Callie Beale Community Service Operation ReNew Orleans

Baptist Student Union March 11 th, 2006, I was given the opportunity to travel to New Orleans. March 11 th, 2006, I was given the opportunity to travel to New Orleans. Our goal in New Orleans was to help the people rebuild their lives and restore hope for a better, stronger future. Our goal in New Orleans was to help the people rebuild their lives and restore hope for a better, stronger future.

FEMA During our week long stay in New Orleans, we operated though FEMA During our week long stay in New Orleans, we operated though FEMA We stayed in the FEMA village, which included We stayed in the FEMA village, which included –Tents with cots to sleep in –Free meals prepared by former casino chefs in New Orleans –Shower houses –Laundry tent –Entertainment tent Link: /event.fema?id=4808 Link: /event.fema?id=4808

Typical Day Working in New Orleans Woke up at 5:00AM to go to breakfast Woke up at 5:00AM to go to breakfast Depart for work site 6:00AM Depart for work site 6:00AM Arrive at work site 6:45AM Arrive at work site 6:45AM Gear up and work from 7:00AM-6:00PM Gear up and work from 7:00AM-6:00PM Arrive at Base Camp at 7:30 PM Arrive at Base Camp at 7:30 PM Shower/Dinner 7:30-9:00 Shower/Dinner 7:30-9:00 Small group time 9:15-9:45 Small group time 9:15-9:45 Big Group meeting 9:45-10:15 Big Group meeting 9:45-10:15 Time to Get to Bed and Rest for the Upcoming Day! Time to Get to Bed and Rest for the Upcoming Day!

Accomplishments My individual group completed work on three houses. My individual group completed work on three houses. The group as a whole completed five houses. The group as a whole completed five houses. The owners of the house had completely lost hope for repairing their houses… until we came along. The owners of the house had completely lost hope for repairing their houses… until we came along.

The Challenge When first arriving at a work site, the damage is overwhelming. When first arriving at a work site, the damage is overwhelming. The first time we opened the door, there was a refrigerator on its side, house belongings ruined and strewn everywhere. The first time we opened the door, there was a refrigerator on its side, house belongings ruined and strewn everywhere. We had to completely clean out the house of all belongings, sort them into piles to be disposed of, then tear down the sheetrock and insulation. We had to completely clean out the house of all belongings, sort them into piles to be disposed of, then tear down the sheetrock and insulation.

Everything in the houses had been sitting in water for months. Everything in the houses had been sitting in water for months. The flood waters covered the rooftops. The flood waters covered the rooftops. We were located in the lower 9 th ward, right across the street from where the levee broke, and destruction was the worst. We were located in the lower 9 th ward, right across the street from where the levee broke, and destruction was the worst. The mold and asbestos made the air highly toxic, so we had to be fully protected with proper equipment and attire. The mold and asbestos made the air highly toxic, so we had to be fully protected with proper equipment and attire.

Attire Durable pants and long sleeves Durable pants and long sleeves Steel-toed work boots Steel-toed work boots A ventilator mask A ventilator mask Eye goggles with no ventilation holes Eye goggles with no ventilation holes Rubber gloves Rubber gloves Leather work gloves Leather work gloves

Heartfelt Moments As reported on USA Today and other national news broadcasting programs, we made a discovery in one of the houses that we were working in: $30,000. The house formerly belonged to the grandparents, who did not believe in keeping money in the bank. When knocking out drywall, we found a black trash bag full of nothing but $100 dollar bills. As reported on USA Today and other national news broadcasting programs, we made a discovery in one of the houses that we were working in: $30,000. The house formerly belonged to the grandparents, who did not believe in keeping money in the bank. When knocking out drywall, we found a black trash bag full of nothing but $100 dollar bills. The two girls who used to live in the house came down for their spring break. They immediately grew close to me, and followed me around the house. They claimed that I reminded them of their cousin Patty, so that’s their nickname for me. The youngest girl, Andrea, gave me one of her rings before she left, and I still wear it today. The two girls who used to live in the house came down for their spring break. They immediately grew close to me, and followed me around the house. They claimed that I reminded them of their cousin Patty, so that’s their nickname for me. The youngest girl, Andrea, gave me one of her rings before she left, and I still wear it today.

The Aftermath My mission trip to New Orleans was one that I will treasure for the rest of my life. My mission trip to New Orleans was one that I will treasure for the rest of my life. While there is a lot more work to do be done to the city, I can at least have the satisfaction of knowing that I did my part in helping those people in crisis. While there is a lot more work to do be done to the city, I can at least have the satisfaction of knowing that I did my part in helping those people in crisis.