Here are two more links for more photos from our trip.
http://picasaweb.google.com/uccuconnASB/TEXASCITY2010# (Pictures I took)
http://picasaweb.google.com/uccuconnASB/BHueyTEXASCITY2010# (Pictures Bryan Huey took)
Enjoy!
~ Richie
Monday, March 15, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
God's Surprise
In the beginning I figured this trip would be another routine experience. I convinced myself to let go of any doubts and fears thinking that last years trip to New Orleans had prepared me for any and everything I might encounter. Of course I was just kidding myself because nothing is ever the same and there are always new lessons to learn.
Last year I went to New Orleans scared of what I might endure and left thankful for the enriching experience. This year I came to Texas thinking I have to make the best of this trip. However, I quickly learned you can not force fun or predict the future. I originally thought I would come, work hard, and rebuild houses as well as lives, but I forgot how my life would be impacted and changed.
I truly believe there is a blessing in every lesson, but as always God surprised with how much he spoke to me and revealed to me. I am definitely glad I repeated this ASB trip, but even more thankful to learn God and God’s work is never mundane!!
~ Daniqua B.
Last year I went to New Orleans scared of what I might endure and left thankful for the enriching experience. This year I came to Texas thinking I have to make the best of this trip. However, I quickly learned you can not force fun or predict the future. I originally thought I would come, work hard, and rebuild houses as well as lives, but I forgot how my life would be impacted and changed.
I truly believe there is a blessing in every lesson, but as always God surprised with how much he spoke to me and revealed to me. I am definitely glad I repeated this ASB trip, but even more thankful to learn God and God’s work is never mundane!!
~ Daniqua B.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Finally Settled in Texas City
After going to Slidell LA last spring break, I had my hopes set high for this trip. I'd had such an amazing experience, and I had only assumed the same of this trip. That's why I feel like I had gotten a little thrown off in the beginning when everything went differently. Things felt strange when we didn't know the exciting places to visit in downtown Houston like we did in New Orleans, or when we were split into four different groups as opposed to just two at the work sites. However, after the first couple of days, I feel that things have finally clicked.
For this trip, our group is working on a home for Brian and Carol. We are one of a few groups that have worked on the house, and are now helping with the finishing work. The good news is that the house should be able to be finished completely in the next couple of weeks and they can finally have their home back. While the finishing work is tedious at times, it is all still important. Our group has really meshed and have all begun to bond in various ways, which is awesome. Helping us with all of the this work and also keeping our spirits high are Sam and Ethel, a couple originally from New Orleans who have been staying at a church in Houston while on a three month mission in the Galveston area. After spending a few days with them, we learned that this is one of many mission trips that they have gone on, and they have devoted many months of their time helping out with relief in New Orleans, Iowa, and now Texas. Just seeing such devotion to serve and to help others is really very inspiring, moreso given the fact that they are both probably over that 70 years old and still have no intentions of slowing down. Spending time with them and seeing the house progress towards a home has made this experience very rewarding so far, and has really started to bring into perspective why we're here as well as what we're capable of on a many levels. I'm really bummed to see that this week is going by so fast, but I'm most certainly going to get the most out of the time that remains.
~ Alex T.
For this trip, our group is working on a home for Brian and Carol. We are one of a few groups that have worked on the house, and are now helping with the finishing work. The good news is that the house should be able to be finished completely in the next couple of weeks and they can finally have their home back. While the finishing work is tedious at times, it is all still important. Our group has really meshed and have all begun to bond in various ways, which is awesome. Helping us with all of the this work and also keeping our spirits high are Sam and Ethel, a couple originally from New Orleans who have been staying at a church in Houston while on a three month mission in the Galveston area. After spending a few days with them, we learned that this is one of many mission trips that they have gone on, and they have devoted many months of their time helping out with relief in New Orleans, Iowa, and now Texas. Just seeing such devotion to serve and to help others is really very inspiring, moreso given the fact that they are both probably over that 70 years old and still have no intentions of slowing down. Spending time with them and seeing the house progress towards a home has made this experience very rewarding so far, and has really started to bring into perspective why we're here as well as what we're capable of on a many levels. I'm really bummed to see that this week is going by so fast, but I'm most certainly going to get the most out of the time that remains.
