New Orleans, Community: 3 days in NOLA

New Orleans, Community: 3 days in NOLA

We've been in New Orleans for three days now. Each day different from the other as we are constantly on the move. Today we woke up at 5:45am and started working on our house at 7 am. Through the St. Bernard project,  we have the opportunity to serve as volunteers- hoping to build a house for residents that lost their home or are currently displaced due to Hurricane Katrina. after two days of work on the house, i can definitely say we've made some progress. We've sanded, mudded, and tapped the walls, and we also drilled in screws. I am beyond excited for tomorrow morning because we will be meeting Leroy and Lona-the future owners of the house. Even though it's been seven years since Hurricane Katrina hit,  and many communities in New Orleans have been redeveloped, there are still other communities that look abandoned, desolate, and impoverished. Nevertheless, the city is still rebuilding and improvement which I'm sure brings a whole of encouragement and support to the people. There are so many ways to describe this vibrant city filled with so much culture, color and community. Although we have yet to speak to the natives here in New Orleans, I already feel attached. As we drive down Rampart St., passing the French Quarter, the business districts, and the residential areas, I feel this great aura of liveliness and  openness that invites my curiosity to explore the depths of the city. There is so much history in this place, it's almost overwhelming. Every site we visit makes me hungry for knowledge-about this city, the effects of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina and lastly, the community. well, thats all for now. We're going to Good Shepard school to lead a project at the after school enrichment! And tonight, we'll be having dinner with the JVC volunteers. As the folk down here would say... y'all have a good day! :)