Hello friends and family:
We had another good and productive day - after we got over the fact that we had experienced a tornado just a few blocks away. After the relief of knowing that we were all OK came the realization that 3 people had died, one just a few blocks away. The wind picked up her FEMA trailer. Remember all of the pictures after hurricane Katrina and the markings on the homes indicating that they had been inspected, etc.? Well, they are now going around putting up new markings on homes hit by the tornado. Fr. Doug and Sr. Kathleen spent the day going from street to street checking up on neighbors - whether they are parishioners or not. They were both overcome with emotion of the destruction and the hurt being experienced by all. They questioned as to how much more "their people" could take. Tonight's evening prayer included prayers of petitions for their continued strength.
Catholic Telegraph in New Orleans is sending out someone to talk with us and go with some of our crews to the work sites. At the same time we hear that crews from the Louisiana electric company are being sent to the greater Cincinnati area to help US with the power lines that are down because of the ice storms you are experiencing. We are also keeping all of you in our prayers. I won't tell you that we have had relatively warm weather, although windy.
Here are some comments from participants of Project Hope to share with you tonight:
"It's a wonderful feeling to work with a team to complete the painting of several rooms of a house. The individuals challenge each other to paint excellently. We completed a house for a gem of a lady who was scammed $143,000. It was a privilege. She said the "water" was devastating, but the rip-off was even worse. It's hard work but so gratifying! Sally H
"Our team has spent the past 2 days laying ceramic tile at Leon & Vivien Gautier's house. They are a lovely couple who have lived in their house for 57 years. It's so wonderful to see this couple excited to move back into their home despite everything that has happened. We are truly blessed to be doing this work!
On another note, today was a strange day. We were awakened at 2:30 a.m. by a very strong storm. For me, the sounds were eerily similar to the tornado that went over our house in 1998. Sure enough, it turned out that a tornado touched down just a few blocks away. The devastation was horrible. To see this damage on top of the hurricane damage was truly unbelievable. Our hearts go out to these people in Ponchartrain Park. They are such strong people and we will keep them in our prayers. We know that they will overcome this, too.
Jeanne B"
"My week here is about 1/3 over. It has been good so far. Sunday, I had the opportunity to see downtown New Orleans to celebrate Mardi Gras and while it was fun, it was deceiving because I think that is how most people might think New Orleans is, but it is not. The homeowner of my work project drove me through the lower 9th ward today on the way to Home Depot and it is still so devastated! Even Wal-Mart hasn't reopened yet! Every day on our way to our work site, we pass by a neighborhood of section 8 housing that was almost finished being built before it was damaged by the hurricane. It was to be a model for subsidized housing. What a loss! It was going to be a community of all ages - now what?
Our work has been good. Slow, but methodical. I am confident we will leave her in better shape, closer to moving in with hour 12 year old daughter. I asked her how her daughter was doing and she said "good". She turns 13 in April and was talking to her mom about her 13th birthday party - yes- life does go on!
Even though we are working through one tragedy, the tornado overnight presented difficulties again for these weary people. Can they be compared to the Israelites wandering the desert for 40 years? Who knows? I am very glad I came down and will be a different person when I return. Kathy S.
"I am overwhelmed! I have responded to emergencies all of my adult life but I cannot comprehend the scale of this tragedy. Our work site is about 10 minutes away by car. In those ten minutes I witness destruction to homes, apartments, and businesses. It is overwhelming - so much loss. As we drive into the neighborhood, I see first hand the Urban Search and Rescue marking on each of the searched homes. Many are still vacant but many have FEMA trailers and are in various stages of repair. Our work site is Lorraine's house. We walked in on Monday with a page long list but as a team we are accomplishing many of the repairs. What wonderful people have come from St. Michael's to help. This morning, in the early AM I awoke to a tremendous rain storm, saw the flashes of lightening and heard the sirens of the storm response - I never worried or said a payer for others. This morning, I awoke to find out that a woman died in a tornado that touched down a short distance from where we were staying. I cannot say how blessed I feel to have been spared however this community was not spared again. This has been a week of conflicting emotions - happy that we are making a difference on a small scale but depressing in all that still needs to be done. Why has our country forgotten this area? Ed J.
