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From their website, Dec 2006:

Volunteer Status: This site is full until the end of April. This site will begin scheduling for openings in May starting on January 10.

New Orleans was damaged not so much by the wind and rain of Hurricane Katrina, but by the failure of the levees surrounding the city to keep out the waters of adjacent Lake Pontchartrain . Much of the city is flooded and many homes still stand empty over one year later. MDS will be repairing and rebuilding homes in the Gentilly section of New Orleans and possibly surrounding areas. MDS partners with several organizations, including Catholic Charities, Crescent Alliance Recovery Effort (CARE) and Greater New Orleans Disaster Recovery Partnership (GNODRP).

MDS has purchased a large building in New Orleans which we have remodeled and will be housing the volunteers. All weekly volunteers will be staying in bunk-rooms in the house. Meals will be on the second floor of the house which is where the kitchen and dining area are located. Bathroom facilities are located near the bunk-rooms on the first floor. This facility does not have RV parking available. There might be some rooms available for couples. The property is next to the dam at Lake Pontchatrain.

Latest Report
Report to December 16

During the week of December 3, the work continued on the Hayne Blvd. building. Gradually, the Hayne building is coming closer and closer to completion. There was some opportunity this week for some volunteers to go out in the community and work as well. It was a welcome change for our long term volunteers.

On Wednesday we had invited Denis & Jan Janz to join us for our evening meal and to share some of their experiences during the time of hurricane Katrina. Denis & Jan are Canadians who have been living in New Orleans for 28 years. They had never evacuated for a hurricane but they did for hurricane Katrina. Their house was flooded almost up to the roof and was a total loss. They returned to New Orleans as soon as possible, living in a small rented house without power and water for some time. In spite of the loss of their house and possessions they were so grateful to all the kindnesses shown to them. They still felt fortunate in comparison to many other people.

During the week of December 10, the Hayne Blvd. building was a beehive of activity again. We had 3 masons from Pennsylvania and 2 from Manitoba come and build the elevator shaft. Monday morning started out with a problem with the footing for the elevator shaft but the contractor had that problem corrected for Tuesday morning and the laying of the blocks could begin. By the noon Friday the elevator shaft was complete.

Unfortunately the move from the catholic convent to the Hayne Blvd. building will not take place before Christmas. There is still a good possibility that the move may be possible before the new year.

Thursday we invited a number of catholic sisters to come share our evening meal. The sisters are all elderly ladies but what an interesting group. They mingled with the volunteers and we all enjoyed their good spirit and sense of humor. One sister brought along her keyboard and we sang Christmas carols together as a pleasant end to the evening.

This is the last newsletter I will be writing. My husband and I will be leaving on Saturday morning on our way home to Manitoba for Christmas. This was our second time working in New Orleans as long term volunteers. Again we have enjoyed our time here, especially the opportunity of meeting so many interesting and different people.

Wishing everyone a happy, safe and blessed Christmas season,

Edna on behalf of long term volunteers:

Werner & Sue Froese – project director and cook
Herman & Edna Klassen
Nathan Maust
David Harms
Dale Goodwin