Turning The Corner

Here's our group, in two pictures, standing in front of MR GO: The Mississipppi River Gulf Outlet. This "short cut" shipping channel, carved between the Mississippi River and the Gulf Goast is part of the reason Katrina hit New Orleans with such force. MR GO brought salt water into the marshes, destroying Mother Nature's 'speed bump' for hurricanes and also became a conduit for the storm surge. The decision has now been made to close the outlet and allow nature to be restored.

We had the opportunity to hear a representative of the Army Corps of Engineers talk about the risk management plans that are in the process of implementation. In addition to improving the levees and closing MR GO, residents are being encouraged to build higher - thus some rebuilds are happening on pylons. The Corps has received $14.6 billion and plans to have a new hurricane risk reduction system in place by 2011, with many years to follow for the restoration of the wetlands.

We also enjoyed a driving tour on Wednesday afternoon. We stopped by a couple of the houses we worked on in previous years, which are now occupied. We drove through the Lower Ninth Ward, which is but a shadow of its former self. We saw the levee that was damaged when a barge was driven into it and is now repaired. And, Brad Pitt's housing project is now well underway. He has hired archictects from all over the world to design 150 houses that will be built in the Lower Ninth Ward. They are designed, not only to be hurricane-proof, but also to be envirnonmentally sustainable. Musicians' Village, in the Upper 9th Ward, continues to grow.

Today was the most satisfying day of work so far. In the first part of the week, both of our teams experienced many frustrations, as we tried to learn new skills and struggled with the difficulties of completing tasks in these homes that have been so badly damaged. Today, both teams turned a corner in their work. Floor scraping gave way to pouring and smoothing a new skim coat to prepare for the tile floors that someone else will lay. Hauling sheetrock up a flight of stairs gave way to more dry wall sheets, hung and taped. One of our teams enjoyed an authentic New Orleans lunch prepared by the resident of the home they are working on: gumbo, jambalaya, and fried chicken.

After work tomorrow, we'll probably go into the city to do a little more exploring. Then, we'll be rising early Saturday morning to begin our trip home. We look forward to sharing our pictures and stories with friends, family, and our congregations, when we return.

Blessings to all,

Cheryl

Changes

Those of us who have been here before are noticing the changes that have happened over time. Whereas last year, progress was seen in the concrete slabs that remained after abandoned houses were razed, this year more homes are occupied, but we are seeing many abandoned houses that are still standing...with broken and/or boarded up windows and overgrown lots. The streets in this part of town are in very poor condition, and there is some evidence of road work underway. A sign of progress is seen in the homes that have not only been restored, but also have finishing touches like landscaping.

In the homes we are working on, there is a common theme: warped wood studs. Our crews are learning how to create shims so the sheetrock can be hung properly. Between the length of time that has passed since these homes were gutted and the work that was not always properly done, there are plenty of challenges in trying to figure out how to accomplish the tasks we are given. The PDA folks are well stocked with good tools, at this point, and have construction assistants who are very helpful - another sign of progress

Some members of the group drove by the home we gutted last year. After a year's time, the homeowner has not yet moved in, but significant progress has been made. It is such a slow process. I met a neighbor today, whose daughter has been on a waiting list for 2 years.

We are tired, but the spirit of the group remains very good. The sun was shining today, with temps in the low 60s. Not bad, for January!

Blessings to all,

Cheryl

The Beginning

Sunday's sightseeing included a visit to the Aquarium and the viewing of an IMAX film called "The Hurricane on the Bayou." It showed the relationship between the depletion of the wetlands in this area and the growth in the destructive power of hurricanes. It was a helpful piece of context, especially for those who are here for the first time. Emotionally powerful, it gave us a glimpse of the natural beauty of this area before Katrina, and offered some images of the immediate aftermath of the storm.

Monday we received our work assignments and got busy! Our group from New York has been divided into two work crews. One group spent the day hanging sheetrock on the walls of a home. The other group cut and placed insulation in a ceiling and began hanging sheetrock on the ceiling, while other members of the group (including yours truly) spent the day attempting to scrape the remains of the adhesive residue that had held tile onto concrete floors...using warm water, soap, and metal scrapers. There must be a better way, we concluded. And yet, the slow, difficult process with little to show for it gives us a window of insight into the experience that many residents of this area have been living for three and a half years.

At the Olive Tree Camp, our numbers are now around 80. There are groups here from Virginia, Minnesota, Wisconsin, New Jersey, and Quebec. We are eating, sleeping, showering, and living in a facility that used to be a Presbyterian Church. Our sleeping areas are dormitory style rooms with wooden-framed bunks and mattresses. We shower (with wonderfully warm water) in a trailer parked on the premises. All of us here share the responsibility for coooking meals and keeping the facility clean.

