We started another new build this week, this one right up against the levee near Buras. We had to do a lot of clearing on the lot before we could get started, but thanks to Wes and our Winnipeg crew we are almost ready to start the cement work next week.

We also took on a couple of shingling jobs this week and on the second picture you see the other Wes with his draftee getting the job done on one of the houses.


The third crew shows lunch time at the Bayou. Notice the nice looking siding on Ruby's house. Her home has come a long way, the first inspection has passed and we can start closing in the inside. We are still waiting for a couple more windows to finish up the outside.

And lastly, the group from this week. We had a neat bunch of people , a mixture of Manitobans and Ohioans (?) and some Pennsylvanians. It was a fun week and we accomplished a lot again.It is good to see progress made every week and even finish up some jobs, hopefully we can soon move some into their homes.
 

More pictures from Diamond

There was lots of activity over at our new build today. This is how it looked when we stopped by there mid-morning and when we stopped by later on after everyone had left for supper, the shingles were on, and the front steps were done. Inside we can see where all the rooms are, and it is time for some wiring.


Over at Joe's, his kitchen is really taking shape and with the help of this week's volunteers the casing is getting painted and ready for installation.



The weather is getting better, and the gnats are a lot worse, but the work is continuing . We have a good bunch of volunteers from Manitoba and Ohio this week and new friendships are being formed as we all work together to get the jobs done. 

The dawning of a new day. New opportunities. Renewed energy. God's grace.


Erica's house is taking shape. We got the trusses just in time on Friday to keep the crew going and hope to get them done on Monday.

On MDS projects the ladies can be very pleased with flowers, yes, thankyou to Homedepot for making that possible. 5 kinds to pick from with one price. A man's kind of store. Some would say that's enough decisions for men at one time.

The weather is still being a pain but we know others areas are feeling the same about that. At least the bugs are bugged too.

On the last picture we have Gloria and Jo holding up MDS sign for the world to see. This was the start to doing the group picture for the week. It was too cold to go outside. 

Hi fellow bloggers. A quick early morning update before the MDS world wakes up. Its 454am and i have checked all yesterdays emails and caught up to the blog. Looks like its time for a few quick updates. This is still last weeks gang over at Ruby's house. We had thought we would try to save the old siding on the house but after a look behind it we saw more mold then we expected.
The team then asked if they could please help make the new siding happen so they got started the next day. By the time we got the old off it was very clear that it had to go. Nice job guys. She was so pleased.

Next pic is over at our new build. We have been held back a bit by getting material and also have our work force spread over a bunch of different jobs. We hope to get rafters for this one by Friday. For those that have been over at Mr. Pete's these are his new kit.cabs. Menno and Dorthy and many others are having a good time helping him and the floor tile is done. We are working on doors and trim and bathrooms. With both a Pa group and now a Mo. group housed over at the Lighthouse church we have 43 MDSers going this week. We have nine projects atleast this week. Monday/tues night was a short one with the storm coming in and the tornado warnings up into our town. Some of us got to bed my 12 and up by 2 and in New Orleans by 530. The storm stayed about 35 miles north of us. Two other LA MDS units went to help with clean up yesterday and we were on the list for today but looks like they got the early cleanup done for now. We have enough work here so thats fine. Okay the time is 509 and the short termers are starting to hit the showers. The temp this moring is 39f with a cold wind.
It was almost to warm on Monday and then i think i saw snow flurries yesterday, but the guys at the Bayou saw 5 dophins come by. The channel is about the size of the Morris river, but is 25 feet deep. You can stand on the dock and watch them dive by. They are probably about 6 to 9 feet long. Okay take care and please keep praying. Ker and Jo and the gang.
 

The start of Erica house is underway i will try to keep you updated. You also get to share in a warm, foggy LA morning with Ray striding on his way to pack the tools. Also the arrival of Menno and Dorthy was good to see. They have adopted Mr Pete and are working hard towards getting him closer to the finish line.

 

Another group photo

Another week has come and gone and more has been accomplished. This Rosenort crew said the week was too short to get everything done that needed to. Most of them wished they had another week but commitments at home prevented that, and they left shortly afternoon, tired but with a sense of satisfaction in a job well done. It is hard to go home before the project is done. It was great to see these folks from home and catch up on some of the news from there. We got a cement pour done this week, thanks Krystle, for helping us get that ready. Work on the new build continued and before the gang left the plywood was down on the floor. Thanks guys!



Merle and Evan and Rey enjoyed the company of these folks while they put a new metal roof on their mobile home, and some of the girls painted their storage shed. Thanks Jill and Bev! 

Some of the big boys testing their kitchen skills. It looks like Jeff and Adrian could have done this every evening. We had groups working on 8 different sites this week but we have not moved any body in to their home yet. We hope that will be different by the end of Feb. The local people have been just wonderful to work with and have been a blessing to us. I can be very hard for the weekly crews to go home at the end of the week because you get attached to freinds you have to leave behind. We can understand why they live here even if the weather gets almost to freezing some nights. Right now at 728 saturday moring the temp is +6c. The middle picture you see Ian modeling his cajun coyboy boots. The group picture has quite a number missing seeing people sometimes don't understand when the project leader says to meet right away. You snooze you lose.

 

We got started on the first new build at this project this week. We got a good start inspite of very wet and cool conditions. With the help of a retired building inspector, some good timing, and a hard working crew the foundation got done and the brick piers are ready for concrete this next week. Rudy and Roger stayed at this site most of the week but other good folks subd. in as needed. good job. this whole area has very little new builds so far. Double wide trailers keeping coming in because that is the easy way, even tho the strong storms don't mix well with them.

 

This week started off with Jo and me joining the home gang over in NO for Sunday. We had a great fellowship breakfast and then spent time touring NO. We spent a few hours over at the French Quarters, had lunch and spent time walking about enjoying the cajun culture. Some of the group rented scooters and checked out the area. We had lunch with a few funny looking creatures. Cool temps but sunny. Fun was had . It was good to see the home crowd. It will be the largest group with 32 at the table for most of the week.