What is back to normal?

I spent last week in New Orleans with a team from my church to helprebuild. I did not go downthere to help rebuild because I wanted to feel good about myself afterI got back. I went downthere because when the Hurricanes hit was deeply impacted. Most of myfamily lives in New Orleansand some sustained damage to their house.The one thing that everyone kept saying to us when were down therewas, "When you go hometell everyone, that we are not back to normal here." Those words stuckwith me and so this is myopportunity to let everyone one know (at least the people that read my blog).Nothing could prepare me for what I saw when I went to New Orleans. Iknew to expect theworst, but some of the damage that I saw was beyond anything that Ihave ever seen.But the one thing that did surprise me, was the spirit of the people ofNew Orleans. You wouldthink that 6 months after a disaster everything would be rebuilt andback to normal. Well this isnot the case. But talking to some people you would never know thatthey went through somethingas tragic as Katrina and Rita.We had a conversation with one man who's house was damage so bad thathe is now living inin his upstairs master bed room with his wife and 2 kids, and atoaster oven. But you would neverknow by his spirit. As I was standing in line at a New Orleans coffeeshop this gentleman cameup and offered to buy our coffee. He said that he appreciated uscoming down and help. Nowthat is amazing. I mean this guy (and many others in the city) in thetop of is water damaged, moldinfested house, and all he wants to do is buy me coffee. How great isthat! Oh course I didnot take him up on his offer. But I did have a chance to talk and praywith him. And that wasenough for me.That was just one example of the amazing spirit of the people of NewOrleans that I experiencedlast week. I will be posting more about my trip in the next couple of days.As I wrote the other day I am working at the ski resort all week. Or Ias I am referring to it asTexas Land (Hopefully only for the next couple of days). I don’t mindthem, or at least don’t mindthem leaving their green, but I want my state back. Oh well by nextweek they will be gone.