The first night we arrived we took a walk around near the French Quarter. Date: 04/08/2006
We had dinner at a nice restaurant with an outdoor balcony. Afterwards we went to the Gerhardts' home where we would stay for the rest of the trip. Date: 04/08/2006
The next morning was Sunday, and we went out for breakfast at The Trolley Stop. Date: 04/09/2006
Rick stands in front of the Trolley Stop. This restaurant is on St. Charles Ave., which was not in the flooded area. Date: 04/09/2006
Castle Rock Community Church. Date: 04/09/2006
Pastor John Gerhardt talks to church members after the Sunday service. Date: 04/09/2006
Inside Castle Rock. Date: 04/09/2006
Josiah Gerhardt and another young church member play hoops behind Castle Rock. Date: 04/09/2006
The Gerhardts' home in the Broadmoor neighborhood of New Orleans. Date: 04/09/2006
Two houses over from the Gerhardts' house...this house collapsed from the floodwaters. Date: 04/09/2006
This car was completely submerged, along with the rest of the neighborhood. Date: 04/09/2006
Unsafe dwelling notice. Date: 04/09/2006
Another neighbor's house...the whole neighborhood was under about 6-8 feet of water. Date: 04/09/2006
Piles of trash that have yet to be picked up. Date: 04/09/2006
This homeowner has decided to try to sell their property. Date: 04/09/2006
The infamous "X" marks on a neighbor's house. These were used by the search & rescue teams. Date: 04/09/2006 The infamous "X" marks on a neighbor's house. These were used by the search & rescue teams.

In this case, the house was visited two times. The first time was on Sept. 13th (top), by a crew from California (left). They found 0 bodies (bottom), and they found 0 structural or other hazards inside (right).

A second search was made on Sept 22nd by another crew, this time by a Florida crew. Again, no bodies or hazards were found.
Rick walks with the two younger Gerhardt kids down their block. Date: 04/09/2006
Looking at a truck that will likely never run again. Date: 04/09/2006
A view inside of the truck. Date: 04/09/2006
Another neighbor's house. Date: 04/09/2006
Later we took a driving tour of New Orleans with Wendy. Here is the Superdome, scheduled for reopening in September 2006. Date: 04/09/2006
A view out the window as we crossed over into the Lower Ninth Ward, probably the most heavily devastated area in New Orleans. Date: 04/09/2006
Rick looks at a foundation of a house that was swept away by the flood when the levee broke. Date: 04/09/2006
Jerry turns away from a demolished car. Date: 04/09/2006
A truck that was thrown about by the floodwaters. Date: 04/09/2006
Cars still in overturned positions, seven months after Katrina. Date: 04/09/2006
A computer left to rust in the sun...I wondered if the hard drive was salvagable? Date: 04/09/2006
Some of the wrecked cars are even getting overgrown in the warm spring weather. Date: 04/09/2006
These used to be the front steps to someone's home. Date: 04/09/2006
The roads in the Lower Ninth Ward have all been cleared, but the lots are still strewn with rubble. Date: 04/09/2006
Jerry stands where someone's kitchen used to be...now it's only a slab, with some tiles still attached. Date: 04/09/2006
Here is an old record that washed up. Date: 04/09/2006
Someone had a sense of humor and left this Disney character on a wrecked car. Date: 04/09/2006
The roof of the house in the background neatly separated and landed partially in the street. Date: 04/09/2006
Here a house was deposited on top of a car. Date: 04/09/2006
In this case, a house landed on a truck that had been flipped over by the force of the waters. Date: 04/09/2006
Here are some dangling power lines; I didn't check to see if they were live. Date: 04/09/2006
This house is completely demolished, with a car nestled inside. Date: 04/09/2006
Driving through the Chalmette area, we saw this Walgreen's had reopened. Date: 04/09/2006
However, most businesses were still boarded up, like this strip mall. Date: 04/09/2006
This McDonalds was still closed. Date: 04/09/2006
Each morning we had breakfast with the other volunteers who were in New Orleans. Date: 04/10/2006
We ate at Cafe Reconcile with the other groups. Date: 04/10/2006 We ate at Cafe Reconcile with the other groups.

The groups the week we were there were mostly high school and college aged, and were mostly from California.
Here John and Jim eat their breakfast with their morning coffee. Date: 04/10/2006
Wendy, Elijah, and Jeremiah Gerhardt. Date: 04/10/2006
Rick, Jerry, and Steve have breakfast with volunteer Andy Ruwe. Date: 04/10/2006 Rick, Jerry, and Steve have breakfast with volunteer Andy Ruwe.

Andy is an electrician's apprentice from Nebraska who volunteered six months of his time with Urban Impact. For more on Andy, see this newsletter.
John Gerhardt took us on a short tour of some of the neighborhood around Castle Rock. This house was one that Urban Impact had purchased and was in the process of restoring for staff housing. Date: 04/13/2006
Volunteer labor was helping restore this house after it was flood damaged. Date: 04/13/2006
John makes a phone call. He is a very busy guy...please be praying for him! Date: 04/13/2006
I enjoyed the message on this house..."Romans 6:23...For the wages of sin is death" Date: 04/13/2006
Here we are at the home of Jesse, a Castle Rock church member. Rick shows off the new electrical panel we installed. Date: 04/13/2006
Several of the guys with Jesse, the homeowner. We helped put in a new electrical service, did other rewiring, some plumbing work, structual work, framing, and wallpapering for Jesse. Date: 04/13/2006
The group of six Minnesotans. Date: 04/13/2006
A view of New Orleans from the Gretna area, across the river. Date: 04/13/2006
What does God have in store for this city? And what can we do to help? Date: 04/13/2006
[-]
Stop   Pause   Back One Image   Hide More Info   delay:   direction:   max size: