DAY 2; Oct 4

We survived!!! First day on the job!  We began some hard but fulfilling work for John and Minnie of 1540 Clouet St bringing them one day closer to being home.

The veteran Mission Trippers were excited to hear this morning our worksite managers are good friends, Kate and Christina who've they worked with in the past! It was a quick hello and roundabout of introductions for all leadership and Americorps volunteers.  Arriving at the home of John and Minnie, we noticed the neighborhood slowly recovering.  Though the direct neighbors have not returned, further down the street people are thriving.

Our site on Clouet St is unique in that Minnie and John have saved their money for rebuilding their home and have waited for the help of a group like Project Homecoming. Walking into the home, we noticed new walls and paint then large holes in two places of the ceiling. Some time in the past few weeks as rebuilding has begun in earnest, the home was broken into and the scavengers ripped copper piping out of the walls and ceilings. It is disheartening for a family like Minnie and John to see their home trashed again but my human action. We hope that our continual work this week and the groups to come will bring back the hope and spirit of these people to truly come home.

We removed some items they had saved from the flood in the attic for the insurance companies to record how the vandals entered then begun our true 'work.' Paul and Jimmie, with Kate's leadership framed the door for the bathroom Using Jimmie's expertise, the floor was leveled.

While our worksite manager Christina trained Sheri and Sandy to use a wet saw and to cut tiles. And the other team members prepared the floors for tile by removing carpet glue and paint spills.

Our main work for the week and our skills will be used in tiling the entire home, starting in the bedrooms.  But lunch also needed to be taken and time was taken to catch up with Kate and Christina since we had last saw them.

A take-home memory was shared with us from Christina as she relayed how her one year of volunteering has become the 'seeping of the spirit of New Orleans into her bones.' She is home and feels she is where she has always meant to be. She will never leave and is honored to be part of creating 'home' again for others.

 Christina was an excellent teacher for the team in how to properly lay tiles. She then allowed us to try our hands at laying tile ourselves. We hope as the week continues we will become more skilled and confident in putting tile down.

Sandy and Sarah began their first attempt of properly thinset the floor and properly line-up tiles. Joyce Walton showed true skill in creating a perfect grout line at first attempt. As our afternoon was filled with attempts at perfection, we all recognized this is a skill that takes time and patience to learn.

And no day is complete without a joke or two from Paul!

Our evening ended with a delicious dinner and small devotion with camp director Dan. He brought the story of Ezekiel and the dry bones to the Spirit and returning of the people of Israel to the people of New Orleans. We heard of another team's site of a manager from JcPenny and her scamming from a contractor. As well as her unbelievable bill from the city's water company when a leak under her home racked up that left her struggling and still without water.

We are reminded from Ezekiel the true power of God for the people of the Old Testament and still for us today. The power to turn a heart of stone to flesh. We are empowered and enlisted by the Spirit of the Lord to prophesy, "come to life."  And may it continue to be so. Amen

-Sarah,