvements did happen. I do not want to speculate why the leeves broke and the city flooded, more than to say I believe that investigations into the boards operating the leeves would provide many interesting explanations.


Back to the People of New Orleans. New Orleans is a city not without trouble. For many years it lead the country in per-capita murders. Even in the suburbs last year, I did not feel safe walking outside at night. However there were many, many good people there. Last week my heart ached and it still does for the people I met there. If there were not people of God there, I would not feel this way. The picture on this entry is from Atonement Lutheran where I taught last year. I am forever grateful for the love and ecouragement they shared with me. Even after they knew I'd be leaving after only one teaching, they still showered me with gifts and good wishes. I love those people, and I hope you can too. They know the power of God to bring good from evil and they working hard to extend God's kingdom in a part of the country that needed His light.

Please donate money and work to help these people. After Ivan, Atonement sent work crews over to a church and school in Pensacola, FL, on various weekends. The Lutherans of the Southern District know how to help their brothers in need and they know how to work through hard times to bring Christ to people in need. I think that if you have the time and energy, God would bless your efforts to help the churches and schools of the LCMS's Southern District. For more information about how you can help, check out www.lwr.org and www.lcms.org. May God bless you as He moves in your heart.