Iona in Mission (IIM): New Orleans Day 4

Today the team returned to the historical and newly renovated Trinity Church. The NOLA team returned with excitement, as their tasks from the day before had been completed and new ones were to be assigned!

Once again the team was separated into smaller groups scattered throughout the church to help get it finished by Friday. Some of the team was inside doing tasks like: painting, priming, grouting... more grouting, installing door handles and stoppers, and cutting wood for different projects. The tasks inside were excellent ways for us to continue to bond as a team, whether it was by painting someone’s arm or singing that awfully catchy tune ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWNaR-rxAic&ob=av2n ).  

While some of the team was inside, a lot of the group had ventured outside for the long task of making a brick walkway. This walk way is extremely important and significant to the re-opening of the church; it will serve as a walkway for the new congregation as well as a sign that life is continuing to burst not just in New Orleans, but in the Lower 9th Ward as well. The brick laying took longer than expected, but one of the most amazing parts of the day was when all 16 of us helped move the pile, brick by brick, to help finish a project that we had all started together. The day may have been long, and the sun may have been hot, but looking back and seeing what we did for the community and for the people of New Orleans is something that we will all remember for ever. Just the weight of one brick can be the pathway to a better future.

-PJ Kokias ‘13