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Hayden church answers God’s call to New Orleans
By Betty Barnes

Everything was arranged; a mission team from Hayden Congregational Church in Hayden, Colorado, would be heading off to St. Matthew United Church of Christ in New Orleans during spring break to assist with the relief effort. Arlene Fermanis, our contact at St. Matthew, supplied the information we needed to prepare for the trip.

BJ Barnes' employer, Twentymile Mine, donated respirators. Ralph Babish's employer, Xcel Energy, donated respirators, gloves, white [hazmat] suits and hard hats. Many individuals and local companies donated tools, money and other supplies that would be needed. We were also advised to bring tall rubber boots, long pants, long sleeved shirts and something to cover our heads. We knew it could be hot and humid, but now we realized that we would be working in all of this gear.

After two long days of driving, we arrived in New Orleans. As we neared the church, the first thing we saw was their "God is Still Speaking" banner. It was a welcome sign that we had finally arrived. St. Matthew reminded us of the UCC church in Manitou Springs, with its large pipe organ and beautiful stained glass windows, as well as the balcony over part of the side.

Two congregations, St. Matthew UCC and Central Congregational UCC, had merged and were now worshiping in this building together. The joining of an African American church, which was severely damaged in the storm, and this mostly white church, would not have been an option just five years ago. The ministers share the pulpit and their worship service is a combination of the practices of both congregations.

On our first full day in New Orleans, we toured some of the city. The Ninth Ward, where the devastation was severe, looked like a war zone. It looked like someone picked the houses up, threw them into the air, resulting in destruction wherever they landed. The Ninth Ward had no services; no water, no gas or electricity and may not be rebuilt, as it is not safe should another hurricane hit and the levees breach again. We were told that 1,800 children are still displaced and 2,700 people are still missing

The first home we worked on is owned by Debbie Smith, a women who was the treasurer of one of our UCC churches. We were to take down sheetrock, pull nails, strip electrical wiring and cleanup the yard. All that would remain when we finished were the 2x4 studs. Everyone put on their protective gear and got started. We shoveled the debris into wheelbarrows and piled it at the curb in front of the house. When we left her house that day, all that remained was a shell.

The next house belonging to Jenice Green, had a big oak tree in the back yard that had been splint in two by the storm, one half lay on her back patio cover and the other half was in the neighbor's yard. We were able to cut some of it up and get it out of the way.
As we continued to work, we heard loud pops down the street and realized that a nearby house was on fire. Bill used his cell phone to call the fire department, but the fire spread quickly and, by the time the firemen found a water supply, most of the home was destroyed.

We finished up work on the Green house on Thursday afternoon. We took out kitchen cabinets, the kitchen sink, tile in the bathroom, sheetrock, a little insulation in a recently converted garage, paneling, wood flooring and lots of nails.

When we returned to Hayden, we went back to our separate lives in our separate homes, but I would like to think we share a special bond after our week together as missionaries for God. The images, certain sounds, sights and even smells will always remind us of New Orleans.

Five people from Hayden made just a small dent in a big problem, 1400 miles from our home. God called us and we answered the call!

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