Endings and Beginnings by Molly
Our amazing St Thomas pilgrims spent their final two days in the city
of New Orleans continuing to serve with enthusiasm, energy, and
excellence. A day at Fairhaven Chidren’s Home never fails to inspire
with its incredible story of faith, and the group responded to the
inspiration with a mammoth effort. From the kitchen scrubbing to the
massive trash fire, our Floridians were able to be God’s provision for
accomplishing the multitude of the day’s tasks.
The next day included some exploration and shopping time in the
historic French Quarter, but only after the students spent the morning
blessing a local public school teacher by painting her classroom in
preparation for the upcoming school year. She explained that because
her school went undamaged after Hurricane Katrina, they still have the same stuff that has been there over 50 years. The damaged schools got an unforeseen benefit: all new everything.
During our final gathering time, some common sentiments were expressed about the eye openers of the past week: one person’s effort can make a difference, the efforts of a whole community even moreso, and through faith in God’s plan and providence we can be couriers of hope to those in our hurting world. It has been an eye-opening week for all of us individually as well as corporately. May God continue to grow us and use us to make the world a more grace-filled place.