Cajun Lunch Fundaiser Prep Day!

We had a great time choppin and processing pounds of Onions, Green Peppers, Jalapenos, Garlic, Celery...

Wait I'll just let you see our receipe for feeding Louisiana Jambalaya to 250 people!

Louisiana Jambalaya:

Of course you must start with the Trinity:

Celery, Onions, Peppers and because we're using Tomatoes this will be more of a Creole Style not Cajun!

So here we go...

12 1/2 cups (25 sticks) Butter
50 Red Onions

125 Green Onions, chopped (save 1/2 cup chopped for garnish)
25 Large Green Bell Peppers, chopped
50 Stalks of Celery, chopped
100 Garlic cloves, finely chopped
50 Bay Leaves
25 Jalapeno chili peppers, finely chopped with seeds
1 1/2 cups Creole Seasoning
1/4 cup ground Cayenne Pepper
1/4 cup Dried Oregano, crumbled
3 1/3 cups Tomato paste
25 pounds Anadouille or Hot Italian Sausage, cut into 1/2-inch pieces or bulk crumbled
18 3/4 pounds of Ham, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
20 lbs. Pre-Cooked Baby Shrimp
25 lbs. Boneless, skinless Chicken Thighs, grilled and cubed
5.6 Gallons Chicken broth
25 16-once cans Plum Tomatoes, diced with liquid
75 cups of Long-Grain Rice

Well there ya go... now you know why it took a team to prep for our Cajun Lunch!

Katrina Workday 04/28/07

Here are a few pictures of our practice day. As you can see the focus for the day was on Drywall.

Will we be doing real work or just demolition and cleaning???

How hot and humid will it be???

Keep checking back to watch our progress!

Only one month to go before we leave for Houma LA.

YEA!!!

Training Session 2

Hello Katrina Krew!

It's been a while since you've received official correspondence from me, and I'm afraid I'm late in sending this out - so please accept my apologies on this notice. We will be having a drywall focused work day nxt Sat, April 7 @ 9:00am. We will once again rendezvous at Pete Flynn's home (4420 Jacaranda Ave. - 954-9905), and get a tutorial on cutting and hanging drywall.

Please RSVP if you are unable to make this training session. We received an email from the TRAC organization (www.trac4la.com), who Presbyterian Disaster Assistance partners with and who will be apparently be directing some of our work, specifically requesting the following specialty abilities:

1. framers and roofers that can build a roof covering over an existing structure
2. re-shingle over existing shingled roof
3. put floor covering down (carpet & linoleum & laminate wood planks)
4. some sub flooring replacement
5. ceiling drywall replacement
6. insulation under a trailer
7. minor electrical repairs
8. stairs built to a home that is at an 8 foot elevation
9. wheelchair ramp
10. entry door jams replaced
11. installing kitchen & bath cabinets including reconnecting the plumbing
12. installing interior doors
13. replacing window casing & moldings
14. installing acoustic ceiling tiles
15. installing ceramic for tub surrounding
16. cool sealing roofs
    

So, you can see, the emphasis in the communications we've received remains on "the more skilled, the better."

On another note, it is all but official that our Team will be hosting the May 6 - Barbecue Sunday at church! We will have a Cajun emphasis to the cuisine, courtesy Tyler and Gordon Bussard's great suggestion of a church-wide support luncheon, with our own Charlie Jeffries' culinary assistance offered to the barbecuing crew. I would like for all of us to make it a priority to attend and serve food/clean-up for this event. We will be taking donations, so that none of our homeless or other folks would be excluded from eating, and will solicit baked goods from the congregation beforehand, that could be purchased as another means of supporting, for those who want to contribute by feeding their sweet tooth!

Again, apologies for this late notice, during the busy Easter week.

Let me ask each of you to:

E-RSVP - regrets-only - for the 9:00am - Noon Sat, 4/6 Drywall training session @ Pete's.

E-RSVP - regrets-only - for the Sunday, 5/6 Cajun Barbecue after church prep/eat/clean up crew (help likely needed 9:00am - 2:00pm, and/or parts thereof).

Please keep the trip and all of us in your prayers! Some of our number have had life circumstances emerge which may well prevent their going this trip.

Also, pray that our church will keep the vision for the trip and that hearts will be touched, both in Burbank and Houma, LA by our outreach, in Christ's name.

If I don't see you tomorrow, blessings on your Holy Week ahead!
Mark Pierce

Flight Information - Cheaptickets.com

Folks,

Thanks to Briana Cwik for finding an even better deal on the flights we need to/from New Orleans!

I am strongly encouraging everyone I haven't spoken to directly to go to Cheaptickets.com, enter our dates (departing LAX 6/9/07 and returning from MSY [N.O.Airport] 6/16/07) and you'll find multiple tickets listed.

