Work Day 2

It was an even earlier morning than usual because the concrete truck was scheduled to arrive at 7:30 a.m.

But of course, it didn't arrive at 7:30 and so various forms of yoga, calisthenics and other activities meant to get the blood flowing began.

Today’s bloggers are Lexi Boutsikoudis, Osbyn Sandoval & Matt Crohan:

Lexi

Day two, finally the cement arrived!!  After hours of waiting yesterday all of our prayers were answered when we saw the cement truck coming down the road.

As we rejoiced at its sight we soon realized that spreading cement isn’t as easy as we were hoping.  Although it was hard work we had a lot of fun throughout the process.  This task really forced us to work together the entire time.  We spread the cement all together in the frame and then had to make sure it was even.  

We were (not so) soon relieved of our cement duties when the “Mobile Loaves and Fishes” truck pulled up.

I wasn’t so sure what was happening until I heard signs of celebration that food has arrived.  Our lunches consisted of various items, the most interesting being the boiled egg that was thrown in with the peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, Cheetos and cookies.  Our lunch was a great break and good time to relax and shield ourselves from the sun beating down on us.

Osbyn

After our lunch we finished with the cement and left the worksite to move onto the next work site.  However before we left the first work site we got the opportunity to meet the owner of this soon to be finished marvelous house.  His name is Latoure

and he and his wife have a six-year-old daughter whose bedroom is going to be pink.  The look on his face expressed all different emotions.  We sensed that he was grateful for everything that we did for him and his house.  The opportunity to see this man’s expressions gave us the greatest satisfaction and we finally came to the realization that these people truly are good people that cherish everything we are doing for them.  After we finished taking pictures with the homeowner in front of his soon to be completed house

we moved to our original house to finish the outside siding and painting.  We worked hard and we saw difficulties in this work.  It got hot and some of the work was hard, however we all pushed through and we made sure to keep each other up.  Teamwork was our best friend today.  We didn’t do anything on our own, because you can never truly do anything on our own, we always need a helping hand that will keep us from falling into the difficulties of the work.  This was the major lesson that for the most part everyone experienced.  This idea that we got from the Morning Watch, about how our neighbors are always there to help and we are there to help them was expressed through everyone’s work and teamwork.

Matt

Teamwork is an amazing concept.  Not only within our FPC group but with the locals who come to help and the other groups who are here for the same reason as we are.   This being my 3^rd year is a truly heart warming thought for me and I could not be happier with the group and the memories we are creating.  The work at times is challenging but we get through it with smiles on our faces and love in our hearts.  The group this year is much larger than past years but that makes it larger in spirit and in sense of community.  As we work many cars drive by and the absolute majority of the people slow down just to thank us for the work that we are doing.  To see an entire cities worth of people and whole communities show such appreciation for the work we are doing is just an amazing feeling.  I truly do hope that I can come again in the future and make more memories and rebuild more hope in this truly wonderful, inspiring, and beautiful city.  

  

After lunch David took us on a "mystery road trip" - to Rodney's Sno-Balls to savor a New Orleans tradition.

And where, if you chose not to have a sno-ball or ice cream, Pigs Lips - yes, you read that correctly -  could be had for $1.

And on that note . . . until tomorrow.

Please pray hard tomorrow, it's our "hump day."