I wonder if the frustration my family and I are experiencing is being repeated throughout evacuation-land?
All week long, we have been occupying suite 104 of the Quality Inn in Ozark, Alabama, where we traveled to last Saturday in order to preach a revival meeting at Ridgecrest Baptist Church this week. Pastor Jim Hill said what we were thinking, that God knew about Katrina even when we all made these plans and we should go forward. Now that the event is almost over, I’m more certain than ever that he’s right.
Frustration, we’re told, is defined as having one’s goals blocked. If my goal has been to be in the thick of things back at home in New Orleans–or at least in the parts of the metro area we can get into, and it certainly is–then, I’ve been frustrated. I know not to second-guess decisions once they are made, but knowing it with your head and not doing it with your heart are separate things. The folks here have treated us royally, not like refugees but as brother and sister come to do the work of the Father among them, yet at every spare moment, I’ve been on the computer or cell phone with our pastors and other workers, trying to do anything I can to encourage or inform.
Today, my computer went out.
I wonder if the frustration my family and I are experiencing is being repeated throughout evacuation-land?
All week long, we have been occupying suite 104 of the Quality Inn in Ozark, Alabama, where we traveled to last Saturday in order to preach a revival meeting at Ridgecrest Baptist Church this week. Pastor Jim Hill said what we were thinking, that God knew about Katrina even when we all made these plans and we should go forward. Now that the event is almost over, I’m more certain than ever that he’s right.
Frustration, we’re told, is defined as having one’s goals blocked. If my goal has been to be in the thick of things back at home in New Orleans–or at least in the parts of the metro area we can get into, and it certainly is–then, I’ve been frustrated. I know not to second-guess decisions once they are made, but knowing it with your head and not doing it with your heart are separate things. The folks here have treated us royally, not like refugees but as brother and sister come to do the work of the Father among them, yet at every spare moment, I’ve been on the computer or cell phone with our pastors and other workers, trying to do anything I can to encourage or inform.
Today, my computer went out.
When we first evacuated and were told we might be away for as much as two months, I went to Wal-Mart in Jasper, Alabama, and bought this laptop. The lady at the front desk of the hotel assured me this morning there was nothing wrong with the hotel’s internet wireless hookup. But I could not get on line. Late in the day, my son Neil called from Mississippi to say the more reliable of my two cell phones–the one that shows a strong signal and whose number I’ve given out as more trustworthy than the New Orleans-based phone–is not putting the calls through. “It says this party is not available to answer the phone,” he said. It’s lying. I’m waiting for calls that aren’t arriving.
When we left Columbus, Mississippi, Saturday for Ozark, we packed up everything so we could go straight home to New Orleans when the revival ended. Then, the first of the week, Mayor Nagin and the FEMA director ordered an evacuation of the city in anticipation of Hurricane Rita. So we started planning to go back to Mississippi. Then, as the storm aims at South Texas, it seems safe to go back home. “Not so,” said one friend. “Few stores are open and they all have long lines.” “We’re going home, Dad,” Neil said. Thursday. Today. We’re all in this together, so we’re going home too. Tomorrow.
Meanwhile, today–Thursday–we’re driving down to Dothan to look at the selection of refrigerators on display in Lowe’s and Home Depot. Should we buy one here and have it shipped to us in New Orleans (River Ridge, to be precise)? Or order one at the local store and wait for it to arrive? In either case, once we arrive home, we have to haul our fridge and freezer outside, gird ourselves in rubber gloves and masks, and clean out the rottenness that we find and bury it in the back yard. Then, tape up the appliances again and leave them outside for the insurance adjustors. And use coolers with ice–is ice available in New Orleans?–for our milk over the next week or more.
We were going to have a meeting of the New Orleans Baptist ministers today at the First Baptist Church of LaPlace. We sent notices to everyone we could find. Then, Tuesday, my colleague Freddie Arnold called and said, with the evacuation orders, the folks there think we should cancel the meeting. So we did, and we spent the next two hours getting out word. Margaret took my list of pastors and called every one she could find to tell them the meeting was canceled. She caught one just before he left north Alabama for the long drive. I suggested to Freddie that he go on to the meeting anyway, just in case anyone showed up. Good thing.
