#roofsquad

Today was the first day of actual service, since yesterday we took an unexpected tour of New Orleans. After breakfast we wanted to go the Francis House because we were not able to yesterday. However, they decided it would be best for us to go to the Collins’ House located in the West Bank. The two main jobs were working on the roof and painting. Upon arrival, we noticed that the houses did not look as bad as the houses we saw in the Lower 9th Ward the day before, and we initially wondered why we weren’t doing service in the area that experienced the most damage. Nevertheless, we met Mr. and Mrs. Collins and noticed that their house really needed some work done. We separated into two groups: one for the roof and one for painting the side of the house. 

Working on the roof was definitely interesting. Initially, it was intimidating to go up on the roof because it did not look very stable, and climbing up the ladder was a whole other issue. One of the main problems we came across was that it was very windy and the roof was somewhat slippery, so we all had a feeling we were going to fall off. Mitch, our team leader, was extremely helpful in teaching us how to walk and make sure we didn’t slip. We began the work by tearing off the shingles to expose the plywood underneath. After doing this we found that  some of the plywood was rotten, so it needed to be replaced. Mitch stepped on one of the rotten parts and part of the roof collapsed, which was definitely scary because we didn’t know what other parts were rotten or if they would also collapse. Since we needed materials, Mitch, Joseph, and Edima all went to Home Depot get new plywood and other necessary equipment. We didn’t have enough time to finish replacing the whole roof, so we took out all the shingles and nails, and then covered the area with a tarp. When we finished we learned that shingles have fiberglass in them, which explains why we were all itchy, and apparently the only way to get it off is by taking a cold shower (not fun) so that the skin pores don’t open and the glass gets in. Anyways, it was definitely productive to rebuild this roof, and I’m sure the Collins Family is very grateful that we’re able to help them. One of the downsides to working on the house all day was that we did not get to talk to them as much as we would have liked in order to get to know them better. Also, shoutout to the roof squad (Kat, Manny, Joseph, and Edima).

Painting the house was truly a great experience. Though the task at initial thought seems laborious, it is actually one that allowed for thoughtful reflection. Today, I was able to reflect on the fact that there are numerous steps to turn a house into a “home.” First, one group consisting of Kevin and I primed the occidental wall with white. In the same way, a four walled structure needs loving inhabitants that give it ‘spirit.’ Next, we coated the areas of the house with red and yellow, based on how it looked before. Now honestly, I admit there were times throughout the workday where I was tempted to question the purpose of why painting the side of a house would do any genuine good, for it took an entire work day to finish it and it seemed like such a small task in the long run. Then, after our team conversed with Mr. Collins throughout the day, I finally realized that we actually were making a difference for this kind family – in restoring the home, we were also restoring an important aspect of identity. By doing the best we all could to restore the color and structure of the house, we were also rebuilding emotional bridges that were damaged by Katrina. This personally affected my outlook on the effect of small victories. I realized that along with the big accomplishments, small victories such as the endeavors we took on today make a difference like that of a domino effect – they lead and accumulate to a greater outcome. As the day progressed, I felt myself putting in more effort to make the house look just as beautiful as it did before. I know that one day, the house will be restored to its glory with red windows and radiant, yellow walls. It will again reflect the resilient spirit of the genuinely kind Collins family.