Home~ 8/14/2007

Whoever said absence makes the heart grows fonder, must have been someone who went on mission trip once before.

While it is good to go away, and the conditions of where we stayed were amazing and comfortable~it is also good to be home. Home smells different, pillows fell better, Richard is snoring in my home, and home is where our hearts feel rejuvenated.

As I reflect back upon the time away I hold close of the stories heard and quiet moments spent in awe and prayer looking at conditions that I hope will never happen again.

I am also amazed by the deep faith that feed many of the people we met. I am envious of that faith in the midst of so many things that have gone wrong for some. I think about the reaction of Jesus when asked by the apostles to increase there Faith. Jesus said "If you have faith the size of mustard seed"...All will be possible..

I have been blessed to see many mustard seeds of faith this week, in each person we met and every person we shared our work with. Thanks to Marci, Jean, Stephen, Nate, Jacob, Missy, my best buddy in life-Richard. The Va Group-Susan, Roger and Lisa. The office staff for Disaster response-Alan, Dale, Sarah, Tim, Garrett and Elaine. Our family in Faith at Little Farms including Andrew, Skelly, Ron, Rosemarie, Eleanor and Rev Jim...

May each one of you be the Faith that one person needs to find home this day

Peace~ RH

Marci Grossman

Thurs Night at PJ's

Wow...what a week...it went so fast. It's hard to believe that tomorrow is our last day of work. We've sweated ALOT (Jean...how about that bathroom?), but it has been so worth it. The people here are extremely kind and Missy, how much do we LOVE Daniel? Yesterday was incredible seeing the hardest hit area. People's lives in the streets, their homes crumbled, or simply not being there was very emotional. I had a similar feeling when visiting the Pearl Harbor Memorial. Local people have told us that it is so important to them for us to go back home and remind people that things ARE NOT close to being fine here. There is still so much damage. Being with this group has been a blast. Rich and his stories are hilarious (BLOATED)!! Gotta get back for dinner...probably put some cheese on my dinner, Guys!

Jean Francis Thursday evening

This continues to be an incredible week in River Ridge. One highlight for me yesterday was seeing one of the worst areas destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, the Lower Ninth Ward. As we crossed the bridge over the Mississippi River to the Lower Ninth, we saw that the levee had been repaired and behind it was a large field with dozens upon dozens of cement slabs where houses used to be -- only patches of a driveway or a front stoop or sidewalk to suggest where once a family had lived. We entered several buildings still standing to view the damage. In one church that was still standing, the cushioned pews were covered in now baked mud, a grand piano had been overturned and a three inch layer of muck covered the carpeting. Someone was living in a gutted home, a sleeping bag and cans of food were in a corner. I had never experienced such widespread devastation in my life and I hope I never do again. Seeing how many thousands of people whose lives have been forever changed by Katrina only inspires me to work harder.

Speaking of work, we're coming along nicely in the house we've been in -- taping wallboard seams, spackling, more spackling and the sanding and sanding and sanding. Did I mention that I sanded today -- all day? The walls are all primed and tomorrow we hope to paint with color. Yeah, something besides white to work with. Today the heat index was only 110 degrees, yesterday it was 118!

August 9th, 2007

>>Missy Zirkel

Nothing but smiles coming from my way! =) It's ridiculous .. it honestly felt like it was Sunday but a few days ago, and to think that it'll be Friday tomorrow. Last day of work tomorrow! It's a bittersweet feeling. Let me tell you, the days are long. Waking up at around 6:45 in the morning to Pastor Ryan... "Good morning everyone. It is now 6:45 in the morning. In five minutes I'll be back in singing...." So all of us teenagers would groan and roll over in bed and pretend to be awake. Then we would hop out of bed a few minutes later. Like I said before, the days are long but at the end of the day there's a certain feeling that runs through me. I know that there's a darn good reason that I woke up at 6:45. Sure, I too would moan and groan at the thought of 6:45, but when we would be packing up the truck and getting ready to leave the work site I couldn't help but be a little upset. Such a productive day and in the end it always leaves me with a feeling of accomplishment. But not any accomplishment. The accomplishment and feeling of joy, of goodness, of love. The feeling of joy in knowing how happy that home owner will be when they come in to find a new house. The feeling of goodness in knowing that my time as well as many others may be spent doing something that will mean a whole lot to the owner of the house, to the community, and to me. And lastly the feeling of love. I can't quite describe the feeling .. all I can say is that it's overwhelming but in a good way.

