Pontilly Coffee

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There's something about sweet, local coffee shops that gets me. Maybe it's the fact that I'm addicted to coffee, or maybe it's the atmosphere, or maybe it's just that coffee is good, pure and simple, and it creates good company. Whatever the reason may be, Courtney and I knew that on Sunday morning we wanted to go get coffee somewhere local in New Orleans before heading to church.

It was our second morning in New Orleans and I was still incredibly unsettled. Everything was unfamiliar and alarming in their own ways. I needed something from home, so when we realized we had time to go get coffee I was thrilled. We were lucky enough to have access to a car (that's a whole other story that I won't go into), so we left an hour earlier than planned to go on an adventure.

This was big for me – I had never driven in a big city before and I had barely seen any of the city, so I had absolutely zero knowledge of where I was or what I was doing, but I was trusting my phone and it's handy little GPS to bring me to that blessed drink. It's funny how looking up one little phrase (“local coffee shops near me”) has the potential to change the direction of your entire life.

We arrived to Pontilly Coffee safely and excited, ready to eat and wake up. I noticed cute little signs throughout the shop, saying “All I need today is a little bit of coffee and a whole lot of Jesus” and quoting Jeremiah 29:11. It was cute and comforting to me in my anxiety-ridden state.

I was immediately in love with the whole coffee shop – the food was good, the coffee was better, and the atmosphere reminded me of the places I escaped to in Boone. So I forced Courtney to make a pact with me to come throughout the year because I already loved it wholly and truly (but I didn't actually have to force her because she and I are on the same page).

However, I didn't expect to go two days later.

Two days later our supervisor, Kathy, asked us to meet her at a local coffee shop she liked for our first official meeting. It was Pontilly Coffee. Kathy saw how happy I was to be back and asked me if I knew what Pontilly Coffee was, so I told her we had already been once. She was thrilled and immediately asked us if we liked it and if we knew it's story. It's story?! No, I did not know the story and yes I did want to hear it. So, here's the long and short of it, as far as I know.

The Bethel Colony was founded by Pastor Mel Jones. This organization is a residential treatment program that houses and provides jobs for people struggling with addictions. This ministry operates here in New Orleans, with Bethel Colony South Men's Transformation Ministry home, the Bethel Women at the Well, and the Bethel Family House.

Pastor Mel also owns and operates Pontilly Car Wash, Pontilly Sno, the Pontilly Thrift Shop, and, you guessed it, Pontilly Coffee. The men and women who are part of the Bethel Colony program all work at these various businesses. They are also the only people who work at those businesses. And all the proceeds go to Bethel Colony.

Now, I realize I did not eloquently relay the story of this beautiful ministry. I'm aware. Give me a chance.

This ministry is so beautiful. It is giving people a second chance at life. The Family House is giving children who have no home a place to sleep at night. It is providing help and care to people who need it. And it is changing the community around it.

I know I've lived in New Orleans for barely a month, but I can see it.

I was lucky enough to be able to attend the Grand Opening of Pontilly Coffee. I listened and held back tears as Pastor Mel shared his own story of recovery from addiction, of how he owes it all to Christ, and how thankful he is to be able to help other people do the same. As I stood there listening, I felt the love in the room. Everyone there could feel it, it was palpable.

And I realized that this is what I'm here for. This joy, this hope, this love.

I've wanted to be a social worker for a long time. I want to help people, I want to do the things that a lot of people avoid....

I also like to bake. And I have a bit of baking experience (approximately nine years of it) under my belt.

I'm a crazy dreamer and my “life plan” changes every day, but I always come back to helping people. I also always seem to be talking about my love for food and coffee.

I get the wonderful opportunity to bake cakes for the New Orleans East Senior Center and the Lower Ninth Ward Senior Center about once a week. Courtney often helps me with this. One day we talked a lot about our futures and what we see ourselves doing. That day I was particularly happy to be baking and I kept talking about Pontilly Coffee. As we iced a rather delicious chocolate cake, Courtney looked at me and said, “Well, that's what you should do.”

“What?”

“You should start another Pontilly Coffee! You love coffee and you know how to make lattes, you're a good baker, and you wanna help people. You should start your own bakery with a mission, like Pontilly.”

So, I would like to thank Courtney for messing up my life plan.

I don't know what I'm going to do, but I am seriously trying to figure out how to start my own bakery.

Discovering Pontilly Coffee really did change my life – first of all, it's got dang good coffee (caramel macchiato, anyone?), and, second of all, it reminded me of the good in the world. It also may have opened a new door in my life, and I'm so excited to see where it may lead.

In the meantime, if you can't find me, Pontilly Coffee is where I'll be.

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

Prayers and Praise:

- Please pray for us as we help put together events and work with different organizations in the city

- Please pray for us as we continue to grow in our relationships with Christ and each other

- Please continue to pray for all the Lutheran Young Adult Corps Participants as we serve in our cities around the U.S.

- Please pray for a successful Fish Fry next Friday to raise money for Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico

- Praise and Thanksgiving for the opportunity to serve and the people supporting Courtney and I