Sunday, February 5, 2017
#8 Francis' Day Care Center, #9 Local Support, #10 Cookies
#8. Francis' Day Care Center
Met Francis this week. She ran a day care center in the downstairs of her home...until it flooded. Now she is in a FEMA trailer with no income & a ruined home. Dry walling her house is a trick as it has had lots of add ons over the years. AHV has been working on it for 2 weeks and I got in on the last 2 days so I was treated to her shouts of "Alleluia! Thought I'd never see walls in my house again! This is the first time I came in here and didn't get depressed." How's that for a job well done!
#9. Local Support
Besides the many heartfelt thank you's & hugs from the homeowners, I can't tell you how many locals have come up to me in my AHV shirt and thank me for being here...in stores, on the street or on base. As a Thank You Pastor Todd took us all out to dinner at an Indian restaurant. We were like one big happy family passing our plates to share and taste testing with everyone. The church's custodian got us tickets for a LSU gymnastic meet the same night. A grateful homeowner brought us a great big pot of gumbo. We've been told that a whole wave of help arrived but soon just a trickle was left. Seeing AHV shirts keep the flickering flame of hope alive for the hundreds still not in their homes.
#10 Cookies
We're losing volunteers daily as the base was suppose to be shut down on 1/31 so they had made other plans & many are going to Nepal AHV sites. The AmeriCore team of 7 also left on 1/31. Recently they got funding for 3 more months for rebuilding here. A few day before the mass exodus, Rog & I made 10 dozen chocolate chip cookies serving them right from the oven still on the cookies sheets. Every 8 minutes, more hot ones. You would have thought we were passing out gold!
Sent from my iPad
#8. Francis' Day Care Center
Met Francis this week. She ran a day care center in the downstairs of her home...until it flooded. Now she is in a FEMA trailer with no income & a ruined home. Dry walling her house is a trick as it has had lots of add ons over the years. AHV has been working on it for 2 weeks and I got in on the last 2 days so I was treated to her shouts of "Alleluia! Thought I'd never see walls in my house again! This is the first time I came in here and didn't get depressed." How's that for a job well done!
#9. Local Support
Besides the many heartfelt thank you's & hugs from the homeowners, I can't tell you how many locals have come up to me in my AHV shirt and thank me for being here...in stores, on the street or on base. As a Thank You Pastor Todd took us all out to dinner at an Indian restaurant. We were like one big happy family passing our plates to share and taste testing with everyone. The church's custodian got us tickets for a LSU gymnastic meet the same night. A grateful homeowner brought us a great big pot of gumbo. We've been told that a whole wave of help arrived but soon just a trickle was left. Seeing AHV shirts keep the flickering flame of hope alive for the hundreds still not in their homes.
#10 Cookies
We're losing volunteers daily as the base was suppose to be shut down on 1/31 so they had made other plans & many are going to Nepal AHV sites. The AmeriCore team of 7 also left on 1/31. Recently they got funding for 3 more months for rebuilding here. A few day before the mass exodus, Rog & I made 10 dozen chocolate chip cookies serving them right from the oven still on the cookies sheets. Every 8 minutes, more hot ones. You would have thought we were passing out gold!
Sent from my iPad
Met Francis this week. She ran a day care center in the downstairs of her home...until it flooded. Now she is in a FEMA trailer with no income & a ruined home. Dry walling her house is a trick as it has had lots of add ons over the years. AHV has been working on it for 2 weeks and I got in on the last 2 days so I was treated to her shouts of "Alleluia! Thought I'd never see walls in my house again! This is the first time I came in here and didn't get depressed." How's that for a job well done!
#9. Local Support
Besides the many heartfelt thank you's & hugs from the homeowners, I can't tell you how many locals have come up to me in my AHV shirt and thank me for being here...in stores, on the street or on base. As a Thank You Pastor Todd took us all out to dinner at an Indian restaurant. We were like one big happy family passing our plates to share and taste testing with everyone. The church's custodian got us tickets for a LSU gymnastic meet the same night. A grateful homeowner brought us a great big pot of gumbo. We've been told that a whole wave of help arrived but soon just a trickle was left. Seeing AHV shirts keep the flickering flame of hope alive for the hundreds still not in their homes.
#10 Cookies
We're losing volunteers daily as the base was suppose to be shut down on 1/31 so they had made other plans & many are going to Nepal AHV sites. The AmeriCore team of 7 also left on 1/31. Recently they got funding for 3 more months for rebuilding here. A few day before the mass exodus, Rog & I made 10 dozen chocolate chip cookies serving them right from the oven still on the cookies sheets. Every 8 minutes, more hot ones. You would have thought we were passing out gold!
Sent from my iPad
#8. Francis' Day Care Center
Met Francis this week. She ran a day care center in the downstairs of her home...until it flooded. Now she is in a FEMA trailer with no income & a ruined home. Dry walling her house is a trick as it has had lots of add ons over the years. AHV has been working on it for 2 weeks and I got in on the last 2 days so I was treated to her shouts of "Alleluia! Thought I'd never see walls in my house again! This is the first time I came in here and didn't get depressed." How's that for a job well done!
#9. Local Support
Besides the many heartfelt thank you's & hugs from the homeowners, I can't tell you how many locals have come up to me in my AHV shirt and thank me for being here...in stores, on the street or on base. As a Thank You Pastor Todd took us all out to dinner at an Indian restaurant. We were like one big happy family passing our plates to share and taste testing with everyone. The church's custodian got us tickets for a LSU gymnastic meet the same night. A grateful homeowner brought us a great big pot of gumbo. We've been told that a whole wave of help arrived but soon just a trickle was left. Seeing AHV shirts keep the flickering flame of hope alive for the hundreds still not in their homes.
#10 Cookies
We're losing volunteers daily as the base was suppose to be shut down on 1/31 so they had made other plans & many are going to Nepal AHV sites. The AmeriCore team of 7 also left on 1/31. Recently they got funding for 3 more months for rebuilding here. A few day before the mass exodus, Rog & I made 10 dozen chocolate chip cookies serving them right from the oven still on the cookies sheets. Every 8 minutes, more hot ones. You would have thought we were passing out gold!
Sent from my iPad
#5 David Campbell, #6 Pastor Todd, #7 New Orleans
#5 David Campbell
David is the founder of All Hands Volunteers (AHV). Many years ago, David worked for the company that was at the fore front of the internet social media. He had a gut feeling that somehow it could be used to help in many situations where people were in desperate need but nothing clicked until 3 days after the devastating Dec 28 tsunami. He was eating lunch with a friend who told him, "A week ago, I had been eating on the same terrace where all 78 tourist were washed into the ocean along with everything & one around there." David went home, googled it and noted that the internet was not down there. So his old idea popped into his head and he got a plane ticket and soon was in Thailand setting up a website to help organize the massive influx of volunteers and donations. Since then, AHV has come early and stayed late for over 60 domestic & another 60 international disasters. David came here today to give us a pep talk, ask for suggestions, answer questions and meet with the Louisiana politicians to ask them how AHV can help & how much $$ they can supply for building supplies. He also met with St. Bernard Parish volunteer organization that he admires. They have been in New Orleans since Katrina rebuilding many homes. David sat at our table for dinner sharing what he calls "Serendipity Stories" or what I call "God Inspired" stories. Either way, I thank God for David and the AHV board & staff and all the young volunteers. At the 5 pm meeting tonight, I told those young volunteers that they amaze me and give me hope for a good and promising future.
#6 Pastor Todd
Pastor Todd is the pastor of the New Covenant Baptist Church that is housing AHV for free. As we worked along side him today, we heard his flood story and how it turned his church into a truly serving church. The youth generously gave up their entire rec hall to AHV. We use their kitchen daily. Another Sunday School room became a tool shed. Another SS room became our bedroom. The church van is now a work van. And also this church housed serveral families after the flood. While most members are working on their own mess, the others go through neighborhoods locating seniors and disabled that have no help. Pastor Todd & his church's actions speak the teaching of the Bible LOUD & CLEAR.
#7. New Orleans
We spent our two day break in New Orleans. The city of jazz, blues, beignets and endless bars. One volunteer, David took us to car rental, where another volunteer, Janine rented a car & drove us to New Orleans. We treated her and us to shrimp & oyster Poor Boys at Johnny's in the French Quarter and then parted ways. We hopped on a paddle boat to see New Orleans from the Mississippi River. It dropped us at a battlefield where in 1815 over 2000 British soldiers died while fewer than 20 Americans were killed. Andrew Jackson's troops united with some pirates and used the canals for protections to defeat the British. We caught a street car and rode it around the Garden District (40 cents). Rog ate alligator hot dog for supper then we strolled down Frenchman St. stopping in the bars to listen to live bands...ok...Rog had a beer too. Cheesecake & bread pudding topped with praline sauce was the sweet ending for our day in New Orleans. We spent the night in an Airb& b just one block from the street car. We had the whole house to ourselves. The gaudy, artsy decor was appropriate. The next morning, we headed to the Mardi Grau World for a tour. The humongous building was jam packed with floats ready to roll out, all types & sizes of figures, & flowers. Other props were in the process of being built out of styrofoam, paper mache, & painted in vibrant colors. The first Mardi Grau parade is less than 2 weeks away. They will have almost 50 parades in all with the BIG one on Fat Tuesday. Amazing amount of time and $$$$! After lunch, we strolled Jackson Square enjoying live music, mime characters & artist. We had to stop by Cafe du Monde to get covered by powdered sugar while eating beignets. About the time we thought we'd better head for the bus station, another AHV, Dottie texted to let us know she could pick us up. So we went back to our b&b to grab our bags and waited on the front porch rocking chairs until she came along. We got back in time to go bowling with the whole AHV group...it was a treat from one of the AHV board members who visited here a couple days ago. How's that for a weekend???
