We've been working, you would be impressed. We have all been assigned to work on a house in the Gentilly neighborhood. We have been hanging sheet rock and adding insulation (the insulation people get the first showers).
We have two crew chiefs, Mary Bess from Kentucky and Ollie from California. They both came to NOLA as volunteers and came back and few months later and have yet to leave and its been several months for both of them. What's amazing is that both of them are wonderful supervisors full of grace and patience with our startling lack of construction experience. What is also most inspiring and hopeful is that they are both under 25. Not only are they under 25 but the entire staff of the Episcopal Rebuild program are young adults. This well-organized, well-oiled Rebuilding machine is organized and run by young adults, and it is successful and thriving. Seeing these young adults change the world makes us all hopeful for the future. Maybe we should all let young adults do a little more? (Notice, this is being written by a technically defined "young adult")
We drove through the ghost town that is the lower 9th Ward, with a few sparse houses and small shopping area. Brad Pitts modern houses with their solar panels and bright colors are a sharp contrast to the overgrown green of the grasses. But it is also exciting. To be here, doing this work, it is a gift. It is a blessing. We are tired, we are sore, we are bruised, but we are coming back. You should come.
Our reflection question: "Where has God surprised you today?" Some of our answers: a rainbow, a train, the traffic, patience, sheet rock and grace. Reflect with us, Where has God surprised you today?
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