Weekly Report for Cameron

Through the 1950’s and 1960’s Charlie and Ira Louvin recorded some great country music before Ira’s death in 1965. Their harmony was applied to a large number of gospel songs. Among those is “Just Rehearsing”, which exclaims that we are just rehearsing for “that day we’ll sing together as we gather ‘round God’s throne.” A recent project by 81 year old Charlie Louvin, Steps to Heaven, includes a great rendition of this wonderful song.

Last week, we experienced several nights of “just rehearsing” as two groups of short-term volunteers converged in Cameron Parish. One was from Michigan and one was from Canadian Mennonite University in Winnipeg. Some of the volunteers were young and some could be considered older, but differences soon vanished as the crews were formed for the three houses. It was discovered that the groups included several people who loved to sing and an impromptu choir was formed on Tuesday evening. Sheets of music were produced and soon the rehearsing began. It sounded pretty polished after only a couple of times through. During our Wednesday night singing, scripture and sharing time, we were treated to another “rehearsal”, along with the impromptu and spirited singing that goes along with our bluegrass flavored gospel music.

The culmination of the arduous rehearsals came on Thursday night. A local family invited the entire contingent of 29 people to feast on Shrimp Stew, Cajun sausage, boudin and other fixin’s. As a way of saying thank you, the Cameron MDS Choir performed their entire selection of three songs. The fine harmonies of the music and the wonderful flavors of the stew provided a perfect balance to the evening. The voices were as beautiful as you could imagine, and the wonderful acoustics of the family home were a huge improvement over the tinny sound of our cramped MDS dining trailer. Listeners smiled at the songs, but the singers were also pleased. It was not something they planned, but God provided the opportunity, and they were blessed to be able to lend their voices to create a sound much larger than just the sum of the parts.

Several times during the week, people were pleased to be able to lend a hand in the work being done on our three houses. People who had never “mudded” a house before exhibited some patience and followed some basic instructions. After a bit of practice, they were able to contribute to the completion of the house for Mr. Bob and Ms. Brenda. By the end of the week, walls were primed and final coats of interior paint were underway. At the other houses, other new tasks were taken up by the volunteers. Insulation was placed in walls and ceilings, drywall was hung, electrical and plumbing rough-in were completed, inspections were passed, earth was moved, and holes were drilled in concrete.

If you visited one of the jobs, you would need to look carefully to distinguish those who were old hands and those who were novices. All were practicing the skills that are needed to build a home. All was done in preparation for the day of completion of the houses. As project director, I was glad to see all the work accomplished. The workers were also smiling, blessed to have lent their hands and energy to something much larger than just the specific task they were doing. There was a great harmony in the effort and results.

As we progressed through the week, we realized that we were all “just rehearsing” in other ways. Voices lifted up in prayer and in conversation, hands busy in eating and joined in handshakes and hugs. Twenty-nine people came together for this week in Cameron and the atmosphere we experienced must be something like a “down payment” on the joyful gathering of throngs of believers around God’s throne. We all enjoyed rehearsing to be God’s people gathered ‘round His throne.

From Cameron Parish,
Don, Polly, Bob, Evie, Dennis, Cindy, Melford, Verla, Martha, Laura, Carl