Before leaving, the team cleaned the house. They wanted to leave it better than we found it. While waiting for last minute details, the team had pop tarts on the porch.

There was time for one more team picture before we left. This is a very special group of people.

We stopped at a Waffle House for “second breakfast” after we were down the road a way, and late in the afternoon we stopped in Memphis at a BBQ place to meet John for a late lunch / early supper. It was great to see John! He has been a mission team member in the past and we look forward to his joining us again when he is able.

Where ever we stopped, the guys had extra energy to run off.

Russell titled that “Noah’s brush with death” while I favored “You can’t do anything without the support of your team.” Though you can see me standing off to the side *praying* no one breaks anything!!

We are very grateful for God’s watchful care over all aspects of our trip. The driving, the stopping, the working, the playing. He was good to us in every way, as He always is. We thank you, too, for all your prayers on our behalf. When you support us in prayer, you are a part of the team. Thank you!

~~Rhonda

Waiting for breakfast…

Each team member had assignments…sometimes it was cleaning the bathroom, sometimes it was washing out the coolers, sometimes it was getting water and lemonade ready to take to the site for the day.

Eggs, biscuits and gravy, and fruit…a good start to the day.

Egyptian Rat Killer…a way to pass the time while waiting to leave for the site.

They look clean and fresh…but this is just the beginning of the work day.

Hauling in the last load of drywall.

Whew! Glad that’s done!

The team worked hard to fit as much drywall as they could this morning. They had to leave a few small places unfinished but for the most part, they were able to finish Gloria’s house.

Dave and Christopher finished putting in the last of the insulation,

Talk about tight spaces!

Who needs to stand on a ladder to screw drywall to the ceiling when you have Caleb around?

The team signed a lintel in Gloria’s home. We are proud of the work they did there!

Stretch, Brooke!

Signed by everyone.

Not so fresh and clean AFTER work…but happy.

An anonymous note on a scrap of drywall…anyone recognize the handwriting?

Gloria is SO happy with the work done for her this week. She was a bit overwhelmed. We want her to know that we did this for her because the love of Christ compels us. Thank you for your prayers for Gloria, for her son Kermit, and for her home. May God bless them with many happy years there.

Gloria and her team (with Russell behind the camera). We get two thumbs up from Gloria!

Precious helping hands.

The team quit at noon today, so they could do an afternoon of site seeing. They traveled by trolley to the French Quarter.

Beignet…powdered sugar goodness…a traditional New Orleans treat.

Laurie’s brother Todd and his fiancee Terah brought a gift of crawfish to the team this evening. Terah is from New Orleans and she wanted to tell the team thank you for the work they have done for Gloria and the community.

The team ate 30 of the 37 pounds of crawfish…plus the sausage, potatoes and corn on the cob! What a feast!

Terah showed us how to open the crawfish and extract the goodies.

Crawfish fingers!

Some of the team members took some time to clean crawfish for Uncle Gary.

Mmmmmm, mmmmm, mmmmm!

Liz said she had two or three crawfish thirty years ago and that was enough for her. Adam had her kiss one, just for fun.

Thank you for all the prayers you have offered on our behalf and for the work being done here. There is much left to do. Please continue to pray for New Orleans and the people living here.

~~Rhonda

Friday Devotions – John 15:8-17

OK, so it’s Friday. We have done some work, we have gotten our hands dirty Has it been fruitful? What would you say is the fruit?

Have you proven that you are disciples of Christ? How do we prove that?

Can we prove it in one day’s work, or two, or three? What do you think?

We have been serving all week, working hard, maybe serving other people that we don’t even know or haven’t even met, and we have also been serving each other. Who, on our team, has served you this week with the love of God? Take some time in prayer to praise God for that person and to pray for that person. Take some time in prayer and ask God to open doors of service for you in the coming week as we head home.

Breakfast casserole, monkey bread, cantaloupe and grapefruit were a hit. The monkey bread was practically inhaled. The last few pieces went quickly.

The team checks out the mission reports and pictures on the blog.

“Krewe” member.

Brooke sings along with her Ipod on the way to the job site.

Once they got to the job site, it was time to get down to business.

There were no walls in the house when the team began. The bathroom walls were a priority. Now, if it just had a door…

The team taught Gloria to mud today, as they don’t think they will be able to finish all the mudding before we leave on Friday. Gloria was excited to learn this new skill!

Po’ Boy sandwiches were a special treat for today’s noon meal. Most of the team had oyster or shrimp sandwiches. A few were not so adventurous, but everyone enjoyed this delicious lunch. They came in 32″ loaves and were cut into 8″ pieces on the job site. I sat on a bucket and we used a stack of drywall for a very short serving table.

Messy, but delicious!

The boys were enjoying the fresh air outside while they ate lunch and then it began to pour! They had to run for cover!

We met a team this evening, in the home of one of the church members, who are working with Habitat for Humanity. They are putting walls on a foundation and when the rain began, they had no cover. They kept working through the downpour. They said they were already wet and couldn’t get any wetter, so they just kept going. Yeah for them!

