Mama Byrd

We visited my parents in New Orleans this week for the first time since they moved last January. The live on the campus of NOBTS, and we enjoyed swimming in the pool, playing in the three campus parks and hanging out at the rec center. All of the activities almost made up for the fact that we ate fried shrimp nearly every day.

In addition to working at the seminary, my dad is an interim pastor at a little church in Boutte (pronounced boo-tee). Boutte is in the middle of Cajun country– emphasis on both Cajun and country. Until about 20 years ago, there was no road into the community. You had to take a ferry to cross the river (and swamp) from the city. The church had a pot-luck dinner and pounding for the new youth pastor on Sunday. I can honestly say it was the first time I ever had crawfish pie at a church pot-luck.

Since I now attend a church with a relatively modern style of worship, I have become a little unaccustomed to a more old-fashioned worship style. I enjoyed singing the hymns, but the special music caught me off-guard a little bit. A men’s ensemble of six people sang “Beulah Land,” while a younger woman interpreted sign language to the song. Several (read at least 3) people in the audience cried. It was oddly touching. One of the men said it was an encore performance, back by popular demand.

Phillip felt right at home in Boutte. His day care teacher, Ms. Janie, is from New Orleans, so he speaks Cajun. When the nursery worker at church told him “Good Mawnin’,” he immediately held out his arms and said “Hi!” He knew he would be well-cared for when he heard that accent.

Filed under: Uncategorized on July 18th, 2007