From the Wall to the Ball

Yes, I am actually doing my weekly update about five days early! Don't worry next week's will likely be late in order to balance it out.

One of the sisters who lives in the convent next door had received an invitation to observe a Mardi Gras Ball, called Sparta, which was held lat night. Since I had never had such an experience, I was invited to go along. It seemed like something out a fairy tale, or maybe a ride in Disney World. First a band played, then everyone stood for the Star Spangled Banner, then the show began with introductions of last year's court, than junior courts, krewes, a knight and his shadow, princesses representing different gods of different ancient cultures, and others before finally this year's "king" and "queen." After each one was introduced they promenade around the room gracefully in gorgeous gowns, or tuxedos and masks in the case of the men (people really do wear those mardi gras masks; in retrospect I'm not sure why that surprised me, but it did.) There is a lot of bowing and clapping. There was a performance by a dance group from Ohio which was quite entertaining. I am grateful for having had the experience. As it was very long, and somewhat drawn out, we left before the very end. I really felt as though I was immersed in a different culture and different time. In many ways it seems light years away from the situations I encountered today doing outreach on the streets.

The pictures and my description can not adequately capture the reality of the pageantry.

Eucharistic

Groups that seem to come from different worlds, come together, they share resources, they bring what they have to the table giving of their very selves, when there is no table, they sit on the ground while breaking bread.

There is a place on the edge of the river wall, near the French Quarter where on several evenings each week meals are served to those to people experiencing homelessness and or hunger. Sometimes there are about 100 or more people who come, most of whom are living on the streets or in abandoned buildings. My office has decided that we will try to be present on these nights to do outreach.

On Thursday evening, I arrived at "the wall" as people were gathering and the group serving that night (I think a Baptist church but I'm not sure) was setting up. A group of traditionally dressed Mennonites, who I later learned were from Pennsylvania, of varied ages were starting to sing peaceful religious songs, setting a pleasant tone for the evening meal. The people who come to eat at the wall included chronically homeless individuals, new arrivals who came into town seeking work but could not find housing, young people who live on the street (sometimes referred to as "gutter punks,") and others who are impoverished in multiple ways. Different groups prepare and serve the warm meal on different nights of the week. Once a person is served he or she usually sits on the ground, sometimes leaning against the river wall while eating. Thursday was a "freeze night" which made our job a little easier because with extra shelter spaces open, we did not have to tell people that there were no options for them to get off of the street, which on non-freeze nights is now the norm, since shelters are typically full. Going to the wall is an effective way to do outreach because we encounter so many people in one place who may be able to benefit from our services. Yet, what impacted me the most was the reality that this meal brought together so many people of various backgrounds and circumstances: those serving, those singing, those of us doing outreach, and those eating a warm meal who otherwise would have gone hungry. The way those who come to eat, seem to help, support and care about one another is often beautiful.

During the end of this week, my office was involved with a conference given by one of our funding agencies (UMCOR affiliated with the United Methodist Church, which provided funding through Katrina Aid Today grants.) Case workers and supervisors both local and from all over the country came together. It was interesting to hear from people who are working in other states with those displaced because of the storm and the perspectives and challenges they face. I suspect that it was interesting for them to actually see the city where their clients have come from and witness first hand the lack of housing and other resources that are preventing their clients from being able to come home. The agencies that are all receiving money from UMCOR for hurricane survivors are themselves quite diverse. It is inspiring to me, that agencies associated with a variety of religious faiths and denominations are cooperating and even providing funding to one another, working toward a common goal, in the interest of the common good.

Sharing of resources, sharing of selves, sharing a meal,
is transformative, is Eucharistic.

no creative title comes to mind this week

Monday, the office where I work was closed in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King. I was able to spend the day with my parents and their friends, taking them on a tour of the area. On Tuesday, after work, I went out with my parents and their friends to Brennan's, which is a very nice restaurant in the French Quarter, where I had delicious salmon. Early Wednesday morning (even before morning prayer), I dropped my parents off at the airport and said farewell. I am so grateful for their visit.

The work week went quickly. On Friday, at work, we attended an annual meeting for all of the agencies in the Unity Collaborative. A woman from the Alliance to End Homelessness spoke, which was informative and inspiring. It was good to hear about current trends and "best practices approaches in terms of service to those who are homeless. I am aware that homelessness is quite a problem everywhere, but the current situation in New Orleans is unique because of the impact of Katrina.

Last night, at the convent where I am staying, we had liturgy and a celebration afterwards, because it was a feast day for the marianites, the anniversary of the death of the founder. I was in solidarity with my community in Philadelphia since they were partying at the same time, celebrating birthdays of three our our sisters. (I hope y'all had a great time!)