~ Alex T.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
More Photos!
Here are more pictures, this time donated by Alex L (Thanks Alex!). To view these pictures, visit here: http://picasaweb.google.com/uccuconnASB/2010ASBTexasCityPartII#
Here I am Lord
At the beginning of this week I didn't think that I would write an entry, thinking that I wouldn't have anything as profound or inspiring as other people but today I've actually thought of something. We went to a dinner today for the entire group and for the people's whose houses we are building the speaker/leader mentioned one of my favorite church songs "Here I am Lord". He talked about how the song was appropriate for our trip because we are doing God's work and we need to listen to him to continue to do his work. But for me it brought me back to when my grandmother, mother, and I would go to church and I would get excited when this song would play, I still do. I'm not sure why this song reminds me of my grandmother, I don't know if it was her favorite but it makes me think of her. She's gone now but I know that she would be proud of what I am doing here. "Here I am Lord" brings together the past, present and future for me and what I could be doing. I think of the happiness that I would bring her doing this and the happiness that it has brought me now and will continue to bring me when I do this next year. This entry is dedicated to the parents, grandparents, and guardians that allowed us to go on this trip and that are hopefully proud of what we are doing. I hope that other entries in this blog inspire others to join our group or other groups like ours and feel what we are experiencing.
~ Meagan P.
~ Meagan P.
An Unexpected Tasked
Okay, today did not go exactly as planned. I caused a bit of a set back
but also a learning experience for our group at the work site today.
While we were insulating the ceiling, I accidentally fell halfway through
the ceiling. That forced everyone in the group to stop there own projects
at the work site to help me fix the problem. We did not finish dry
walling the ceiling until lunch. But God was present and allowed for a
beneficial aspect that consisted of us learning how to dry wall and build
a stronger bond with my group members.
~ Tim M.
Fire Ants and Turpentine
This morning, I woke up with a smile. Usually when I wake up at 6:00 am, there is no smile in sight. Usually when I wake up at 6:00 am I am not going to do something very meaningful. But today was different – not just because I wasn’t whining about anything and everything to anyone and everyone who would listen. Today was different because I woke up with a purpose. And who wouldn’t want to smile with that thought?
I came on this trip knowing a few people, but I wasn’t sure how helpful I could be. That doubt was only increased by the countless times people laughed in my face as I told them I was going to build houses in Texas. But when people tell me I can’t, I will work twice as hard to prove that I can. And that’s what I love most about this trip and this group of people; they all believe that everyone here can do the things we’re being asked to. To find twenty-two people who believe in you is a very special opportunity that I wish everyone can experience at least once.
That leads me to my day. Today, Alex T. and I finished tiling the bathroom floor at our work site. Yesterday the site leader Sam L. and his wife Ethel told us how difficult, tedious, and important our job was. I volunteered nervously, but it was like pulling teeth trying to get someone else to volunteer. Thankfully Alex stepped up and Sam set to work teaching us the skill. I was very nervous, having never tiled anything before. This was someone’s bathroom, where they would step every day. To mess it up would leave a lasting impression that would be unflattering at the very least. However, we got the hang of it and plowed through despite our Spiderman-worthy sticky fingers and the turpentine smell that was anything but pleasant. After putting in that last little strip of tile, Sam, Ethel, Danielle, Jill, and Sarah came to see the finished product. Their exclamations of praise and excitement were all that I needed to know that I could, in fact, be helpful. And to top it off, we got to meet the original owner of the house, eat lunch on the pier AND watch Ethel play with the fire ants in the yard. Watching a 70-something year old woman march around a yard with a stick in her hand stirring up trouble is a site worth seeing! With the prospect of setting a large fire, finishing up the painting, and visiting Galveston in my view for tomorrow, I think I won’t mind waking up at 6:00am again.
~ Alex B.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Another Blog!
Susan and Monte, who are the couple who is running the projects we're working on, also have their own blog, where they will be putting pictures up throughout the week of the groups at the various projects. Currently they have a couple of pictures from the site where Richie, Maureen, Tim, Elesia and Meagan are working at.
