Lacombe--What's it really like?

Hello!

We are doing great working down here in Lacombe. I have been to New Orleans twice to see the other congregations we are assigned and to pick up some supplies.
I saw Bethel Lutheran in the 9th Ward and it was shocking. Everything in the sanctuary is ruined--mold on the pews, altar, etc., slimy gross sludge on the floor. All the windows were broken out and doors were swelled shut. The smell was awful. Two abandoned cars were partially buried in front. On the second floor there was a trail of muddy footprints down the hall. I followed them into a room and found sleeping bags laid out with pillows--sombody was living there! I believe the church will be demolished.
I also visited Faith Lutheran in Harahan and found them to be getting along well. We spent a few hours with the pastor and heard some amazing stories of rescues in the flood waters. The area around Faith was not too bad. They need help rebuilding a classroom building. The roof was damaged and so rain came in and caused some destruction.
The people here are taking very good care of us. They cook supper every night for us and we are definitely not losing weight!
The weather has been good as well. Today we helped a local police officer who has been busy helping everyone else and had not had time to work on his own house. We hauled all his beautiful furniture to the street along with two refrigerators and a freezer, a washer and a dryer, and pretty much everything he owned--a total loss. Again the smell is unforgettable but a particularly poignant moment occurred when we stood with him looking at his pool table. It was heaped with moldy photo albums and warped record albums. The table sagged in the middle and was clearly ruined. We stood there solemnly not saying a word. As men we could appreciate the symbol of a man's pool table--even more so when we heard that he had built it himself. Now he raised a heavy ax and came down hard--CRACK!! The table sagged even further. Another swing and it was on the floor. Quietly we loaded the pieces in wheelbarrows and carted them out the door, down the ramp, across the gravel drive and added them to the stinking mound of his earthly treasures. Unbelievable. Take care, Tim