Succotash, Hoola-Boolah, and the Fumblerooski

Truth be told, yesterday was less eventful than I care to re-live via blog writing. However, there are a couple things worth writing, so here, in no real order are some thoughts, photos, etc.

-If you didn't read yesterday's post about Monday, go do that..now. Thanks : )

-Many of you have read in my previous posts about the insanity that is the New Orleans attempt to rid the city of low income housing. Excuse me while I vomit. If you want to get me fired up, this is the topic to get the job done. Basically, before the storm there was a HUGE housing project right across the street from the church I am working with this week. Although there was a lot of gang violence, drug activity, domestic violence, etc., it was in a great location because Pastor Bruce was right there, getting people clothing, food, HIV tests, counseling, GED's, and some Jesus when he could. You name it, this guy did all he could to get people's needs met. Then came Katrina, which was really just a good excuse for city officials to tear down the project in its entirety, despite very minimal damage, and it's sturdy brick structure. Now, it has been replaced be "mixed income" housing that most of us middle class, educated folk could hardly afford, let alone a single mom with multiple children to feed on a minimum wage. It makes me sick. So, here is a photo of what has replaced the project; nice building but people, do not be decieved, this is basically a fat insult to humanity and anything that is good in the world. (Josh - ask me if I'm mad)


Ew. Now, on to other things...

I took some other pictures yesterday just to kind of orient you so you have some mental images of where I'm at. So, right across the street from the obscenity pictured above, are these two buildings:



The white building is a double-wide shot-gun house where the GED and summer camp programs are held. The yellow building, a single shotgun house, is where the HIV/AIDS program is..if you didn't get that from the sign in the photo.

-Now would be a good time to say that the title for the blog today is basically pointless. I did have succotash for dinner last night, with a lot of hotsauce. Dear mom, I ate lima beans and survived : ). Then, during dinner I told Deborah that I set up a facebook page for Bruce yesterday. Hilarious conversation ensued when we told her all about how his page was getting lit up by his fans in New York. The Fumblerooski was Pastor Bruce's favorite phrase of Sunday when he was heckling people about the Saints losing. He is a fan of any team that beats them. More on that perhaps another time.

I have high hopes for productivity today. Bruce said we have some more people to visit, which I am always grateful for when I am here. And tonight - hour of power. This church doesn't mess around and on Wednesdays they have hour of power as a time for people to share what God is doing in their lives. There may only be 15 people at church on Sunday but you can bet your bottom dollar they are at Bible study again on Monday, again on Tuesday, and at hour of power on Wednesday. There's a lot more love and faith and energy in that church than I have seen in some huge churches. Score: Jesus-1, World-0. Game on.

Lastly, one thing the church does to help cover it's funding needs is restore and sell classic cars. This has been one of my sets of wheels this week:


That is really about all today..ha. I am hoping some of you are at least grateful it didn't invoke tears, but I thank you for reading nonetheless.