VOLUNTEERS NEEDED URGENTLY: 29 August deadline looming for homeowners

The St. Bernard and Orleans Parish governments have announced that homeowners have until 29 August to gut and secure their homes or be faced with fines and possibles liens or confiscation. The need for volunteers is now more pressing than ever. If you have been thinking about returning to work with us at Hilltop Rescue, now is the time! Please spread the word.

IMMEDIATE NEED: $2,800 to ship donated drinking water

A generous donor has offered to give Hilltop an entire tractor-trailer load of drinking water at no charge if we can cover the cost of transportation. If you or your group would like to help cover the $2,800 shipping cost, please contact Gary Watts at gwatts@hilltoprescue.org

Tammany Oaks Report

It's Friday night, July 14, 2006, at the Tammany Oaks Church of Christ. Another long day of work has ended. We've just had a wonderful time of praise that was inspiring and uplifting. Tony Miller from the Georgetown Church of Christ near Austin, Texas spoke to us from James Chapter Two, and reminded us that our faith is "completed" or "made perfect" in our work. The work being done in the devastated areas of New Orleans should help us to see people as Jesus sees them - each one a beautiful, immortal soul of infinite worth. Afterwards, I had a great spiritual conversation with Mike Avery, the Youth Minister from the Memorial Church of Christ in Houston. He reminded me that the Lord provides for us a time and a place for rest and restoration.

The numbers tonight are down a bit since the group from Memphis left this morning. The young people here are showing a mind-boggling amount of energy, considering how hard they have been working this week. Footballs, soccer balls and beach balls are being kicked and thrown all over the building. Others are washing clothes and preparing lunches for tomorrow. Despite all the action, at least one sensible adult has already fallen asleep. Shannon Cooper, the Youth Minister from the Central Church of Christ in Little Rock, Arkansas, is telling us to expect lots of similar activity from the three other Youth Groups from Little Rock who will be arriving next week.

It reminded me that this is the way things have been in this building since early September, 2005. Groups coming, groups going. Work being done, lives being touched, hope being re-kindled. God's name being lifted up in prayer and praise. Old friends re-uniting, new friendships being established. God's word being opened up before us in ways we have never before considered. Everything being done in the name of and to the glory of God.

And so, another typical day comes to an end at Tammany Oaks Church of Christ. I would like to extend my humble and heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers who have worked through Tammany Oaks, Hilltop and Carrollton. You have given your time, your money, your sweat, in some cases your blood, your many tears, and your many prayers to the people of the New Orleans area. I believe these priceless gifts could be the start of a great spiritual re-awakening in Southeastern Louisiana.

May the Lord bless you and keep you.

Ambrose Ramsey
Shepherd, Tammany Oaks Church of Christ

Columbus Team 15 Update

Sorry about not giving much in the way of updates. We have been very busy and doing lots of hard work. The first day we spent in a private school Lynn Oaks, grades Pre-K through 8, the only Christian school in the area. They have been wanting to get schools opened up. Without the schools it makes it hard for people to come back with their children.

Day 2 - was spent finishing a house that another group had started. There was one bedroom and bathroom that had not been de-mucked. It was 3-5 inches of dried muck, hard to break up. We had a young man with us that has been here since May, Rod. He was like a plow going through the house. He didn't wear a mask or goggles, not even gloves. We worked very hard and we managed to finish the house. We didn't get to meet the homeowners but we signed a Bible and left it for them. Afterward, Rod took us on a "little tour" through the southern part of the 9th ward, where the Levy broke. The devastation is unbelievable, including the numbers on some of the homes that were left, indicating the amount of bodies found.

Day 3 - we got a house in New Orleans. The home owner worked in the evidence dept with the N.O. Police Dept. Her father built the home and she had lived there all her life. Her father had passed away some time ago and her mother back in 1990. She rode out the storms (Katrina and Rita) at Police HQ. She had family members that ended up living in the attic of house during Katrina. This is a very close knit community. Her father had built many of the homes, and she had family members, Uncles, Aunts, Cousins, living on nearly every street. She described how the trees were bending during Katrina, like blades of grass in the wind. She was unable to return to her house for over a month due to the situations and all the water. "Who knew it would ever have been that bad." We stripped her entire house, walls, flooring tile, sinks, cupboards, doors. She said the water had risen to over 6 ft in the house. Mold growing everywhere. One of our crew found a shoe box full of pictures in the attic. She was ecstatic. They were the only pictures found with any of her family members in them. We even found some documents of recognition from the city of N.O. presented to her father for some work he had done for the community. She was very appreciative of all the work we were doing.

Someone had mentioned to the group that I made good sausage gravy. Thanks Becky!! :-) So I got up at 5:00 AM this morning to make gravy (for 100 people, I've never made such a large pot of gravy before in my life!), and we actually had REAL fried eggs this morning too. Two other guys in our group volunteered to flip eggs. A great breakfast, everything was homemade (except for the biscuits). Then someone mentioned that their husband made great chili (also from our group). All homemade meals today. Another group here made peach cobbler for desert to go with the chili tonight. I think someone may have gotten a picture or 2 of 3 guys making breakfast before we even had coffee! I bet that was some sight!

We have pictures of all the work we've been doing, but no card reader yet to get them uploaded. Will try and get them out to you as soon as I can.

