WV Mission Team Ready to Go (Feb. 19)

Twenty-two West Virginians, representing the Presbytery of WV (PCUSA) are ready to travel to New Orleans this weekend to begin work on February 22 with RHINO, "Rebuilding Hope In New Orleans," a ministry of the St. Charles Ave. Presbyterian Church and Habitat for Humanity.
Members of the mission group are: John Bowles, Sandy Campbell, Rick Cook, Alecia Richards, Joan Mansell, Frank Mansell, Debbe Moredock, David Santrock, Jim Sothen, Lynn Wood, and Bob Wood, all from the Charleston area; also James Carrano, Ginger Carrano, and Christina Carrano from Parkersburg; Ron Claar from St. Albans, Brenda Ely from Morgantown, Michael Kincaid from Mt. Hope, Marie Newcomb from Beckley, Kenneth Pote from Bridgeport, Bill Rechtenwald and Jerry Tephabock from Ripley, and Peter Vial from Elkins. Mike Simms from National Capitol Presbytery joined us for the week. (This list includes seveal changes made since the first posting of these names.)

Check this blog daily for pictures and reports on the group's ministry. They appreciate your financial support and your prayers.

Arrival and Orientation (Feb. 23)

21 members of our mission team arrived in New Orleans by late afternoon on Monday, Feb. 22. David Santrock will join us on Tuesday after a commitment in Charleston. After supper we assembled the whole group together for the first time in the parlor of the Land Building, the education facility of the St. Charles Ave. Presbyterian Church. Kate Snider, director of the RHINO program for the church, shared a schedule for the week. After sharing our hopes, dreams, and uncertainties about the week, we offered prayers of thanksgiving and adjourned to the Brent House hotel, our place of residence, for a good night's sleep. The work day begins on the job site at 7:45 a.m. Tuesday.

Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010 - First Day on the Job

Ferry Place
Occupied
Houses

Houses we are working on this week

Orientation: Learning about Habitat, Safety, Job Assignments

Jim Carrano and Jim Sothen

Frank Mansell

Jim Carrano

Mike Simms (from Virginia)

Ginger Carrano

Lunch by Mobile Loaves and Fishes

Jeremy Payne
and Nina,
Habitat Construction Supervisors

Kate Snider (RHINO Program Director) and Ron Claar

Bob Wood and Jim Sothen

RHINO and other volunteers at work

Jim Sothen,
Sandy Campbell,
Alecia Richards,
Jim Carrano,
Christina Carrano

Bill Rechtenwald,
Rick Cook,
Marie Newcomb,
Jerry Tephabock,
Michael Kincaid
Ken Pote

Joan

Mansell

and

Debbe

Moredock

Jim Sothen

Alecia Richards

Sandy Campbell

Lynn Wood

New

Orleans

cemetery

New house

in 9th Ward

designed

to float.

Archie and Olivia Manning's home

David Santrock

Bob Wood

Ginger Carrano

Jim and

Christina

Carrano

Joan

Mansell

and

Lynn

Wood

Lynn Wood

Future homeowner and Marie Newcomb.

Thursday, Feb. 25 - A great day

A full day's work under clear skies with bright sunshine. Dinner at home of John and Chickie Martin (he grew up in Clendenin WV), hosted by them and two other couples in the St. Charles Ave. Presbyterian Church. About half the group ended the evening at "Rock and Bowl," an establishment with bowling lanes, a dance floor, and a stage for a Zedeko band on Thursday evenings.

Rick Cook with future homeowner, Mario, who was working with us today.

Rick Cook with future homeowners working with us on their house.

Jim Sothen

Jim Carrano

WV State Police patch,

a gift to John Martin

Dinner at the Martin's home

John and Chickie Martin,

hosts for dinner

Jim Sothen

Kate Snider

Ron Claar

Jim Sothen

Ron Claar

Friday, Feb. 26

On Friday, after a good day's work, 21 members of the group went for supper together at the Superior Grill. Home and to bed early!!

Jerry's Chair-- ask "Big T"

Lunch from Crabby Jack's

Future Home Owner

Joan Mansell

Debbe Moredock

Michael Kincaid

Saturday, Feb. 27 - Finale

Though we observed an hour delay starting our work today because of rain through the night, we finished under clear skies with brilliant sunshine. About 10 future Habitat home owners joined us on the work site today. Several in our group found it a very positive experience to work with these folks and hear their stories. We saw and/or met the residents of the 11 houses on Ferry Place that are owner occupied. The future owner of house #12 worked with us several days, as did the future owner of #13. Jeremy Payne, the on site supervisor for New Orleans Habitat, hopes that the two houses under construction can be finished by the end of April. Then, according to Kate Snider, the director of the RHINO ministry, the St. Charles Ave. Presbyterian Church will shift its focus to another place of need in the city, likely still with Habitat, but perhaps with another agency helping people rehab homes that have not yet been fully repaired after "the storm," as the folks here call Katrina. SCAP has made a commitment to continue the RHINO ministry through 2012. We will go to dinner in smaller groups this evening, then gather for worship at 8:30 Sunday morning with the SCAP congregation before heading north. Many in the group are already asking that we request dates for another mission trip to New Orleans in the spring of 2011. We give thanks to God for the opportunities we have had this week for service in the name of Christ to the people of New Orleans and for our fellowship as a community of disciples.

WV RHINO Mission Team 2010

"Our Houses" at 4 p.m.

Saturday afternoon.

Thanks be to God!!