Finally Made it to Camp Restore, New Orleans!

So after a fairly eventful trip from Connecticut to New Orleans via Florida, we finally made it to Camp Restore in New Orleans on the 16th of April! We set up camp (left) and were put to work right away! Our first assignment was painting the interior of a home that is owned by a man named Robert and his family.

Robert's street was flooded with about 4 feet of water and his home was flooded with about a foot of water during "the storm" as everyone calls it. Robert and his family were among the first in their neighborhood to return to their home about a month after Katrina hit the area and found the interior of the home including all of their furniture, clothes, etc. covered in mold. Since there was no way for them to live in their home while it was being rebuilt, they lived in a FEMA trailer on their front lawn. They finally had power to their home restored nearly 6 months after the storm.

Amy and I and 3 other volunteers from Illinois primed and painted the interior of Robert's home and had a chance to fellowship and pray with Robert over the few days that we were working in his home.

Our "shakeout" time in Florida was very exciting, getting used to full time life in the RV and getting chased around by tornadoes! We found a few leaks during the 4 inches of rain that fell one night and woke one morning to find that one of the dogs had been horribly sick... all over... literally. The good news is that we left Florida more determined than when we got there, so all of the enemy's predictable attacks only made us want to move on and get going. God also opened up some opportunities to spend a day with some of the homeless on the streets of Saint Augustine. We met 5 amazing people and had a chance to minister to and provide for some of their basic needs. Each of them have their own stories, but Amy and I would ask you to pray for James, James, John, Harley and Darlene, that God would meet their basic needs and open opportunities for employment in their lives.

Amy and I ask that you would also continue to keep us in your prayers for safety, strength and wisdom! We also want to thank you all for the amazing amount of support that we have received from all of you since we have been on the road. You have no idea how much hearing a voice from home or getting an email or text can make our day. Blessings from the Big Easy and missing you all!

-Dave and Amy