by Deacon Suzie Johnston
Grace Church of West Feliciana is situated among ancient live oaks where deer are oft seen, grazing the margins of the church cemetery in St. Francisville. Her members come from all walks of life, but the majority of them are well acquainted with hunting, fishing, and walking the trails in their parish that lead to the woods and waterways. It is a way of life that has continued for generations.
Reaching out to others to offer hospitality is second nature to the folks from “The Ville”, but recently they reached a bit beyond their comfort zone. The Mission and Outreach Committee of Grace decided they wanted to partner with Anna’s Arts for Kids, a program developed in 2010 to enrich the lives of at-risk children in the Greater New Orleans region. With after-school and summer programs, Anna’s Arts for Kids (AAK) strives to improve the lives of inner-city children by emphasizing academic enrichment, exposure to the arts, and involvement in community service projects.
The country folks wondered what they could do for the children of Treme’ which they would find fun and interesting. “A Day in the Country” was what they settled on, and that decision set their imagination afire. The Solomon Episcopal Conference Center was contacted and a date was chosen so the children could run, hike, fish and swim all day long.
A local sheriff’s deputy, who is a faithful Grace member, arrived a day early to gather the picnic foods, set up his grill, and ice down the watermelons. Two teachers from the local school system met with the associate priest the week before to plan a nature scavenger hunt, hoping the children would catch sight of the indigenous water fowl and plentiful toads and turtles that live in the lake. A bouncy house was rented and delivered (in case it turned out to be a rainy day). Grace members brought food, sun screen, and their endless enthusiasm so the children could drive directly from the city and jump right into the fun.
As the day progressed, we were delighted to learn that each child in attendance played a musical instrument and sang in a choir. All of them were extremely polite. They asked if we were going to recycle the empty water bottles that graced every surface. The older ones calmly helped the younger ones when scary bugs appeared on the ground. They were patient and attentive to us old folks from the country. They asked numerous questions about the surrounding wildlife. In a word, they were delightful.
Was it a success? Did the children have fun?
If an average picture is worth a thousand words, the picture of this young man displaying his first-caught fish is worth a thousand emotions! His joy, pride, and awe are evident in that wide, engaging smile. He told his fishing coach from Grace, “This is one of the best days of my life!” Hopefully, he will save a few more “best days” to share with the folks from Grace on their future days together.