been around

So Camp ReStore has about four interns. Madi, Sinan, Fabian, and myself. We live here and work here full time, but there are actually two other interns here. DeAnte and Robert come here because Camp is working with them to develop their photography and film making abilities. They aren't here every day, and even when they are we don't always see them. I had met both of them in August, but last Tuesday was the first time I worked with either of them.

We had a donation from Restaurant Depot of multiple 50 pound bags of sugar, salt, rice, and flour. Sinan, Fabian, and I sorted them into smaller bags Tuesday, and Wednesday Robert and I sorted them, while I also found addresses for the sites Kathy wanted us to donate them to. In addition to the dry ingredients, we had many drinks to redistribute to the food pantries and community centers. Now, I was cleaning a fridge that we were putting drinks in while Sinan, Fabian, and Madi were sorting drinks. (You must know all of these drinks are covered with syrup and other questionable liquids, so we have to wash them before we redistribute them.)

So Robert comes up to me while I'm cleaning the fridge. He's a tall twenty-five year old and the most laid back person I've ever met in my life. His voice is soft and slow, but I don't understand him all the time because he speaks so low with that New Orleanian dialect. He asked me if I've "been around."

I said, "Nahh, I haven't traveled", and, while I didn't tell him my life story, I tried to make it clear I have not "been around." But he said "Well, you seem like you have, cause you're chill and you go with the flow, but you ain't afraid to be yourself and still be real, so that's how people act when they've been around and they know what's up."

So I thanked him because wow, that is some compliment for a Denverite Catholic school girl. But when we were delivering the donations later that day, I realized that although I have not "been around" I have already experienced a lot in New Orleans. I've interacted with young students, working adults, people in the church and outside the church. I live in NOLA East which is, don't tell my mom, not a safe neighborhood. I live with Germans. We work with volunteer groups from across the country, and the sites we go to are under resourced neighborhoods.

New Orleans is very diverse. I've heard many accents, learned many new words, and I will continue to experience many more cultures as the year goes on. I will talk with more people and hear more stories. I know I will become a more understanding, accepting person as the year goes on because I will encounter so many different people and one thing keeps popping back in my head... Jesus loves them just as much as he loves me. The real problem is so many people don't know that. They need to know how much Jesus loves them no matter who I am or who they are or what I've done or what they've done. It doesn't matter if I've been around or not, it matters that people know whose people they are.

And that is why I am here. Not to get around, but to develop that "been around" attitude that makes others comfortable. The attitude that makes them so comfortable they ask you if you've been around, so you can you tell them no, but you live like you're loved.

Until next time... we're taking it minute by minute.

Prayers and Praise:

- Thanks for Paul's Birthday on Friday

- A volunteer group is arriving on Sunday! Prayers for safe travels and a good work week

- Prayers for us as we continue to work at Camp ReStore