Andrew Genszler Director for Domestic Policy ELCA Washington Office

I am sitting in my office on a rainy day, looking at the street leading to the Capitol building, knowing that in Mississippi, New Orleans, Slidell, and Lake Charles, there are homeless, jobless, family-less, clothes-less people who are struggling to live daily along our Southern shore.

Yet the people there are not without hope.

Everywhere I went, I saw hope - on faces, in trailers, in tents, in community meetings, in Lutheran congregations. Hope, as palpable energy, hope, as a currency - hope, as in, "faith, hope, and love."

Not only hope because of the incredible influx of volunteers from every corner of the nation, but hope in what is not seen, hope in what is to come, hope in what we can still do together to turn the corner on community renewal.

A few numbers-
50 percent - the amount of housing destroyed by the hurricanes in Cameron Parish/Sabine River, La.
25 percent - the amount of doctors left in New Orleans, compared to the number living there before Hurricane Katrina
15 percent- the amount of psychiatrists left in New Orleans, compared to the number living there before Hurricane Katrina
5 out of 6- the number of New Orleans households without a car before Hurricane Katrina
250,000- the number of evacuees living in Baton Rouge (pre-Hurricane Katrina population: 400,000)
80,000 - the number of projected housing units needed along the Mississippi coast
8 - the number of months left for people living in FEMA trailers
0 - the number of months left before the New Orleans bus line begins charging again

The number of aid applications submitted by victims of Hurricane Rita is more than those submitted by victims of the four most recent, devastating Florida hurricanes combined.

The number of aid applications submitted by victims of Hurricane Katrina is 11 times that of those submitted by victims of Hurricane Rita.

Open your Bible and read again about how God repeatedly chooses a special place to live, among the poor and oppressed. Open it and read the challenge to us, as to the prophets, to speak to those in power on behalf of those who are not heard. As Christians, we cannot stand to ignore the cries of people who have nothing. As Christians, we cannot remain silent when our voices could mean a world of difference to those in need.

RENEWAL
I looked again at the title of this blog - "Rebuild to Renewal." Rebuilding is happening in some places along the Gulf Coast - here and there, mostly by people who can afford it and by homeowners with the help of volunteers. It's a great start, but rebuilding is not yet renewal. Renewal is holistic - it is spiritual and material - it is realistic and hopeful. It is palpably present and expectantly on the horizon. Renewal is the work of those who believe in final promise of God: “See, I am making all things new…”

Renewal looks like a working transportation system, new affordable housing units, viable health care expanded beyond overworked emergency rooms. Renewal looks like a meaningful nutrition program and functioning public schools. Renewal pays special attention to concentrated areas of people living in poverty, and focuses policies on helping those who need it the most.

Renewal means being realistic about the sheer scale of various rebuilding efforts and welcoming government assistance - holding it accountable, responsible and effective. And from what I've seen, we're not there yet.

But for renewal to happen, Christian advocates like YOU are needed to help shape better policies.

A few more numbers -
1 - the margin of Senate votes passing the budget last year, gutting low-income programs
1 - the number of other Lutherans YOU can tell about e-Advocacy to double our network
3 - the number of minutes, on average, it takes to call your Representative

You agree? I was glad to hear from so many who enjoyed reading about my adventure - but don't forget, it was an adventure with a greater purpose. If you feel moved as a Christian by the writings in this blog, speak up now for those who are not heard. Help our government create effective, efficient, and compassionate policies by signing up for the e-Advocacy Network now. Your voice can make all the difference!

By signing up for the network, you'll receive timely updates on the issues, and you can be confident knowing you are being asked to call or e-mail your elected officials only at the moments when your voice can make the most difference.

A new Gulf Coast will not be a new Jerusalem. That is God’s work. But a renewed Gulf Coast can be a witness that God’s work is being done through us.

Thanks for going on this Gulf Coast highway journey with me and for your many notes of encouragement. We need to hear from you - and so do your elected officials.

Thanks to Annie Lynsen and Michael Ring for making sure the blog entries and photos made it online; thanks to the ELCA Washington Office staff and to my hosts for making this trip possible, hospitable, and inexpensive! My hosts included Jessica Vermilyea, Elizabeth Roebke, Brendan McAdams, Sandra Braasch, John McRae, Bernard and Betty Scrogin, the Bauer Family, Kathy Haueisen, and Robin and John McCullough-Bade (and anyone else I probably left out). Blessings on the way.

Lord, make us hungry...for justice.

Sincerely,

Drew Genszler