Today I went to another convent with a couple of the sisters I live with, to watch the Saints football game; as you probably know they lost, but making it as far as they did was a victory in and of itself. As of writing this the Patriots have a chance of winning their game, but I am not watching it; sitting down and watching one game is unusual for me and anyway I need to update this blog to keep up with my goal of weekly updates.

Included are pictures which either I took, or my father took on Monday .

The first is Musician's Village, a Habitat for Humanity Project, which is building affordable houses for musicians. The second is of turtles at Audubon Park. The third is the Causeway Bridge which spans Lake Pontchartrain. Finally the city skyline, taken from the other side of the river, just before it started to rain.
Have a great week!

Surprise!

Friends of my parents who I have known most of my life, came into town on Friday. I was invited to go out to dinner with them that evening. When I arrived at the time share where they are staying, they began showing me around the lovely apartment in the French Quarter. When they opened the door to show me the second bedroom, and turned on the light, there were both of my parents! What a wonderful Surprise!!!

Yesterday, we went on the Natchez, which is an old steam powered paddle boat, which gives wonderfully informative tours of the area along the Mississippi River. As I walked through the French quarter in New Orleans with four other Rhode Islanders, I noticed a lot of tourists wearing Philadelphia shirts, in anticipation for football game (for a moment elements of all of the places I call home converged.) In the evening, my parents and their friends came to meet the sisters I am staying with, and got a tour of the house, had chili (not dad) and King Cake. The piece of King Cake I ate, had a little plastic baby in it; next year between Epiphany and Mardi Gras, everyone is invited to a party I will host in Philly!

I am not a football fanatic, in fact I generally don't follow the game at all. However when I heard that team from the city I am currently living, would play the city where I have lived for the past 10 years and officially still do, I felt excited. I decided I would cheer for both teams, as I did, a couple of years ago when the New England Patriots played the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl. In reality I did find myself cheering more for the Saints, because they have never ever even made it to the Super Bowl and were previously in the playoffs only one time in their entire history; I think it is in my nature to root for the underdog. I often question the amount of money and resources that go into professional sports when they are many basic unmet needs, however, although I would probably prioritize things differently myself, the Saints doing so well is providing hope and a sense of excitement and a pride to a city that is still in many ways in shambles, which is a very good thing indeed. When the Saints won I witnessed tears of joy in the eyes of some very faithful fans who have stuck by them for years despite their lack of success. I, who usually could not care less about such things, hope the Saints make it to the Super Bowl and win, if for no other reason than this city needs something to celebrate.

I am so grateful for my parents' visit. After a very draining week at work, I feel like I have been on vacation yesterday and today, which is truly a gift! Included are a few pictures I took this weekend.

From Epiphany to Mardi Gras!

Happy Epiphany Sunday!

Now that the Christmas and New Year holiday are ending, talk is turning towards Mardi Gras!
Dinner conversation the other night turned into an educational session for me, about the upcoming festivities (still over a month away.) I even practiced yelling, "throw me something mister!", which is what one hollers as the floats are going by apparently even if the person throwing things from the float happens to be female. This is a picture of what I was thrown during our practice. The colors the bear is wearing are the official Mardi Gras colors of course.

Yesterday my (N.O. LA) local community had a wonderful time at the home of a a woman who stayed with the sisters before I came. We had a delicious gumbo dinner. For desert we had King Cake which is eaten in New Orleans from the Feast of the Epiphany until Mardi Gras. There is a small plastic baby doll baked into the cake. According to tradition, the person who discovers the doll in his or her piece wins the prize of either hosting the party the following year or of at least bringing the cake. I did not get the prize; if I had, we would have had a lot of guests in Philly for Epiphany next year.

It was a short work week since my office was closed on both New Year's Day and the following day. In some ways the week did not feel short because a lot happened in those three days. There is never an easy time to be homeless, but this time of year may be the hardest.

I am doing well and hope you are too.
May the star that guided the wise ones to the Christmas crib, guide you on your journey during these days as we travel from Epiphany to Mardi Gras!

New Year

I returned this afternoon from a fun weekend away. The Marianite sisters have a house on a lake about an hour and a half from here. I celebrated the arrival of 2007 with seven of the Marianites (including three whom I live with) at a vacation house about an hour and a half from here, on a lake. It was wonderful to have time to walk, play games, and laugh. We had a very nice prayer service. As midnight approached fireworks from multiple directions lit up the night sky above the water.
A year ago I had not even imagined that I would be in Louisiana for the beginning of this year. I am grateful for all that happened in 2006. As I reflect, I realize that it was a year filled with new experiences, adventure, surprise, and growth. I welcome with open arms this new year! I wish all who read this ( and those who don't), all those I know and love (as well as those I don't know or find difficult to authentically love) a happy and blessed 2007!