Callie BealeCallie BealeCommunity ServiceCommunity Service

Operation ReNew OrleansOperation ReNew Orleans

Baptist Student UnionBaptist Student Union

March 11March 11thth, 2006, I , 2006, I was given the was given the opportunity to travel opportunity to travel to New Orleans.to New Orleans.

Our goal in New Our goal in New Orleans was to help Orleans was to help the people rebuild the people rebuild their lives and their lives and restore hope for a restore hope for a better, stronger better, stronger future. future.

FEMAFEMA

During our week long stay During our week long stay in New Orleans, we in New Orleans, we operated though FEMAoperated though FEMA

We stayed in the FEMA We stayed in the FEMA village, which includedvillage, which included– Tents with cots to sleep inTents with cots to sleep in– Free meals prepared by Free meals prepared by

former casino chefs in former casino chefs in New OrleansNew Orleans

– Shower housesShower houses– Laundry tentLaundry tent– Entertainment tentEntertainment tent

Link: Link: http://www.fema.gov/newhttp://www.fema.gov/news/event.fema?id=4808s/event.fema?id=4808

Typical Day Working in Typical Day Working in New OrleansNew Orleans

Woke up at 5:00AM to go Woke up at 5:00AM to go to breakfastto breakfast

Depart for work site Depart for work site 6:00AM6:00AM

Arrive at work site 6:45AM Arrive at work site 6:45AM Gear up and work from Gear up and work from

7:00AM-6:00PM 7:00AM-6:00PM Arrive at Base Camp at Arrive at Base Camp at

7:30 PM7:30 PM Shower/Dinner 7:30-9:00Shower/Dinner 7:30-9:00 Small group time 9:15-9:45Small group time 9:15-9:45 Big Group meeting 9:45-Big Group meeting 9:45-

10:1510:15 Time to Get to Bed and Time to Get to Bed and

Rest for the Upcoming Rest for the Upcoming Day!Day!

AccomplishmentsAccomplishments

My individual group My individual group completed work on completed work on three houses.three houses.

The group as a whole The group as a whole completed five completed five houses.houses.

The owners of the The owners of the house had completely house had completely lost hope for repairing lost hope for repairing their houses… until their houses… until we came along.we came along.

The ChallengeThe Challenge

When first arriving at a When first arriving at a work site, the damage is work site, the damage is overwhelming.overwhelming.

The first time we opened The first time we opened the door, there was a the door, there was a refrigerator on its side, refrigerator on its side, house belongings ruined house belongings ruined and strewn everywhere. and strewn everywhere.

We had to completely We had to completely clean out the house of all clean out the house of all belongings, sort them belongings, sort them into piles to be disposed into piles to be disposed of, then tear down the of, then tear down the sheetrock and insulation.sheetrock and insulation.

Everything in the Everything in the houses had been houses had been sitting in water for sitting in water for months.months.

The flood waters The flood waters covered the rooftops.covered the rooftops.

We were located in We were located in the lower 9the lower 9thth ward, ward, right across the right across the street from where street from where the levee broke, and the levee broke, and destruction was the destruction was the worst.worst.

The mold and The mold and asbestos made the asbestos made the air highly toxic, so air highly toxic, so we had to be fully we had to be fully protected with protected with proper equipment proper equipment and attire.and attire.

AttireAttire

Durable pants and Durable pants and long sleeveslong sleeves

Steel-toed work Steel-toed work bootsboots

A ventilator maskA ventilator mask Eye goggles with Eye goggles with

no ventilation holesno ventilation holes Rubber glovesRubber gloves Leather work Leather work

glovesgloves

Heartfelt MomentsHeartfelt Moments

As reported on USA Today and other national As reported on USA Today and other national news broadcasting programs, we made a news broadcasting programs, we made a discovery in one of the houses that we were discovery in one of the houses that we were working in: $30,000. The house formerly working in: $30,000. The house formerly belonged to the grandparents, who did not belonged to the grandparents, who did not believe in keeping money in the bank. When believe in keeping money in the bank. When knocking out drywall, we found a black trash knocking out drywall, we found a black trash bag full of nothing but $100 dollar bills. bag full of nothing but $100 dollar bills.

The two girls who used to live in the house The two girls who used to live in the house came down for their spring break. They came down for their spring break. They immediately grew close to me, and followed immediately grew close to me, and followed me around the house. They claimed that I me around the house. They claimed that I reminded them of their cousin Patty, so reminded them of their cousin Patty, so that’s their nickname for me. The youngest that’s their nickname for me. The youngest girl, Andrea, gave me one of her rings before girl, Andrea, gave me one of her rings before she left, and I still wear it today.she left, and I still wear it today.

The AftermathThe Aftermath

My mission trip to My mission trip to New Orleans was one New Orleans was one that I will treasure for that I will treasure for the rest of my life. the rest of my life.

While there is a lot While there is a lot more work to do be more work to do be done to the city, I done to the city, I can at least have the can at least have the satisfaction of satisfaction of knowing that I did my knowing that I did my part in helping those part in helping those people in crisis. people in crisis.