one ground, hit running

That whole "hit the ground running" thing is more than a figure of speech. Okay, I didn't actually run -- I have rules about that! -- but I did manage to cover quite a bit of territory.
Arrived at the church late this morning ... arrived at my room about 8 tonight. I don't anticipate every day being that long ... but I can't anticipate any of them being easy, either.

The condensed version. Okay, more or less condensed (hey, occupational hazard):

the church staff, including:
... Nicky, the most delightful 'first face you see' volunteer. ever.
... Joyce, assistant to the senior minister, who was as helpful and forthcoming as you can imagine, even given what she called (twice) 'the worst day we've had'
... Barbara, associate. hilarious. energetic. total Texas girl. (and sister of country singer Neal McCoy, for those familiar)
... Jeff, senior minister, holding down the church and the shelter, all around incredibly talented -- and charming -- fella.

orientation, by wandering:
... a basketball court full of cots
... a raquetball court filled with clothes
... a dining hall with individually wrapped and served portions, doubling as a homework center
… a computer bank for homework, games, news, communication, business, FEMA applications, finding family
… Texas State National Guard serving as sentries … more or less
… a mass of volunteers all dying to help, only marginally coordinated in doing so


humanity, by observation:
... children being picked and dropped off from school, right in the parking lot of this temporary ‘home’
… Julianna, 30 (if that), here from day one, mother to a couple of her own, spokeswoman for her extended family, and queen bee of the shelter
… Jackie, retired, who not only knows every stitch of clothing in the donation closet, but helps with homework and knows where everything’s stored
... a couple, married on Saturday (and what a honeymoon!), brand-new-wife found a brand new job today
… men talking shelter gossip in the shade; women rocking babies often not their own; children playing basketball, ignoring cots, duffel bags, and often the frowns of the people trying to sleep!

There is incredible work going on here … and it’s just a microcosm of what’s happening around the country. It makes me laugh, and it’s already made me cry, and cringe, and rail at ‘the system’. But there’s this beam of hope that shines through … knowing that no, this isn’t ideal, but it also isn’t permanent. There is housing, there are jobs, there will be a better day ahead.

And in the meantime, there’s the Christian Life Center at First Christian Church in Tyler. Thanks be to God.