Our first day of work is now complete. We've all discovered new talents! Betty is the master of the tile cutter! She has an affinity for power equipment that can slice through those ceramic tiles like a warm knife through butter. This is a water flow cutter, so she got quite wet as she sliced the tile. Tomorrow she will not wear sneakers that get wet quite early and are a bit uncomfy for the rest of the day. Kathi and Greg discovered the gift of laying those tile. The entire house will be floored with ceramic tile. The three bedrooms are already completed, but the master bath was the accomplishment for these three.
We had orientation for the work this morning and then we all had a lesson on putting down the tile. After that, as Greg and Kathi and Betty went to work, Patti and I worked at mudding some dry wall. We discovered our own talents as we put down another layer of the mud and then put some tape on a corner. We also worked on cutting a piece of dry wall for the ceiling above the thought it might be. Tomorrow we continue with more of the same.
Jim arrived this evening--just in time for dinner, and then it was our turn to clean the bathrooms and showers. Tomorrow we are on the schedule to prepare breakfast. Biscuits and sausage gravy is on the menu.
Our home is a pleasant brick structure in the Desire section of New Orleans. The owner is a single mom who has a developmentally disabled 21 year old son and an older daughter. The young man is living in Baton Rouge until he can come home again.
This woman's name is Angelique. She had hired a contractor to work on the house, but the work was quite shabby and her finances don't allow another contractor. There is another snafu, as well. She bought this house several years before Katrina from HUD. After the flood she discovered that she did not qualify for governmental assistance because the house had formerly been on a landfil that was deemed toxic. The government bought all the houses and removed dirt, brought in new dirt, and then sold the houses once again. She did not know the history of the neighborhood--she was never told since it was deemed safe once more. BUT it remains on a list that deems it environmentally unsafe. The same government that sold it to her and claimed it was safe, is now refusing to help her because it was on the unsafe list. She tried all sorts of avenues to get that decision changed, but to no avail. Seems a bit backwards, doesn't it. Keep in mind, she doesn't have to move or to do anything--she just can't get assistance from the same government who sold it to her in the first place!
In addition, Angelique has recently been diagnosed with some very significant health problems. We don't know whether we will get to meet her or not. The construction manager here said that she was so overwhelmed at the idea that complete strangers would come to help her. The home has only been on PDA's list for a few weeks. When Angelique came to apply she was sure she wold be denied and cried when they told her they would help. She said she had forgotten how to hope for good news. She has received so much bad news lately.
OK. I think that's enough for tonight. Hope everything is going well there. Blessings.
Joyce
We had orientation for the work this morning and then we all had a lesson on putting down the tile. After that, as Greg and Kathi and Betty went to work, Patti and I worked at mudding some dry wall. We discovered our own talents as we put down another layer of the mud and then put some tape on a corner. We also worked on cutting a piece of dry wall for the ceiling above the thought it might be. Tomorrow we continue with more of the same.
Jim arrived this evening--just in time for dinner, and then it was our turn to clean the bathrooms and showers. Tomorrow we are on the schedule to prepare breakfast. Biscuits and sausage gravy is on the menu.
Our home is a pleasant brick structure in the Desire section of New Orleans. The owner is a single mom who has a developmentally disabled 21 year old son and an older daughter. The young man is living in Baton Rouge until he can come home again.
This woman's name is Angelique. She had hired a contractor to work on the house, but the work was quite shabby and her finances don't allow another contractor. There is another snafu, as well. She bought this house several years before Katrina from HUD. After the flood she discovered that she did not qualify for governmental assistance because the house had formerly been on a landfil that was deemed toxic. The government bought all the houses and removed dirt, brought in new dirt, and then sold the houses once again. She did not know the history of the neighborhood--she was never told since it was deemed safe once more. BUT it remains on a list that deems it environmentally unsafe. The same government that sold it to her and claimed it was safe, is now refusing to help her because it was on the unsafe list. She tried all sorts of avenues to get that decision changed, but to no avail. Seems a bit backwards, doesn't it. Keep in mind, she doesn't have to move or to do anything--she just can't get assistance from the same government who sold it to her in the first place!
In addition, Angelique has recently been diagnosed with some very significant health problems. We don't know whether we will get to meet her or not. The construction manager here said that she was so overwhelmed at the idea that complete strangers would come to help her. The home has only been on PDA's list for a few weeks. When Angelique came to apply she was sure she wold be denied and cried when they told her they would help. She said she had forgotten how to hope for good news. She has received so much bad news lately.
OK. I think that's enough for tonight. Hope everything is going well there. Blessings.
Joyce
2 comments:
I'm glad to hear everyone made it safely. Maybe Betty had found a new calling. Ask her what she charges;-). Lou
May God blessings you all. I wish I can work with you.
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