(Yes, we did go to New Orleans Thursday night.  Everyone deserved an afternoon and evening of relaxation and adventure.  There was good food and fun shared by everyone.)

It’s now Friday and we’re reflecting on our week.  Everyone returned from their worksites and attended the Creative Arts Camp family night.  There was dancing, singing, creative movement/sign language, rhythm, handchimes, music discovery and art.  But the best part was the smiles and hugs that continued for a long time afterward.  Kids didn’t want us to leave, or they wanted to go home with us!  Parents were so appreciative and amazed at what their children had learned.  We made new friends that we will not soon forget.

Rick joined us during Friday night devotion.  He gave many words of appreciation for the work accomplished by our construction teams.  The leaders posessed the skills needed to lead their teams.  The team members all worked together to complete many tasks. 

Friday night devotion was called “open mic night”.  As we began to look back at our week, we began to realize that God was at work everywhere.  Personal moments spent with homeowners …….. the beauty of God’s creation on the bayou …… joy in encouraging every team member ….. listening to the story of a child …. simple unexpected blessings.

We are excited to return home, rest up and share our stories with you!

Everyone is working hard and our teams are making progress.  Our teams are still working on the same tasks as when we last reported.  However, the visible changes and improvements are amazing!  The jobs at Whitey’s house are so big that they can’t be accomplished in just a few days.  But their efforts are making such a huge difference in getting Whitey and his wife into their new house.  Not only are they doing all those construction projects, but they find time to help get Whitey in and out of the truck so his wife can take him to the doctor.  The greatest Whitey story happened early in the week.  Several of the team went into the house to meet the Brignacs.  They noticed a TV in the corner, however, the picture didn’t change.  Upon closer inspection, they realized it was a view of the yard!  Whitey has his home under video surveillance!  He assured us that his surveillance equipment, and his trusty rifle, would keep all our tools and supplies safe over night!!
Greg H and his team continue to master the punch list.  Screen doors, storm doors, paint clean-up, plumbing, electrical, mudding/sanding, wall texturing, painting, trim work and anything else that could possibly be on a handymans list.  The great part of their work is that they get to meet most all of their homeowners!  You’ll want to hear their stories when they get home.
The Creative Arts Camp is going strong.  Day 2 almost doubled in enrollment!  There are lion masks, bird puppets, ballerinas, rhythm games and chime players galore!  The smiles, laughter and hugs are fabulous!  We’ve discovered that it’s real hard to play a cazoo when you’re laughing!!  Several of the students have brought their own personal instruments to share with everyone. 

Tuesday evening was the night for a much anticipated trip to the Grand Bayou.  We toured the Sylve’s new home.  (Jeanne Marie is the daughter who just visited HRBC.)  We all boarded a large shrimp boat and set out for a tour of the bayou.  One of the Sylve’s good friends, Bimbo, who we’ve met in the past, treated several of the college guys to a small, flat boat ride out ahead of the shrimp boat.  Bimbo took them to some smaller waterways and gave them the ride of their lives!  Upon their return it was time for the next few to experience the same.  If you’ve looked at our photos, you’ll know that their experience was much wetter!!  The fact that too many of them entered the front of the flat boat, and the timing of the side wake from the larger shrimp boat, was an instant recipe for disaster!  The flat boat took on LOTS of water, and in a few seconds began to capsize and sink!  There was hilarious laughter and screaming from everyone — everyone rushed to get out the cameras!  We soon learned that these kinds of antics and water play are common entertainment on the bayou!  It was an evening no one will soon forget!

We were treated to a superb shrimp boil on Wednesday night.  Bruce LePoint, the volunteer coordinator, got out the BIG pot and filled it will potatoes, corn, sausage, garlice, onions, celery and 32 lbs. of shrimp.  In a matter of minutes, it magically disappeared!!  Good eats!!

Sunday night, after settling into our home-for-a-week, we began our time with job assignments and devotions.  Dwayne divided us into work teams for the week and told us briefly about our jobs.  We then got with our new groups and worked on a team building devotion.  The team that finished the project first was promised a reward.  So the competition was fierce!  Check out the pictures of our jigsaw puzzle project in the photo gallery!  Have you ever tried to work a jigsaw puzzle, with a group of people, in complete silence? 

Monday morning came bright and early.  But everyone was full of energy and ready to leave. 
Tom, Dwayne and Greg C are successfully working on 3 different jobs at the same house!  So far they haven’t been tripping over each other too much!  They are all at the home of Whitey Brignac.  (Our May team worked with Whitey just a few weeks ago!)  Whitey’s house sits just a few feet from a canal.  We’ve been warned of alligators, snakes and the like!  Their jobs include siding, interior sanding, porches and more.  Don’t miss the awesome photos of their first day of work. 
Scott and Terry found their team traveling across the Mississippi to their site.  They know they’re starting with a soffett job.  After that they’ll be facing a large sheetrock job.  Good luck guys!
Greg H has been assigned the “punch list” team.  There are several houses that are sooooooo close to completion.  With just a couple of small items completed, these folks could have their homes inspected and ready to move in by the end of the week.  How exciting that we can make that happen for them!  The team gets to spend time talking to the homeowners while putting the finishing touches on their homes.
Jill is leading the creative arts camp.  Children from 4-13 years old had a blast creating fish, discovering animal sounds created by orchestra instruments, playing rhythm games, learning to play handchimes and dancing to everything from “Revolution” to Michael Jackson!! 

All-in-all Monday was a great day in Port Sulphur ……… not to mention that it never got above 90 degrees!!  Praise God!!

Thanks for keeping us in your prayers as we continue to meet new people and learn new skills.  Blessings to all our HRBC family!

We are so blessed to have experienced an uneventful trip to Port Sulphur.  The ride is a long, 2-day, 22 hour trip.  It includes all the highlights of a good car trip.  Each vehicle ended up with a personality all its own.  Van #1 was full of crayons, color books and crafts.  Van #2 was for “family & friends” as the Parkers and Daileys owned that space.  (They let Jill come along for the ride.)  Van #3 was the game playing group.  Even though Ashlee was the only girl, it appears she has survived the ordeal!!  The church bus became home to a lot of college students.  And if you could have seen the bus, it looked like they had moved in!

Here are some quotes from the ride down:
Stephen:  I only have 2 words to say …… “”whoopi cushion”!  (Stephen also says, “Melissa ……. haircut!”)
Molly & Liz:  Exploding cokes are just not a good thing in a car.
Laura :  Driving the new bus is a lonely job …….. and breezy, too!

Click here to go to our photo album.

We’ll catch up with you when we arrive in Port Sulphur. 

Thanks for praying for us while we travel, July 18-19.