Sunday, February 17,2008

Sunday, February 17, 2008

We are on our way home from New Orleans, having slept and worshiped again this morning in Chattanooga, TN. The Rivermont Presbyterian Church members were eager to hear about our week in New Orleans, as they had sent us off just a week ago with prayers and well wishes. They also extended a warm invitation to stop over again in the future.

Our last day on the job (Friday) was interrupted with rain about 2 p.m., but we were pleased with all that was accomplished in the week. It was good to hear, also, that Seth, our Habitat supervisor, was pleased with the progress made. The five homes can now be secured to protect from vandalism, as all the windows and doors are in, more of the siding was finished, outside trim was put up, and baffles which serve as barriers to prevent blown-in insulation from escaping, were put in place by the ‘closet blockers turned bafflers.’ All in all, it was a very productive and satisfying week, but there is much, much more to be done just in this little Ferry Place ‘village’ of 14 homes.

St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church (SCAPC) partnered with Habitat for Humanity in November 2007 and has committed the resources for building all the homes to be built here. Each home costs about $125,000 and is sold to the qualifying Habitat for Humanity homeowner for $75,000 with the mortgage being about $600 per month. As mortgage money comes in, other homes will be financed. Several of the prospective homeowners spoke of the great blessing this was to them, as rents in apartments had often doubled after renovations, making them out of reach on their incomes.

The Session of SCAPC first committed to hosting groups in November 2005 and has committed to continue hosting through 2010. The calendar is full through this year and is beginning to fill for 2009. Our group believes WV Presbytery should send another group next year and many expressed interest in returning themselves.

This year’s group included: Margaret Bolt, John and Sandra Bowles, Frank and Genene Gourley, George Lilley and Mavis Grant-Lilley, Frank and Joan Mansell, Mark Miller, Mary Quick, Alan Thomas, Joy Wright, and Lucy Youngblood. Please talk to us about our experiences and consider if you might be called to make such a trip. We were amazed at the diversity of skills that were recognized and warmly received – from sweeping floors, supporting ladders, and picking up nails to laying shingles, putting in windows and doors, and cutting and installing siding. There’s opportunity for everyone to help Restore Hope in New Orleans (or elsewhere.)