Day 2: First Day of Work

We've wrapped up our second day in New Orleans and are currently winding down for the evening. This morning our whole group traveled to the St. Bernard Project headquarters in Chalmette for orientation. Several leaders from the organization shared their own stories about coming to help with recovery, and in several cases staying much longer than expected as they became more invested in the work. After orientation, half of our group stayed to work on houses and the other half returned to the mission station to work on a variety of projects. Be sure to check out the pictures in our photo gallery to see for yourself. I've recruited several guest bloggers to tell you more about the work today, so now I'll turn it over to them...

Hi, this is Shelby Smith. Today I went to a house owned by a couple named Katherine and Will Staggs. We didn’t get to meet them, but we learned their story, and I was inspired by it. They met and fell in love after Katrina hit, and now they are married and expecting a baby boy. Through the course of an eventful day and a few stops at McDonalds, we managed to tape, bed, and texture most of the walls of their three-bedroom house. I worked on the ceiling most of the time, and other people worked on the walls and along the floor. On the way back from lunch, we made a new friend when a longhaired dachshund jumped into our car and into Cindy’s lap. We learned her name was Cher, and later found out that Cher is New Orleans slang, equivalent to “baby” or “darlin’” for you Texan natives. After a long and tiring day, with “mud” all over our clothes (and hair) we returned to FCCGNO to eat dinner and rest for the day ahead. Tomorrow, in the evening, we will actually be at a St. Bernard Project house for a special that Anderson Cooper himself will be filming. Goodnight, y’all.

This is………… Amanda Sanders. Today I helped replace the basketball net and replaced the tiles in the GYM. I also helped shop and cook dinner. Tonight we had enchiladas, rice, and beans.