meeting the homeowners

As we began work today, I was amazed at how much we accomplished. As more and more little projects were completed we began to get excited at the progress we had made. The guys I'm with are very capable with tools and have completed some impressive work. Connie .... our homeowner was able to make it to meet us and it was a very emotional experience. When she looked around the home she was so excited at what had been done. She was so grateful and shared some stories of her struggle to "come home." I was trying to imagine what it would be like to have your home and belongings totally destroyed and then not be able to return for 3 1/2 years. Tonight at the Olive Tree (The compound where we are staying) we had all the homeowners and families here for dinner. I had the privilege of performing a concert for everyone ....and God brought everyone closer with the laughter and crazy participation Sprout'n Shout involves. I am so glad to have new friends from New Jersey, California and New Orleans and to have played a small role in helping ease the burden of someone in need.

more work and a tour of new Orleans

The morning started early ....our team was assigned to cook breakfast for 70 people. At the job site I worked with Judd on insulation.... If you have ever done it you know it is hot,y dirt and itchy work. I was thankful for my mask, gloves and goggles. The other guys finished the porch railing and the baseboards. We worked until about 2:00 and then left for a tour of some of the most hard hit places by Katrina. We stopped for lunch at the "Joint" ...a place featured on the food channel by some crazy guy with platinum hair...it was superb. We visited the ninth ward and went to the levy ....but not in a Chevy ...and yes it was dry ....and hopefully with the improvements made they will stay that way. We were fortunate to see a documentary being filmed about Tim Ellis who grew up in the ninth ward....became a chemist and then turned his art hobby into a full time job. We listened to some of the stories he was telling about surviving the storm and its aftermath ....they were incredibly moving. He thanked us for coming and told us that the people here really appreciate the efforts being made. We also saw the "Make it right 9" project of Brad Pitt and "Artist Row" sponsored by Harry Connick Jr.....no celebrity spottings though! We look forward to another day of work on the house!

more repairs and a night on the town in New Orleans

The place we are staying.... the Olive Tree.... divides up the chores here during the week. The California delegation made breakfast ...and our group was responsible for cleaning the showers and bathrooms. Then off to the worksite to tackle some new projects. Today I helped hang some closet folding doors ....did some caulking and clean up. The others did a lot of painting on the deck of the back of the house....finished the floor board trim amd built the front porch railing. After dinner four of us went into New Orleans to see a few sights .... and finished up the evening at the Cafe De Monde for some bignets .... a wonderful fried pastry. We saw some interesting characters this evening .... This is a lively and diverse place.

Workin' on the house

We hit the ground running today. Heidi who is our project manager had plenty of work for us to do. Since she grew up on 200 year old farm house she had plenty of practice building and repairing. She was an art major in college and knows how to handle tools. A couple of guys worked on baseboard installation with her and the rest of us worked on caulking. I took the outside windows as you can see in the photo. The neighborhood we are working in was heavily damaged. The house we are working on is a one bedroom, owned by a lady in her late fifties. The labor volunteers provide reduces the cost of repairs by 65 to 70 percent so she is able to afford the repairs. We are supposed to meet her on Wednesday so we hope to learn more about her. Pray for the workers here .....and many others over the city who are reaching out to the people here. The need is still great ....even after 3 and a half years.

New Orleans

I'm on my way to New Orleans to work on a team doing home repairs. We will work with project homecoming which provides free labor enabling the residents to afford the repairs. On the way I was able to stop in Atlanta for a few days to visit my daughter Lauren and her husband Ethan. We had a wonderful time riding bikes...attending Ethan's Spanish class at Georgia State .... hanging out with the boys of the family who employs Lauren as their nanny...and just having some special Dad/daughter time. My destination for Saturday was Pascagoula, Mississippi. On the way I was able to stop and see Auburn University. I ran into a major traffic jam...Once I arrived in town I discovered it was their spring football game..... they are as optimistic as all fans are....this is their year! I arrived in Pascagoula, checked into the hotel an then took a ride to the beach ...just a few miles away ... and rode along the beach for a couple of miles just enjoying the view of the Mississippi sound. The concerts at First Baptist Pascagoula and Bel-Aire baptist in Gulfport went very well! I was glad to arrive at the Olive tree ...the place the volunteers stay...more about that later this week.

Life in Lima

After an all night bus ride we arrived in Lima. We rented rooms for the day. After a few hours of sleep we met for lunch and then traveled to the districts known for their markets and shopping. Of course you are expected to bargain on the price …a process I deplore. I picked up a few souvenirs and gifts and then left to get ready for our waking tour and dinner. The owner of the restaurant showed us some interesting houses and shared interesting history about the city. There is a stark difference between Lima and Chimbote. While Lima still has a sizable population of poor, there is more opportunity for jobs and housing. It is a large bustling city and every modern convenience is available if you have the resources.

John

Life in Chimbote

It has been amaizng to hear the stories of Faher Jack this week. Three of his friends were killed by the terrorist group Shining Path and he was next on their list. He refused to abandon his work and had to hide in parishoners home for several months. He has started South Americas only hospice ...you can see in the picture how beautiful it is. He has founded a rehab center for drug addicts where they get counseling and job training. They have a complex where they care for abandoned and disabled women and men. They feed hundreds of people, assist the sick in a medical clinic and serve more people in more ways than I can describe. It has been a privilege to observe and serve on the front lines of ministry with these heroes.

Chimbote is a fishing town ....largely sardines ...and the smell from these factories is overwhelmingly unpleasant. The people here work hard but have little to show for it. It really is a day to day existence for many and this mission is often the thread that allows them to hang onto life. It doesn't get much more hands on than this when reaching out to the least and the lost!

John