October 14, 2008

By Jan Causey, Disaster Relief Coordinator for Kentucky

When the call came out from CBF about the need for help with clean-up in Louisiana, KBF responded. Three of us from Buechel Park Baptist Church, Don Rogers, Garry Terry and I left Louisville on Sunday, Sept. 28 for Baton Rouge. Once there we teamed with volunteers from Tennessee and South Carolina. The work of the team accomplished three goals: building partnerships, building community, and building hope.

Seven workers from three churches took on the task of clearing debris left behind after Gustav's violent winds tore through the city. Tom Carter, Jerry Lark and Wayne Patterson from First Baptist Church of Pendleton, SC, and Mike Bedwell from First Baptist Church in Chattanooga, TN joined with the three of us from Kentucky. One of the neat by-products of a project like this is getting to know and working in partnership with others from CBF churches around the country. Working, sweating, and laughing side by side for hours helped us form a bond that will stay with us long after we have returned home.

As a team we met with Jay from University Baptist Church and Pam from Broadmoor Baptist Church who provided us with maps and names of families in their communities who needed our help. For most of the week we worked together as a team, but if jobs were smaller we would split into two teams, allowing us to help more families. As Jay said, we were there to work, but also to let families know that the church was present in their community as a source of help and support. Whenever we went to a home we told them of the church that had sent us. Broadmoor Baptist Church provided community for us, as well. Beside providing us with a place to stay, they also furnished all the food for breakfast and lunch. Member of their congregation cooked hot, delicious evening meals for us.

In work like this we know that an important part of being there and helping is listening to the stories of those we meet. When we met Wanda, she was overwhelmed at the work that needed to be done. The street crew had just arrived to clear the downed trees and bushes that had been her pride and joy. We went on to another job to allow them a chance to finish, then returned and finished clearing the debris that still remained. She was almost in tears as she watched us work. She said she had been so discouraged for over a month and couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel until we came. She called it a "red letter" day. Over and over we heard the stories of sadness and the loss of what was, of gratitude for what they still had, and appreciation for strangers would come to help them from so far away. But, more importantly, we heard in those stories the repeated message of hope renewed.

I think that partnership experiences and opportunities like this is what CBF does best. We form lasting partnerships with fellow Christians to be the presence of Christ in communities in need, offering hope in the name of Jesus. I know I have been blessed by the experience.

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