Sunday Arrival

After another long travel day, we have arrived at the MDS location in the Gentilly section of New Orleans. We were greeted warmly by Naomi from the MDS staff. MDS is temporarily using an old convent while the permanent location is having changes made to pass local inspection. The convent is full of Catholic imagery. You can get a feel for the building by looking at pictures at this link.

http://picasaweb.google.com/ramblerm/20080405MDSNewOrleans?authkey=B2fw5N8_FWc

The building is in a significant state of disrepair.

Chris Wilson, the director, led us though the orientation. Two of our group, Chris and Bill, will be travelling to Cameron to add another couple of feet to pillars. The original pillars were not high enough to pass inspection. They are also driving a couple of MDS vehicles to another location. We hope the can be back before Thursday.

Phil, Judy, Dale and Maggie will be paint at an almost completed new construction project. Floyd and Duane will be installing new fire doors at the other MDS building. The rest of us will start by caulking and priming a renovation project. There is much work to be done and we are the last group of “skilled” worked before a youth program starts.

Sunday evening, we drove to the French Quarters and walked along the Mississippi. We ate oysters, catfish, shrimp, salads, po-boys at a restaurant off Bourbon street.

We have seen some of the devastation as we drove into the city. I expect to see more today.