Twenty showed up. Makes me wonder how many would have been there had everyone been able to make the trip. Freddie called me in the afternoon and said, “We had a great meeting. Some of them told of the great distribution of food and clothing from their churches. We had reports of the disaster relief work being done, of the thousands of meals served. And we’ve had a number of people come to Christ as a result of our guys witnessing.” He went on to say that two men from our state denominational office were present, handing out checks to the pastors present to assist them in getting through these difficult days. The group decided to meet again next Wednesday at 9 o’clock. The wonderful host church has offered to prepare lunch every time we meet there. Bobby Burt is the terrific pastor.
Pastor Jim Hill came over Wednesday afternoon and tried to get my laptop to go online. “I can’t find anything wrong with it,” he said, and volunteered to take it to his office and fiddle with it. “You can pick it up at church tonight.” That night, he said, “Nothing wrong with it. The hotel internet service was down.”
How does that line go–when the Lord wants to teach you patience, He sends frustration.
I hope He will soon decide I’m patient enough because I am about out of patience with frustration.
At Monday’s pastors conference here in Ozark, a minister who is going through a trying time commented, “I wish the Lord would quit bragging on me. The devil is listening.”
Thanks to all who are praying for us. There’s plenty of relief work and Christian ministry going on all over the periphery of New Orleans, and no doubt much at various locations inside the city itself. Pray for our pastors and the host of volunteers now working or on their way.
The pastors and staff and members of the churches which came through the storm well are doing sacrificial work hosting the teams arriving to minister throughout the area. While we pray for those churches damaged or destroyed, let us not forget the healthy churches now turned into crisis centers.
The next log will be Saturday. After I clean out the fridge.
Postscript. After typing the above message Thursday morning, with our plans being to move back in to our home on Friday, Hurricane Rita changed directions and moved closer to New Orleans. At this very moment on Friday, some of the levees are overflowing and more trouble is brewing. Plus, our friends in the Lake Charles/Beaumont area are preparing to be hit dead on by Rita. Wouldn’t it be the worst irony if Rita repeats in East Texas what her twin Katrina did in New Orleans, and the incredible help which God’s people in Texas are planning to send toward our city and the Gulf Coast ends up having to be used on themselves.
Talk about frustration. We’ve delayed our return home until we know whether it’s safe and whether we can live back at home even if we can get there. We’re living this life the way God planned the Christian life to be done: one day at a time.
Dr. McKeever,
I cannot imagine the frustration you are experiencing right now, and believe me I don’t even want to try. Please be assured of our continued prayers for you and for the thousands whose lives have literally been turned upside down. I am thankful we serve a God who knows all, understands all, and loves us anyway. May He truly be your Comfort, your Wisdom, and your Best Friend through all of this.
Take care.
In His Love,
Claire Parlier
Bro Joe –
Thank you for the information. My heart is heavy at this time thinking of you, Margaret and the entire family. I know this is a difficult time but a time when God keeps us looking up to him for guidance.
Bill and I have learned patience through frustration during his 2 surgeries this summer and the 3rd one coming up next Tuesday.
We have learned it is better to be in the darkness with God than in the light without him.
Thank you for your many, many inspirational thoughts that you have been sharing with us even through all of this tragedy with Kristina and Rita.
Wan
Joe,
I guess God is teaching me the “one day at a time” lesson as well and I’m really ready to learn it and move on! Katrina has blessed me with the inability to make plans for any further out than 2 days because if we try to make plans any further out they are changed! Thank you so much for your log – it helps me realize that I’m not alone in the emotions I’m going through. I’m praying for your family and that our city will come to be known as one that blesses people.
Take care,
Donna
BRO JOE, I HEAR ALL IS WELL WITH YOU. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM OTHER PASTORS IN NEW ORLEANS, WE WILL REBUILD AT CARROLLTON, BUT WE ARE STARTING A NEW CHURCH IN LAPLACE LA. WE WILL BE MEETING IN THE HOTEL ON HWY51. KEEP US IN YOUR PRAYERS.
PS WE MET LAST WEEK AND HAD 27 IN SERVICE.
IN HIS SERVICE
BRIAN WEBBER
Dear Joe,
We are praying for you and everyone in New Orleans.
Do you have any contact info on Charlie Dale. Please call me at 601-823-0358 or e-mail at preacherrons@bellsouth.net.
Thanks,
Ron Satterwhite
new e-mail
God Bless You, Brother Joe and your family. I think of every word you write about in my prayers. You are a wonderful inspiration and you have tremendous faith. I can’t imagine what you are going through but you are such a leader, I know God is proud of your service and faith.
Keep on keeping on!!!