Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011

Sharon and Ed spent the first half of the day installing diagonal stiffeners in the front window wall.  Also, Tom & Liz worked on removing rotted roofing over the other apartment.  Karen spent the morning at St. Pauls Lutheran school (Pix below). 

In the afternoon we were led by Walt (construction manager for RAI) on a select tour of New Orleans.  We started out with a stop at the local NASA rocket assembly plant. It is mostly closed [with the end of the space shuttle program].  We then visited sites in St. Bernards, and then the lower and upper 9th wards.  (The house we are working on is only about 6 blocks from Camp Restore, which is in East New Orleans.)  Along the way we visited the National Park's Service new visitors center at the site of the Battle of New Orleans that occurred in 1815.  Andrew Jackson, with a mixed band of 4000 regulars, locals and pirates defeated an army of 7000 British regulars.  2000 British killed to 20 Americans!  Jackson had a built-up embankment, and the British marched into a hail of gunfire and artillery fire.  We also visited homes in Brad Pitt's neighborhood (interesting: he paid for an archetect's competition to design modern houses) where we saw a number of interesting homes.  We also entered "music village."

Tomorrow we plan on continuing the work and meeting the homeowner.

Karen reads in New Orleans

A "Brad Pitt" sponsored design



The inside framing of Trinity Lutheran, Claiborne

The Battle of New Orleans 1815



Wednesday,Sept. 28, 2011

This morning we tore down the front wall framing of the second apartment and completely built a new wall and put it up.  We also put a 104" x 9" header over the front entrance to the duplex.  Sharon and Liz built a short wall for the door to apt. 1, and a 10' "middle" wall.  We ran out of 8 ft. 2x4' studs and RAI bought and delivered more.  Overall, we were left to work more on our own today. 
Here you see Liz and Sharon putting together a wall with a nail gun (powered by a compressed air canister):

We have frequently been invited to participate in community service volunteer activities.  The RAI community service coordinator arranged for Karen to spend most of Wednesday tutoring at Saint Paul's Lutheran Church School.  Pictures tomorrow.

Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2011

We completely removed the rotted walls behind the brick at the front of the house.  Then we built a new wall section and put it in place.  During all this the roof was supported by jacks.

It took a little persuasion to get the new wall in place:

It did fit.  A detail in that fitting was that Karen cut off the floor bolts that were rusted:

One of the problems with a house that has had a leaking roof for five years is that TERMITES have attacked the wet wood.  This means that all of the wood will have to be inspected and maybe as much as 20% replaced as well as the roof getting new roof boards and being completely re-roofed.  Termite damage:

Monday's "demo" (demolition work)

Monday's work included "demoing" (demolishing) the front walls and jacking up the roof rafters about 2 inches.  This was caused by water damage and termites eating away the board across the bottom of the wall.  Our construction manager brought in a load of lumber about lunch time and the project really began to move.  One of the complications is that the brick outside is strapped to the wall that is damaged.  We have to replace sections of the roof in order to keep the water out. 

We really got started as we unloaded the electric generator and every sort of power tool, even a fan.

Demo: Water has been pumped away, and now our team goes to work removing the vinyl floor in the resessed livingroom.

Sharon cuts out the screws holding the window frame.

Camp Restore Dining hall

We're not sure whether we'll be using this dinning hall or the original one.  I also have heard that the school has moved to another location.  That may also mean that we may not be in the trailers, but have rooms in what was the school.

Sunday, Sept. 25, 2011

Sunday we arrived on time via Air Tran.  We got our cars and went to Camp Restore.  We met with Michael, a construction team leader who took us to look over a house that has been "stripped" of all sheetrock, electrical and most plumbing.  Unfortunately the roof has some holes in it and is collapsing in areas.  Termites have done damage and some top and bottom plates and other framing need to be replaced.  Unfortunately this is complicated by a real brick outer that is connected to the framing.

The construction manager, Walt, drove in with his wife and RV.  We shoveled several dozen wheelbarrows of stone to prepare a site for his RV.  We reviewed the extensive tool house and selected our tools for tomorrow.  We also attended church and communion at Prince of Peace Lutheran church (affiliated with RAI).  Pastor Goodine held the service at one end of the dining hall pictured below, and we had supper at the other end.  I should also note that the pipe organ shown in the dining hall pix was also damaged by Katrina -- just days before it's dedication.  We'll try to get more info later this week on how the repairs are progressing.

Prince of Peace communion service

Getting the RV site ready for the construction manager.

Camp Restore, New Orleans 2011

RAI: Our Mission

Recovery Assistance, Inc. Ministries (RAI Ministries) restores faith, home, and community in the Name of Jesus Christ through the operation of Camp Restore, a volunteer camp in New Orleans, Louisiana. Our volunteer groups and staff physically rebuild family dwellings, churches, and schools and participate in numerous community projects while providing emotional and spiritual care to those in need.
The total impact reaches across the entire nation as volunteers have returned home with a renewed (or brand-new) interest and dedication for sharing the love of Christ in their own congregations and communities. Combined with the mission opportunities available, the unique culture, people and history of New Orleans make for meaningful short-term mission and service-learning trips to Camp Restore.
We invite you to partner with us in restoring faith, home, and community through prayer, volunteering, and/or financial support as we bring the hope of Jesus Christ for those in need.
Get Involved today!  goto Camprestore.org  and their latest newsletter then hit <horizontal size>