Presbyterian Hurricane Ike Recovery
Rosharon House
Texans came to Texas City this past week – thankfully! That is because if you had come from Iowa or Michigan or anywhere else to get out of “winter” and work in the South, you would have been sorely disappointed. It was a very cold week for Texas. But the team from Plano, up near ‘super bowl city,’ were real troopers (yes, one man is retired state police) to work in below freezing weather, wind, rain and ice. Friday morning we did not head out ’til nearly 10 am because our cars and the bridges were all icy after a night of sleet and freezing rain and the temperature at 28 degrees.
The progress on the little house continues and begins to look more and more like a home. Siding went up on the outside, ceilings and walls were hung, nearly done, and a new room on the back slab was begun.
I would like to share with you a couple parts from our devotions this week. A team from a Presbyterian church in Colorado Springs was here with us. As we went around the circle the first evening together we introduced ourselves and shared about our past mission trip experiences. Many had been on a lot of mission trips all over the world. It was only the second trip for one man and he told us that he wished he had done it sooner. That was his only regret. I would encourage you to not wait too long to experience this amazingly special experience, because you just might want to do it again and again!
On our last evening together, Friday night, we talked about being judgmental. On some occasions we have worked on houses that are not only physically a wreck but sometimes dirty, strewn with trash, inside and outside, infested with cockroaches and mice and generally unkempt. It is easy to wonder why they live like that or why don’t they…? We went to the Bible where it says, “judgment belongs to God,” “the Lord will execute judgment,” or where Paul says in Romans 14:13 “…let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.” This is easier said than done, isn’t it? Let’s face it, one way or another, we all judge according to our standards and cultural background.
In our discussion, two themes developed. We are not able to even fairly judge. We have never been in their economic condition, their level of despair and hopelessness nor do we even understand their cultural priorities. But secondly, and perhaps more importantly we are called to serve people where they are, to meet the needs as they are presented to us and to bring hope and to show love. Only that. Being vulnerable enough with each other to share our reactions and feelings and then to talk about it and find the ground where Christ would have us stand helped each one of us, I believe.
It was a good week.