And so we reach the end

As I sit and write this entry, much of the team is cleaning our lodging space in the church and preparing for our departure (I guess there are advantages to writing the last night's blog). We are tired, but happy at knowing we have made a least a small difference in a few lives in this devastated part of the country.

For those of us who usually sit at a desk all day, there is a great sense of satisfaction at seeing tangible results of our work, be it hanging drywall, cabinets, doors or ceiling fans, painting, wiring, carpentry and much more. It's amazing what can be accomplished with limited ability, but a willingness to try (then again, we are Christ's hands in action, and he was a carpenter). But the greatest rewards are the smiles and thanks from our owners, and the looks on the faces of the children who see their home coming back to life.

Unfortunately, there is also a great sense of frustration at knowing there is more we wanted to do, and so much more that needs to be done - not just in the homes of Sharonda and Jake, but all across the Gulf Coast.

It is unbelievable that nearly two years after the hurricane so much work remains. In New Orleans, block after block after block consist of homes in various stages of rehab or still waiting to be destroyed. Throughout the city countless families are still living in Katrina trailers, many in yards that would have seemed hardly big enough to hold the trailer before the storm.

In contrast, the area around Pass Christian seems defined by what is not here. As opposed to last summer when MMUMC sent a team here, there very little debris. The area has been cleaned up very well. But in driving around, one becomes aware of something else that is missing. There are entire blocks where each lot still has a foundation, but the houses aren't there any more. It is not unusual to see front steps leading to a home that is no longer there.

Lindsey received a stark reminder of how Katrina remains in many ways the defining characteristic of the lives of those who live here - especially the children. As she was painting in Sharonda's house with Quentin and Xavier, they were talking about her home in Washington, DC. The boys wanted to know if the area was pretty, and if it was destroyed, too.

So we may leave Mississippi, but Mississippi will never leave us. As we return to our homes and day to day lives, Sharonda, Jake and all those down here who are still struggling to put there lives back together will long stay in our hearts and prayers.

Richie and Tracker, Big Jake and Little Jake

Sharonda, Xavier and Quentin under the watchful eye of Craig

Eliza was a constant source of cheer for all the team

Craig, Clark and Mike from New Jersey trimming a door

Jennifer was so intent on her work we couldn't get her attention for a picture

Bruce and Jeremy putting the finishing touches on cement board drywall at Jake's.

Austin displays his new skill

"Mr. Fanman, build me a fan . . ."

Lee enjoys the opportunity to work instead of training his many apprentices

Clark supervises his subcontractor, Quentin

Lindsey and Xavier apply a coat of paint

Back in the Saddle Again

We returned to work today reinvigorated by our trip to New Orleans. Jeremy, Bruce, and Jennifer were joined by Lindsey at Jake's house. There they continued installing the cement board that will help make his house better able to withstand the next hurricane. When the next one comes, as Jake is sure it will, he hopes to power wash the mud and debris out and move back in. The cement board installation requires painstaking measurements, like those pictured below.




It also requires teamwork to cut the cement board with diamond blade saws. Here Jennifer and Jeremy team up to trim a little off of a tight fitting board.




Teamwork was also required for making cuts on the table saw. Here Howie from the New Jersey team, and Bruce and Lindsey demontrate their cutting technique.

At Sharonda's house, Lee, Craig, Clark, Eliza, and Austin were greeted by a large pile of electical and plumbing fixtures and carpet from Jocelyn's trip to Lowe's on Wednesday. So, while we were eating, drinking, and being merry, she was shopping!




So, we spent the day finishing the baseboard and door installations, installing electical and plumbing fixtures, and begining to paint. Here Austin demonstrates the proper technique for installing outlets -- if you have a sprained ankle.






Here Clark prepares a vanity before mounting the sink.


Rejuvenated by the trip to New Orleans, Eliza was so intent on her painting she wouldn't even stop a second to get her picture taken.



Tomorrow will be our last day and we are planning a big push at Sharonda's house to get as much done as possible. If things go well, she and her family should be back into her house in early August -- nearly two years after the storm.

Our Day in New Oeleans

Today was a scheduled day off so we piled in the vans and headed to "The Big Easy", New Orleans! Our first stop was in the lower 9th Ward to see first hand the devastation these families have been living with for nearly two years. Words are inadequate to describe the level of destruction that this part of the city has suffered. Some homes are in different stages of rebuilding but far too many are abandoned with an unknown fate.

We walked up to the levee at the Industrial Canal at the Holy Cross section of the Lower 9th Ward and could only imagine that area during the storm and its immediate aftermath. Next, we drove to Lake Pontchartrain and saw some beautiful homes on Lakeshore Drive. These homes were also in various stages of rebuilding but were generally far ahead of most of the other areas we visited.

We were all ready for lunch and headed downtown and had a great lunch at Mother's, a very cool and well known local restaurant. After lunch, we all split up and set off to see downtown New Orleans - Canal Street, the French Quarter, the Voo Doo House and so many other little stops and shops that give this city such a great culture. The French Quarter seemed to sustain minimal damage and to still have the tourism dollars coming in is a blessing for the whole city.

At 6 o'clock, we all met at Jackson Square and heard a great street band before we set out for dinner. We went to Acme Oyster House, a very popular spot in the French Quarter. "Oysters stewed, oysters fried, oysters on the half shell that never died..." They were delicious and we almost all tried some. After a wonderful dinner, we had to start thinking about starting for home, Pass Christian, MS. It was a quick trip back, with Jeremy and Lee doing a great job behind the wheel, as they have done the whole trip. God has blessed us with another safe day (and Coast 102, the Greatest Songs Of All Time) and we are looking forward to our last two days of work. (Don't forget to ask Austin about the oyster shooters.)

As we started our day with a relaxed breakfast, we split into two teams to serve others in the day ahead. Lee, Craig, Clark, Lindsey, and Jennifer headed back to the house where rebuilding had occurred on Monday. The work continued today as baseboards were measured, cut, and laid. Doors were installed, a bathroom vanity was put in, electrical work began, and a floor was scraped. A day of progress as we look forward to meeting new challenges when the group returns on Thursday. Photos below are of this project.

Jeremy, Eliza, Bruce, and Austin joined another volunteer team from New Jersey and worked on a house which had been flooded over the roof line during the hurricane, but some structure remained. The homeowner is taking an approach of making a "hurricane recoverable" house. The outside of the house is anchored with a 2 foot thick exterior cement slab, and wooden joists and hurricane metal straps run throughout. The homeowner uses foam insulation and cement wall--in place of regular dry wall. This is where our team came into play. The group installed cement wall--a very heavy undertaking. Challenges included cutting the cement board with a diamond blade table saw--lots of sparks and precision. Overall, the project went very well and they look forward to returning on Thursday. Photos below are of this project.

After a day of service, everyone returned back to First United Methodist and enjoyed a great hamburgers, corn on the cob, salad, lemonade, and s'mores. We look forward to a trip to New Orleans tomorrow.

First Day of Work

Today the groups woke bright and early to a Mississippi sunrise and then traveled out to our job sites. Groups spent time working on installing dry wall, hanging cabinets, sinking screws, and hauling debris. The homeowner at the site where the cabinets were installed was in awe of the progress that was made today. She reveled in the fact that her kitchen now "looks like a kitchen". All were very appreciative for the work that was done today.