Monday evening, we had a bit of time to circle up our group for a bit of reflection on the experience that is just beginning. We used the story of Zacchaeus from Luke 19:1-10 as a springboard for reflecting on themes of 'lost and found,' 'hope,' and 'hospitality,' especially in this New Orleans context. Our group is working well together and is sharing plenty of laughter. We're off to a great start!

Blessings to all,

Cheryl

Getting Here

After airport "Ice-Breakers" and snagging a stranger to snap a photo, and a slight delay for airplane de-icing, we lifted off from Rochester and flew through a flurry of snowflakes, soon enough clearing the clouds for a smooth flight to Atlanta. Wheels down, with just enough time to grab a bite to eat before catching our connection to New Orleans. While waiting in line at the Atlanta Bread Company, Jack and I were approached by a young woman who noticed the Team New Orleans shirts we were wearing. "Are you going there to fix houses?" she asked. "Yes...it's our third trip, we replied." "New Orleans is where I live," she told us. "Thanks so much for coming to help us out." And so the journey begins. Before we have even arrived, we have tapped into the need and the gratitude that have drawn us here.

Of course, rarely can you fly anywhere in the U.S. these days, without encountering travel glitches. Ours came in the form of a one hour delay in our departure from Atlanta. So, we waited and walked the airport concourse and people-watched, until time for take-off from Atlanta, 10:00. We crossed a time zone by the time of our arrival in New Orleans, around 10:45 p.m., Central Time....11:45 according to our body clocks. A shuttle ride to the rental car agency and a 1/2 drive later, we arrived at our destination...the Olive Tree Camp of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.

It was a short night last night, but we are up and about this morning, getting ready for breakfast, church, and some sight-seeing. Our first day of work is tomorrow. It was too dark to see much when we came in last night, but we know that we're working in a part of the city that is still pretty devastated from Katrina. I will post more after we've had a chance to settle in and start to work.

Blessings to all,

Cheryl

By Word of Mouth

For the third year in a row, I am starting the New Year with a trip to New Orleans. No, it's not about the French Quarter or Bourbon Street, or the majestic Mississippi. It's about the on-going rebirth of the region in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Three years later, many people have returned to their homes, but the waiting lists are still growing. Much of the progress is being made with the help of volunteer groups like ours. Our initiative started with two people from the First Presbyterian Church of Ontario Center, where I am pastor. They travelled to the Gulf Coast with a group from Geneva Presbytery and returned with stories and a passion to continue this important work.

By word of mouth, we gathered a group and in our first year, 15 of us arrived at Camp Hope, in St. Bernard's Parish, ready to work. We were deeply touched by the stories of those who had endured the devastation of losing everything. We were angered by the sense of abandonment. We were saddened to see restaurants and businesses standing, vacant, and neighborhoods that looked like ghost towns, and parking lots filled with FEMA trailers, and homes still filled with muddy, moldy debris. We pitched in, did our part, and returned home, with stories and a passion to continue this important work. We were heartened by the spirit of the people and by the gratitude expressed by everyone we met.

By word of mouth, our group grew. Three churches got involved. Local businesses became corporate sponsors. Friends told friends. Connections spread through college and church networks. Year two, we were 30 strong. Back to Camp Hope we went. Progress was seen. There were fewer FEMA trailers and more businesses open. Neighborhoods were starting to come to life. But we were shocked when assigned the gutting of a house, two and a half years after the hurricane. How are people managing? What keeps them from giving up? Their patience and perseverence were inspiring. Habitat for Humanity has come a long way in restoring Musicians' Village, a neighborhood dedicated to preserving the rich musical cultural heritage of the region. The rainbow colored homes are a hopeful sight. Brad Pitt has launched a Do It Right initiative in the lower ninth ward. There is still a long, long way to go. We returned home, with stories and a passion to continue this important work.

This year, we are a group of 23 college students and adults from the communities of Ontario and Walworth in New York. Only a few of us are from the church that started this initiative. By word of mouth, it's spun way beyond it's starting point. At this point, many of us are strangers, drawn together by a common desire to contribute to the rebirth of New Orleans. We are grateful to a vast network of friends and family who are partnering with us through generous financial contributions. On Saturday, January 10th, we will embark on our third Hurricane Relief trip to New Orleans. It is my intention to offer blog postings from the Olive Tree Village Relief Camp, where we will be living.

Blessings to all,

Cheryl