To access this blog, please visit here: http://msmission.blogspot.com/
~ Richie
To access this blog, please visit here: http://msmission.blogspot.com/
~ Richie
B. Huey and the Downtown Crew- Day Three
Today was day three at Miss Carol’s house, and when we arrived we as a group had a great surprise. Miss Carol and her cousin Reggie had overnight been able to finish painting the ceiling in their living room, and been able to move back in all of their furniture and set up the room the way they had hoped.
To us we may say this is nice, but it is simply a living room. But to them it is one more piece of their home being back to normal. After having to fix the room three separate times, because of mistakes made with previous workers, the room is finally livable, and enjoyable. And they were truly thrilled to have this room ready. Previous to last night they had been quarantined into one room for months, having the rest of the house filled with paint, dust, tools and workers. Miss Carol kept saying how she was simply tired of not having a home and having to smell paint and primer, and have people in and out of her small home. This week we will be able to complete a large part of the indoor work that was left, and make awesome progress on outdoor work
And this is why we are in Texas this week. To rebuild lives, to meet new people, and to bit by bit help homeowners like Miss Carol have their houses be the homes they were pre Ike.
“If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain. If I can ease one life the aching, Or cool one pain, Or help one fainting robin Unto his nest again, I shall not live in vain.”- Emily Dickinson
Building More Than a House
This week my group is working on Thresa's house. Thresa is one of the most loving people I have ever met, which was evident within the first few minutes we spent in her home. She takes care of her granddaughters and supports her children endlessly. It was immediately obvious when we started working that our work was not only about fixing the physical structure, but also about spending time with Thresa and listening to her stories. Hurricane Ike was not the first challenge she faced, but she met the setback of the damage to her home with the same sense of resilience, faith, and hope that she has possessed for her entire life. The projects we have worked on in her home have included stripping wall paper, mudding,framing doors, holding Baby Maddy while Thresa teaches us new skills, and sanding. It looks like for the rest of the week we'll be priming, painting, and fixing the porch. It has been a huge joy for me to get to spend time with my team members Taylor, Jason, John, and Daniqua; Rich, our site director; and Thresa and her family.
Despite the fact that we've been working really hard, we've also been playing pretty hard. Bananagrams, Apples to Apples, and a lot of silliness have kept us up a little late this week. I'm having a great time and I really appreciate the opportunity to be a part of this great experience again.
Brittni doesn't want to blog but asked me to share that she had to christen the Mainland Medical Center because of a run in with a certain fiery cluster of death bugs (read: fire ants in her pants).
~ Chelsea A.
New Pictures!
Brittany has kindly donated all 151 of her pictures that she's taken thru Wednesday night.
They can be seen here: http://picasaweb.google.com/uccuconnASB/ASB2010TexasCityTX#
~ Richie
They can be seen here: http://picasaweb.google.com/uccuconnASB/ASB2010TexasCityTX#
~ Richie
Howdy from Texas!
Howdy from Texas City :)
The site I'm working at (along with my crew, Richie, Meagan, Elesia and Tim) is the home of an older couple, Mel and Billie, whose house was mostly destroyed by wind damage when Ike hit. Mel showed us pictures on his camera of a tree that fell through their front room, and the damage to their floors that occurred when the waters from the flood rose up to the bottom of the kitchen cupboards (mind you, their house was up on concrete blocks, and there's only one layer of boards to the floor to begin with). A lot of the house had been repaired already, the front room has been reconstructed with drywall and the whole outside of the house was given new siding, a new roof was put on, etc., all before we arrived on site. Our crew is doing a lot of finishing work, mudding, priming and painting walls, installing insulation (easily the worst job of my life), and so forth. At first they seemed like fussy little things to be doing when so many houses in the area are in need of a complete rebuilding, but once we started work, I was surprised to find how many hours can pass when you're sanding mud, over and over, and remudding, and resanding, and repeating, just to smooth out a few divets and scratches that others might throw by the wayside. But not you: it's your house, it becomes a part of your life and your dignity just as much as it belongs to the homeowner, and all you can think is, "I'm short on time, but it's not good enough. If it bothers me, it needs to be fixed." Maybe it's the perfectionist in me, but it's like Monty said at orientation: this isn't about production, it's about rebuilding a life for these people, it's about rebuilding their home.
