Great Work Being Accomplished in New Orleans

(2006-10-27) From October 27th to November 4th, 2006, 30 excited and energized Orange Lutheran High School (Orange County, CA) students embarked on a journey to St. Bernard’s Parish (New Orleans, LA) to rebuild damaged homes still needing full attention. The students desired to make a difference and touched the lives of many who felt forgotten. I had the privilege to be with the young adults to help 5 families who have been living in trailers since the hurricane. All of their belongings were destroyed.
Orange Lutheran Students and a volunteer looking to see what needs to be done next.

During past trips, we handed out relief supplies and did a lot of demolition work. This time the team of 24 young ladies and 6 young men (ages from 14 yrs to 18 yrs.) hung windows, paneled walls, and on one house that was over 100 years old worked; we straighten, leveled and worked to bring back to life a home for a waiting family.

Jonathan describes his efforts: “We ripped up the floor in one person’s home and put another one in its place. Then we did insulation work on two homes and hung drywall the rest of the time. One day we sat and listened for an hour to a man who poured his heart out lamenting on what they had gone through. He was an intellectual guy. In one area a family who we had helped cooked eight of us ribs for lunch, the next day they fed 12 with steak, and then the following day there were 15 of us that enjoyed fried chicken. They were really nice people and the food was delicious.“

I think for all of us the work on the Jefferson’s home was by far the highlight. Mrs. Jefferson was so gracious and loving. She had been waiting for six months to get some work done on her house and now in a matter of days the crew of young people insulated, drywalled and transformed her stud bare shell of a house to a home of hope. Mark, our leader, even built Mrs. Jefferson two archways leading from her living room to the kitchen. Mrs. Jefferson was beaming from ear to ear and nothing pleased her more then viewing those new archways.

Everyday that we worked on her home she would make us a hot lunch. Mr. Jefferson would cook and Mrs. Jefferson would serve us. We had Salisbury steak, fried chicken, salad and always a wonderful desert. She made all of us feel special and right at home with family members always dropping in to see the progress of her home.

Her family, brothers and sisters live on the same block and try to encourage each other. What a wonderful neighborhood to be able to help. I hope you will consider coming with us on our next rebuilding and transformation trip. There are several more communities waiting for a touch of hope.