Day 4; Oct 6th

Everyone slept-in a little later this morning, as we recognized how hard we worked yesterday. We began our work at the site, recognizing what needed to be done and worked even harder today!

Today's pictures are volunteered from Colette and Joyce, so i hope you enjoy :)

 The work team and truck arrived on time to begin our work this morning. As you see in the background, our home faces a very busy St. Claribourne St bridge that goes over a large train track. That  day the two lane road was forced down to one due to construction, so it was very loud all day from traffic.

After a quick check in with Kate and Christina, we geared up to get to work.  Jimmie and Paul continued their work repairing soffits on the left side of the house. Joyce, Sheri, and Sandy got to work in bedroom one. Sarah supported then helped Christina and Elle in room two.

Jimmie and Kate checking in for the morning in front of the house.

Christina checking our work in room one.

 The team was a little frustrated as a tile laid the previous day was too low and had to be taken up. The struggle to lift it and then chisel the thinset out from beneath prior to relaying it. It was also a slow day as we learned random tiles in each box were slightly longer than rest of the tiles and had to be trashed. To count, five tiles had to be thrown out or taken out due to their mis-sized.

Collette keeps us all clean and even got back to work on the soffits. For any who have tried cleaning under where a gutter would be defiantly would understand!

 After those slow downs, the team knocked out many tiles that morning prior to lunch. We slowly learned a system to best lay the tiles and clean between each buckets of thinset. Lunch was a little early but a much needed break was taken on the driveway; the only open space around the home.  You can also see behind Paul and Jimmie, the two neighboring homes that are currently empty. It was sad to learn  the Philips home was broken into early September and copper piping was ripped out of the wall, but so did the two neighboring homes. Though they are empty, a quick glance inside we noticed some repair work has begun but for some reason or another has stopped.

After a relaxing rest and sustenance; we went back to our various works and were visited by the Project Homecoming's YAV (young adult volunteer), Lauren.  She jumped right into work by mixing us a batch of thinset. Kristina also gave her a quick training on laying of tiles and she too got her hands dirty!
Lauren hails from Dallas TX and majored in Religion at University of Tulsa; after learning about the various places young adult volunteer's work found New Orleans the best fit. Young Adult Volunteers is a program of the Presbyterian church where young people agree to serve and learn in intentional spiritual community for a year. They have sites internationally and nationally such as New Orleans here. Her special gift has been teaching the visiting teams about New Orleans, the recovery and Project Homecoming as well as serving at the sites with us.

Lauren stayed all afternoon with us and together we laid nearly 5 rows of tile. Sheri cut and Joyce laid even difficult tile in a closet by themselves!

The photos below are is the progress we had today and we feel a sense of accomplishment for the day!

Tonight was also special as a native of New Orleans came to the camp and cooks us authentic gumbo and bread pudding!  For those who have been on a mission trip two year ago, will remember half worked on the home of a woman named Beth. Her friend was so touched by the service of PDA volunteers asked to share her gifts with them by providing dinner once a week. So we got to enjoy some delicious true local fare as well as learn from another YAV of the protection of costal Louisiana. 

This young man shared the history, destruction and general information about wetlands. The organization he is volunteering at Coastal Wetlands Planning Protection and Restoration Act passed along fascinating information about the lost of our coastal wetlands. 

Sandy with a friend from New Orleans who is now hooked on hooking!

That left us some down time where a few went to bed early, caught up on tv, or in Sandy's case, rug hooking.  Tonight she even won over a convert!  As we go to 'post' she may even have a second. You'll have to check back tomorrow to find out!  As well as check in with the "Tiling Grannies."

God bless, Sarah and the New Orleans Mission Team 2010