BHC Brotherhood

 

BHC Confirmation Class of 2008

New Orleans Katrina Relief Mission

 

With help from a $1,000 donation from our Brotherhood and additional help from other generous sponsors, most of the students in BHC's 10th grade along with parents and clergy trekked down to the Big Easy on a Habitat for Humanity and Common Grounds mission from Nov. 1-5. Their journey was incredible! Good work was done in two of the hardest hit areas ... the devastated St. Bernard Parish and Lower 9th.

Note to readers: This write-up by Brotherhood's Vice-President (who went on the trip) attempts to describe the experience, but he admits to falling way short in doing it justice ... words just don't do the trick! A video is being developed ... check back at the end of December. In addition to the photos below, view the BHC Blog and photos from the trip.

On our way! After school on Thursday (Nov 1), 26 students and 12 parents/clergy met at BWI Airport on board AirTran to New Orleans. Check-in was extremely easy, and we all got through security ... not so amazing, but noteworthy. To both frequent and novice travelers, there's nothing better than an eventless flight, with a seemless connection in Atlanta. The bus driver/owner (Paul Rogers with Pelican Bus, LLC.) greeted us at the New Orleans-Louis Armstrong airport with open arms. The hotel (Embassy Suites New Orleans) welcomed the group with refreshments and their sincere gratitude for the help that the group was bringing to their city.

Getting Instructions	Measure twice, cut once!	Teamwork to reach that last Row of Siding

If I had a Hammer ... after eating breakfast in the hotel on Friday and Saturday, we grabbed box lunches and headed out on a bus at 7:00 AM for full days of work for Habitat for Humanity in the St. Bernard Parish. It was hard work ... hammering, sawing, climbing ladders, painting, nailing ... doing all this to install siding and roofing for two houses. Great teamwork made the task bearable, and even fun. As if mother nature understood our purpose, the weather was outstanding ... not too hot, not too cold ... just right!

Good Eatin'... is what New Orleans is known for, and it didn't leave anyone dissappointed. Mulates on Friday night, Margaritaville on Saturday Night, and the Red Fish Grill on Sunday Night. Yummy!

Let the Good Times Roll - Havdalah Style ... No trip to New Orleans is complete without a visit to the French Quarter! After dinner "hit the spot" on Saturday night, we "hit the town" in small groups for a little while, then reconvened in Jackson Square for a 10:00 PM Havdalah service. After two days of hard work, it was a fitting way to end Shabbat ... enjoying the smells and sounds of Havdalah while overlooking the river on one side, and the French Quarter on the other. Many of the confirmands expressed their personal and heartfelt feelings about their experience.

Jazzy Lobby of Embassy Suites	One way to Bourbon Street! Like our shirts?	Making Crystal Glass Music with Street Vendor

R&R in the Big Easy! On Sunday, when Habitat and other organizations do not work, the group took the opportunity to head out for some fun and edu-tainment. We went to SwampFest, a once-a-year New Orleans music and crafts festival at the Zoo, and then proceeded to go on a Swamp River Tour along the Westwego Swamp with "Captain Bill".

SwampFest entertainer Amanda Shaw	Captain Tom Billiot	Westwego Swamp Tour with Captain Tom

Back to work ... On Monday, the group ventured into the lower 9th Ward doing work for Common Ground. No rest for the weary ... after a full-day of work, it was off to a local JCC to shower, and then off to the airport for the flight back home.

There's No Place Like Home ... arriving near midnight on Monday night, the group was greeted by cheers, balloons, and smiling faces. After building homes for those who had lost theirs, it was nice to return to our own home.