Service Trip 2011 7/28

Gator Hunting

Youth Director Emily Nelson Dixon always makes sure service trippers take in the local culture. 

This year was gator hunting.

After a day‘s work, youth teams headed south for a sunset cruise on the Louisiana bayou.

Covering heads with protective headphones, the group cruised along s-shaped canals on airboats loud enough to wake the dead.

Guides wound teens and their leaders through narrow forests of live oak trees, dangling moss, cattail communes, pastel blossoms and one-legged herons. 

But the gators shined.

Our guide stopped in a quiet bend, then produced a wiggly reptile.

He pulled a 15-inch yearling from a cooler to screams of delighted passengers. Hand under neck, another near belly, he passed the gator around for those who dared to hold.  Another guide roped his boat to ours, tossed marshmallows overboard inviting a two-footer to the airboat’s edge. With a sudden hand-lunge, he snatched the varmint for show.

More screams by a startled crew. 

The 20-inch alligator wiggled, and then relaxed into the guide’s hand.  Courageous teens took turns handing the wild thing and the last one tossed him back. 

Our guide fired up the boat for a final stop.  He located a five-foot gator that he and another guide named Elvis. Guide Gerry tossed marshmallows into the water saying alligators are attracted to white. Elvis swam closer. 

            The guide reached for his neck, then under his belly almost capturing him. Elvis resisted and rolled away. Marshmallow by marshmallow, the guide brought him back. Each time, the same thing. The guide settled on petting Elvis like a beloved dog.

“I love my job, but that’s as close as I’m going to get without getting hurt,” he said. 

Restoring Legaux

Robin and Karen Legaux were out of town in Atlanta as Katrina brewed. 

They moved their daughter, a recent graduate from the university, to a new apartment. Their relatives said to stay there. Don’t even think about coming home now.

Karen listened to reports about a hurricane ramping up near the gulf. It made her nervous to leave the house vacated. She worried about vandals, and then there were her folks. 

Would they be alright she wondered.

Karen and Robin weighed their options and made a decision. 

“We moved her in and we stayed, too,” she said.

It would be two months before the Legaux’s set eyes on their house, a year before they moved back and six until Robin, a do-it-your-self homeowner would accept the help of volunteers Karen said.

“He wants to do it himself,” she said. “We’ve been buying supplies piece by piece.”

Karen said this is a banner week for the couple, though, as Rolling Hills and several churches accelerated restoration in the couple’s home.

“It’s very big and moving very fast,” she said. 

Earlier in the week another group put up dry wall. Midweek Rolling Hills laid tar paper, backer board and tiles to nearly complete their kitchen floor. Karen said it has been tough for her to live in a house that is constantly under construction. She works full time then returns home at the end of the day to a make-shift kitchen, dining room, make-shift everything. She has tried to be patient.

“I shouldn’t have to live like this,” she said. “It’s the human side of me.”

The Legaux’s said they are extremely grateful for the work of the Rolling Hills youth. Robin, who loves to swing a hammer, said he enjoyed working alongside the teens, showing them tricks of the trade.  Both were amazed at the teen’s abilities to handle the tools.

“It’s a very deep blessing to have a group of volunteers from their school break that come down to help,” he said. “I started building my home by myself.”

Between bypass surgery, an infection and losing his job, Robin said he now welcomes the help.

“God is good,” Robin said. “He sent me the people to help me put my house back together.”

He said with the rapid progress the youth team made this week he can see his way to full restoration. “They’re so excited to do, and picking up so quickly on what to do,” he said. “It’s a blessing on my part and their part. With the knowledge I have and the knowledge they have we are helping each other a lot.”

Erin Penner, 14, worked at the Legaux home today.

“It’s awesome,” she said. “It’s great to know you’re helping so many people and it’s real fun to do it. You would never do these things normally.”

Bennett Weaver, 14, grouted and laid tile. He plans to take his new skills home.

“To help people less fortunate than me,” he said. “I would love to do that.”

Group Six gives a gift

Group Six donated a birdhouse to the Legaux family this morning. 

The teens felt moved to gift the birdhouse to Karen and Robin Legaux after helping restore their kitchen.  Each small group built a birdhouse this week, representing the importance of building a strong spiritual foundation. 

Liz Gray, 16, Group Six member, said they discussed several options on what to do with the birdhouse. They eventually decided that Karen and Robin deserved it the most.

“We were so inspired by them and their story,” Liz said. “We wanted them to be able to remember us.”

Service Trip 2011 7/27

Rain does not dampen spirit of workers

‘Tis the season. 

Locals say it rains for brief periods every day in July. So far the forecast has held true, but morning showers did not stop service trippers from planting their shovels in the ground.

“It was actually kind of fun,” said Heidi Hilton, 18, Rolling Hills youth volunteer. “It cooled things off.”

Heidi has participated on five service trips with the Rolling Hills youth group in Taos, New Mexico, Rapid City, South Dakota, Champaign, Illinois, and Moorehead, Kentucky and New Orleans, Louisiana. 

