We literally took up sledge hammers and shovels, crowbars and muscle and tore down walls and ceilings, pried up floorboards and tiles, and hauled the interior of a home in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans to the curb. Mike, the homeowner, is one of the brave residents of New Orleans who has returned to rebuild his home and hopes to rebuild community. The day before, about half of us drove for over three hours through neighborhood after neighborhood, astonished at the damage and the vacancy of homes, businesses and churches. Here and there a trailer is parked in a driveway housing homeowners who are rebuilding. Meeting Mike made the impact more personal, as he pointed next door, telling us that those neighbors didn't plan to return, and nor did the ones in the home across the street, and the homes next to those, likewise all empty. Mike recounted how this had been a community of friends and neighbors who knew each other and celebrated summer with a block party only a year ago.

We were glad to serve under the organization of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, enriching our friendships with each other as we worked and took breaks for water and conversation. As so often happens in mission work, we found that we were being served every bit as much. Helping Mike was fulfilling to each of us. We were literally served by Mike's mother, aunt and friends who surprised our group with a spaghetti lunch that they had run home to make after stopping in and seeing us at work in the morning.

Cliff Kirkpatrick and I only heard the stories of that marvelous lunch. Instead, we joined local pastors and the new General Presbyter Alan Cutter for brown bag lunch and conversation. Tale after tale they told of decimated congregations and relief work. One said, "We have been thrown into transformational ministry calling for evangelism as we never imagined we would be, and we're scared."

We stayed in the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance camp on the grounds of First Union Presbyterian Church in Luling, one of the several camps where we house and organize volunteers who come to help. The members of First Union experienced wind damage from the storms, but once this was fixed, they looked for other ways to participate in the recovery efforts. Hosting the camp has become a primary contribution for this congregation. Imagine temporary housing for 100 workers, along with meal facilities, showers, restrooms, and parade of short-term volunteers, on the lawn of your congregation and you'll get a sense of the contribution being made by First Union. They've named the camp "Fish Camp" — First in Service and Hope.

Additional help is desperately needed. 600,000 homes along the gulf coast have been affected. Even more than money at this point, it's labor that is needed. Spread the word, volunteer, organize your church to volunteer. Call the PDA call center to see how you can help — (866) 732-6121. No skill is necessary, just a willingness to work and a willingness to be transformed by the experience.

For the next day and half we continued our retreat in meetings. We talked about challenges and opportunities, about the mission work of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and other organizations forming around mission and about encouraging a flourishing, faithfulness and connectedness as we serve God's people and spread the Good News. Manley Olson urged us not to sing psalms of lament as we ponder the state of our denomination but songs of praise, thanksgiving and hope as we look at the possibilities of the vibrant and faithful future that God has prepared for us.

Pray for those who are rebuilding New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. One of our guides reminded us that the storms did not just hit 11 months ago, instead they affect people's lives every day that passes. May all involved feel God's presence this week.