We had another good and productive day - after we got over the fact that we had experienced a tornado just a few blocks away. After the relief of knowing that we were all OK came the realization that 3 people had died, one just a few blocks away. The wind picked up her FEMA trailer. Remember all of the pictures after hurricane Katrina and the markings on the homes indicating that they had been inspected, etc.? Well, they are now going around putting up new markings on homes hit by the tornado. Fr. Doug and Sr. Kathleen spent the day going from street to street checking up on neighbors - whether they are parishioners or not. They were both overcome with emotion of the destruction and the hurt being experienced by all. They questioned as to how much more "their people" could take. Tonight's evening prayer included prayers of petitions for their continued strength.
Catholic Telegraph in New Orleans is sending out someone to talk with us and go with some of our crews to the work sites. At the same time we hear that crews from the Louisiana electric company are being sent to the greater Cincinnati area to help US with the power lines that are down because of the ice storms you are experiencing. We are also keeping all of you in our prayers. I won't tell you that we have had relatively warm weather, although windy.
Here are some comments from participants of Project Hope to share with you tonight:
"It's a wonderful feeling to work with a team to complete the painting of several rooms of a house. The individuals challenge each other to paint excellently. We completed a house for a gem of a lady who was scammed $143,000. It was a privilege. She said the "water" was devastating, but the rip-off was even worse. It's hard work but so gratifying! Sally H
"Our team has spent the past 2 days laying ceramic tile at Leon & Vivien Gautier's house. They are a lovely couple who have lived in their house for 57 years. It's so wonderful to see this couple excited to move back into their home despite everything that has happened. We are truly blessed to be doing this work!
On another note, today was a strange day. We were awakened at 2:30 a.m. by a very strong storm. For me, the sounds were eerily similar to the tornado that went over our house in 1998. Sure enough, it turned out that a tornado touched down just a few blocks away. The devastation was horrible. To see this damage on top of the hurricane damage was truly unbelievable. Our hearts go out to these people in Ponchartrain Park. They are such strong people and we will keep them in our prayers. We know that they will overcome this, too.
Jeanne B"
"My week here is about 1/3 over. It has been good so far. Sunday, I had the opportunity to see downtown New Orleans to celebrate Mardi Gras and while it was fun, it was deceiving because I think that is how most people might think New Orleans is, but it is not. The homeowner of my work project drove me through the lower 9th ward today on the way to Home Depot and it is still so devastated! Even Wal-Mart hasn't reopened yet! Every day on our way to our work site, we pass by a neighborhood of section 8 housing that was almost finished being built before it was damaged by the hurricane. It was to be a model for subsidized housing. What a loss! It was going to be a community of all ages - now what?
Our work has been good. Slow, but methodical. I am confident we will leave her in better shape, closer to moving in with hour 12 year old daughter. I asked her how her daughter was doing and she said "good". She turns 13 in April and was talking to her mom about her 13th birthday party - yes- life does go on!
Even though we are working through one tragedy, the tornado overnight presented difficulties again for these weary people. Can they be compared to the Israelites wandering the desert for 40 years? Who knows? I am very glad I came down and will be a different person when I return. Kathy S.
"I am overwhelmed! I have responded to emergencies all of my adult life but I cannot comprehend the scale of this tragedy. Our work site is about 10 minutes away by car. In those ten minutes I witness destruction to homes, apartments, and businesses. It is overwhelming - so much loss. As we drive into the neighborhood, I see first hand the Urban Search and Rescue marking on each of the searched homes. Many are still vacant but many have FEMA trailers and are in various stages of repair. Our work site is Lorraine's house. We walked in on Monday with a page long list but as a team we are accomplishing many of the repairs. What wonderful people have come from St. Michael's to help. This morning, in the early AM I awoke to a tremendous rain storm, saw the flashes of lightening and heard the sirens of the storm response - I never worried or said a payer for others. This morning, I awoke to find out that a woman died in a tornado that touched down a short distance from where we were staying. I cannot say how blessed I feel to have been spared however this community was not spared again. This has been a week of conflicting emotions - happy that we are making a difference on a small scale but depressing in all that still needs to be done. Why has our country forgotten this area? Ed J.
posted by Lori Anne at 10:12 PM
3 Comments:
Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Thanks for the suprise candy,Mom!
We have been following your blog religiously. You are doing such great work. The Holy Spirit is flowing through each one of you. . .even when you have conflicting emotions. The teens got together to deliver Valentine Angels today, and we were talking about how great it was that you are down there. Please know that we continue to keep you in our prayers. (Celebrate some Mardi Gras for us!)
Love,
Lori Anne
Good words.
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