We are here!

Blog 5

We arrived! Here is a brief run down, in fragmented sentences.

It is somewhere around 81 degrees, sunny and some humidity.
All in all, much better than 35 degrees and 12 inches of snow they are getting back home.
24 hours and 20 minute.
Five drivers trading off driving straight through.
Seven stops, not all for gas.
Two restaurants: Country Kitchen for dinner in Hannibal, Missouri and the Waffle House in Byram, Mississippi for breakfast.
I found out I do not like grits. Maple syrup helps.

At first glance driving through the city things appear to be back to normal. The office and retail buildings mostly have been repaired, painted or bulldozed and replaced. Things look pretty good compared to even last year at this time.

However, Chrystal, the volunteer coordinator here said the 9th ward, where we will be going tomorrow is still in very rough shape. I asked her how much work is yet to be done down here and her honest answer, “A whole crap load.”

We are here at Hope Haven, run by Catholic Charities. There are several buildings here. All very old with Spanish influence. Arched doorways and balconies give them character. The tile roof adds color to the off white stucco exterior. They are in need of repair, but functional. One of the buildings is strictly for volunteers – like us – to stay. Then one building is a home for wayward boys ages 9 to 18. Juvies mostly.

Another building is a homeless shelter and a food shelf.

There is of course a chapel and some other buildings that I don't know what they are.

We have all finally showered and feel much better. We are about to go to dinner and then maybe check out some of the nightlife. But truth be told, we are all a little tired.

Tomorrow we meet for orientation. But what we think so far is we will be working on finishing the interior of one or more homes. This project is focusing on homes for elderly and disabled.

We will be laying tile, laminate flooring and painting.

There are two kids here at OHH house. Rene has been here for a month and will be staying three more she said. And Jack, a friend of hers has been here for a week. He will be leaving on Tuesday. Both are 18 years old from Bloomington, Indiana and have interesting stories. I will tell you about them a bit later. But they are nothing short of some of the coolest kids I have ever met.

Jack played guitar for us for a while as we sat outside enjoying the gorgeous weather and trying to relax after the long trip.

It is now 7:30 pm and I have yet to be able to post these blogs due to unforeseen Internet problems. But Michele and I are going to walk 6 blocks to the local Starbucks and try it there. And then we will be off to dinner.

Peace.