The Work Week- Ryan Gale

This week has been an interesting experience as far as working and volunteering goes. We only worked on a house on Monday and have been volunteering the rest of our time at the New Orleans Mission, which is in desperate need of attention and help. While, to the dismay of some, we have not had a constant "work site" or met with homeowners, it has nonetheless been an interesting and rewarding experience. I had an interesting experience yesterday while at the Mission. While walking out of the Mission to go to the vans to leave, I saw a man with a Sharpie marker writing on a piece of cardboard with which he was going to use to beg. This was an odd sight, because I, like many, have passed a myriad of homeless men and women holding signs requesting money. Yesterday, I experienced the front line of the fight against poverty and homeless. Later in the day, we passed a man sitting in a wheelchair holding also holding a cardboard sign that read "Happy New Year. God Bless." This was, again, an odd sight because it would be assumed that he would be asking for money or have some sort of written plea, instead, this man in such an evidently desparate situation was simply wishing the best for all those who passed him. I am enjoying the trip thus far and have thoroughly enjoyed the welcomness of the city. Finally, perhaps the most rewarding experience of all the times I've been down to New Orleans occurred yesterday when Tommy and I purchased a King Cake for and with our homeowner, Miss Irma, from last year. She remembered our faces and, again, invited us down for Carnival (Mardi Gras). We again, regretfully declined, and parted ways, but not without a photo to remember this special, warm and spirited woman.