Letter to Santa

December 20, 2006
Dear Santa Claus,

I hope you don’t mind that this is my first letter to you ever. As you probably realize, your relevance in my life was very minimal for the first 19 or so years and at this point I think I’m past the point of hoping you will slide down the chimney. Besides, I could never keep someone straight who is supposed to look like Tim Allen, Billy Bob Thornton, and Jimmy Durante all at the same time. At any rate, ‘tis the season to write you a letter.

First, my wish list. These are the things that I hope you can attend to, Santa. Now I realize that most of them can’t be wrapped and carried in your sleigh, but I have faith that you can work something out. You seem like the resourceful type.
--Financial and prayer partners for the work being done in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. So many people gave so much right after the storm, but this is a long, slow process of recovery and rebuilding and we will need sustained resources for a while. Plus as you know, Santa, being a volunteer ain’t free!
--Peace from crime and violence in New Orleans
--Justice restored to local government
--New affordable and safe homes for thousands of still-displaced residents
--Families to come back and live in those homes
--Bureaucracy-free dealings with FEMA and the Road Home Program
--A healthy and effective school system that provides a just and quality education for all New Orleans children

Now is my gift list. Since it seems you have a tireless workforce and unlimited supply of goodies, here are the things for which I am thankful this season. I’m counting on you to make sure these people get the gifts they deserve.
--The CURE pastors who work tirelessly to serve and shepherd their congregations (many still far-flung), while also repairing their own homes, churches, and lives. I’m so grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to spend time with these men, who understand the idea of church-led community development and the importance of that being facilitated by indigenous leaders. Santa, please give them extra time to do what they need to do, since many of them are working an additional job besides their pastoring. Please also give them people who will care for their needs and also some rest!
--The warm and generous people who have opened their homes to me and my team. Santa, I know you’ve made a list and checked it twice, but just in case you forgot some I’ll remind you who I’m talking about. Our friends at Desire Street Ministries who have welcomed us into their extended circle of friends. The friends we have made at Redeemer Presbyterian Church who have shared meals, stories, laughs, and wisdom with us. Please grant them a peaceful and joyful holiday season. Please bring some gifts for the kiddies as well as the grown-ups.
--All the people that have come to New Orleans to be a part of the rebuilding of this great city. I have found friends in unexpected places and never thought there would be such a strong community of dedicated people with a heart to see this place restored. I think they would like some rest and relaxation during the holidays and also some good quality time with their friends and families. For the people who have been doing manual labor, I think you could throw in a massage or two, eh?
--The encouragers and supporters who have reached out to me from all over the globe. I couldn’t be here without realizing that my work has more widespread effects than I can see, and these people remind me of that everyday. Please give them a safe and happy holiday season. And a gift-wrapped token of my appreciation. Maybe a fruit basket?
--Of course, baby Jesus. (You know the holiday is about Him, actually, not you Santa. Sorry!) It’s because He left the comforts of heaven, dressed as a baby, to come down to Earth and relate to the joys and pains of human beings that I have the opportunity to relate to the joys and pains of the people in New Orleans. The biggest gift goes to Him since He sees the world and chooses to love, and from that flows grace, peace, joy, faith, and truth. There’s really no gift that would match what Jesus has given so Santa, do whatever He tells you to do!

Thanks Santa!

Yours Truly,


Emily

P.S. You can donate to my support fund by clicking on this link!

going going going

i feel like it's been quite the whirlwind since i returned to new orleans after thanksgiving break. seems i've just been going non-stop. i arrived back in town on a monday afternoon, worked three days that week, and then headed to central mississippi for a retreat with the other Gulf Coast Mission volunteers. this was a good time to get away and find some space away from our usual busy-ness, but anyone who knows me knows that i can't really relax in the middle of nowhere for too long. like i said to my roommate emily, spending time in audubon park is country enough for me. we returned this past sunday afternoon, just in time to watch the amazing race!

this week at work kept me busy too. we are working on identifying properties to pursue in the process of acquiring land to develop new affordable housing. i feel like i am in way over my head but i love it. the workdays are heavy on the administrative side, which the organization-freak in me loves, but i do wish we were out in the community more, making relationships with residents. at this point, though, there are just not that many people in the Upper Ninth Ward. Check out these websites, which show the things that we’re working on: www.cdc5812.org, www.unwca.org, www.curenola.org. on Wednesday night we attended a screening for a new documentary film called "Left Behind" about the public school situation in this city. the film was very interesting, as it pointed to the dismal public education system in New Orleans as one of the factors that contributed to a community at its breaking point, as displayed in the aftermath of Katrina. then, i spent the last few days of this week in bed with a cold L winter is real here in the south! there have been freezing warnings this week and it always shocks me when i step outside that it can get this cold in new orleans. not to mention that when you have volunteers do the electrical wiring for your office space, the central heat might not work. and by might i mean definitely. so add that to the adventures of the week.

looking at my calendar, this coming week is going to be crazy!! i have: a meeting monday night, a meeting tuesday afternoon, a meeting all day thursday. wednesday, i need to find a way to be in two places at once because we have a volunteer group coming and also John Perkins visiting. John Perkins is the founder of the Christian Community Development Association, a model on which Mission Year and Desire Street Ministries are based. Mr. Perkins will be spending the day with the CURE pastors on Wednesday and then speaking to a larger group on Wednesday evening. To top all this off, my mom is coming into town and i get to have dinner with her two nights next week! now, i understand that three meetings in one week might not seem like such a big deal, but most of the events and meetings that we go to for CURE or Desire Street are things that myself and my teammate Emily are planning and organizing. so that's why we're so busy!

i've been going through an advent calendar from my church and it has helped put me in the proper frame of mind for this season. it is a time of anticipation and hope and excitement, as we know what will be borne out of this preparation. as i read the words of zechariah, the father of john the baptist, i was reminded again just how revolutionary is this God of ours: "Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us--to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days." (Luke 1.67-75)

May you find peace and joy in this season of anticipation!