We were not here by accident.

January 8, 2011 by MarkH.

In the beginning, G-d created the Heavens and the Earth,  He created the plants and animals, and then He created humans.  In these humans He instilled special characteristics that set them apart from all of His other creations.  He called it all good.  But the world was unable to remain in that state of initial created perfection, and man fell from Grace, bringing with him the hurt and confusion that seems to so rampantly inhabit the world today.  It is to this separation from G-d that we must respond with either a hardened heart or one of broken contrition.

The world is a place in which the most exciting of dreams is attainable, but also the most heinous of nightmares can plague us.  Throughout this week, we have come to find that Hurricane Katrina happened to be both.

As a member of this week’s YOAM trip said,  “I firmly believe that all things happen for a reason.”  Yes, this hurricane and the losses it brought was a travesty.  But without it, families like YOAM would not exist.

We have learned to see the people around us as our brothers and sisters through Christ.

We have learned to laugh in spite of disaster.

We have learned to work and work hard.

We have learned to be broken.

We have learned to love.

YOAM is a special organization and has inadvertently changed the lives of its participants in its quest to sort through the chaos of Hurricane Katrina.  That was never the intention, but it seems that the will of G-d cannot be stopped even by our human stubbornness.  So we would like to invite you to join us as we continue to pray for New Orleans and all the victims of this disaster, as we once again return to our homes and reality.  Pray that we will not forget and that our hearts will remain sensitive to the movings of the Spirit around us.

Love,

Crew C

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