FLY TEAM #6 MY FIRST MISSION TRIP BY LORI GONZALEZ

Dear Friends,

I'm back in Santa Rosa. It's Tuesday and although I am safely home after evacuating Rita, I can't bring myself to unpack my gear. I suppose that would put an ending to the incredible experience and I'm not ready to do that quite that. Our team consisted of Gina-Dee, Patti, Carrie, Sandi, Mark, Maryann and myself from Hope Chapel, Santa Rosa. We had three different flights to get us there and 2 different flights to get us home. Four of us, Gina-Dee, Patti, Carrie and I, well, we didn't get a flight home, God had a bigger plan than an airplane. He wanted us to drive, so we did, all the way back to California.

Where to start? All praise and glory to God. I had never thought that I would be called to go on a mission trip afterall, Rudy does enough for our family, right? But I was. My family and Rudy all rallied behind me to go and I know that wasn't easy, but it would have been harder living with me if I didn't go. We flew from San Francisco to Houston, Houston to Baton Rouge. We had our UGO4GOD hats on and people reacted w/ smiles and conversation about who we were and what/where we were going. A few businessmen thanked us for coming and told us "We are so happy you are here, God Bless you, ladies." I sat next to a man who was in the network news business (on air) in the Houston area. He had a lot of anxiety about Rita approaching and was in contact w/ his wife quite a bit about it. He wasn't looking forward to the hours on air at work covering the storm, nor was he looking forward to the possibility of trees landing on his home. He definitely wanted to impress me about his job although I wasn't that interested. I finally asked him if he was happy doing what he did. He said, "Some days." He then asked me, and I said, "Yep, I love it." And we parted ways.

When we reached the Baton Rouge Airport we rented 2 vehichles. One was an SUV, called a Ford ESCAPE. It had only 5 miles on it. This will be important later. The attendant renting the car to us was Rose. She had lost everything in Katrina. Patti offered to pray with her and she welcomed it. I was watching all our "stuff" and the team went over, laid hands on her and SHE started praying....for US. She prayed for our protection, our well being, that God would be glorified through our work. I was stunned. I was sitting across the aisle watching our team pray in a public place (not unlike Santa Rosa) and it wasn't so extraordinary. It's what God calls upon us, but do we ever answer the call? So, they're praying and people are glancing around and pause. Be still and remember. Afterwards, I am sure that God sent Rose to us now, that it was His plan...we later found out we would need the protection she was offering in prayer. Her petition which seemed so unimportant (afterall, weren't WE there to help her?) well, it was so needed. God revealed her to us, this angel, renting us an ESCAPE, petitioning God for our protection and demonstrating boldness in prayer.

We went to dinner at a Cracker Barrel Restaurant in Baton Rouge. We met Karen, a four star waitress. Being it was my first time eating Southern Food, it certainly wasn't my last. Karen had lost everything in Katrina. She still smiled and praised God that she was okay and had a job. How many of us praise God that we have a job? We sat next to a family who was from Metairie, Louisiana, our destination. Their names were Pastor Teresa Reiger, her husband Greg, Tanya and Alexis. They knew exactly where we were going. They gave us directions and told us that incase we didn't make it in before curfew, to call them and we could stay with an associate or even in their condo. Unreal. God had our back. They even offered to drive us into Metairie, an hour away incase we didn't want to go w/o escort.

Pastor Troy was there. He was walking in front of Celebration Church on Transcontinental Dr in Metairie, LA. He looked like the pictures from Rudy and Anthony's trip. I knew it was him. He had just called and asked if we were lost in Lousiana (it took us awhile at dinner). He told us he'd be there waiting for us, and he was. Little did I know he had just gotten back from 2 runs out into the community in 105 degree heat w/ 100% humidity, saving lives for Jesus. Maryann greeted us and gave us the 411. We were taken into the basecamp to Alleluia, air conditioning! It smelled like mold/mildew, but it was cooler than outside. There were a lot of people in our room from Rock Harbor Church in Newport Beach, CA. They all had orange on and we later called them, the orange people. A small distinguishing character from us northern californians, we were all there to serve.

