We received the blessing...

Pastor Josie said “it’s not just about the work, it’s about relationships.” I hope we can continue to have a relationship with her. She is very special lady. A group of us were sent to her church to help her. She needed a ditch dug so that stone and blacktop could be added to a portion of the parking lot. The purpose was so she could set up a car wash to make money for the food ministry at the church. She was beyond thrilled that we were there. She was jumping up and down and hugging everyone.

Her church was located in a very poor and dangerous section of New Orleans. Chain link fence surrounded the compound. Several out-buildings in need of repair had large hand-painting words and graphics. We love Jesus was on one building. Inside the church (that didn’t look anything like a church) was a large room. It was air-conditioned! It served as a craft area, learning area, library, office, and Church. The pews were pushed back against the wall out of the way. An organ that didn’t work was pushed back against the wall. Colorful painted little wooden birdhouses were scattered on shelves in the library area. You could tell they were hand painted by children.

Josie told us that every summer she has a camp for the neighborhood children. Most of them have come from broken, dysfunctional homes. By the time they are three or four they are cursing and getting into fist fights. She said “if you don’t know what to do with them, have them paint a birdhouse.”

She told us our children could play basketball, paint… We told her they were also here to work. They started pulling weeds outside in her vegetable garden. However, the heat was unbearable for the children; they didn’t last long in the heat. The children, Jack, Jessie, Julia H., Julianna, Julia W. and Leah went inside and Josie gave them some jobs. She told them when they were finished they could paint a birdhouse. They cleaned up Josie’s library, swept and mopped the floor. She asked Jack to write his favorite bible verse on the large pad on an easel. After the children finished cleaning up, Josie set-up the “bird house” painting station. She poured many colors of paint for each of them along with glitter glue and embellishments. She told them to paint two birdhouses, one to take home and one with their name on it to leave there so she could remember them. She also wanted to show the neighborhood children and tell them about how they came all the way from Delaware. She noted it was a miracle that we came! I mentioned that she should have a birdhouse ministry with a web-site. She told me it would be hard since she is illiterate. How can that be? She is a pastor of a church, has a radio program and a summer camp for children. I was astonished, so I didn’t ask anymore questions.

Near the end of the day, Josie called out to a little boy walking down the street. She said “C.C. come over and meet some children from Delaware! They’ve come to help, it’s a miracle!” Josie told us his mother was just recently shot and killed on the street corner, and he never knew his father. C.C. was at her camp and she made him “student of the week.” He came over and Jack and Jesse played basketball with him.

I finished cleaning up the vegetable garden, planted a few things that were in pots, swept outside and tidied up. Josie found out that Michele Wallace was an artist and asked her if she would draw a birdhouse one of the buildings. Michelle was thrilled to do that for her and when she finished Josie came out to look at it. She screamed excitedly, “I love it!” Again, jumping up and down. The ditch diggers, Tommy & Jen Dennis, Lisa Halfren, John & Jane Hoopman, Rebbie Jeantet, Michelle and Dave Wallace (in 100+ heat) did an amazing job.

Josie sends hope to a community where there is not much hope.

by Patti Thompson