The congregation of Redeemer Church, our hosts this week, extended their warm hospitality to us by providing a wonderful meal this evening at the home of Steverson and Bess. Though their house is under renovation (something they began before Katrina), Steverson and Bess opened their home and we had a wonderful time. Thank you for the meal, and thank you, Redeemer, for giving us this opportunity to show Christ’s love by serving the community of New Orleans.

Liz had the opportunity to catch up with a friend from last year’s trip to New Orleans.

The week is winding down and there is some sense of regret over that. We feel we have barely managed to get started. There is so much work to be done here. Many people are still in need. Please pray for the people of this city. And pray for the church of Redeemer as they strive to meet those needs.

~~Rhonda

Thursday Devotion – Ephesians 6:5-9

The context of this passage is about obeying authority, but it also applies to us as we consider service. It forces us to ask some questions.

Why are you here? This seems like a simple question. You are on a mission trip. You came to serve, but why did you come? What were your motivations?

And now that you are here, you have put in three or four days of work already. Are you having fun yet? If the answer is yes, why? Why is it fun? If the answer is now, why aren’t you having fun? Paul is challenging us to serve wholeheartedly for the Lord. Whether cleaning toilets or hanging drywall, we are to “serve wholeheartedly.”

My challenge for you is to consider what it would be like for you to be someone else’s slave. How would you feel day in and day out serving someone who gave you no respect and no pay for your work? Could you serve them with a joyful spirit for God’s glory? It is easy to do it on a mission trip. Can you do it every day no matter what the circumstances?

Take some time in prayer to pray for a humble spirit, that the world would know that we are Christians by our love.

The bunk, the couch, the front porch…all good places for reading and studying God’s Word.

When’s the last time you cooked 24 eggs for breakfast? Liz can say, “This morning!” We love her baked eggs!

Prepraring sandwiches for lunch.

The gang waits for breakfast. Two deacons, a seminary graduate, and a doctor…who would’a guessed??

At the job site, preparing drywall seems an unending task.

But what a difference it’s making in Gloria’s home! Today she said, “It’s beginning to look like a house and not a shed!”

They’re smiling…I can tell…

As the work progresses, there is always someone in the prayer chair. This was Caleb’s turn.

Inside, the work continues.

We are very grateful for the lift!

Gloria holds down two jobs, but she makes time to come by each day and check the progress of her team. Please pray for Gloria, her family, and her home. We are so happy to serve Gloria with our efforts. We want her to know we appreciate the opportunity to show her Christ’s love in this way. Thank you, Gloria!

Talk about an answer to prayer! We didn’t know what we would do with all the construction debris. As the trash pick-up truck went by, someone flagged it down and they agreed, after a little coaxing, to haul it away for us! Thank you, thank you! These three men were an answer to prayer, and they were the highlight of our day! The team gave them thank you gifts of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and snacks.

Adam is planning, God willing, to go to Nairobi this summer as an MTW intern, to work in the slums of the city. Pray for Adam as he seeks financial support and please pray for his safety, for his work, and for his spiritual growth as he seeks God’s will for his life.

The team received another special visitor today. We were happy to see Doug Mallow, Sr. Project Administrator of MTW’s Global Support Ministries, who visited the site this afternoon. By good planning, he arrived just in time for lunch. He later joined us at the mission team house for supper and fellowship. His visit was a great encouragement for our team and for our team leaders.

Future leaders.

I’m sure everyone else is fast asleep by now…time for me to be the same. ‘Night! ~~Rhonda

Wednesday Devotions – Nehemiah 1:1-11, 6:15-16

This passage is a challenge for us to consider the importance of prayer and the power of God to answer prayer, even in the midst of oppostion. Consider areas of your life where you may feel opposition, or are enduring some kind of trial. Have you committed that to God in prayer?

Take some time right now to come before the Lord in prayer. Bring Him all of your burdens. God completed the enitre wall of Jerusalem in 52 days, despite opposition.

God wants to show us His awesome power and blessing. Take some time right now to pray for our work, for those we are serving for those with whom we serve, and for God to be glorified.

By 8:00 a.m., the van and truck are being loaded with provisions and team members.

Most of the young adults on this trip have been on several, if not more, mission trips. They’ve learned a lot about construction, about serving others, and about serving their Lord.

Lunch time gives an opportunity for refreshment and a much needed rest.

Noah wears the latest in footwear fashion.

There is a method to his madness…he needs the added height to reach the coved ceiling in the bedroom.

I see that hand. Mudding is fun, right?

Meanwhile, back at headquarters, as I sat on the porch this afternoon, enjoying a brief rest and the beautiful weather, I saw a red van drive by. I thought, “Wow, that woman looked just like Marilyn!” A few minutes later she walked up the front steps. It WAS Marilyn! She and Roger drove down to visit, to tour the area for a couple of days, and to encourage the team.

We have some special partners on our mission team.

Husband and wife

Father and son

Grandfather and grandson

Not quite as peppy on the way home, but just as happy.

