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NEW
ORLEANS TEEN MISSION TRIP
May 2006 - Eight teens from Onida and one
from Pierre plus three adults headed down to New Orleans on May 27th
to work on the 1st Presbyterian Church of New Orleans. A
bit about the church follows:
 The church was
flooded by hurricane Katrina amd suffered much damage (28 inches of
water in the first floor of the building). The Church sanctuary has
been drying out for some time, and the pews have now been removed by
about 30 volunteers, and sent to Baton Rouge. They have decided to
restore 26 of the original 48 pews, and to have more open space in
the Sanctuary. The pews will cost $2000 each to restore, and they do
need help to restore them.
The church has
decided to emphasize a mission to rebuild their neighborhood, and
volunteers have recently built 4 showers to be used by other
volunteers who can "camp" in the church. They can house groups up to
about 20 people who have their own transportation, sleeping bags,
and can cook for themselves. They do have kitchen facilities and one
washer and dryer.
The
crew from Onida and Pierre enjoyed their hospitality as they stayed
in the church while working on the church grounds, etc…
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Please click
on photos to view enlargements |
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Everything in the sanctuary was flooded up to 28” . |
Meeting Room following the flood |
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Mold covers everything
following Katrina |
Communion table |
And on May 29th
the Onida/Pierre Presbyterians Arrive:
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Caleb Kemink,
Onida
Ryan Elcock,
Crooks
Matt McCue,
Onida
Steph
Wehrkamp, Sioux Falls
Kari Wehrkamp,
Sioux Falls
Josh Lemcke,
Onida
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Luke Van
Winsen, Onida
Jenn Wehrkamp,
Sioux Falls
Tanner Foth,
Onida
Bailey
Bechtold, Pierre
Zack Kemink,
Onida
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Tasks completed
during our stay included:
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Laying wood
flooring in Henry’s House. |
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Installing
doors and trim in Henry’s House.
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Installing
hardware on cabinet’s in Cliff’s House.
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Repairing
ceiling lights in fellowship hall.
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Weeding,
watering and mulching the flower garden.
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Patching the
hole to “Carlos the Rat’s” home.
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Helping
“dismantle” the camping trailer from its foundation.
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Cooking on a
“100” year old stove. |
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Moving 200
chairs from the fellowship hall to the sanctuary for a
wedding (scaffolding from the painting of the sanctuary was
being removed at the same time.) |
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Removing an
old chain link fence. |
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Installing a
new chain line fence |
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Installing a
wooden privacy fence. |
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Cleaning
inside of the church. |
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Laying a
flagstone walkway. |
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Picking up
trash around the yard. |
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Building a
ramp to the shed. |
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Installing
locks on the shed. |
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Moving a
washing machine. |
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Removing an
old dishwasher. |
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Installing a
new dishwasher. |
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Mowing the
yard. |
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We were there but five
days and in five days the youth did more technical and difficult
work than had the previous volunteer groups combined. Our showers
were outside.
It was a week we will
never forget.
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