NOLA build days

We have been fortunate enough to spend the last 5 days of our journey building with the St. Bernard Project in St. Bernard's Parish in New Orleans. We spent all 5 days working on a duplex for a man named Oliver. A special grant from the United Way provided the money for materials for the rebuild and SBP provided the construction knowledge and volunteer labor to get the job done. The grant received will also teach Oliver to be a landlord. He is retired and currently has no steady source of income, but this rental unit will change that. Arden and I spent the majority of our 5 days working on baseboards and shoe molding for all the rooms. We created what came to be known as a wood journal and embodied the concept of measuring everything, writing measurements down and only making one trip to the saw. By the second day everyone was copying us. Yesterday after we finished the baseboards we built 3 pantry shelves for the kitchen and installed several other closet shelving units as well as transition strips between the flooring in each room.

There was a McDonalds only a few blocks from the build site and many went the first day for some lunchtime coffee. By the second day everyone was making a lunch time visit, in addition to catching a lunchtime nap. By the 3rd day we were stopping by in the morning as well, and before we knew it we were on very friendly terms with the staff. 27 people can really pack a place.

My parents visited Saturday through Tuesday and in addition to getting to see them they also made all of us an awesome meal on Monday after our first build day.

Spirits were high this week, as were temperatures and the humidity. But, we took it in stride, sang and danced a lot and I think just generally reminded ourselves why we are here this summer. We got a chance to meet Oliver this morning and hear from his perspective how Katrina affected him, and what moving back home means to him. It was really inspiring and more than made up for all the rough days behind and the ones still to come.

Last night after out build we were able to go to a SBP welcome home party. It was essentially the grand reveal of a finished house and we were able to meet the homeowner Mr.James and hear his story as well as hear a brief presentation from the site supervisors and UPS who donated $100,000 to the project. We toured the house and I was thankful to experience that since we will not get to see the reveal of Oliver's house.

The evenings we were able to spend exploring the city, including seeing jazz bands on Frenchman St. And eating dinner at an NUS alum house and also the house avid local cyclists Chip and Bunny. Both dinners were delicious and the music was awesome as well. We rounded off the week with a indie folk concert and lots of time spent on the roof of our church in the lower ninth ward. Because the area has an elevation below sea level we saw a boat passing by above our heads as it headed down the river. It was very eerie.

Morale is high leaving New Orleans and tomorrow we ride to Baton Rouge. The only downside...it'll take us 110 miles to get there. Keep us in your thoughts, I'm risky sweep with Marcus, but it'll be along day.

The picture included is from a house near our build site. These were the marks placed on homes during the search and rescue efforts following Katrina. 7 yrs later and the marks remain indicating by whom the house was searched, date searched. And any deceased persons found inside. The letters TFW stand for toxic flood water.

Even 7 years later New Orleans is not completely rebuilt. It takes continued support both of time and money to continue rebuilding efforts. Please take a moment to look up St. Bernard Project. They currently have 70 families on the waiting list. If time or money is not something you can provide think about a thought or a prayer or sharif this blog with a friend. :)

And don't forget to send love to next weeks mail drop.

General Delivery
Care of Bike and Build
Attn: Jessie Modrall
10781 US 71
Elm Grove, LA 71051