Wednesday - October 7

Today's Team Bloggers are Cris Harter and Juanita Williams. . .

We’re all different in our own ways.   That seemed to be the theme of today.  We started off at breakfast all going in different directions.  Here at the hotel (and by the way, we are living in sheer luxury compared to the first few groups to come to NOLA from FPC…so we’re told) there are several places to obtain breakfast…and we have used them all…but enough about that.

We only worked a half-day at the site today but got a lot done.  Although it was much more humid in the morning than yesterday it was not as hot.  Our different teams started with a lot more energy and today we knew what we needed to do.  Some did sheathing, some were stabilizing the framing, some were putting cripples up (strengthening doors and windows) and some were cutting and sawing.  It seemed like noon came very quickly today.  But still a lot got accomplished.

After lunch, which was provided by St. Charles Presbyterian Church, we all headed out in separate vans for the tour of Katrina impacted sites.  The first-timers were moved by the widespread devastation while the returning workers were amazed by how much progress had been made.  We visited the very first site that FPC worked (Louisiana 1) and were uplifted by the evidence of life not only in the neighborhood but particularly in the Bruner’s house…a family is actually living there!  

We visited Musicians Village, which is a real neighborhood now.   We also toured the Lower Ninth Ward, which was heartbreaking as we drove by all the empty lots and saw footprints of homes once occupied.  There were a few bright spots as we saw the homes being built by Brad Pitt’s foundation. 

As a real contrast to the Ninth Ward we ended the tour with a visit to the Garden District.  These stately homes have been beautifully restored and it seems life is back to normal.  All in all the city is slowly coming back but it is evident that it will take some time and a lot more volunteers to restore hope to the people of New Orleans.

Dinner at St. Charles Presbyterian Church was delicious.  Every Wednesday, the church has a family dinner and we were invited to attend this evening.  It was wonderful to see how many members from seniors to children participate.  As many of us joined in the clean up, we couldn’t help but admire the professional kitchen, which made preparing and serving the meal, as well as the clean up a breeze.  Some of us are dreaming of the day when we refurbish our own FPC kitchens…wouldn’t that be nice?

We felt God’s presence in so many different ways today and we are thankful, so very thankful that He has blessed us with each other and given us the opportunity to serve.

By the way, it was hot again today in New Orleans. . .

And David managed to get dirty. . .

Until tomorrow. . . Please keep praying.