This morning we got to sleep an extra hour since it was Tour Morning and we didn’t have to be at the church until 8:45.

One of the highlights of the tour was seeing the “Brad Pitt” homes in the 9th Ward.






While it’s encouraging to see them dotting the landscape, there if precious little other construction going on in the area. Overall, the city is very patchwork looking. New and restored homes sit next to homes that haven’t been touched in the 3½ years since Katrina. The roads in the Lakeview area are still heaved and cratered.

After lunch back at the church, we headed back to Ferry Place. Some of the group picked up working on the flooring system.



This the termite barrier and hurricane strapping.





Adam gave another group a new project. He had discovered that the window headers on the second floor of the other two houses that are in process had been the wrong size. So they had to be removed and new ones installed. The headers are constructed like a sandwich with two pieces of 2X10 with a piece of OSB.





Oh sure, David understands what Adam is explaining.






After they were pre-made, David and Billy installed them.





Once again we were treated to a mid-afternoon bagpipe serenade by our work site supervisor, Terry.



For some reason Adam wouldn't let us try his technique.




On the way back to the hotel, David had one of his moments of impulse. He pulled the van over to the side of the road and told everybody to get out. “Why?” “What did we do?” “We’re going to go see the Mississippi.” Soon all four vans we empting and everyone was running (or walking) up the levee –



over the top – and down toward the “Big Muddy.”

Just seconds after the first group reached the river, a police SUV pulled up next to David. “I perceive that we have a problem that you are unaware of,” the officer said to David as he exited his vehicle. “You are absolutely correct,” responded David. It seems that we picked a piece of private property to stop at. (Who knew there was private property atop the levees?)




Today’s Team Bloggers are James Forde and Dan Gomez . . .

Hey everyone, it’s James and Dan. Allow us, if you will, to start this post off with a joke (Like so many other things here do.)
Q- How many teens does it take to hammer in a nail?
A- 11, apparently
But more on that later. We woke up this morning at 7:30, an hour later than usual, yet still only managed to accrue a dismal amount of sleep. I guess that’s partially our fault, staying up into the morning playing Taboo. For all of those who don’t know taboo, it’s a lot like $1,000,000 password, with a lot more screaming and a few off color jokes. Anyways, we arrived at the cafeteria and making sure to help ourselves to bountiful amounts of hash browns. They proved to be the most delicious and filling food selection in the cafeteria.

After we all finished our meals we headed out to the vans, and were off to the church to meet our tour guides. We were put with a very informed guide. We got to explore the 9th ward and saw the sheer amount of destruction Katrina and the broken levees brought upon this city. It was sad to see the steps of the homes that got demolished during the flood. Even though we could see that there was a lot being done in effort to rebuild the houses it seemed like the sense of community wasn’t there. There were completely new homes scattered through out the 9th ward but there were no neighborhoods.

After putting a face to Katrina’s name, we were off to another long-ish day at the construction site. Today there was a major break through at the site. International mingling. The tensions between the Canadian and the American volunteers were broken over a heart-warming nailing session. We must have hammered in 1000 of the most stubborn nails to have ever been created. Seriously, they were forged in the flames of Mordor. We went back to the church for another meal with the members and after, went for a walk.

JaMeS’ NoTeS: Then, tragedy struck. I was walking, MINDING MY OWN BUSINESS, when out of NOWHERE an attack bird swooped down from the heavens and dropped a load all over my pristine UCONN Men’s Swimming hat. Worst. Night. Ever. Also, the food was delicious.


As Dan and James mentioned, we ate at the church and some of us acquired some Mardi Gras "bling."






Then, after dinner, at Sam Simpson’s suggestion, before heading back to the hotel we took a walk down St. Charles Avenue to get some fresh air and to enjoy the 70+ degree evening. (Sorry.)





BTW September Team - here are "your" houses. The owner of the green one is supposed to move in on Friday or Saturday.



Until tomorrow. . . keep praying!