APRIL 22, 2006

Today we slept in a bit then rushed to get our clothes on, eat chocolate chip cookies and diet pepsi for breakfast and head out to Ms. Baine's it felt like being at home except I wasn't wearing make-up or carrying my cell phone or my sidekick.

We spent the morning finishing up our painting and carpentry then we sat down to our last lunch at the worksite. White bread slices, no butter, fresh tomatoes, chicken hotdogs, sweet bread with raisins and mangoes... of course.

We took thousands of pictures, exchanged addresses and took off in Kurleans bus to the city to wear our flip flops and clean shirts and buy gifts in the open air market. When we finished buying our saffron, curry, and fresh cocoa balls, we headed up the typical Grenadian street at a 90 degree angle towards the catholic church. The church of the immaculate conception.

All the hubub of the streets and market and cruise ship muffled away when sleepy Father Mark awoke from his nap to peel away the galvenized sheets and let us into the devastation. The blue sky was visible above as Father Mark told the horror of Ivan and how he ruined his parish. After long stories, touching grafiti and many guilty pictures we headed down the street to find the Methodist church. On our way we found the Anglican shell and the Presbyterian tower and wall.

The Angelican priest was praying in the corner of his rubble when we entered and I realized that when there is no insurance or other space all you have to worship in is rubble. I took a photo of the blown out stain glass that revealed the still gorgeous view and the cruise ship. At first the sight of the ship angered me and then I heard the priest admitt that it is tourism that nwo sustains the island and I began to love that tacky boat. Kurlean finally showed us the Methodist church as we drove to dinner, we had been walking in the wrong direction.

Dear Lord,

It is hard to see your face when we are standing on tables and bailing water out of our churches and homes but you are there in the new life weeds that grow through the concrete rubble. Help us Lord. Help us help. Help us pray. Help us thank you, praise you. Help us see you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Amen.