I think the most important thing is giving Mel and Billie back their sense of peace and dignity, and even though it's not much, just a little blue house on blocks, it's their home of seventeen years. Mel was telling us about how, before, the storm, he'd visited his next door neighbor's "million dollar" trailer, and he told us he may not have paid as much for his house, but he slept just as warm as the next man. And when he talked about the storm, the only thing that made him emotional was remembering the death of his dog just this past weekend. His dog, who he loved like his own child, and carried around with him wherever he went, who gave back the love he gave her tenfold. But, he said, other than that, everything was good. This man just lost half his house, and the thing that gets him is losing his dog. That spoke volumes to us about humility, and what things we should place value on, rather than the material. It sounds cliche, but it's true. The first things we buy insurance on is our stuff, our cars and houses and other things that, in the end, God can take away in a heartbeat, and you can't take them with you when you go. But no amount of insurance can cover the damage that's done when you lose a loved one. To see him talk about his puppy like that just broke my heart into a thousand pieces. We can rebuild his house into a mansion, but it's not going to fill the void that losing his dog left in him. All we can do is rebuild his modest little home, and hope that he finds peace with it, that he and Billie can make it into a happy home filled with love and joy. Hopefully the love and joy we and other teams have put into it so far will give them a good start.
With love,
Maureen
The site I'm working at (along with my crew, Richie, Meagan, Elesia and Tim) is the home of an older couple, Mel and Billie, whose house was mostly destroyed by wind damage when Ike hit. Mel showed us pictures on his camera of a tree that fell through their front room, and the damage to their floors that occurred when the waters from the flood rose up to the bottom of the kitchen cupboards (mind you, their house was up on concrete blocks, and there's only one layer of boards to the floor to begin with). A lot of the house had been repaired already, the front room has been reconstructed with drywall and the whole outside of the house was given new siding, a new roof was put on, etc., all before we arrived on site. Our crew is doing a lot of finishing work, mudding, priming and painting walls, installing insulation (easily the worst job of my life), and so forth. At first they seemed like fussy little things to be doing when so many houses in the area are in need of a complete rebuilding, but once we started work, I was surprised to find how many hours can pass when you're sanding mud, over and over, and remudding, and resanding, and repeating, just to smooth out a few divets and scratches that others might throw by the wayside. But not you: it's your house, it becomes a part of your life and your dignity just as much as it belongs to the homeowner, and all you can think is, "I'm short on time, but it's not good enough. If it bothers me, it needs to be fixed." Maybe it's the perfectionist in me, but it's like Monty said at orientation: this isn't about production, it's about rebuilding a life for these people, it's about rebuilding their home.
I think the most important thing is giving Mel and Billie back their sense of peace and dignity, and even though it's not much, just a little blue house on blocks, it's their home of seventeen years. Mel was telling us about how, before, the storm, he'd visited his next door neighbor's "million dollar" trailer, and he told us he may not have paid as much for his house, but he slept just as warm as the next man. And when he talked about the storm, the only thing that made him emotional was remembering the death of his dog just this past weekend. His dog, who he loved like his own child, and carried around with him wherever he went, who gave back the love he gave her tenfold. But, he said, other than that, everything was good. This man just lost half his house, and the thing that gets him is losing his dog. That spoke volumes to us about humility, and what things we should place value on, rather than the material. It sounds cliche, but it's true. The first things we buy insurance on is our stuff, our cars and houses and other things that, in the end, God can take away in a heartbeat, and you can't take them with you when you go. But no amount of insurance can cover the damage that's done when you lose a loved one. To see him talk about his puppy like that just broke my heart into a thousand pieces. We can rebuild his house into a mansion, but it's not going to fill the void that losing his dog left in him. All we can do is rebuild his modest little home, and hope that he finds peace with it, that he and Billie can make it into a happy home filled with love and joy. Hopefully the love and joy we and other teams have put into it so far will give them a good start.
With love,
Maureen
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
A New Perspective
At the house of Carol Matthews.
