We're baaaack.......!

Dinner at Camp Restore has been served and team trivia has just completed. It’s a competitive group! The teams that didn’t finish on top are assigned to entertain the dining room for 10-15 minutes before dinner – variety show style…this is going to get good! 

God wrapped His loving arms around us and safe travel was enjoyed by all. Camp Restore looks good -- lots of work has been done to prepare lodging in the school for a new year of volunteers.  

We were greeted at Trinity with a wonderful surprise -- the glass wall has been installed in the sanctuary.  The sanctuary is now a window to the world....it's inspiring!  HVAC, electrical, and plumbing have taken HUGE steps forward and we are ready to start insulating tomorrow morning and have the goal of drywalling the second floor before leaving on Friday.

Our prayers are with all of you.

The sound of staple hammers buzzed through Trinity today, as the second floor was almost completely insulated.  All that truly remains is the balcony area.....which means the second floor will soon be ready for drywall...and drywall we did!!  It began on the first floor today in several locations -- some hard to reach places proved a little challenging, which made hanging a sheet with a perfect cut all the sweeter.  The electrical crew continues to run miles of wire before the walls and ceilings are shut.

Outreach began with volunteers canvassing the neighborhood with fliers inviting folks to a food distribution on Thursday and free coffee starting tomorrow.  Bill Frenk reports that the response has been very positive, so we look forward to meeting more of the Trinity neighbors on Thursday.  Uncle Bill's coffee stand was painted today and is ready to go!

Dinner was followed by a very entertaining skit from the Pink Flamingos -- complete with The Macarena -- be sure to check out the pictures.  The crowd went wild!  Devotions followed and Pastor Baerwolf reminded us of our "able God".....when we are challenged, our God is able and enables us.

Many are in bed at this writing.....the rest heading that way soon, as tomorrow will be a full day.  Enjoy the pics -- more tomorrow.

Trinity has walls.....and complete rooms! Crews put the choir loft to good use as they hoisted 4'x12' pieces of drywall straight up into the air to be received by other crew members standing in the choir loft one story up -- it was quite an operation (see pics).  The cavities between 2x4's have been stuffed with insulation and drywall now hangs over those studs.  No longer can we walk between rooms by simply squeezing between framing pieces -- we actually have to use the doorway.  It's been over six years since this church has seen DRY drywall.....and it's beautiful.  

Grandpa Bill's coffee stand brought several visitors to Trinity today, many of whom shared their stories of faith, "the storm," and growing up and aging in New Orleans.  Listening is one of God's greatest gifts to us and many volunteers put that skill to good use today.

The electrical crew continues to amaze and we are thankful for their specific skill set.  The carpentry crew is floating around the building finishing up many projects that were put on hold until just the right people were here to take care of them.

We have been engaged in team building/people mixing activities since arriving on Sunday night including skits, cheers, and fact finding missions.  Tonight's performance by the Yellow Team did not disappoint.....Martin Luther was even here!

Members of the Batavia Praise Team closed our evening devotion singing "Amazing Grace - My Chains are Gone" as we all quietly reflected on the day, prayed for tomorrow, and for each of you.

Peace.

What other venues do you find 19 – 74 year olds working together obliviously to age? Where else do you find people moving from task to task without reservation simply because someone needs help? Mission trips resemble family….members of the whole working together with a common purpose-- in seamless sync with one another. The rhythm of this 40 member family of God is constant and steady…we move together as a unit….we recognize the end goal is 87 days away and we have bowed our collective heads in prayers of strength to continue moving His kingdom forward. We are one in the body of Christ and the life blood of Trinity.

More bare studs became walls and ceilings today as the drywall crews became creative in mastering the unique (sometimes tricky) cuts that are the Trinity skeleton. The electrical crew is spending an increasing amount of time at the main panels—the brains of the building—a good sign that things will soon be “live.” The last of the original fixtures from pre-Katrina Trinity were dismantled today – the sanctuary ceiling fans. Some of the mounting hardware will be recycled as the new fans are installed in the future.