The cheapest one is the one we want, Delta Flight 866, leaving LAX at 11:45 am 6/9, arriving MSY 5:14pm.
The return is Delta Flight 865, leaving MSY at 6:50pm, arriving LAX 8:15pm.

The flight is listed at $202. You will need to enter in the standard info, including your CC#, and please buy the travel insurance. (PDA has said in their literature that if people travel during hurricane season - we are - travel insurance is a good protection against weather-related cancellations. Here, it's only $13.50.)

If it works the same for you as it has for me and Gordon, when it's moving towards the confirmation screen, it will send an unexpected screen that says "the price has changed" - but relax - it's dropped even further, making the final total, with travel insurance, only $196. The site promises an e-confirmation of this e-ticket, within 24 hours.

I reserved seat 31D, 2nd to the last row, coming and going, so if you can get in that row or close, we can sit together.

Once you've got your ticket, please confirm to me that you have it, so I know we're all on board. (The Wemyss family are bravely considering doing a family trek in a van to Cajun Country, and will make a final decision in a few days.)

I'm amazed at this opportunity to save even more than we possibly anticipated on these flights - and want to encourage us all to see this as part of the divine support for this mission effort.

Have a blessed balance of your week!

Mark

Airfare Update! February 27,2007

Folks,

I'm terribly sorry to have to confess that I did not act quickly enough to get that great, $243 non-stop, r/t Internet fare on Delta to New Orleans for our trip, that we had discussed on Sunday.

I wanted to check with the Missions Committee on the fare-split question, and when I went to confirm the deal last night, it had vanished, leaving a $376 fare in its place (almost $20 more than the current going fare of $360!). Clearly this one was in the category of, "You snooze, you loose," and I can only submit my deepest apologies for missing this great deal.

I do believe there may be other sales in the future, and I want to suggest that each of us occasionally do a quick search, when on line, and see if we can't beat the substantial going rate for this trip, on a non-stop flight.

After further thought and discussion, I believe it will be best for each of us to try to quickly reserve individual seats as soon as a very competitive fare materializes, using personal plastic. If this is impossible for anyone, please let me know now, so we can be as able as possible to move quickly when another deal comes along.
I am cc'ing Laura Marro, our gracious contact regarding the United Airlines Companion Passes (stand-by tickets) option, to let her know that we'd like to keep that door open, at present.

Again, my sincere apologies for this. It seems that the flight issue remains my "thorn in the flesh" (per the Apostle Paul's reference) for our trip - but I am too encouraged at the positive spirit you all have shown, which I believe confirms that the Spirit of God is in this, to be discouraged by this bit of wind-sheer!

Blessed week to you all.

Mark

ps. Please keep this email as new or post a comment to this blog, so you can immediately broadcast to all if you become aware of a great deal, first.

Idea for Fundraising

Hi Troops,

Tyler had what I thought was a good idea for a fundraiser and I thought I would see how the rest of you felt about it. Charlie's Cajun lunch for our kick-off meeting gave him the idea. What if we had a Cajun Cookin' fundraiser lunch after church in the upcoming weeks. That would keep the trip in the minds of our congregation, and would fit nicely in the theme of the trip. Team members could help prepare and serve the meal (under Charlie's direction of course). Let me know your thoughts and if this is worth pursuing.


Regards,
Gordon

What to Bring!

Presbyterian Volunteer Villages provide full service for volunteer work teams responding
to Hurricane Katrina needs in the Gulf Coast. Call 866-732-6121 to schedule your team.


EACH VOLUNTEER TEAM SHOULD BRING:
· One (1) battery operated camp lantern per 2-3 people
· First Aid Kit for team
· Funds for incidentals
· $20/night/person to cover the operating costs of the village. It is desired that this
amount be paid for the team with one check at the time of arrival at the volunteer
village. The check should be made payable to Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEERS SHOULD BRING:
Bedding
· Sleeping bag
· Flat sheets
· Pillow
· Flashlight and extra batteries
Clothing
· Socks and undergarments
· Heavy work boots (steel-toed
shoes are highly
recommended)
· Leather or heavy duty work
gloves/light cotton gloves
· Rain gear
· Hat, visor, bandana and /or
sweatband
· T-shirts or work shirts
· Long-sleeve shirts
· Jeans or pants and shorts
· Pajamas
· Shower shoes and robe
Toiletries
· Toothbrush/toothpaste
· Soap/shampoo
· Wet wipes
· Deodorant
· Personal medication for length
of stay
· Sunscreen
· Insect repellant
· Razor/shaving cream (electricity
may not be available)
Miscellaneous
· Bible
· Travel clock
· Fanny pack/backpack
· Spending money
· Water bottle
· Sunglasses
Personal Items
· Towels/washcloths
· Car chargers for electronic equipment

