Bayou Blue...

"Praise Jesus for the connectional church!"

Actually, it was more like "PRAISE JESUS FOR THE CONNECTIONAL CHURCH!!!!!"

Jill's voice representing the bayou Blue Presbyterian Church literally rang out in the gym where they fed us a spread of Cajun dishes that would choke a horse (as my grandmother would say).  We were sooo stuffed physically...then we got fed spiritually--this woman was a remarkable witness to faith.

Bayou Blue Presbyterian was founded more than 100 years ago by a Presbyterian missionary who wanted to offer services in their native Cajun French instead of the Roman Catholic liturgy in Latin.  Many of the people who served us last night were related to the folks who founded the congregation...great-great grandparents.  This tiny church began serving volunteers right after Katrina and have not missed a week since.  This week alone they will serve more than 250 people.

Jill spoke about their experience.  The people who live in the bayous of this are are independent and interdependent.  They work hard to take care of themselves and harder to take care of each other.  After Katrina, which didn't hit them hard, they opened their doors and their school and their hearts to anyone and everyone.  Their community doubled in size in weeks.  They were busy giving and giving and giving.  Then, Rita struck--a direct hit.

Jill's words were, "We couldn't see the forest for the trees."  There was so much devastation on top of the chaos from taking in so many people from New Orleans that they couldn't even see where to start.  So others started for them.  Volunteers did a little and a lot, and with every little bit, the community healed...and heals.  Jill told the story of her grandmother always insisting to her that she be grateful to be part of a connectional church.  "Praise Jesus you are a part of the connectional church!  "PRAISE JESUS YOU ARE A PART OF A CONNECTIONAL CHURCH."

We are writing you postcards tonight because we are grateful to be part of a connectional church.  We belong to FHPC, but we also belong to Metairie Ridge Presbyterian and to Bayou Blue Presbyterian and to Christ's church all over the world.

"PRAISE JESUS, WE ARE A PART OF CHRIST'S CHURCH!!!"