Community Service Gulf Coast Mission Trip
		Early in 2006, members of Raleigh Moravian were asked to consider going to the Gulf Coast to assist with the relief efforts following the destruction from Hurricane Katrina.

Fifty-four adults responded to this call and committed themselves to a mission trip. Through a series of meetings, decisions were made to go to Destrehan, Louisiana and work under the auspices of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). Volunteers were divided into 7 work teams, including a "Feed my Sheep" food team, and preparations were made for the mission trip. Over $28,000 was raised through various means, such as a "red beans and rice" lunch, a New Orleans dinner, a benefit concert by Stone Soup, and donations from church members. This was more than enough to provide food, supplies, tools, and transportation for the group.

During the week of January 28-February 3, 2007 the volunteers worked on a number of houses in New Orleans. The work was often heartbreaking, especially as we encountered homes where no one had entered since the families fled from Hurricane Katrina. Sifting through the belongings of other families - strangers to us - often brought tears. Sometimes family members were present, going through each item that came out of the house and telling us their stories. Mostly, these were stories of loss. But there were moments of hope and grace as well, such as finding a wedding announcement - untouched by flood waters amidst a pile of once soggy debris - on the anniversary of that wedding. The work was hard physically as well. Crews deconstructed homes with hammers and pry bars, shoveled debris, and hauled it out to the curb; crawled around in the attic of a house to run electrical wires, and hung sheetrock. At the end of each day, everyone was exhausted, but after a shower and a delicious dinner, as we gathered in small groups and shared our stories, our hopes and energy were renewed.

The devastation to the city of New Orleans is overwhelming, and the lack of response to this disaster is appalling. Thousands of people are still homeless--many still living in FEMA trailers; whole neighborhoods have been destroyed; restaurants and businesses remain boarded up; and hundreds of children are still on a waiting list for the opportunity to attend school. Because of the damage done to schools and the shortage of teachers, these children have not been able to attend school since the hurricane--over 18 months ago.

Our group accomplished a great deal of work during the week we were in New Orleans. We left five houses ready for reconstruction; two houses with walls; one house wired; one house with a functioning bathroom, and one house with two bedrooms completely finished. But more than the actual work itself, we left a few families with renewed hope that they can and will rebuild their homes and their lives.