Through several setbacks (mud on a carpet and news of more stuff to paint, nests of fire ants and a slight electrocution), we've done much. We've gotten the living room walls painted and the bedroom ceiling mudded and sanded. We had an amazing experience today talking to our homeowner, Carol. She told us about her life, and about how Texas is HUGE! She talked about her experiences with Hurricane Ike and the things that she told us really just made everything real. She told us that after Hurricane Ike there were lines for food, people locked out of stores because there was only enough energy to keep a few registers open and great celebrations when power finally returned. It was incredible to talk to her. It was also really cool to see her brother-in-law Reggie getting ready, right before we left today, to finish priming the ceiling that we had started. He had also painted and textured several walls before we came, and dug much of the trench that we are supposed to dig (after the rain stops). It's awesome to think that we aren't only working together as a group, but we are also working with the family to put lives back together. It's been two days on the job, and an awesome experience so far. Can't wait to continue!
~ Alex L.
Through several setbacks (mud on a carpet and news of more stuff to paint, nests of fire ants and a slight electrocution), we've done much. We've gotten the living room walls painted and the bedroom ceiling mudded and sanded. We had an amazing experience today talking to our homeowner, Carol. She told us about her life, and about how Texas is HUGE! She talked about her experiences with Hurricane Ike and the things that she told us really just made everything real. She told us that after Hurricane Ike there were lines for food, people locked out of stores because there was only enough energy to keep a few registers open and great celebrations when power finally returned. It was incredible to talk to her. It was also really cool to see her brother-in-law Reggie getting ready, right before we left today, to finish priming the ceiling that we had started. He had also painted and textured several walls before we came, and dug much of the trench that we are supposed to dig (after the rain stops). It's awesome to think that we aren't only working together as a group, but we are also working with the family to put lives back together. It's been two days on the job, and an awesome experience so far. Can't wait to continue!
~ Alex L.
My Purpose
It's not typically easy for me to make decisions. At all. I'm the type to dwell on thoughts and ideas forever without actually acting on them... I'm introverted and definitely more comfortable sitting in some room alone then with a huge group of people... much less living with a huge group of people for extended period of time... I have a completely irrational and excessive fear of flying... I don't like being away from "home" for more than a couple days at a time.
And I'm here in Texas. There is no reason why I should be in Texas right now. I had no real desire to be here... I like helping people but I can do that elsewhere... It's Tuesday and I'm still trying to figure out why I'm here... All logic says is I shouldn't be.
Did God send me here? What does God want me to accomplish here? I don't feel like I've done anything worthwhile yet. I wonder if I'll have accomplished anything at all by the end of the week. At this point I feel completely useless and like I'm just wasting my time and everyone else's...
It's funny how you can go into something with all these expectations, then get there and realize it's nothing like you thought. Honestly, instead of making more faithful, this trip has made me question my religion and God... I've been struggling with this sine I started college almost 3 years ago... It's extremely emotionally draining. I thought I was going to go into these work sites and find appreciative, crying families, but instead find this woman who was already used to having different groups come in and work on her house... Often annoyed at the poor work the other groups have already done.
Why bother? Seriously?
Well, I'm bothering... I just have no idea why. But I guess that's OK, because I made it here, somehow, and I have a job to do.
~ Erin C.
And I'm here in Texas. There is no reason why I should be in Texas right now. I had no real desire to be here... I like helping people but I can do that elsewhere... It's Tuesday and I'm still trying to figure out why I'm here... All logic says is I shouldn't be.
Did God send me here? What does God want me to accomplish here? I don't feel like I've done anything worthwhile yet. I wonder if I'll have accomplished anything at all by the end of the week. At this point I feel completely useless and like I'm just wasting my time and everyone else's...
It's funny how you can go into something with all these expectations, then get there and realize it's nothing like you thought. Honestly, instead of making more faithful, this trip has made me question my religion and God... I've been struggling with this sine I started college almost 3 years ago... It's extremely emotionally draining. I thought I was going to go into these work sites and find appreciative, crying families, but instead find this woman who was already used to having different groups come in and work on her house... Often annoyed at the poor work the other groups have already done.
