Day 6; Oct 8

LAST DAY!!
* first correction from yesterday's posting the second homeowner we were honored to met last night was Zander Murray.

Though we only worked at our site in the morning, it was still a tiring day! We started our morning at 5:30am; and prepared breakfast for the Olive Tree village.

Joyce and Jimmie made some delicious french toast that everyone had at least two!  They had vanilla and cinnamon, yummy!!! With an early rising we had a little more time to put our things together and even relax with the puzzle. Unfortunately, as of this post the puzzle is incomplete.

Arriving at the worksite, we were geared to do as much as possible before we had to leave for lunch. But first the site had to be cleaned up. Even more exciting for our day was with going out for lunch and dinner and all our other volunteers were also out in the city; Betty joined us at the site!  She was a fantastic cleaner-upper.

 After Betty helped us prepare our rooms for tiling; Collette and Betty helped prepare John and Minnie's one bedroom that had tiled prior to Katrina and it had withstood.  However a few tiles needed to be repaired and Kate even found similar tiles at Lowes this year! What luck!

 Paul and Jimmie also had different tasks throughout the house. Jimmie took some special time to create a threshold for the entry door that was individualized for their home to fit the door and for when the tile goes in. What skills. Kristina and Kate truly valued their help in such concerns as this for the Philips home.

Paul caring up and setting up the saw

Jimmie checking his cut and angle for the threshold.

And before you know it,  the time was up and we had to clean up!  We had cut all the tiles to complete our room 1 and room 2 had already hit 1/2 way; wow we were such a team!

Sarah sweeping up the mess from tiling

With our construction team leadership, John & Minnie and even Wesley Hall whom the team worked with last year all came to lunch with us at The Joint and had some delicious BBQ. We got to catch up and relax.  

Paul and Sheri in front of home they worked on 2009

We  headed out after  lunch to  a special event,  a home dedication of Laurie's the second home Frankfort worked on last year. It was special to see the community , young people and all the volunteers welcome Laurie home. There were presentations from Project Homecoming, the Presbytery of Southern Louisiana and even the Vice Moderator of the  PC (USA). Laurie's uncle prayed for us all; we blessed the home and she was shared some special gifts from across the country to welcome her home!  I think the most beautiful moment was when the executive director of Project Homecoming presented Laurie with a loaf of bread to represent the breaking of bread that will happen together in her home and the relationship we have as Christians at the Lord's Supper.

 Christina, our construction site manager at the Philip's home this year was the construction site manager at Laurie's home presented the family with a folder of letters from volunteer's that worked on her home. She read a few special letters and presented them with a CD of her music. Our team also purchased a few of her CD's she recorded; so we have some lovely music to come home with.






After that dedication we traveled to the Lower 9th Ward and visited Wesley Hall's home. Other members of First Presbyterian worked on his home last year. Wesley gave us all a lovely tour of his home, shared his story of how he got to work rebuilding his home. And of course shared many words of thanks for everything we had done. It was beautiful to see his come completed and recognize the small things we were doing this week will one day become a true home like Wesley's.  

Collette, Sandy and Paul with Wesley Hall; the home they worked on in 2009

 Though it was sad to see as we entered the Lower 9th Ward and Wesley's street there are still many destroyed and abandoned homes from Katrina. They now refer to these places as 'blighted' and it will be interested to hear in the future how the city plans to deal with the thousand of homes and land.   Wesley was the only home on his street for two blocks but yet determined this was home.

After such a lovely visit with Wesley we took a short tour of the area of the Lower 9th Ward; most was still empty fields and desolate homes. But a few were in the process of rebuilding; using companies like: Demo Diva and their pink equipment, pictured below.

We also toured near where the Levee broke and saw the homes created by Brad Pitt's organization; Make It Right; Nola These were beautiful and unique homes, each so creative and just so creative. You really must check out the website to get a full picture of all the different homes that were lining the streets.  This home specifically I learned is a the home of a community leader whom Kristina introduced the group to last year. He had a special garden out front in memory of his grandson whom he lost in the flooding of the levee.  This year we just passed by and offered prayers for his continual strength.

 Finally, we ended our day at Felix's Restaurant & Oyster Bar to relax after such a long day. There was enjoyable conversation, filling food and even the Olive Tree manager, Dan met us too.  This filling of our stomach of course reminded us that our time here in New Orleans is ending in the morning. The suitcases repacked, rooms cleaned and we begin the long journey home to our home.

 We are thankful for the friends we have made, the friends we have reconnected with and the working of God through us for these people whose determination and strenght has been uplifting for us. The work will continue even as we say goodbye and God bless.

And may the love of God, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit with all the people of New Orleans, today and always. Amen

Joyce getting to know the homeowner dedicated today, Laurie

And thank you for joining us on this trip!  Tune in 1 more time tomorrow for a special montage of candit moments of the volunteers!