David is the founder of All Hands Volunteers (AHV). Many years ago, David worked for the company that was at the fore front of the internet social media. He had a gut feeling that somehow it could be used to help in many situations where people were in desperate need but nothing clicked until 3 days after the devastating Dec 28 tsunami. He was eating lunch with a friend who told him, "A week ago, I had been eating on the same terrace where all 78 tourist were washed into the ocean along with everything & one around there." David went home, googled it and noted that the internet was not down there. So his old idea popped into his head and he got a plane ticket and soon was in Thailand setting up a website to help organize the massive influx of volunteers and donations. Since then, AHV has come early and stayed late for over 60 domestic & another 60 international disasters. David came here today to give us a pep talk, ask for suggestions, answer questions and meet with the Louisiana politicians to ask them how AHV can help & how much $$ they can supply for building supplies. He also met with St. Bernard Parish volunteer organization that he admires. They have been in New Orleans since Katrina rebuilding many homes. David sat at our table for dinner sharing what he calls "Serendipity Stories" or what I call "God Inspired" stories. Either way, I thank God for David and the AHV board & staff and all the young volunteers. At the 5 pm meeting tonight, I told those young volunteers that they amaze me and give me hope for a good and promising future.
#6 Pastor Todd
Pastor Todd is the pastor of the New Covenant Baptist Church that is housing AHV for free. As we worked along side him today, we heard his flood story and how it turned his church into a truly serving church. The youth generously gave up their entire rec hall to AHV. We use their kitchen daily. Another Sunday School room became a tool shed. Another SS room became our bedroom. The church van is now a work van. And also this church housed serveral families after the flood. While most members are working on their own mess, the others go through neighborhoods locating seniors and disabled that have no help. Pastor Todd & his church's actions speak the teaching of the Bible LOUD & CLEAR.
#7. New Orleans
We spent our two day break in New Orleans. The city of jazz, blues, beignets and endless bars. One volunteer, David took us to car rental, where another volunteer, Janine rented a car & drove us to New Orleans. We treated her and us to shrimp & oyster Poor Boys at Johnny's in the French Quarter and then parted ways. We hopped on a paddle boat to see New Orleans from the Mississippi River. It dropped us at a battlefield where in 1815 over 2000 British soldiers died while fewer than 20 Americans were killed. Andrew Jackson's troops united with some pirates and used the canals for protections to defeat the British. We caught a street car and rode it around the Garden District (40 cents). Rog ate alligator hot dog for supper then we strolled down Frenchman St. stopping in the bars to listen to live bands...ok...Rog had a beer too. Cheesecake & bread pudding topped with praline sauce was the sweet ending for our day in New Orleans. We spent the night in an Airb& b just one block from the street car. We had the whole house to ourselves. The gaudy, artsy decor was appropriate. The next morning, we headed to the Mardi Grau World for a tour. The humongous building was jam packed with floats ready to roll out, all types & sizes of figures, & flowers. Other props were in the process of being built out of styrofoam, paper mache, & painted in vibrant colors. The first Mardi Grau parade is less than 2 weeks away. They will have almost 50 parades in all with the BIG one on Fat Tuesday. Amazing amount of time and $$$$! After lunch, we strolled Jackson Square enjoying live music, mime characters & artist. We had to stop by Cafe du Monde to get covered by powdered sugar while eating beignets. About the time we thought we'd better head for the bus station, another AHV, Dottie texted to let us know she could pick us up. So we went back to our b&b to grab our bags and waited on the front porch rocking chairs until she came along. We got back in time to go bowling with the whole AHV group...it was a treat from one of the AHV board members who visited here a couple days ago. How's that for a weekend???
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