Brooke volunteered to perform the surgery, but, after dinner, Russell lanced an infection on Christopher’s finger. In spite of the way it looks in this picture, Christopher did fine. Marilyn gave loving support, Laurie assisted the good doctor, the girls took pictures, and Brooke said, “Aw, come on, let me do it!” Russell summed it up…”a chance to cut is a chance to heal.” Right, Christopher? (Mom, Christopher is fine and we’ll keep an eye on his finger.)

After the delicate surgery, Russell demonstrated his artistic abilities by forming snowmen with the foaming hand sanitizer. Can’t you tell the onlookers are impressed?

Following dessert (brownies and ice cream), Dave led devotions.

And then, for those young enough to have any energy left, Uno until lights out.

We appreciate your prayers for the work of our mission team. Check in tomorrow evening for another update. ~~Rhonda

Tuesday’s Devotion – 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

What do you think it means to become all things to all men? What could that look like for you? Try to think of one person in your life back home who you could serve, like Paul is challenging us here. Who is it and how do you think you could serve them?

What does Paul mean when he says he “might win some of them.”

What would you say is the main theme of this passage?

On the way to the site, and the team is eager to get started.

Across the street, one house has been repaired, the one next to it is not. You see this same scenario street after street.

The frame around the fireplace was rotted from water damage during the hurricane.

Noah climbed down into the chimney to replace rotted framing.

Our team members have servants’ hearts. No job is too dirty, too hard, or too tiring to tackle.

Lunch break. The weather has been lovely, with temperatures in the lower 70s.

I’m hungry….

The first sheet of drywall goes up.

While waiting for supper, the team members look at yesterday’s pictures.

After a supper of noodles and spaghetti sauce, garlic bread, Italian green beans, and Pear-Walnut Salad, the crew enjoyed a Kings’ Cake, the traditional cake that celebrates the coming of the wise men to worship the Christ Child, the season of Epiphany.

After a time of devotions and prayer, we were entertained by Adam and Shane with a brand new rap song. You’ll have to ask for a command performance!

Please continue to pray for us. Pray for stamina and strength to do the necessary work, pray that the team is able to minister in a way the shows Christ’s love, and pray for Gloria who will go through a wide range of emotions as she watches her home take shape.

Good night, all! ~~Rhonda

We all join together for devotions after supper. I will post them after each day’s update.

Monday’s Devotion / Luke 17:7-10

After reading this passage, consider what it means to be a servant. What does it look like for you to be a servant?

Also to consider in this passage is what Christ means when he says we are unworthy because we have only done what was our duty. What do you think that means?

What does it meant to be worthy? Is it possible to be worthy?

I want us to take a little time each day this week to reflect on what it means to serve for God’s glory. Reflect on what you have learned about yourself, about serving, about your brothers and sisters, about God, about His Word, and how you have seen God glorified today.

Take some time in prayer to cry out to God in thanksgiving for all that Christ has done for you. Ask God to show you how to serve as Christ served and to give you visible opportunities even this week for such service. Pray that God will open your heart and teach things about Himself that you never thought to consider. Pray that this week will refresh your spirit and grow your faith.

Proof we made it into Louisiana!

Thirteen hours after we left home, we were in New Orleans at the home the church has set aside for housing mission teams.

Sunday morning we attended the worship service at Redeemer Presbyterian Church. Redeemer coordinates missions teams who come to work on Katrina damaged homes. It’s a small congregation, undertaking a very large work. They would appreciate your prayers on their behalf.

After lunch…kitchen duty….

…and nap time…

Like father, like son…

Across the street from the mission team’s house is a FEMA trailer in a front yard.

Behind the house, a home with tattered blue tarp, still waiting for roof repair. The house on the far left of this picture, across the driveway from the mission team’s house is owned by someone Laurie went to high school with! Ask her and she’ll tell you all about her visit with Marsha.

The home the team will be rehabbing was bought by the home owner after Katrina. Gloria is doing the work as she is able to save the money needed for the repair. She told us rent is about $1500 to $2000 a month and it is cheaper for her to buy a home than to rent.

While we wait for Gloria to arrive, Gary just has to take a peek…he can’t wait to get started. The team will be insulating and drywalling the home.

The team unloaded the first load of supplies.

This home had two feet of water in it. A lot of work has already been done.

Gloria and the mission team…the “before” picture.

This house will look a lot different at the end of the week. Check back for the “after” picture!

After meeting Gloria, Chuck took us on a tour of some of the damaged areas in New Orleans. You can see those pictures on my flickr site.

We returned to the mission team’s house and a few of the guys repaired the porch swing for Cambria and Mary, our house hostesses. A previous team had overloaded the swing, pulling it out of the ceiling.

A supper of taco soup, cornbread with Bethel apple butter, and chips and veggies hit the spot.

I will up update as I have time. Please check back!

~~Rhonda

I’m in the red jacket and DH is standing behind me.

This is my first mission trip. All the other team members have been on several mission trips, if not many more. It is a joy to be able to serve in this way. As God brings us to mind, please pray for our work, our safety as we travel and serve, and that God will be honored in all we do.

~~Rhonda