The city that care forgot.

Well I just have to accept the fact that I'm not making this blogging thang as much of a priority as I once was. I feel like an apology is in order but even that seems like more effort than I feel like giving. It's just been so natural to ease into the...get ready for it...Big Easy, as if the city just opens its arms and welcomes any stranger off the street. New Orleans is amazing! I've been to big cities, and the lights and the sounds and the smells are all the same. But that's where it stops. New Orleans has this essence about it that I've never seen replicated: Neon lights lining small, gridded cobblestone streets, street performers and live jazz on every block, the iconic fleur de lis stamped on every car, window, and flag in site. What other city has their own logo that permeates such a massive majority of its peoples' lives? It's fantastic.

My job is also fantastic. I'm out in the sun all day, hammering nails, installing walls, putting up roofing, etc. etc. etc. all for the cause of helping a family get a home! It's such a great project. Especially in this location. New Orleans is still greatly feeling the horrible effects of Hurricane Katrina, even though it's been four years since it hit. The neighborhood we're working in is a perfect example: Interspersed between the occasional house that HAS actually been restored, there are hundreds and hundreds of houses that are falling apart at the seams. Windows are boarded up, warning messages are written in spray paint: "Don't you DARE enter, mother [you-know-what]," and some houses look like they were never even returned to after the storm. If you look closely, you can see the watermarks from where the waters flooded all the way to the roof of some houses. In short, there are massive amounts of work left to do down here. And it's easy to become saddened by the fact that even though we are definitely working our asses off to build SOMETHING beautiful amidst the disrepair, how much will one house actually contribute to improving the whole problem? But that's an illogical approach, I know. One house at a time is the only way to go you know? One family at a time. I just wish there was more government assistance I guess, but that's another story. :)

Anyway, I'll put up pictures from here and the work site to give more of a visual. We also just found out today that...yes..we'll be in Wichita Falls, Texas for our next spike!!! It was our absolute last choice, like literally dead last, but still in Texas so it'll be alright. :) We'll be...drumroll please...HELPING TO FILE TAXES IN RURAL TEXAS!!!! Haha so random. But whatever, I need to learn about taxes someday right? And we'll be helping out people who really need to get their lives together, so it should be promising.

Well how are things with all of you?? I want updates. Personal life for me is all over the place right now. I'm doing everything I can to stay focused on the task at hand here, but my heart and mind for the most part are residing in Iowa. My most positive of thoughts are going that way. Love you guys.

Katie