The Big Day!!

Day 7 March 12th

Today is the big day. Last minute touches are happening all around inside and out, landscaping, trim and painting.

Around 11:00 we handed the keys over to the designers and they started moving in the furniture. We have made up most of our time deficit and are only running a few hours behind. Not bad for a construction project scheduled for 106 hours.

There were so many people lining the street today for the festivities. There were volunteers, friends and family of the builders, members of the church congregation, media and spectators. It was so wonderful to see so many gathered to celebrate the fruit of many hours of labor by hundreds of volunteers.

Finally, around 3 p.m. the Walker family arrived at the church. Of course, their view of the building was blocked by that famous bus until the crowd roared, "Move that bus!" and away it went!

After the Walkers had a chance to tour the new church, the builders joined them inside for a celebration. We got to hear Erma Thomas “the Queen of New Orleans” sing a couple of spiritual songs. It was quite moving.

Later in the evening many of us headed over to Westwego where crews are finishing up the Usea's house for another round of "Move that bus!" tomorrow. What and amazing project they have going on there.

I was very excited that we ran into Pastor Walker while we were on site in Westwego. We were able to talk to him ourselves. He was so grateful and already has many plans for his new building. The services he will provide to the community are needed more than ever before. Now, he has an awesome new facility from which to continue his service to the community. He was already working on turning the gift he received just a few hours before into a gift for the whole community.

Thank you all who have read this blog for sharing in this wonderful journey with us. Thank you also to our friends and families and for their love and support during this project. Thank you to the hundreds of volunteers who made this possible. Thank you to all of our sponsors. Thank you to all of our co-workers who stayed at home and keep our businesses running while we were in New Orleans.

Don't forget to tune in to ABC at 8/7c on May 18 for the airing of the show!!


One Down, One to Go