Day 7: New Orleans Mission Trip

Yesterday, Saturday was a busy day. It was the day for team 2 to go home. We had to do alot of jobs. We pulled the weeds out of the garden, deliever a table to Austell's house, clean the church, and pack up to go home. It was go go go. Everyone was rushing everywhere to do something for someone. After Noon is when we decided to go. Team 2-Beth, Alex, Nate, Randy, Mark, Karen, Allison, Michael left while the Knox family-John, Eleanor, Johnny, Margaret Rose, and Graham went to a little vacation down in New Orleans. We had an exhausting drive back and got back near midnight. On the way home though almost everyone had a sad face on like they didn't want to go back home but wants to stay down in New Orleans.


If anyone would like to view the video/slideshow of the trip, please go to google.com, go to video, and search for Mac McIntyre. The 'New Orleans' video should appear in the search results. Thanks for your time!

Day 6: New Orleans Mission Trip

Yesterday Friday, Team 1-Mac,Patssy, Susan, Tom, Barb, Alyce, and Vela are leaving today and we will miss them. Before they left, we go to our traditional good-bye restaurants Cafe du Monde. Team 1 left and Team 2-Nate, Michael, Allison, Johnny, Graham, Margaret Rose, Alex, Mark, Karen, Eleanor, John, Leader Beth, and Randy Sherman. We left for Erma's house and went to sand, mud, put of sheet rock, and put in the fireplace. The Californians were there and they had to contractors, so they worked on the fireplace. When it was getting late, we headed home and the Knox family went to E Palvilion. We decided to go to the Gumbo Shop and we found out about it by Cliff. On the way down there we were stuck in traffic. Going down Canal with almost every traffic light red was a mess. It took us 45 minutes to go 10 miles. We didn't find a parking spot because of what was going on. It was worth the drive because the food was delious. We found out that the "Battle of the Bands" was going on. The Knoxs walked from their hotel and that was a good decision. On the way back home Co-Pilot "Randy" took us around the same block about three times. Nate, we found out should a comedian and was making us laugh all the way home. The way back took 60 minutes for 10 miles. Pilot "Mark" 'there is more police on this street than there is in Atlanta all together.'

Day 5 New Orleans Mission Trip

Happy Thanksgiving to y'all! Today has been pretty laid back compared to the other days, but we got alot done in the time we had. Most everyone went to Irma's house to finish up and we did drywall and sheetrock in 2 rooms-including closets. At noon, we went back to the church and Alex, Beth, Tom, Patsy, and a few hungry others started on Thanksgiving dinner while the rest of the team took the New Orleans tour. It was really sad, but it made us glad that we could help these people out the best we could. After the tour, we packed the vans and went to the Nunns' house for a big Thanksgiving dinner. Peihen-a girl from the L.A. team-taught us a traditional Taiwan dance after dinner, and the whole group joined in. It was really fun. After finishing our delicious meals, the Knox's went to a hotel to stay the rest of the vacation and everyone else went back to the church to go to sleep and get ready for another big day tomorrow. Team 1-Mac, Patsy, Alyce, Tom, Vela, and Barb-are leaving tomorrow after breakfast. It will be sad with them gone, but God's work still needs to be done, so all the teams will meet back up Sunday. Happy Thanksgiving!

Day 4 New Orleans Mission Trip

Another amazing day has gone by. We woke up at 6 again, but jumped right up, ate breakfast, and went to work. Mac, Patsy, Susan, the Knox's, and the Californian team stayed at the church to drive up the rotten concrete while everyone else went to Estelle and Irma's house to work. After the concrete was dug up, the team met up at Irma's house to put up sheetrock and drywall. It was very fun and messy. After about 6 hrs. of work-and half of the team getting lost in Lowes-we went back to the church and ate jambalya.(The Knox's and the Humphries went out to eat.)So today was pretty basic, but we got alot done and we hope tomorrow will be another successful day.

Day 3 New Orleans Mission Trip

Another awesome day has gone by in New Orleans. We woke up at 6 and got to work on Estelle's house as soon as we could. We finished the doors, the yard, and alot of sweeping. We still need to do drywall and the floors. We really got through alot, though, in the little time and with the few people we had. Speaking of people, the people from California and the rest of FPC arrived. FPC consisted of Nate Shelton, Alex Ball, Beth Bailey, Randy Sherman, Susan Holland, Allison Humphries, Michael Humphries, Mark Humphries, Karen Humphries, Graham Knox, Johnny Knox, Margaret Rose Knox, John Knox, and Eleanor Knox. As for the Californians, we have hardly spoken to them so we have yet to find out their names. We left our jobs at about 5:15 and we headed back to the church just in time to meet up with the other FPC group. Mainly, we just hung out a while and unloaded the new van while waiting on cliff and our dinner. Soon enough, they both came and we had a delicious dinner of gumbo and salad. It was a very relaxing evening, and we can't wait to get the new groups with us to start on the new project.

New Orleans Mission Trip

The New Orleans Mission Team-consisting of Barb and Tom Steele, Vela Ryle, Alyce Golowash, Debbie Peterson, Patsy Carlton, and Mac McIntyre-has made it. We actually made it last night at about 6 PM but we couldn't find the blog password information. So for the past two days, this is what we have done: We left the Marietta 1st Presbyterian Church at about 10:30 AM on Sunday 11/19/06. We made a few rest stops along the way for gas, food, and beef jerky. We ate about 3 meals each the entire day-with Mac eating 5-so we were all full. We got to the New Orleans 1st Presbyterian Church at about 7:30 New Orleans time and we met up with a pastor from Cleveland, Ohio named Dean Myers. After getting to the church, we unloaded ALL of the contents of the truck and the van and we left to get something to eat again. We went to the New Orleans Hamburger and Seafood restaurant and it was very good,(even though they were out of baked potatoes and BBQ shrimp.) After stuffing ourselves once again, we went back to the church to blow up the air mattresses. Seeing how some of us needed new air mattresses, we used the pre-blown up ones from the church instead. Everyone was quiet at about 11:30.

Today-Monday-we woke up at 6:30 AM and met up with Joel La Croix-a missionary here from Canada to help with us. After breakfast and a very good devotional by Debbie, we all climbed into the van and left for our first task-the Joseph home. We loved Mrs. Estelle Joseph and her daughter Liz and Liz's husband, Ceasar. Patsy, Mac, Debbie, and Vela went to Home Depot and Walgreens to get screwdrivers, pansies, and sweaters(because of the cold)while Tom, Joel, Alyce, and Barb put in new doors to the house. Afterwards, Mac, Patsy, and Vela all did yard work while the others worked on putting in doors, caulking, and painting. It was very rewarding to do this for this family, and we will continue it tomorrow. After the house was done for the day, we went to see Lake Ponchatrain and went back to the church to eat Jambalya with Cliff Nunn-the pastor of the church-and his wife, Nieta Nunn. It was a delicious and filling meal, especially after trying so hard to get the stove to work. There will be more of God's work tomorrow.