Flight information for our return trip is:

USAir leaving N.O. on Flight 1014 to Charlotte N.C.  Connect to US Air 1596 arriving in Boston at 6:22 PM.  We have hired a bus for the trip to Topsfield and will get there about 8PM–if all is on time.  Check the Church hotline 978-887-2101 xtn 37 for further info.  You can also check USAir directly on their website.  See you soon.   

See you back home!

  Water break Holy wall!

   One project done.   Gutting and removing molding plaster

 Muscle macho   

    Last work day–Crew Incredible!

Yesterday we cleaned out and gutted houses, garages and other buildings that had sustained damage in the storm.  For some, the sifting through the possessions of an ederly couple who had to leave just before the storm hit was a moving and unforgettable experience. Others, the hard work under difficult conditions was equally draining. 

Most had the opportunity to talk to residents of the neighborhood and get a much better sense of what these people have gone through. 

We will continue to work on these projects today. 

Last evening we went to dinner at Mulatte’s, a Cajun restaurant that played Zydeco music.  We all got caught up in the music.  Here are some pictures from yesterday:

In the evening, the dinner was provided by the hosting church, First Church of NO.  The food was jumbaylaya and as you would expect, left overs were not an option.  Tyler Rench, a Tulane graduate and a relative of one of our students, spoke to us on his experience as a college student and now a teacher in the New Orleans area.  It was excellent and another perspective from a complicated process of rebuilding. 

We are all healthy—save some P. I. on some–tired and ready to continue.  Elizabeth Jackson has already volunteered her father for next year’s trip.  She said, “He’d love this!”

Some pictures from yestday are below:

We took a ferry to the north side of the river and toured some areas that our host, Craig, had worked with Disciples Disaster Response organization.  We also met Michael Maggio who shared his story of Katrina with us and showed pictures of his house before and after.

In the evening, we had dinner with our co-ordinators of the UU organization.  More work is ahead today–working on cleaning up more house lots and helping in others ways.  Here are some pictures from yesterday:  

   Working on the ball fields

 Michael Maggio shares his story.

  Time for a snowcone break.

In the evening we had great fun and fellowship as we hosted a group from a church in Ipswich, Massachusetts who is down here doing similar work.  Today, we will be working with the New Orleans Recreation Department (NORD).  Here is a picture of our entire group on the levy where the actual break occurred—at the work site.