|
New Orleans couple finds new life in WNC
By Derek Hodges
There’s an old saying that goes, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade,” and that’s just what Mark and Cristy Rogers have done.
Just a few months ago the couple wasn’t worried about lemons; they were more concerned with their grades. Mark was working toward his master’s degree in ministry at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and Cristy was working on a master’s degree at the University of New Orleans.
Then their lives, like those of many others in the Gulf Coast region, were turned upside down by Hurricane Katrina.
Even as the Category 5 storm was making a beeline for the city, most residents weren’t really worried, Mark said.
“There’s kind of a mentality among people who live in New Orleans that hurricanes won’t hit the city,” Mark said. “Several storms have looked like they were going to hit, but they veered off at the last minute. We were there for Ivan, which missed New Orleans, and we stayed through Cindy, but when we saw Katrina we thought we should probably leave.”
Planning on no more than a few days’ stay, the couple packed some bags with the intention of heading to a hotel room in Texas. When Mark, a native of the Whittier area, told his parents he and Cristy were escaping west, they insisted the couple come to Western North Carolina.
“My mom called to offer us a place to stay,” Mark said. “She said, ‘The worst thing that happens is you’ll be here for a week, and you’ll save money by not having to stay in a hotel.’”
The couple headed out of town on Interstate 10, parts of which ended up in Lake Pontchartrain.
“We were some of the last people to get out of the city on that road. After that everybody had to go west through Louisiana and Texas,” Mark said.
Mark and Cristy’s hopes for a speedy return were dashed as they listened to reports that the powerful hurricane was destroying the city they had just left.
“We sort of got to watch this thing unfold. It was a very unique feeling to see this happening,” Mark said.
Shortly after the storm passed, the Rogers received word classes at both their schools had been cancelled for the remainder of the year. After that disappointing news, Mark and Cristy decided to stay in the mountains and make the best of the situation. Mark got a job at his father’s appliance business, and Cristy was hired to teach special education classes at Swain County’s West Elementary School.
Cristy finished her classes at the University of New Orleans online and graduated in December. Unfortunately for Mark, the seminary wasn’t prepared to offer its students the same opportunity. He enrolled in a correspondence program through Bethany Bible College to finish his degree.
Shortly after residents of New Orleans were allowed to return to the city, Mark and his father took a truck to the couple’s apartment to salvage what they could. While they found most of their building – which is located in the uptown section of the city about a football field’s length from the Mississippi River – untouched, water had entered the lower levels. Mold and mildew grew during the weeks following the flooding.
“We lost about half our stuff. We threw away a lot of things that can be replaced,” Mark said.
Despite the losses, the couple isn’t hurting for what they need.
“We have had a great outpouring of love and support from the folks here,” Mark said.
Two of the people who have offered that support are Scotts Creek Baptist Church’s pastor, the Rev. Rich Peoples, and his wife, Renee, who teaches with Cristy at West Elementary. When Cristy mentioned that her husband was looking for a job in the ministry, Renee Peoples told her Scotts Creek needed a youth minister and suggested Mark apply.
“It didn’t take me long to realize that God had brought Mark and Cristy to our area for a reason,” Renee Peoples said. “With his qualifications and experience, I knew God had sent them to our church.”
Mark applied and was hired. He was officially welcomed to his new post by the congregation on Jan. 15. From the sound of it, church members and leadership are pleased to have Mark and Cristy join in their ministry.
“I am excited to see how God has been at work to bring Mark and Cristy to us, and I’m looking forward to seeing how the Lord will bless Mark’s ministry here. I’m delighted they have found a home at Scotts Creek Baptist Church,” Rich Peoples said.
For their part, Mark and Cristy said they love their new home.
“It’s great to be around people you know and love. We’re glad to be back. Everyone here has been great, and we’ve just had a tremendous outpouring of love from all our friends and family here,” Mark said.
They plan on sticking around the high ground for a long time to come, he said.
|
