Work Site Visits

Leroy, Roland and Eric toured the houses that FPCNO is working on Saturday morning, paying special attention to Royden and Lina's and Yolanda's houses. These are the two we will concentrate on and try to complete while we are here. The other work sites include drywall installation, roofing and some smaller, short-term jobs.

The picture is of Lina's new kitchen. Debbie and Eric began this home in March with Roland's help. They added the new roof that is visible in the photo on the far left. Other work remaining includes finishing installation of the baseboard, painting the walls, hanging a door, grouting and sealing the new tile and completing the bathrooms.

On Sunday we returned to our two main work sites with the lead builders: Seth Honeyman for Royden and Lina's home and Ron Pedersen for Yolanda's. They did work throughs and later spoke with Leroy about their respective houses.

At supper we self-selected ourselves onto work teams for these two places, and, despite the dire forecasts for rainy weather, began planning for our first day on the job. We have alternate plans if the rain descends on us. Please keep us in your prayers as we begin tomorrow morning.

Patch Work

First Presbyterian Church has a "Pumpkin Patch" in the field adjacent to the building. The work and profits are being shared between the Child Development Program (nursery/daycare) and the church. Such cooperation in the "Patch" benefits both groups. In fact, cooperation is what really keeps this rebuilding ministry and so many other things in life going along well.

Teamwork in rebuilding is cooperation. One volunteer team picking up where another left off is cooperation. Think of all the other places this appears: homeowners who have been helped and who then assist others; companies and organizations who donate tools and materials, or allow employees time off to help.... One of our dreams is to plant the seeds of cooperation so that it's fruits may flourish in all the Patches of our lives and in every life we touch.

And as one of our pastor friends says almost every week at the close of the service, "May it be so for you and for me."

Advance Team Arrives

Eric, Debbie, Roland and George will all be in NOLA today to make preparations for the reminder of our first week's team. In some places, things are still about the same, rebuilt homes and barely touched places stand side by side. First Presbyterian continues to work with families who have very limited resources to enable them to return to their own homes. We are in the process of deciding and gathering materials for the projects that we will be working on this first week. Daily photos, we hope, will be posted.

Two Weeks to Go!

We're counting down the days until we start helping with the rebuilding in NOLA being led by Cliff Nunn and Leroy Harbauer at the First Presbyterian Church, 5401 S. Claiborne Avenue, New Orleans.

Last week we had some increases and decreases in our volunteer numbers, but now I think the numbers have settled down. Our average volunteer week will be 22 persons, and we will be sharing the building with just one other group, that one from Falls Church, VA.

We still do not have a firm count on the money we will donate. It really depends on whether or not the Synod Grant we applied for comes through. With it we should be at about the $10k level; without it we will be around $7k. Either way we hope to be prove ourselves good stewards of the funds given by working hard at our tasks and helping families return to their homes.

Three Weeks to Go

Team Meeting Reminder: Saturday, September 28th, at 10 AM, in Bethany Presbyterian Church of Menands. This will give most team members an opportunity to meet one another, prior to our re-building work beginning on the 22nd.

Our NOLA Challenge: Leroy Harbauer has asked us to work on both Royden & Lina's home near the Dental School and Yolanda's home closer to Lake Pointchatrain. These two homes are approaching completion, but a great deal of finishing work remains. Leroy said the plumbing and AC work should be completed next week.

Katrina Fund Update: Because we have been away, I'm uncertain of the actual total, but from the emails I have read our rebuilding fund is in neighborhood of $4,700. If we can bring a total of $7,000 with us, First Presbyterian should have the financial resources to complete these two homes described above.

Katrina Fund Status

As August ends, our Katrina Fund stands at the $4,193 level. Additional contributions keep coming from a variety of sources. All of this money will be used to purchase construction materials through the rebuilding ministry of First Presbyterian Church NOLA to help families return to their homes in the New Orleans area. Bethany Presbyterian Church in Menands maintains this account for us. Donations of any size can be sent at any time; please put "Katrina Fund" on the memo line. The address for Bethany is 21 Lyon Avenue, Menands, NY 12204.

Seven Weeks to Go

We now know where we will begin our work: finishing Royden and Lina's home. It's pictured on the upper left, after we replaced the roof in late March. Leroy's estimate is that it will take about$20,000 to complete this. If we get done in a timely fashion, Leroy has assured us that there are plenty of other houses.

Quick Notes: Please remember to contact Rose Ann for t-shirts; Please plan on joining us for a team meeting Sat., Sept. 29th, at 10 AM, at Bethany Presbyterian Church in Menands.

Week One: Gary F.; Seth H.; Ron & Peg P.; Ted & Rae Louise T.; Kevin M.; Tom & JoEllen P.; Eric & Debbie F.; Peter & Linda F.; George C.; Marcia S.; Johnny R.; Roland F.; Todd C; Jeff W+5.

Week Two: Ron & Peg P.; Seth H.; Tom & JoEllen P.; Marvin S.; Eric & Debbie F.; Ted & Rae Louise T.; Peter & Linda F.; George C.; Marcia S.; Roland F.; Kevin M.

Week Three: Ted & Rae Louise T.; Ron & Peg P.; Tom & JoEllen P.; Seth H.; Eric & Debbie F.; Peter & Linda F.; George C.; Marcia S.; Roland F.; Gene & Ellie R.; Liz M.; Tim C.