Are You Really A FIREMAN???

I spent this past week in New Orleans with a team of 20 friends from FBS. We spent the week gutting and cleaning out a firestation in New Orleans East. We tore out walls, ceilings, and just nasty crap! We spent the week encouraging the fireman, many of which are discouraged and bitter at their current situation and lack of help from the city. There are still firestations that have not been touched since Katrina came through New Orleans on August 29, 2005. I must say though that there is much improvement in the city even since May, just two months ago. Every time I go back, I see little steps, which is what it's going to take to restore and rebuild that city. It was a bittersweet week for me. It was quite an experience leading my friends, many who had never been to New Orleans before, while at the same time saying goodbye to my favorite city ever! I ate lots of beignets, enjoyed one last amazing dinner at Cafe Roma with Mai, enjoyed some original jazz music at the Hall, and just sat in the square for what seemed like hours one evening. I love that city! I know that God called me there for a short time to stretch me WAY out of my comfortable box! I learned a WHOLE lot while I was there. So, leading people back there is always FUN! I love to see their expressions when they eat a crawfish for the first time, or when we drive over the Louisiana stateline and the roads are HORRIBLE and BUMPY! I love to see their eyes open to love people who maybe haven't had a bath in a year (no exaggeration!) I love to watch them as they ask questions because their minds can't fathom how a whole city could flood and so many homes be destroyed. As we sat and listened to the firemen share their stories one night over dinner, it was amazing to watch our group listen with such attention to detail. They wanted to know and sympathize. Their hearts were broken and they were burdened. My prayer is that their trip isn't over though. I'm asking our Dad to burden their hearts for our friends here in Spartanburg who maybe have never experienced a physical hurricane, but who everyday face a hurricane of sin, that is destroying their lives. I'm asking Dad to give my friends a burden for Spartanburg, just like I saw in them for New Orleans. Dad used us in NOLA in HUGE ways last week! We laughed a whole lot, we were frustrated a whole lot, but despite it all, firemen and homeless were encouraged and Dad was glorified! So, am I really a fireman (as one sweet little old lady at the gas station asked me on the way home)??? No, but I have an official tshirt now!!!