first experiences

Where to begin.......

Wont touch on the ride too much, but I do have to say the group that I am fortunate enoug to travel with is both fun and considerate. Not "too" many struggles on the way down. :p

Saturday night we got to our house, and I know the first thing that ran through my head when we were driving through the 9th Ward to get to the Common Ground house that we were staying at I immediately saw how bare the place was. Even in he dark you knew something was missing. Then the next morning we went on a drive tour around the 9th Ward on our way to church and thats when the little drive last night came into perspective. The empty lots, which seeing pictures back before the hurricane were portrayed as being full and lively with culture, were empty and full of uncut grass. The majority of the houses, other than the Brad Pitt houses, were "shacks" or houses that people were trying to forget or move back into. Next we went to the church service. This was one of my two "highest" points of the trip. The service and sermon were "deep" and powerful. The congregation took us in with open arms and treated us like one of their own. The thing I noticed the most was that the congregation wanted to be there. You sometimes see, and feel (yes personally) that you just go to go or you are forced to and get nothing out of it....but here you definitly got the feeling that everyone there enjoyed and needed a sunday service to lift their spirits and get through the week....it definitly started off mine in the right way. The second, and maybe most persuading high point were the people. Throughout our travels Saturday night at the restaurants or Sunday and Monday the people's hospitality have just seemed different and more meaningful down here. Sometimes I think it is not hard for people to tell that we are tourists in a way, and maybe since we are they appreciate us in a different way, but I think regardless they are very nice people...generally. Our first experience in New Orleans area was going to Dots Diner. The service was OUTSTANDING. This just carried over into the church service and random people on the street. THe parade was awesome and interesting. Its one of those things were at some points I was "uncomfortable ha", but yet I can't get enough of the culture that was going around and I can't wait to go back. Between the food, music, and just fellowship between complete strangers. Awesome!

Monday we started our work. We planted about 400 or so trees near the city park. The leaders were worked with shared that same hospitality. Overall its going to be a great, fullfilling, and fun week....