2013 NOLA Mission Trip Day 3

Work day 3 went well, we arrived plenty early to the Yuan house on Marigny Street. 

I will post the family story below. 

Austin pulled another shift of mowing, so again-you won't see him in photos. 

We finished up on the metal corner bead for doorways, and drywalled in the last wall. Barb Kinder came with us to the house today. Roberta Humphries, Leah Denby and Amy Brookover are working for the St Bernard Project warehouse. 

We headed out a little early from the site to go to a "Welcome Home" party for some SBP homeowners. The Lennox family had been waiting 8 years for their home to be rebuilt. They were fortunate that his father lived around the corner from them, and they all moved in together. 

The neighborhood was heavily damaged by Katrina, with 11 feet of water rushing in when the levees broke. The abandoned and damaged homes are considered "blight", with the city estimating 35-40,000 still existing. We have seen so many. 

If you look closely, you can still see the x and markings from when they checked homes for survivors, deceased, or electrical/gas issues. 

Following the party, we took the scenic route back and saw the oldest black subdivision in America-some truly amazing homes!

Lunch was delicious, ham sandwiches are the best when you've been working hard. We showered, but part of our group went to paint a house in the neighborhood. Yellow with red trim. :/ only in New Orleans! 

The girls hung out in the sleeping room, had some good bonding time and laughed a lot! Rachael and Kate modeled for us, and Maddy and I had some good quiet chat time. 

When the paint crew returned, we headed down to the ferry area, where there was a small festival. Vendors, food and a three piece band. Sax, piano and drummer. We walked the levee, and had some great photo ops. 

There was delicious food, which many said was their "high" when we shared "Hi-Lo" time. 

Church time is when we sit down as a group and talk about the day, our experiences and what we need to be thinking about. Dave and Chip both pointed to the day a their "low", because the trip is more than half over. We all love working together, and Max shared how impressed he is with the lack of conflict in this group. We have had a great time. 

Worship tonight was very touching, as the speaker was discussing the things she has survived, and in the "Full Armor of God" theme, discussed the helmet of God, and protecting your thoughts. 

I often allow negative thoughts to invade my mind, and this was a good lesson for me in terms of not allowing those thoughts to destroy my peace. 

We have a full day tomorrow, and I will keep you posted on our work!

Blessings!

Audra