Bravo New Orleans!

One of the design's in Brad Pitt's "Make It Right" housing development

The tour today was a real highlight of my week spent here in N.O. It is very difficult to imagine just how horribly Katrina impacted this city BUT a 2 hour tour made it very, very real. The fact that 3 plus years have gone by and there is still such desolation is so hard to believe. The people who have remained to rebuild are to be admired for their faith and hope.I'm heartened by the church groups and individuals who are still committed to this cause. It was fun to see Brad Pitt's houses and the colorful Musicians Row. It is a privilege to help in any small way in this recovery effort. Bravo New Orleans--

Joan Desautelle

Tour of New Orleans

Having seen new Orleans 1 year after Katrina, 2 years after Katrina and now 3 and half years later, one can get very discouraged seeing the number of neighborhoods where so little has been done. It will take years to re-build and how much money is left and people to help? Seeing the habitat homes at the end of the day only re-enforced how volunteers can make a difference. Working on a house this week and realizing there is so much more to do just on one house, and yet we know another group will arrive next week to pick up where we leave off just like we did on Monday.

Anne

Wednesday, Day 3

Words of hope

We are mid week in our projects and today we only work till noon. When we here this on Tuesday I think, "I'm no Sally, what is this working only half day". This organization we are working with, United Church of Christ, knows what they are doing, at noon today we are all glad to have the afternoon break. Our backs, shoulders and knees are all sore and the prospect of a full day tomorrow gives us pause. Sara, from UCC, took us on a tour of New Orleans post Katrina. Our first stop was Lakeview where the first breech of the levy took place. The neighborhood is 3 feet below sea level, the water flooded 18ft above ground level in minutes. We saw the new flood gates and rebuilt levy. Next we drove to the lower 9th Ward; over 3000 homes we destroyed here, 1000 lives ended. Driving down the streets we felt like we driving thru a cemetery, we felt the death of a community. Lastly we drove thru rebuilt homes with bright colors and neighborhoods filled with people of all generations. I can see how the devastation is overwhelming, where do you start? How can you possibly make a difference? After being here I believe the only way to help is to get involved, one house, one project at a time. I want to share a quote with you, written on a 2X4 in a shell of a church by a volunteer: Love thy neighbor, no matter who, no matter where.

-Mary

Day 2

Today I learned to lay tile and appreciate knee pads. Everything takes longer that you expect but I think I have the hang of it. We prepared 3 rooms for tile, painted doors, tomorrow we mix the cement and place the tiles and finish the interior trim painting. After showers we met in Fellowship Hall, some of us danced in the church to a wonderful band followed by dinnner and competitive Taboo. We are so glad we are here, we have accomplished so much and we strive for so much more.

-Mary

Rebuilding Homes - Rebuilding Hope

South Central Conference Disaster Ministry progress since Katrina:

Houses cleaned out - 847

Rebuild projects completed - 27

Volunteers - 3920

Groups - 343

Total hours worked - 98000

$value of labor added - $1,862,000

HOPE to a family - PRICELESS

Thank you for letting us be here

Today was a tiring day - holy cow! We are becoming experts in sheetrock measuring and cutting. Chris and Steve are amazing! They keep going when dummies like me are running out of steam. We are progressing very quickly considering we are doing ceilings - yes ceilings - Lord have mercy - I was almost too tired to shower - almost. What a feeling as we move from back to front of house. Something great is happening as the team gels and we work without need to talk - just knowing what needs to be done. Elaine is Sooo smart as we move along and I miss the stuff she catches. Does the Lord work with Dummies - you betcha' - when that's the best available. Thank you for letting us be here and wear ourselves out for someone else! I am most grateful for all this learning and hard work and joy!Kathy

Patience Day - Day 1

Mondays are always called Patience Day for each work week. There is an orientation meeting for all the volunteers who may be staying at any one of 3 churches in the area. Several of us met with the Construction Coordinator as “crew leaders” to get the details on the projects they would like us to do. Sheet rocking ceilings and walls, tiling four rooms with tiles that are each 2’ by 2’ and many many doors that need to be painted and third house that needs much caulking, painting and a large amount of carpentry hanging doors, finishing baseboard and more. We know that none of us will be able to complete any of the projects, but that has not prevented each group from setting some personal goals, lofty as they may be. My group had an extra test in patience because we couldn’t get into the house to start work until 1:00 pm which is another story, but after all it was patience day. The day ended with a delicious pot luck supper of home cooked food prepared by the women of the Little Farms church where we are staying. They have provided a meal every week for the volunteers since Katrina three and half years ago.

Anne