| AND SERVICE IS OUR PRAYER-NOLA 2 TRIP
It's better late than never to thank all those who supported the November trip to New Orleans with their frequent flier miles, rides to the airport, fund raising, financial contributions, etc. We can't forget our families who took up the slack at home and let us go. These service trips could not happen without your support.
The November trip had 15 members of our congregation teaming with 10 people from Follen UU Church of Lexington. Two days were spent repairing a church run by an inspirational street minister named Reverend Josephine. She reaches out to neighborhood children, the elderly, and has an anchoring effect on the whole community. Our clapboard patching, insulating, electrical work and painting made her building weathertight for the first time since Katrina. Within weeks the inside of her building proceeded to be sheetrocked, painted, curtains hung and opened for her loving work.
Our other 4 days were spent in the Lower Ninth Ward working on a 3 bedroom home that had been flooded to the roofline. The Williams are a hard working middle class family with a teenage daughter and son in college who are trying to get back home. Royce, the father, worked with us every day learning along side us and enhancing our experience with his personal connection to our group. We insulated, sheetrocked, taped, and jointed 90% of the house making it ready to sand the plaster and paint. Our resident electrician Dave Hatton got some lights and circuits running as he has done on all our previous sites.
I estimate the $4000 spent on materials and the 6 days of free labor would translate into $25000-$30000 in professionally contracted work. Quite a remarkable accomplishment for our crew.
To me personally, our trips to New Orleans speak to all the things that our church represents; the clear purpose in helping others, the reaching outside ourselves, the sense of community within the group that travels, and the sense of support we receive from those left behind. The opportunity to bond so closely with other parishioners in such a clear common purpose is unique for most of us in our adult busy lives. We all got more than we gave.
Peace
Terry Combs
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