This morning she gave her arms a workout prying nails from metal stakes at a Habitat for Humanity construction site. Others in the group moved soil, pulled the stakes from the ground and pried wood forms from a newly-poured concrete foundation. Heidi said she has enjoyed the challenge of construction  through the years.

“I just love doing the work,” she said. “It’s really nice to help people out that need it and deserve it.”

Heidi said she has enjoyed the travel and variety of projects through the years.

“They’ve all been different and great in different ways,” she said.

Kathryn Martin, 16, youth volunteer, pulled stakes and loosened soil. Kathryn said she was astonished this morning when a stranger approached the group during their meditation and prayer time known as “morning watch.” 

“I was very surprised,” she said.

Kathryn said the stranger introduced himself as a neighbor who wanted to offer a blessing for the group. He told them how much he appreciated their service in the community. Later, the future homeowner rode by on his bike and stopped to the group how much he looks forward to moving into his new house and thanked them.

 “It makes you happy to work,” she  said. “It means a lot.”

Youth leader Laura Gray worked at the Habitat site removing nails. She said the team amazed her as they worked through several hours of rain.

“There wasn’t a single complaint,” she said. “People are still working joyfully. They’re learning new skills.”

Habitat on Hickory Street gets new floor

Several other teams erected a floor boards at another Habitat site, the house on Hickory Street.

The  team continued the work from yesterday’s group who laid floor joists. Volunteers measured, cut and installed the boards. Grant Grissom, youth leader said service trips provide serve as life-altering opportunities for the teens.

“It builds a strong foundation that is invaluable through life,” he said. “They’re provided knowledge and understanding outside their everyday life.”

Jamie McAdoo, adult leader, spent five years as a teen and six years as a young adult on Rolling Hills service trips. She had fun as a teen and especially enjoyed spending time with her father who cooked for the group for all five years.

“It was really fun,” she said. “I loved it. It brought us closer together.”

McAdoo said she is thrilled to spend time with youth whom she watched grow up. McAdoo, who lives in Chicago, said it is also a time to reunite with other young adults on the trip she knew as teens. McAdoo said spending a week volunteering with teens is a way to give back. In her career where she spends 90 percent of her time traveling, it leaves little time for her to volunteer.

“I got so much out of it as a youth,” she said. “I love volunteering.”

Robert Welch, neighbor and New Orleans native, watched the youth do their handy-work while sipping tea on his sister’s porch next door. Welch, a math teacher and high school coach, said porch-sitting is a traditional past-time in the region known as Carrolton and nicknamed Pension Town among the mostly retired community. He said he was impressed with the youth’s energy.

“It is a God-sent blessing,” said Welch.

Welch said he appreciates the fact that Habitat homes  blend in aesthetically with his neighborhood.

“I like that,” he said. “Habitat Homes are in keeping with the historical setting of neighborhoods.”

Welch said he is thankful for the nation’s response to New Orleans since the 2005 hurricane bore down on the city and its levee. He said it reflects the American spirit. Welch blames the devastating flood on human failure, rather than nature.

“The flood waters destroyed our city and it’s make-up,” he said.

Welch evacuated before the storm mixed wind and might six years ago. He waited seven weeks before returning home. Downed trees pierced through his roof, power lines lay limp in his yard and debris everywhere, damaged the side of his home. Welch said he couldn’t complain. There were others who fared far worse,  still trying to recover.

“We were blessed,” he said. “It’s hurting to see people not back.”

Still, it took eight months to repair the damage he said. A church from New York made several trips over a year, restoring his roof, electrical system and damaged wall.

Welch said without the help of the church, he would still be way behind.

“We come back,” he said. “We rebuild.”

Service Trip 2011 7/26

Happy Feet

Last night the youth and adult leaders tapped toes with dancing enthusiast Bill Weissborn, Cajun and Zydeco dancing instructor.

Weissborn, of New Orleans, taught Rolling Hills members how to waltz, two-step and dance the Cajun Jig.

After a feast of traditional New Orleans red beans and rice, prepared by the Parkway Presbyterian Youth Group, the youth groups transformed the dining room into a dance hall. 

“The music is a happy music,” Weissborn said. “Everybody is extremely friendly. Everybody dances with everybody.”

Weissborn, 83, an accountant by day, said he and his wife discovered the joy of Cajun dancing together and at one time traveled the region, appearing at competitions and Cajun dancing events. 

Though his wife no longer can dance, the Weissborns enjoy the lively accordion-based music together. Weissborn teaches Cajun and Zydeco dancing to churches, retirement communities and public schools, saying he especially enjoys introducing the younger generation to a dance and music that helped made New Orleans famous. Weissborn said anyone can learn the steps.

“It’s not a formal thing,” he said. 

Youth group teams with Lower Nine 

One group of service trippers connected to a unique organization today.

Group five, led by adult leaders Dan Meyer, Maureen Scribner-Reed and Kate Wooldridge, made a difference in the 99^th Ward, also known as the Lower Nine, situated on the east side of the New Orleans canal.