Do NOT bring tents, alcohol, or RVs/campers (PDA cannot guarantee that there will be hookups, or even parking space for these large vehicles)

Camp Houma, Louisiana

	Situation Report — Hurricanes Katrina/Rita Volunteer Village #8 — Houma, Louisiana (Camp Good Earth)
	PODs offer housing for the volunteers. Photo: Tary Snyder Location: 6 1/2 acres on the outskirts of Houma, Louisiana. Houma is a city of about 70,000 people, which was high enough in elevation that it was not directly affected by the 6-10 foot storm surge that resulted from hurricane Rita. Houma volunteers are serving in mostly residential areas found along the five bayous (rivers) just to the south. These bayou areas experienced water up to 10 feet, some of which stayed for up to three weeks. Number of beds: 90 Needs as of January 2007: Greatest needs are for rebuilding and skilled labor such as roofing, drywall, carpentry, plumbing and electrical work. Less skilled volunteers can be helpful in jobs such as scraping and painting. They can also learn from and work alongside skilled volunteers in jobs such as drywall and roofing. Additional information: The Village is in the heart of Cajun country, and volunteers who come learn about the environmental and cultural aspects of the area. They can also get a taste of Cajun cuisine and hospitality. In addition to the time spent on work sites, recently volunteers have helped make improvements in the village by devoting time to such projects as a floor for the dining room tent and replacing pods. Some volunteers have also helped with the construction of a permanent building on site, the result of collaboration between PDA, the local Elks lodge, and the Giddings-Lovejoy Presbytery. When completed, the building will serve as a dining hall and kitchen for the village, complete with indoor bathroom facilities, as well as a hall for many community events sponsored by the Elks.
	Stories of Hope from Houma Houma Grand Opening More Stories of Hope

Mississippi Mission 2005 - Presbyterian Church of Willmington, Ohio

A Day in the Life of a Work Team!

One Year Later...

Updated Gulf Coast Email w/ App Attached

Rebuilders,

I am forwarding the following email, as a further jog, as I've received only 1 confirmation of planned attendance for Sun's meeting, to date. Also, I'd failed to attach the Application, so you'll find it here. I'm also adding the trip Orientation Manual, from PDA, as some newer folks don't yet have that.

PLEASE let me know if you have others who are more 'over the fence than on it' and expecting to go with us, so that I can get a preliminary head-count before Sun's meeting. I will need a completed Application by Sun from all those planning to attend, even those fence-sitters, please. Please note that the original Application requests payment of $400 by the Feb 25 deadline. This amount is now reduced to $300, because of the generosity of our Missions Committee, and I will now not require payment until 2 months prior to the trip (4/9/07).

Also, I'm pleased to say that Paul Wemyss has stepped up as our trip's official 'webmaster' and has created a blogsite for us. Check it out at http://www.missionsfpcb.blogspot.com/ - so far it only has a copy of the message below, but the wallpaper is way cool - thanks Paul! We will be using this location to communicate in the future, and there may be some video and/or other info uploaded shortly, as Paul's time permits.

Looking forward to seeing you all Sun!

Blessed Day,

Mark

Gulf Coast Trip Meeting Sunday 2/25/07

Folks,

This Sun, 2/25, after Morning Worship and some patio time, around Noon, we will have a first, official lunch meeting of all those going to the Gulf Coast the week of 6/9-6/16/07 from First Pres. I am looking forward with anticipation to seeing each of you eager rebuilders, as we review what the trip will entail, the expectations, costs, spiritual preparation and logistics anticipated, that should make for a great outreach to folks in dire need in the wake of the devastation of the hurricanes of 2005 in the region.

Please confirm your intention to join us at this crucial kick-off planning and informational session. (I am aware that Pete Flynn has a previously calendared conflict and that Jenny Smith is at Princeton Seminary, otherwise I am anticipating that the rest of you will be able to attend.)

It is important that I have completed Applications for the trip by the Sunday meeting. Any of you who have not yet turned those in to me, or who have friends that have expressed interest but who haven't completed an Application, "now is the time"! Accordingly, I am attaching a copy of the Application to this email for those who still need.

Please come ready to take on an assignment as your personal contribution to this group effort, so that we can build a shared commitment to the work that lies ahead. I have been actively working on some flight arrangements for us that promise a phenomenal savings on ticket prices, thanks to the very generous spirit of someone in our congregation, and will give details at the meeting. Also, the Missions Committee has stepped up strongly and will be defraying half of the cost for each person, bringing the amount down to a very reasonable sum, I believe.

So you can see, God is already moving greatly on behalf of this outreach! Please keep the meeting and our coming together as an effective team in your prayers, as we prepare to work for the good of folks in Houma, Louisiana - well into bayou country!

Be Blessed until we meet Sunday, and please confirm your intention to attend the 1-hour meeting, by replying.

Mark Pierce