By Krista Browning
C & G Staff Writer

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — With the recent flooding in Nashville and the disastrous oil spill currently wreaking havoc on the Gulf of Mexico, it might be easy for some to forget the moment one of the most powerful hurricanes in history hit New Orleans, causing the levies to buckle and sending water rushing into the colorful city.

While New Orleans and surrounding cities sat under feet of water, residents waited on their roofs in the hot sun to be rescued, and many were forced to leave their beloved pets behind.

Some of the city has been restored, while after five years, other parts of it still sit in ruins.

A handful of members from the Church of the Covenant, located at 23401 23 Mile Road, will pile into a van Oct. 30 and head down to the area that five years later is still a disaster in some parts.

Sponsored by the Presbytery of Detroit, more than 40 people will take a week off work and away from their day-to-day lives to help the residents of New Orleans rebuild their city.

“This trip is the primary one that our church has done in the last few years,” said Church of the Covenant Pastor Jason Huff.

The participants will live in dormitories for men and women in a camp-like setting built to hold 90 volunteers. About 10 houses are worked on at one time.

“We are going down there to do some construction and painting,” said Huff. “We do work on homes that were damaged in the hurricane. The members of our church that are going on the trip aren’t 100 percent carpenters or painters, though. Some cook and some clean. They have all sorts of jobs for them to do down there.”

Huff said participants have  been primarily those who have gone on the trip in the past, but the opportunity is open to anyone 18 years old and up.

“They go through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance,” said Huff. “That is the portion of our denomination that raises funds for situations like Hurricane Katrina, the Gulf oil spill, or the storms in Iowa. They organize groups to go help in those affected areas.”

This is the third time that Gloria Cynowa has attended the mission trip to New Orleans.

“I went in 2008 by myself and then in 2009 with three other people from the Church of the Covenant,” said Cynowa. “This year, we are hoping to take a group of five or six, although we will take as many that want to go.”

“The tools and materials are provided when we get down there,” said Cynowa. “Because it’s a Christian organization, we always pray before meals and participate in a service at night.”

The total cost of the trip is $225 and includes lodging and meals. Two days are spent on the road with an overnight stay in Kentucky. Cynowa said the travelers arrive to the campsite on Sunday night. The participants will return home on Nov. 7.

The large group will be split into various groups with different jobs. Those participants with expertise in a particular area will be the leader of each group.

“If you have 40 people working 40 hours for the week, that’s a big donation of time,” said Cynowa. “Someone that has construction experience will be the head of a group. I can paint, sand and clean up of course, but I wouldn’t be able to do roofing or siding. They split us up so that everyone can contribute. At least half of the group will be retired, and many of people working will between 70 and 80 years old.”

On the Thursday night of the week, the homeowners are invited to join the workers of the camp for dinner and to share their stories.

“It’s really inspirational to hear their stories,” said Cynowa. “What happened to them and why they aren’t back on their feet yet, just hearing the homeowners talk is truly inspirational.”

For more information or to register for the trip, call (586) 949-3969