Pictures from Day 2 of Work

As I write this from the French Quarter of New Orleans, I can't think of anything to tell you except that tonight, Tammie, Lorraine, Glen, Vicki, Isaac and I are going to Snug Harbor to hear Delfeayo Marsalis play there. More reports tomorrow. For now, here are the few pictures from yesterday that aren't blurry.

This post is by Pastor Glen

This morning we decided to go straight to Audrey's house in the hope of avoiding a steady rain and of being able to do some painting (primering). We were able to get two hours or so in before the rain came. Today it has rained steadily, more like rain in Renton than the 2-inches-in-forty-minutes we saw the other day.
We are thankful that we are able to work and to visit and to eat with Audrey and with her grandson. Yesterday she told us about getting on a bus with her family members after hurricane Katrina and being taken to the Astrodome, of the kind care they received there, and of some of the painful pieces of that time- seeing parentsand children being separated--some of the events that we saw on CNN almost five years ago.
Tuesday evening's Bible study was led by Tammie, with music from St John members Lionel and Linda and Chantelle. We had a beautiful dinner prepared by Deborah, which followed the beautiful lunch which Audrey made for us. Tonight we will be back in church for "Hour of Power"- an opportunity for people (including us, if we are moved to do so) to name things for which we are thankful.
I am thankful for the welcome we are having, for the opportunity to work side by side with Audrey, for those whom we have met at St John, for everyone in our group, for the opportunity to see Bill J. in Biloxi tomorrow, and for bringing us this far
and walking with us through this week. Glen A

First Day o' Work

Yesterday we started work on Miss Audrey's house. All we could really do was put primer on the outsides of the house, but we did a lot of that. At the Lowe's, we got big wood and metal sticks that you can attach like a roller or brush to, so you can reach up higher. We were working really hard on trying to finish the one side of it, but then there was a HUGE wind and we had to leave. Afterwards, we went to church for the Bible Study that my dad led. Later, we talked with some of the kids from St. John.My mom was really happy because she got to hold the little 1-year-old of one of the members of St. John.

Today we are going back to work priming Miss Audrey's house, so hopefully there won't be any more huge winds. Just a breeze would be nice!

-Isabel

Visiting

6-28-10
We got to experience a great thunder and lightning show today with a huge downpour. I loved it! It's nothing like the wimpy storms we have in Washington.

I had the opportunity to visit a few people with Pastor Bruce. One woman in particular really touched my heart. She was diagnosed on 2004 with cancer in her neck and then underwent radiation and chemotherapy. The radiation created inflammation in her neck which made breathing difficult. Then she had a tracheostomy placed. With the tracheostomy in place she was unable to eat anything, so a feeding tube was placed. Then came August 2005 and Katrina. She now had to travel to Baton Rouge to access the medical available to her, as healthcare professionals in New Orleans were difficult to find. The radiation had caused her esophagus to close due to scar tissue. She made many attempts to be seen in Baton Rouge to have the esophagus surgically opened and appointments were cancelled because no one was available to see her. She was finally seen after 9 months and was then told nothing could be done to open the scar tissue. She is now stuck with a tracheostomy and feeding tube for the rest of her life and is unable to eat or drink anything. I feel like the healthcare community really failed her. She, amazingly, holds on to the hope that she will be able to eat red beans and rice with Pastor Bruce again.
Vicki

Miss Audrey and her House

Yesterday, all present CCLC workers(Bill and Lorraine have yet to arrive) went to visit Miss Audrey, whose house we will be working on. The first thing we can do is do some primer on the outside of her house. So today, we went to the Community Cafe in the French Quarter, and then we are going to Home Depot to get primer and brushes and things.

On a different note, I don't think we will run out of cold things to drink this week, because we went to the closest Winn-Dixie yesterday and got at least 100 bottles of water, Gatorade, etc. Also, when we met Miss Audrey in church yesterday, she said that she would have a bunch of cold stuff for us. There isn't much chance for dehydration, as far as I can tell. 8*D

-Isabel

We are Here!

Yesterday the Aabergs arrived by car in the afternoon and were immediately greeted by Pastor Bruce Davenport. Later that night, Tammie flew in and we all went to dinner. But before that, Pastor Bruce gave us the tour of the neighborhood. Pastor Bruce also introduced Vicki to a tan Cadillac-which she drove around the neighborhood. While driving in the church van with Pastor Bruce, we learned two ways to tell native new Orleanians from tourists: Locals don't wear seat belts. Or signal.

Today, we are all going to St. John's Baptist Church in the morning.
See you next time, blog readers!