I met Chris Meilleur, man in charge of facilities and the entire operation . I listened to his story, he seemed determined to meet everyone's needs. So selfless. I gathered he had lost alot through Katrina, but he wasn't complaining, he was there, steadfast and strong. He welcomed me, our team and introduced me to Susan Yancich, fellow camera person in crime. It's Susan who I keep wanting to go back and support . I hated having to leave her with so many tasks, w/o help but she encouraged me to evacuate. I'll see her again. That night I walked into the "command area" and I heard someone say, "Lori?" That someone was Hal! Hal from Oakland, CA! One of the two guys who drove all the way from my home to Metairie a week ago. They were still there! It was late so we didn't talk much, just that we'd catch up in the morning. I couldn't believe he and Jay were still there.

We were cautioned to not drink the water (think Mexico they told me). We piled our gear and settled in for the night. I don't think too many of us slept. We were there, but still not really knowing what to expect. I got up early and headed down to the tent by 7am. Things were moving. Breakfast, showers, planning meeting, devotionals. I had my gear (Thanks, Rudy). Troy came by to tell me that he would be gone for awhile, "just minister to people" he said. Perfect.

I met Keith Lofton from Church on The Rise and Church on the North Coast in Ohio. He prayed for unity. Phillipians 1:9 " And this my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God." We prayed about being a servant John 12:25: "The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me."

That morning I met Hal and Jay and we started loading the trucks and trailers for RAVEN. The day was spent sorting, loading, ministering. Probably one of the hardest work days of my life. Not probably, definitely. It was hot. Servants everywhere. People coming and asking and needing. So many stories. Heartbreaking stories. A mom of three who lost her dad in Katrina and she still couldn't find him. Karen, so humbled by everyone there and finding herself in the situation where she needed help. She was the one who usually helped others. She had lost her house and everything in it. I asked her what I could tell everyone in California and she said, "Make sure the money gets to the people who need it. The Red Cross isn't geting the money to the people who need it." The Red Cross was there a few weeks before I arrived to assess the situation. Promised to have supplies, a tent and medical team there to assist the efforts in 2 days. At the writing of this letter, nearly 4 weeks later, not even a phone call. A grandfather needing medicine that we didn't have and he didn't have any other means to get medicine for his dauther. A family w/ 3 generations coming to us for help, they had just returned to find out that everything they had was gone, EVERYTHING. The woman grabbed my arm and looked into my eyes and just started sobbing. Hal and I walked with them to the distribution center. My steps were heavy. Oh God, so much suffering and look at all the cars that keep coming! I met a Marine who served in Korea needing ice and water for his family. I thanked him for serving our country. He told me I was a sweeite and I told him my husband and dad were Marines. He said "Semper Fi" when he left, smiled and waved. He made a return trip w/ his daughter and truck. The need was great, our offering so small. I know of a family who's landlord illegaly jacked up the rent so high that they wouldn't be able to afford it and would most likely not have a home in the next 4 hours. A mommy with a baby and toddler, w/o a home but going to find some church clothes because she had nothing to wear to church. I carried her baby back and forth in the sweltering heat. She kept her composure throughout her day, this young mother. You could only imagine her stress and all she wanted was some church clothes for herself and her kids. I encouraged her to take some food and water, too. Two well-to-do New Orleans ladies, darling, sweet as ever, joining us in prayer and thanking God that we came to help. They received tetanus shots. They were anticipating going into New Orleans the next day to clean up their homes and their parents home. I think Rita put a stop to that. They all came weary, heavy ladened and burdened and God provided. These people were relying on God to provide simplicities like a toothbrush and a roll of toilet paper. And He did.

