Work days were from 8-4:30, including a lunch break of sandwiches that we made at camp in the morning. The tower staff and volunteer coordinators kept us busy; assigning us to painting projects, cleaning apartments, putting up ceiling tiles, moving furniture or spending time with residents who were seeing their homes for the first time in over six months. It was sad and traumatic for many of them as they realized all their furniture and clothes had mold or mildew and had been taken away. We went through old food and helped people make decisions about what they could keep and what had to go. Donated furniture made its way into several apartments so that residents would have a bed or a couch or a table and chairs. Hugs from elderly strangers were a nice surprise. Everyone was so grateful for our efforts, even though they didn’t know us. We were truly sisters and brothers in Christ.

    On Friday, we worked a half day and went to New Orleans for fun. We went to the Cathedral on Jackson Square to check out the newly installed organ and an illuminated Bible from Spain. Then we went down Bourbon Street and into the courtyard of Pat O'Brien's, home of a magna hurricane drink which now costs $175!  It serves dozens. We agreed that New Orleans is a unique city, with a lifestyle that exists no where else in America. Most of the group ate dinner at Masparro's in the old Slave Exchange building. We ran into some of the volunteers from the California group and all went to Cafe du Monde for beignets. Suddenly one of the many St. Patrick's Day parades started. They threw green and gold beads to us. Sam and most of the students went to Preservation Hall to hear jazz. The rest of us drove back to Houma for Cajun music and dance lessons at the local Cajun restaurant. It was quite a last night for everyone.

    The ribbon cutting took place at the Bayou Towers on Monday, March 16 and people moved back in on Tuesday. There is still much work to be done but 300 Houma residents are back in their homes. We look forward to helping along the Gulf coast again next year (March 6-13) where ever the need is greatest! Want to go with us? You are very welcome to go, too. It is very rewarding, educational, and very affordable! Definitely a good way to spend a week.

    The group of sixteen: Robbie Evans, Brien and Katie Lewis, Diane and Sam Glasgow, Pat Handlson, Daniel Keaton, Ginny and Wayne Langpap, Jeff and Luke McNeese, Jonathan Mauney, T. Wes Moore, Kerrin Pryor, Carroll Vierra and Lindsay Watts.

Rev. Pat Handlson
phandlson@frontiernet.net
(931) 526-5486

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