Reflections on New Orleans

Reflections and photos of New Orleans by Derrick Kikuchi. He and other members of First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto participated in rebuilding efforts sponsored by RHINO (Rebuilding Hope in New Orleans) and Habitat for Humanities. Plus a National Radio Project MicahCast!

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Pick me! Pick me!
The game is fun
Unknown deciders
Look down with hidden faces
Shall they reward our pleas
With golden painted coconuts?
If not... Oh well.

And if the unknown deciders are FEMA
And I am begging for my life?
Oh well.




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"Can we take pictures of your home?"
We politely asked.
"Sure", said Daynell,
"But best before we start."

Now I understand why...

So the walls were caked with mold

And the back room had no roof

And you could step through the floor in spots

Nevertheless, our proud and hospitable hosts

Had cleaned house before we arrived!




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Daynell

What does she do?
You'll never guess.
A woman whose home
Was destroyed by a breech
In a neglected man-made levee,
Is a geologist!




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"Seek refuge in God"
Says the Psalmist
Makes all of us refugees.
From what do we flee?
To what do we return?
Even my home is no longer my home,
After a hurricane rips through my life.



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Colored boxes on the water
Much like mine in Daly City
All abandoned, empty shells now
And they're all in a row

You can view more pictures of a New Orleans mission trip from First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto in February, 2007.