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
2 comments:
glad to hear the showers are warm! I hope the tedious work yields fruitful results in the end...sounds grueling and mindnumbing
love, lindsay
I am enjoying the stories and spirit of hope that surrounds your work and writing. I wore my pin today and people asked why I had the New Orleans Saints symbol on it?? Peace to you, Kim
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