I love NOLA!
I love New Orleans.
It's the love I have for this city and its people/culture that continuously draws me back each time. The passion I found within the fabric of this city has created a sense of belonging for me, as each time I return, I find its regrowth ever so amazing. Working with the St Bernard Project was the most rewarding ways I have given back this calendar year.
I returned on the May 2016 trip with One Brick to help rebuild more homes, this time a 90/10 split between a preowned home and then an opportunity home in the splendid city of New Orleans. We worked in the uptown area on the first home site, and spent 4 days prepping walls for the next stages of primer. I don't know if it was the sunshine filled days, the excellent guidance from the Americorps presence that enveloped each day with a positive note that we truly were in the midst of a great movement that will carry on wonderful memories for days to come.
We all worked together, dined together and slept under the same roof for one week harmoniously. Each day, facing a new experience on the work site under those beautiful blue skies and warm temps. I really felt like we were making a difference!
The family we helped was at quite a disadvantage, a disabled retiree couple. In retrospect, they were truly close to settling down - and with our help, that reality got closer and closer to their homecoming which will be in July 2016. Miss Etta was able to meet up with us one sunny afternoon, and spent an hour with us talking about her journey. Unfortunately she suffered from a paralysis from the waist down, so as she spoke to us from her wheel chair - she spoke to us from a place in her heart full of thankfulness and a rejoiced faith that touched each one of our hearts. She was a true inspiration to adversity, and although she could not walk - her positive attitude stood the tallest in our room. She overcame her misfortune throughout this trying time, and reinvented the most positive ora in life with her strength in God. I have never met anyone in this life who took me to a place like this, as she taught me in that hour that we all have so much to be thankful for in our own lives. This experience alone made the trip down to New Orleans complete, she changed my life in the way she gave me strength to see the forest through the trees. I was never so proud to be part of such a wonderful cause, which separated the previous trips I've made down there in this special way. She and her husband Melvin were going to go home after 11 years of waiting. Home was not where they lived, as most of the house they were in was inhabitable. Home was family. Family were all coming home too....
Our purpose in coming down there to New Orleans, was a common thread that we shared. All 20 of us sharing chores, stories, laughter and new friendships. We all were able to overcome the small stuff, as communal living can be challenging - but I would not see it any other way in sharing a space. It all just makes sense once you look at it, and those who were not used to sharing with such a big party, sure left with a new experience as well as sharing their life for that week together.
Thank you One Brick for such a great experience. I will return again, as I really love this city!
Deb