I'm having a great time. The people I'm with are hilarious. (Need I mention the stories I've heard from Pastor Ryan's good friend Richard!) Needless to say, time flies. I can't wait to finish up tomorrow with probably one of the biggest feelings of accomplishment I'll ever experience. To the time spent in New Orleans, to the memories made here, to the people. Thanks for everything

Steve Clement

August 9, 2007

This week has been an amazing experience of sightseeing, working, laughing, and enjoying the wonderful heat! I came here to New Orleans not having extensive experience in house constructing, but I am glad we were challenged enough to work on drywall all day, as opposed to simply destructing a house with a hammer. I have learned that drywalling is a tedious process and needs to be handled with just the right amount of care and gentleness. We have also seen the results and damages of Hurricane Katrina. I was surprised to see how many severely damaged homes there are despite the two years this city has had to recover. I am glad to know that I had helped some people this week. However, I am disappointed that we could not work on more houses. I hope to come back again, possibly next year or the year after that. I came here wanting to get it over with, but I truly hope to come back in the near future.

Tired to our Soul~8/9/2007

It is amazing how the hot weather, high humidity, broken building and long days can make person tired..

if I read the feeling of the group correct there are a bunch of folks who are tired to their souls..

But it is from the stories of the people we have met, the laughter of children we have met and the amazing faith and Grace that leads to hope and transformation...

Our days have been full of Drywalling, which is talents that not all of us had, but each one of have gained, just Ask Jean~ she is now master of the Feathering technique of finishing Drywall joints. or Ask Marci she finish corner joints with dust in her eyes, and keeping Richard from telling too many Pastor Ryan stories or ask Nate, Jacob, Missy or Stephen~ each can spread mud, smooth it, sand it and prime it like a pro...Each of us have felt the edge of our comfort zone, crossed it and continue to live..

Yesterday was early day for us, and we spent the afternoon touring the city..

We began by driving down by Lake Pontchartrain

then heading down to see the area of the 17th Street Canal Levee, the place where the big Levee broke and flooding the Lakeview area of New Orleans~ Construction was still in full effect even yesterday.

Lastly we went to the Lower Ninth Ward, a second area that got Very hard hit during Hurricane Katrina and Rita. It was amazing to see the weeds and plant life that have grown sine last year..

We ended our day having dinner at the Acme Oyster House, have po-boys, Crawfish tails and Missy have risked having soft shell Crab, C'est super bon!!!

Our hope today it to finish up the last of the Drywall at Gwen's house and hopefully move onto priming and painting by Friday...

A prayer~

O God of hurried busy days, late nights and early morning

Thank you for all the blessing you give

remind us never to lock up our gifts storing them for other days

but allow to share all you give

as we continue to move outside of ourselves

seeing your face

and hearing your saving voice

In your son's name

Amen

Monday 8/6/2007

Today was the first day of our "Work"...We began by having a gathering this AM of all the mission groups in New Orleans. We got to see the huge group from Rochester/Buffalo NY who are staying at St Peter's UCC in the area, it was great to see and meet fellow UCC missionaires.

We then got assigned our jobs this week....Drywall. We have some mud, some taping and some finishing. It doesn't look like the most difficult job, but it will take alot of effort and the finesse of artist. It was about 104 during our working time, but everyone was drinking enough and eating granola bars!!

Dinner was provided the family of Little Farms UCC, and it was true Church supper in every sense of the word. We had Red Beans and Rice, Shrimp and Okra over Rice and Fried Chicken~WOW ( I didn't see any sauerkraut or shooefly pie~ maybe next time..

This has to be quick as PJ coffee shop is closing and kicking me out in two minutes...

I promise to write more tomorrow...

Be hope for one person Today!!

Saturday 8/4/2007

What a good airport Atlanta is, we toured it for few more hours then we planned on as Air Trans decided to cancel our flight for no reason.. We survived and got to New Orleans by 8:30pm local time.. Above we are in the Philly airport!!!

Sunday 8/5/2007

Today has been a good day full and we haven't even begun our work yet!

We began our day with fairly traded hot beverages and some Krispy Kreme doughnuts brought to us by Andrew (a member of Little Farms UCC) Geez~ hot and now, WOW!

We had Bible Study, worshipped and heard from Rev Dr Jim Hightower (pastor of Little Farms UCC) about how we have be careful about storing up grain in our barns without using it.

I am amazed by the way the group is coming together~ there is feeling of one big family. We joke around, laugh, pray and sweat together, and live in anticipation of what the week may hold. Each one of us seems to have many gifts to share, yet we may not be aware of what to do. What to do with our gifts that we have been given, is the question that drives us to come to this place of doing what we can to help the over-all process of rebuilding "Community" in New Orleans.

We did shopping at Sam's club and picked up other things at Winn-Dixie to round our menu of Bagels/fruit/cereal for breakfast and sandwiches for lunch along with lots of water!!!

Our dinner tonight was spaghetti, meatballs and Garlic bread~ the blessed best meal of holy mother church with many thanks to Susan and Roger from 1st UCC in VA..

My personal prayer this night as we go to sleep, is that each one of us may get in touch with the many gifts we have stored up within, and that in the next few days we are able to use them in the next possible way for God's glory...

O God of new and friends to make

Bless us in this moment

with the patience to humbly listen

with the dedication to give our best

and the courage to do what must be done

even if our bodies hurt

make us a sanctuary for your love

Amen