In Kenner, Louisiana we went out w/ the RAVEN Team in the evening. The trucks and trailers were loaded. Hal and Jay and I picked through things in the distribution center and piled them onto the trailers. Later, the RAVEN guys were teasing saying, "who loaded this trailer? there's no rhyme or reason!" They hadn't met me... I'm not Rudy! But everything was there in a chaotic organized way! And we got a good laugh at it. I broke every nail I had and THEN put my work gloves on. Typical. We pulled onto an unlit street that looked like a bomb hit it. That's the best I could describe. We hadn't gotten the opportunity to view the devastation until that evening as we drove in the night before. It was eerie. There were huge old trees uprooted, apartment bulidings w/ one side completely torn off, roofs damaged, everyone's belongings on the street, a storage place with belongings pouring out. Crazy. I had my camera, I couldn't even take a picture. It wouldn't capture the brokeness I felt.

Troy parked the van. Rudy told me he does that, he just pulls up somewhere where it seems deserted and the next thing you know, there were tens of people there. The first door that was knocked on, a man in his late twenties, early thirties came out. He had gang tattos everywhere, no shirt, sagging pants, Hispanic. He kept punching his fist into his hand saying over and over, "I didn't think no one was coming, man." I put my arm on him and asked him if I could pray for him. He trembled and was weeping when I was done. Troy was there. He said, "Brother, come get what you need." He then yelled out to his friends and started pointing to the other homes saying, "It's okay, come out." And they came. Tshirts, polo shirts, underwear, rice krispy treats, can openers, cans of food, baby wipes, baby food, diapers, water, clothes, poptarts, nutrigrain bars, toilet paper, tooth brushes, soap and the coveted bleach, it was all there and then it was nearly gone.

Jada. She's ten. She's beautiful. She had a small bag full of things. I asked her what her name was and how old she was. She told me that "mam'am, I was just praying and praying for someone to come help me and then you came." She also told me that she was so scared, so scared during the storm. She thought that someone was going to come into her home and take her away. She said she had never been that afraid. I hugged her and told her that she didn't have to be afraid anymore. She cried. Gina-Dee stayed with her. I'll let her tell you more. You have to picture mounds and mounds of clothes at the distribution center with donations coming from all over the country and then multiply that in your mind. You have to figure the odds of me reaching into a bag of my daughter Maddie and Cece's clothes they were willing to part with...and the joy of being in Kenner that night to only reach into a bag and hand over Maddie's Winnie the Pooh sweatshirt to a happy Jada. I told her that this was from my daughter who was her age for her, all the way from California. Jada smiled and then quietly said, please tell her thank you, ma'am.

Carlos and Fernando. Both there. The Brascias donated boxes of gold aka new shirts. Their box was there, it got loaded on this RAVEN team run. I hand delivered them to my new friends. They rejoiced. They praised God and I found myself praying in Spanish for nearly 10 minutes. I don't speak that good of Spanish. God was there. We all weeped. The clothes were the best clothes they probably ever had. The visors from Sonoma County, button downs, polo shirts. God provided in Kenner, LA.

Oh, there is so much more to this story. The RAVEN team in action is like seeing all your hopes to witness Christ's work become reality. They prayed with young people that they would rise up and become mighty women and men of God. That the enemy would be rebuked in their lives, that they would lead the future generations with love, strength and the hope that only Jesus offers. And they don't pray quietly. And they aren't one bit shy about letting everyone know that God loves them right now, today, in Kenner, Louisiana.

We had church in the dark on a devastated street in Kenner. There were probably 30 of us in a circle, joined together by miles and hands and the Holy Spirit. Pastor Troy asked if he could get an Alleluia. We shouted. People were on their balconies. People cheered. Troy Praised God for the revival that was happening on the streets. He thanked God for the precious people and for lives being changed. He pleaded God to comfort those in need. He prayed with authority. He prayed with certainty. He prayed with command presence. And everyone said, AMEN.

I'd like to stop the testimony there, because the evacuation came next. Miracles happened. God revealed so much to me through the evacuation and the long haul home. I'm not even ready to write it but you could certainly come hear it. I'm still longing to hold onto that night, in Kenner and what God did there. Not quite ready to let that go. I'll be back to this story. Stay tuned.