It's Friday morning.  We're about to go on our last day of work assignments.  We've been working on three different homes, taking care of animals at an animal shelter, and working on reviving a large park -- removing invasive species and restoring trails.

Some of us visited the "Musicians Village" -- a beautiful few blocks of brand new, small, colorful homes built by Habitat with the sponsorship of Harry Connick, Jr. and other New Orleans-born musicians.  It was thrilling to see what old New Orleans could look like when it's rebuilt.  

We've been deeply satisfied and moved to be a small part of this rebuilding project -- a home here, a home there, amidst so much more activity than some of us saw last August.  We're coming up on the third anniversary of Katrina.  So much work yet to be done!!  But at least one sees evidence of progress.  On one block where we've been working in the Lower Ninth Ward, there are now five homes occupied, where a year ago perhaps only one.  

Still -- so many vacant lots and piles of rubble to be dealt with.  People mowing the lawns where their homes once stood because city ordinances allow confiscation of property where the lawn isn't mowed:  the reason being that if the lawn has grown up to weeds, it can be interpreted that it's been "vacated" and "left abandoned" by those who once lived there.  

We've been working and living in the church dorm with UU's from Portland, Oregon; Chapel Hill; Pennsylvania, etc.  Good company!  We've shared cooking meals and daily clean-ups.  Not a complaint to speak of.  We're all tired from the physical work, but exhilarated and thrilled to have worked together.  

You can hardly imagine the depth of this soul-satisfying work without being here yourself.  Plan to come sometime soon.  The work will have to go on for years to come, but sign up soon!!

More photos available soon!