wfn.org | Newsline: Dateline June 24, Chalmette, La.

["COBNews Newsline" <cobnews@brethren.org>]

Newsline: Church of the Brethren News Service -- July 3, 2008
Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, News Director
800-323-8039 ext. 260 -- cobnews@brethren.org

>DATELINE JUNE 24, CHALMETTE, LA.

(July 3, 2008) Elgin, IL -- Glenn Riegel, a Church of the Brethren
member and a photography instructor, sent this report from the Brethren
Disaster Ministries rebuilding site in Chalmette, La., where he was
working with a group from Little Swatara Church of the Brethren in
Bethel, Pa.:

"Greetings from the hot, humid south. The Little Swatara Workgroup
has made it through its second, and so far hottest day of disaster relief  at
the Brethren Disaster Ministries rebuilding site in Chalmette, La.

"This embedded photographer has been painting, trimming, sanding, and
sweating with the rest of the crew. Other than a flat tire on route 59 in
Mississippi, we have been unhindered by problems and spirits are high--
although some youth may have been slower to wake up this a.m.

"We have been working in conjunction with the Brethren Disaster
Ministries' St. Bernard project, and as a result have met folks from
Sacramento, Calif., as well as volunteers from Americorp.

"Having been in New Orleans last year, it's sad to see the effects of  three
years after Hurricane Katrina. Many houses have been demolished,
indicating the low return rate. Daily we see the demolition teams moving
through the neighborhoods as they demolish house after house. Equally
impressive is the thoroughness of the removal. The concrete pad is left
behind and in one day's time, it's hard to tell that a house was just
removed.

"Neighbors who return appear to have a bond that can only come from
weathering through such a common disaster. Their spirit is
undiminished, even if it has been tested. Spray-painted messages on
make-shift signs and fences attest to the love of community and their
neighbors.

"As we traveled south down 59 (after the flat tire) we were witness to the
visual spectacle of field after field, thousands upon thousands of FEMA
trailers, parked in fairly even rows. Picture the largest camper dealership
you can imagine and then multiply this view a hundred fold.

"After a number of workgroup visits, we sadly also encountered a first,
which pointedly expressed the worst of the disaster. The now infamous
spray-painted house inspection cross that indicated date of inspection,
who inspected, the number of bodies and pets found, has often been
explained, but always illustrated with a sample that indicated no deaths.
Today we witnessed one inspection cross that may have indicated a
death.

"Amid the almost mythical retelling of the event, the modest but proud
stories of helping to rebuild, the final tally and tragedy of Hurricane
Katrina is too easily pushed to the recesses of the imagination and the
back page of news and history.

"The most often expressed wish from locals as they discuss their
situation and the event that so changed their lives, is the desire that  their
plight not be forgotten. Their request is that others not forget.

"We're not even halfway through this work week, and yet the
opportunity to connect as a broader community is evident. The youth,
advisors, coordinators, and a Brethren Volunteer Service worker
continue to enjoy the closeness of shared effort, sweat, and community.
And we are eating and sleeping very comfortably in a home that was
repaired by Brethren volunteers.

"God didn't will the destruction and tragedy. However, He has blessed
the response in support, and the tested will of those in the flood. God's
love is here...holy ground."

The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination committed to
continuing the work of Jesus peacefully and simply, and to living out its
faith in community. The denomination is based in the Anabaptist and
Pietist faith traditions and is one of the three Historic Peace Churches.  It
celebrates its 300th anniversary in 2008. It counts more than 125,000
members across the United States and Puerto Rico, and has missions and
sister churches in Nigeria, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and
India.

># # #

>For more information contact:

>Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
>Director of News Services
>Church of the Brethren General Board
>1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120
>800-323-8039 ext. 260
>cobnews@brethren.org

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