The group worked with Lowernine, a post-Katrina agency founded to teach home rebuilding to volunteers and community residents. Waters from Lake Pontchartrain, as a result of the 2005 Hurricane, rose to 10 feet in the Lower Nine. 

Some of the youth from Group Five tore into a vacant home, pulling up nails and boards, preparing for a new floor, while others took to the streets “blight mapping,” recording vacant and occupied homes, rating the structures and documenting their locations.

“It’s a really cool project,” said Emily Nelson-Dixon, youth director. “It’s not swinging a hammer. It’s impactful work. They’re really making a difference.”

Callie Thrutchely, 17, assisted with the blight mapping.

“I never know what to expect when I’m on a service trip,” she said.

Dan Myer said the group worked hard at the site and learned new skills.

“They’ve done great,” he said. “They moved above and beyond.”

Lowernine community volunteer George Brooks finished weed-whacking the agency’s pocket-sized lawn as service trippers broke for lunch. Brooks, a resident of the Lower Nine district, said he did not get out in time when Hurricane Katrina raged.

“It was astonishing,” Brooks said. “It’s too fast. I wasn’t prepared for the flood waters.”

Brooks said he knew about the level-three hurricane, but insisted on protecting his home from thieves. He stayed home and weathered the storm, then noticed a calmness after the menacing hurricane.

“I thought I had made the right decision,” he said.

Suddenly he noticed his neighbors and others moving quickly on foot through the neighborhood.

He poked his head outdoors and asked  what was going on. Flood waters  from a broken levy were heading this way.

Brooks fired up his SUV, but quickly realized it was too late.  Pushing through rising water, he abandoned his vehicle and ran back to his house.  He took the dog and bolted upstairs. Brooks said he looked out the window and watched the muddy liquid rise another four feet.

“It was that fast,” he said.

The water level rose to the ninth stair of his two-story home before it stopped. Twelve  neighbors made their way to his roof, and then waited with Brooks for three days before rescue boats pulled them from his house.

“I had company,” Brooks said. 

Brooks survived on stale cookies, cheese, toothpaste, toilet tank water and candle wax. 

“You’ll eat anything when you’re hungry,” he said. 

Brooks kept the window closed, ousting the stench. Temperatures rose in the small bedroom, but fear kept him awake.

“It was very hot,” he said. “I couldn’t sleep.”

Service Trip 2011 7/26

Youth teams arrived at work sites today energized after a weekend of travel and play.
"I wouldn't miss this for the world," Kaitlyn Ellis, youth, 18, said today. "It's definitely a highlight of the summer."
Kaitlyn mixed and poured grout to complete tiling in a computer room at Hope United Church in New Orleans this morning with several members of her team while others laid tile. Hope United was devastated by Hurricane Katrina and their pastor perished in the storm. An assistant pastor moved into the pastor's position and has worked to restore the church facility with assistance from St. Paul's Homecoming Center, an Episcopal outreach center for Katrina recovery.

Connie Uddo, director, St. Paul's Homecoming Center, connected Rolling Hills youth to the Hope Church restoration project help as well as several other projects including cleaning and roofing Creation Full Gospel Baptist Church and retiling a private home. Uddo said she had been searching for a group of volunteers who had skills in roofing.

"This is a huge step," Uddo said. "This is really, really a Godsend."
Bishop Espy Cornin, pastor, Creation Full Gospel Baptist Church, said he is so grateful for the Rolling Hills effort he cannot find the words to properly thank them. A group of profession electricians recently installed new wiring for the entire church. Between the new electrical system and the youth group's effort to repair the roof, Cornin said he can move forward with new drywall, then see his way to full restoration.

"I feel I believe the Lord is going to fill this church again," Cornin said. "I never dreamed of getting help like I'm getting now in the last couple month. I appreciate it so much."

One small group spent the day facilitating Shake it Up Cafe vacation Bible school with 40 children at First Presbyterian Church in New Orleans. Youth demonstrated the affects of mixing water and oil, helped children design tall chef hats, taught contemporary Christian songs, and provided plenty of recreation for their active group.

Trey Hoefer, youth member, 16, helped with VBS today. Trey's second mission trip, he had never worked with children at VBS. He said he had fun this year helping children decorate hats, play games, and serve snacks.
"It's just awesome," Trey said, "It's really fun to work with friends and have fun at the same time."

Service Trip 2011 begins

We arrived safely in New Orleans. The service trippers did not let an afternoon shower dampen  a Sunday afternoon of exploring the French Quarter's  bistros and boutiques.  Musicians and tourists lined the streets as youth and their leaders enjoyed a brief time to play.









Youth were introduced to Parkway Presbyterian Church, our home for the week, during this morning's service. The Rolling Hills team was introduced to the congregation and ParkwayVacation Bible School participants led the worship with songs and liturgy.

Tonight youth director Emily Nelson Dixon announced members of the small groups and their leaders.

Hands met with high fives and youth cheered as the names were called. The six groups became ready-made teammates for work sites and evening small group devotions.

Check back for daily postings on the Service Trip 2011 in New Orleans.