Team members picked a Ford Explorer full of fruit today in preparation for the food distribution tomorrow. Those attending the distribution will find bread, fresh produce, and other pantry staples from which to choose. Thanks to Kathy from Camp Restore for making all the arrangements with local merchants and distributors.

Grandpa Bill’s coffee stand made its way to the side of the building and became a gathering place for pedestrian and drive-by coffee drinkers. Higher visibility made for a busy day for G’pa Bill and the Billette’s!

Greater New Orleans served as dinner host this evening, as we spent the night away from camp enjoying the rich culture of New Orleans.

The sunshine was beautiful today…more expected tomorrow. Please continue to pray for the restoration efforts, those attending the food distribution tomorrow, and all the people of the Lower Ninth. We will pray for our loved ones back home as the snow moves in to Illinois (does it ever snow in Austin?). 

Busy day at Trinity.....drywalling upstairs is nearly complete -- just the stairs left to finish.  The transformation is amazing.  You can see before (Oct 2011) and after pics on the home page of this site.  

The HVAC is nearing completion, as the air handlers were hooked up today.  The electrical panels have been "dressed" with circuit breakers and oh....we are so close to throwing the switch!

The food distribution was a HUGE success -- wonderful to see so many from the area on the grounds at Trinity.  Grandpa Bill had another busy day at the coffee stand with many stopping by to see Trinity and enjoy a hot cup of java.

The green team had a wonderful skit tonight that culminated in a dance train to the tune of Oh When the Saints Come Marching In.  (There will be pics as soon as we can get enough bandwidth to post.)

It has been a jam-packed week and we are looking foward to a good night's sleep.....and a hotel bed and big, hot shower tomorrow!  We close out tomorrow with a pizza lunch at Trinity followed by closing devotions.  Soon after we will return tools to Camp Restore and then "drive dirty" to that hot shower at the Fairfield in Southaven, MS.

We've seen pics of the snow up north....hope you all are safe and staying warm.  Know that our bodies may be tired, but our spirits are soaring as we begin to wrap a bow around another memorable week with great people here in New Orleans.  To God be the glory!

It's a wrap.....at least for this week.  

All have arrived in Southaven, MS this evening and are enjoying BIG, HOT showers and BIG, COMFY beds.  It's been a wonderful week with huge progress made at Trinity.  Tons of physically demanding work complete… making that BIG, HOT shower all the more inviting.  90% of the drywall is complete…a team from Texas will be in over the weekend and should finish it up. 95% of the electrical has been roughed and our Master Electrician from Texas, Bob, will monitor the progress and be back a few more times before Easter to finish things up. And once again this morning, Grandpa Bill’s coffee stand was a hit in the neighborhood. The outreach generated from the stand this week has been tremendous and has helped to put Trinity back on the map. Great idea, Bill – thanks for sharing it with all of us and the Lower Ninth!

Trinity looks completely different than it did when we first opened the doors on Sunday evening….certainly different than it did six years ago when the doors were blown open by the flooding. There were times when one could look at this project and have difficulty seeing the end….not now. Steve Simpson could see it all along and has done a remarkable job of sharing that vision with others and leading this project to completion. Well done, good and faithful servant.

We are headed home to the snow and our loved ones in the morning…headed home somehow changed by our experience in the Lower Ninth. Each of our stories unique…each of us touched in different ways by the people and the work.

Special thanks to Tony Mariano for all his hard work in coordinating this trip…and to Pastor Baerwolf for leading devotions, including today’s with the MLK parade in the background – not quite sure how he planned the timing of that! Thanks to Matt and Doug for doing so much pre-work so we could hit the ground running on Monday morning.  Special thanks as well to Bob & John from Texas who led the electrical team, and thanks to the Praise Team from Batavia for leading music all week. Thanks to each and every team member for all your contributions to the success of this trip. And finally, thanks Steve…thanks for all you have done and encouraging each of us to walk beside you in this journey.

Until we gather again, peace, my friends.