Why bother? Seriously?
Well, I'm bothering... I just have no idea why. But I guess that's OK, because I made it here, somehow, and I have a job to do.
~ Erin C.
Monday, March 8, 2010
An Update (Finally)
An apology for a long delay in our next update!
We made it to Texas City without any issues. Our site manager, Rich Grobe (who is from the Hartford area), met us at the church to give us a tour of where we are staying. It's a nice location with two bedrooms with six bunks each (12 beds total), a lounge area, a bathroom in both bathroom, a third bathroom with three showers and two sinks, and another room that is a classroom for Sunday school, but is currently being used by us as a study room. We also have full access to the church's kitchen where we prepare all of our meals.
The rest of Saturday was spent food shopping, making dinner, and some relaxation. Most of us were in bed by 10pm since we were up so early for the flight.
After a good night's rest (at least for most of us), quite a few of us went out for a run around the neighborhoods, finding the water's edge (even though it was through people's yards). Afterwards, individual omelets were made for everyone by Richie & Bryan. After breakfast, we attended the First Christan Church 10:45am Sunday Service. We more than doubled the amount of attendees. The church uses two projectors and a TV to put up images and the words for all of the sungs sung, and the bible verses being read. They also welcomed us, which included a picture of the UConn logo on the screens!
After the service, we grabbed lunch quickly and then headed off for Houston. The whole trip to Houston was a little frustrating, as we could have used some more time actually planning what to do. We first went to the museum area, where we split up. Some people went to the Holocaust Museum, a few went to the Art Museum, some went to the Museum of Natural Science, and others wandered around (they were planning to go to the zoo, but it was too expensive). We had planned on meeting back up around 5:30, however we all ended up meeting at 4:30 because most of us were fairly bored already and were ready to leave. We had found out from some locals of a couple of places to go in the main part of Houston. We set out to a location, only to realize when we got there that is wasn't the right location. We ended up traveling to a mall North of the city instead of getting into the main part of the city. So then we re-routed ourselves to the correct location. By this time, we were all starving. Most of us went to the House of Blues restaurant, while the rest went to the Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant. By the time we finished, we were all ready to head back to the church for the rest of the night.
Monday brought an early morning rise. We were all up by 6:45am. Richie made some regular and chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast, and we left the church (somewhat late) by 7:45 to go to our orientation at a church 20 minutes away. At the orientation we were introduced to Susan and Monte who are the organizers of the projects we're working on. They travel to devastated areas as a full-time job in an RV to organize relief efforts. After the orientation, we split up into four groups and traveled to our work sites. They vary in distance from the church, from 10 minutes to up to 30 minutes. Details of each of the sites will come soon by people who are each of the sites. We all got back to the church between 4 and 5pm, and then proceeded to make a great chicken, mashed potatoes, and veggie dinner. After a small break we gathered together to have a reflection people, where Chelsea lead us. She had us go around and say an apology and an appreciation to either someone in the group (or the whole group) or someone (or a group of people) who weren't part of the group. It was a great discussion, and since then until now we've all been hanging out, playing bananagrams, working on homework, or sleeping.
That brings y'all pretty much up to date. The hope is that other people will be posting real soon, whether it's about their work site, a reflection, story, or something else! We hope to have some pictures posted soon as well, and possibly some videos too!
Till then ~ Richie
We made it to Texas City without any issues. Our site manager, Rich Grobe (who is from the Hartford area), met us at the church to give us a tour of where we are staying. It's a nice location with two bedrooms with six bunks each (12 beds total), a lounge area, a bathroom in both bathroom, a third bathroom with three showers and two sinks, and another room that is a classroom for Sunday school, but is currently being used by us as a study room. We also have full access to the church's kitchen where we prepare all of our meals.
The rest of Saturday was spent food shopping, making dinner, and some relaxation. Most of us were in bed by 10pm since we were up so early for the flight.
After a good night's rest (at least for most of us), quite a few of us went out for a run around the neighborhoods, finding the water's edge (even though it was through people's yards). Afterwards, individual omelets were made for everyone by Richie & Bryan. After breakfast, we attended the First Christan Church 10:45am Sunday Service. We more than doubled the amount of attendees. The church uses two projectors and a TV to put up images and the words for all of the sungs sung, and the bible verses being read. They also welcomed us, which included a picture of the UConn logo on the screens!
