We've arrived!

Well after an 18 hour van drive (with the exception of a stop over in East St. Louis to see Sister Marge and get a good night's rest at the Hubbard House) we have made it to New Orleans! Driving in I may have missed our turn off on I-10 which caused us to take a scenic route over the Mississippi river and back, although it took us a little bit out of the way it was a very beautiful view.

It's hard to believe that 5 years have already passed since this city was under water. We are staying in the 9th ward and as we drove in to the 9th it was clear that there is still much damage to recover from. We have not had our orientation yet from the folks at Common Ground Relief, but heard that only 25% of the neighborhood has been able to return. The Brad Pitt Make it Right Foundation headquarters is located accross the street from where we are staying and many of the houses around us have been built through his foundation, however the homes cost upwards to $250,000 compared to the $50,000 homes that used to sit on these vacant lots. They are all made to eco-friendly standards, painted in bright funky colors with very modern architectual appeal. Not what you would typically think of as a "New Orleans" home. We'll be sure to post some photos.

The people of Common Ground Relief are very chill and relaxed, we are looking forward to working with them! Tomorrow we've got a big day ahead of us with a driving tour, Church at Bethlehem Lutheran, a tour of the Mardi Gras Museum and then spending the afternoon in the French Quarter. Stay tuned for more!