--mark

Praise for the volunteers

I just wanted to take a few minutes before our crews that we have out get back in and it gets rowdy again. I want to thank all of the groups and individuals that have supported this ministry over the past ten months.

It has truly been an amazing time in my life that I will never forget. I have a very large extended and even a large close family now. I think about time every day that we have had since this all began. There have been good and bad ones but we have all gotten through them to handle the task at hand.

I really want to thank the groups that were here the week of June 24-30. We had nearly 300 people here. During this week Tim Hines had to be in Honduras, Janet was attending the NACC conference, and Corky was getting prepped for his trip home. This left Lana, Chrissy, and me. the groups that were here this week stepped up and took care of themselves and didn’t hardly call me at all during the day (which is a miracle for my phone not to ring all day) these groups paid close attention to what was asked and got it done. Thank you all for realizing what we needed that week.

As I said earlier it has been ten months since the storm and yes I am getting tired, but seeing people come back time and time again and hearing the stories and meeting new groups gives me the energy to carry on in this. Not to mention that God is giving me energy I never had before. I just encourage all future groups to listen and pay attention to the guys and gals that have been here before. They have learned from trial and error and are just trying to make it easier on you.

I hope everyone has a happy and safe fourth and I hope to see you all soon!

Brendan

Thanks from Ms Ella

Just had to drop you a line and let you know how nice the ceilings look. They did a wonderful job. I didn't get to meet them in person, just on the phone. I had a awful cold which wound me in the hospital with pneumonia. Brian got to meet them and said they were very nice. Got home today and so glad to see how great things are looking. And gee just think it only took nine months. I'm making a joke but in actuality some people still haven't even started. I feel so sorry for so many people that are still having to live in trailers and even worse cars. Let's pray this never happens again. We have been helped by so many very nice people such as yourself. I know you realize we do appreciate everything y'all have done, but I don't think you understand just how much it means to know a total stranger has taken the time to give us their friendship. There's not a doubt in my mind God has sent you to us.

God Bless each and every one of you.
With warmest regards and sincere appreciation,
Ella Smith and Brian Barringer

Editor's Note: 3 weeks after Katrina, Ella returned home from Dallas to find her house in Slidell had been flooded 3 feet deep. She walked right back out and a Marine put his hand on her shoulder and asked what he could do to help. She and Brian had an hour or so to get what they wanted to keep from the house and the crew of Marines gutted it for her.

We met her at the Home Depot with a Penske truck, helped get all the things she needed and started putting her house back together in January. A few other volunteers through Hilltop have worked on it since then, but this week the Shiffbauer family from Columbus Ohio finished the last step, painting the ceiling on the day the air conditioning was first up and running. Ella and Brian are now home.

There are a lot of pictures of her house before and during our work linked from this blog entry and you can find more stories from team 7 at the archive of the blog from the week we were there in January.

Hilltop Needs List Summer 2006

As this is being posted the first tropical depression of 2006 is starting our second season as it is expected to land on the gulf coast of Florida as Tropical Storm Alberto. Hilltop has needs for the current operation in New Orleans as well as preparing for the next one.

• Lots of water: On a normal day we go through 1000 bottles
• Gatorade
• Drink mixes for meals: teas, Gatorade, fruit drinks, lemonade…
• Snacks: granola bars, chips, cookies, candy…
• Fresh fruit and vegetables: best if brought with groups coming to work
• First aid supplies: band aids, Neosporin, gauze, tape, ace wraps, meds...
• Bread: white and wheat
• Heavy mops: cotton head

These are things that hilltop rescue needs on hand to be able to respond to the next disaster.

• Chain saws-Husquarvana or Stihl preferably.....I know it sounds like I’m being picky but these are the only ones that hold up.
• Sledge hammers
• Hammers
• Wonder bars: 18-24 inch
• Wrecking bars
• Scoop shovels
• Heavy garden rakes
• Brooms: small and large
• Generators
• Kitchen utensils for our new kitchen trailer: contact hilltop for progress on that need
• Utility trailers: 12-14 ft enclosed---I know this is a big request but you never know!
• Tarps: 20x30 or bigger

Thats all for now. Thank you to everyone for their continued support and prayers for us here at hilltop.

"git er done"
Brendan Hendrix

Columbus Team 14 First Day Report

Wow what a day. I literally got up at 3:15 and am just now sitting down for the first time at 9:15 other than eating dinner and the devo. And yet I am fine and ready for the morrow.

The team went out bright eyed and bushy tailed today with hopes of tackling great things. The team of 25 stayed together for their first day and will split up tomorrow. They returned around 3:30 dirty and tired with stories of all the gross things they saw and did.




Cleaning up mud and throwing peoples personal possessions in a trash pile. It seems that no matter who we are or where we come from that is the single thing that always stands out, the throwing out of things that were once near and dear to us.






Imagine if you will if God had said “go give away all you have and I will bring you peace....... Would we not debate argue or negotiate with God? Yet this disaster strikes and makes them all as filthy rags and here we are helping people to the curb with all their worldly possessions.

Tomorrow holds much promise. The kids from WSHS did such a great job today that the neighbor to the house they did came in and asked Hilltop for them to come do hers. I doubt that will happen but she was so impressed with how hard they worked, the quality of the work, and their attitudes that she followed them back here. Great job to the kids who are hear working so hard.

Well I need some sleep up at 3 again to cook. Good night and may God bless each of you.

Brad Hayes
Servants Unite