The big easy

Hey guys,
I finally made it back to DC. New Orleans was amazing and heartbreaking and awe-inspiring and everything else you could imagine it would be. I saw a lot of destroyed homes. People there don't have gas, electricity, and sometimes water. I was put on Emergency Response Vehicles (ervs) and handed out anywhere from 600-800 meals a day. I had clients start to cry on me; I got asked out on dates by crazy New Orleaneans, and made a lot of friends with the Red Cross volunteers. My team also had a blast on Bourbon street and scooping endless vats of carrots into foam containers. Yum. It's been a little crazy around here since 6 teams just returned from Disaster Relief, and most of them are deploying to a spike location. We get to stay in DC. I'm excited about the Christmas lights and decorations that will surely be up in the nations capitol. I'll actually have email and blog capabilities for the next 3 weeks and then I'm back in Arkansas!!!!!!!! I'll be home the 21st through the 8th. I can't wait to see everyone and update you periodically with much funnier, less rushed blog entries. I love you guys!

Vanessa and Lucy sleeping on Nick G. at the internet cafe (our only day off)

Hard Rock Cafe, New Orleans

Christina, Bentucky, Kat, me and Amar on Bourbon Street

NEW ORLEANS!

Hey guys,
I have about 15 minutes on the internet, but I needed to update everyone before I get back to DC. I have been working on one of 34 American Red Cross emergency response vehicles serving food. It looks like an ambulance but it has a food serving window where we hand out hot meals and water. Several locations in New Orleans are without power and running water. People have nowhere to live, more or less, cook and eat. The kitchen I work out of served it's 1,000,000 meal yesterday. This is the first time in Red Cross history that a kitchen has served this many meals. The Red Cross borrowed 300 million dollars this past week to cover the insane expenses they are aquiring. Today is the first day I've had off and I got to check my email, and see a picture of my new nephew!!!!!!! That's right PJ had a C-section on Wednesday and has a beautiful baby boy. Alex Jedidiah, Jed, is the newest member of my family and we are all happy he's here. I'll be glad to take a hot shower when I get back to DC, but in the meantime I'll be saving the world and that makes it worth it. Give a shout out to David if you see him. He's in the Little Rock area. Can't wait until Christmas, I miss you guys and want to hear everything that's going on with you. Props to Arkansas, for providing all the Southern Baptists (about 20 new ones a week) that come on down to Louisiana and make 20,000 meals a day at 3am. REPRESENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We had ice cream in the park.....with weird sunglasses

David just loves to make a perfectly nice picture crazy

David and I making silly sculpture pictures, and David and Mark

New York New York: check out our cool shades

ADIOS!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey guys. I'm really really really busy so I'll keep this short. I had a great time in NY visiting with David and his friends, Mark, Carlin, Erin, and Olivia. We saw a lot of art and a lot of runners (NY marathon was this weekend) and a lot of vegan food and homeless people. I'm posting pictures! I found out today, that tomorrow, I'm leaving for New Orleans. The area is without electricity, running water, internet, and has limited cell phone usage. I'm trying to get everything in order so I can leave for the airport at 4:30 am. I probably won't be able to post, and maybe not even call, but you're all in my thoughts. Hope everyone is well. I'll talk to you again soon!