After the service, we grabbed lunch quickly and then headed off for Houston. The whole trip to Houston was a little frustrating, as we could have used some more time actually planning what to do. We first went to the museum area, where we split up. Some people went to the Holocaust Museum, a few went to the Art Museum, some went to the Museum of Natural Science, and others wandered around (they were planning to go to the zoo, but it was too expensive). We had planned on meeting back up around 5:30, however we all ended up meeting at 4:30 because most of us were fairly bored already and were ready to leave. We had found out from some locals of a couple of places to go in the main part of Houston. We set out to a location, only to realize when we got there that is wasn't the right location. We ended up traveling to a mall North of the city instead of getting into the main part of the city. So then we re-routed ourselves to the correct location. By this time, we were all starving. Most of us went to the House of Blues restaurant, while the rest went to the Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant. By the time we finished, we were all ready to head back to the church for the rest of the night.
Monday brought an early morning rise. We were all up by 6:45am. Richie made some regular and chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast, and we left the church (somewhat late) by 7:45 to go to our orientation at a church 20 minutes away. At the orientation we were introduced to Susan and Monte who are the organizers of the projects we're working on. They travel to devastated areas as a full-time job in an RV to organize relief efforts. After the orientation, we split up into four groups and traveled to our work sites. They vary in distance from the church, from 10 minutes to up to 30 minutes. Details of each of the sites will come soon by people who are each of the sites. We all got back to the church between 4 and 5pm, and then proceeded to make a great chicken, mashed potatoes, and veggie dinner. After a small break we gathered together to have a reflection people, where Chelsea lead us. She had us go around and say an apology and an appreciation to either someone in the group (or the whole group) or someone (or a group of people) who weren't part of the group. It was a great discussion, and since then until now we've all been hanging out, playing bananagrams, working on homework, or sleeping.
That brings y'all pretty much up to date. The hope is that other people will be posting real soon, whether it's about their work site, a reflection, story, or something else! We hope to have some pictures posted soon as well, and possibly some videos too!
Till then ~ Richie
Saturday, March 6, 2010
In Detroit!
We all landed safely into Detroit, and are currently are waiting for our next flight to get us to Houston. From there we'll get our rental cars and drive to First Christan Church in Texas City, TX. The rest of the day will involve food shopping, making dinner, and just hanging out and hopefully catching up on some sleep!
Flight's still on time, and we should be boarding shortly!
Enjoy the day ~ Richie
Flight's still on time, and we should be boarding shortly!
Enjoy the day ~ Richie
And we're off!
It's 5:15am, and we're all officially waiting at our gate for our 5:45am flight. Took a little while to check in, but everything went very smoothly and there were basically no lines to get through security (definitely helps that they had all lanes open!). From Bradley we'll be flying into Detroit (arrival around 8am), then we'll head out an hour later (except for a group of 5, who are in Detroit for a few extra hours) and arrive in Houston by Noon!
We're all tired, but VERY excited for the trip! Make sure to check back again soon for updates.
Till next time ~ Richie
We're all tired, but VERY excited for the trip! Make sure to check back again soon for updates.
Till next time ~ Richie
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Almost time!
In less than 36 hours from now we'll all be on the plane flying the Texas! The entire group is very excited for the trip and to start helping rebuild a couple of houses in Texas City. It's been a long week that seems to have dragged by slowly, most likely due to all of the midterms everyone has been having to face. But we will all be relieved to be done with tests, and to have lots of fun on the trip.
We hope that you'll enjoy reading the daily updates of this blog throughout our entire week in Texas City, and make sure to post some feedback/comment on the individual posts, or send us an e-mail at uccuconnasb@gmail.com.
Till next time in the airport ~ Richie
We hope that you'll enjoy reading the daily updates of this blog throughout our entire week in Texas City, and make sure to post some feedback/comment on the individual posts, or send us an e-mail at uccuconnasb@gmail.com.
Till next time in the airport ~ Richie
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