Updated 08/08/2008 08:31 AM
New Orleans residents come for spiritual rebuilding
BATH, N.Y.-- Some people from New Orleans say they've never seen any place like Bath, New York. Except in pictures.
"In the Bible they show where Adam and Eve came from, and showed the garden and where the garden was at. And this really reminds me of that," said Judy Jones.
Jones is reminded of the Garden of Eden by the landscape and the serenity at the PeaceWeaver retreat.
"I think it's wonderful," said Andrew Lee Pate.
"It's good for people who want to come out, get fresh air," said Melanie Pichon.
"It's beautiful, it really is. I'm enjoying it, me and my family," Jones said.
Jones' family and a few dozen other members of St. John's Number Five Church in the Seventh Ward are spending the week cooking, playing, praying and connecting with the PeaceWeavers.
To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.
Then come back here and refresh the page.
"Our city is not helping the little people. And that is what Bath gives to us, to help us beyond what our city can give us," said Pastor Bruce Davenport.
The PeaceWeavers decided to host the people of New Orleans after they went to the city and realized they had an opportunity to provide a unique kind of help.
"I don't know how many people have taken them out of that and given them love and a safe place to be," said Al DeCamp, a member of PeaceWeavers.
"Almost anyone can help rebuild the buildings. But we have 250 acres and a retreat center. We have an opportunity to help them rebuild their spirits," said another PeaceWeavers member Beth Miller.
St. John's Church pastor said the retreat helps give him and his parishioners the strength to wait for assistance he said hasn't come and isn't going to come for years.
"You get tired of hearing all the 'I'm going to get to you later.' So coming here helped the morale and helped our spirit," Davenport said.
"You can get your mind back together and you can feel free. You feel free up here," Jones said.
This is the second year the PeaceWeavers have hosted the members of St. John's Number Five Church, along with an Ithaca-based group, Love Knows No Bounds. Ithaca is a sister city to New Orleans' Seventh Ward.