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