Gloria and Joe Robert. Gloria and Joe own a home in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans that backs up to the London Avenue Canal where one of the major levee breaches occurred during Hurricane Katrina. Their home was totally destroyed and they lost everything. Joe is a builder and was in the process of rebuilding their home when all of his tools and floors were stolen out of the house. The economy tanked, work became slow and they fell on even harder times. They are currently living in two rooms at the home of their daughter, Crystal, in New Orleans. Crystal’s house, which was also severely damaged in the storm, left them living in a house with exposed studs and no kitchen. The Storehouse of World Vision has recently begun helping them finish their daughter’s house. Joe and Gloria would like to finish their own home on the canal one day, so they can move out and give Crystal back her home. Gloria and Joe are thrilled to have been chosen to receive World Vision’s help and look forward to seeing their daughter’s finished home—and one day, their own home.Freda and Shawn Davis and their teenage daughter. The Davises also live in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans. Freda and Shawn did not have flood insurance and the little money they got for their contents was stolen by a fraudulent contractor who ran off with $32,000. He did such shoddy work on their home’s stucco that water constantly leaked into the house, warping all of the cabinets, mildewing the sheet rock, and doing untold damage. Shawn lost his job after the storm, found another job and then was laid off again this summer, due to the economy. Shawn recently found work with an offshore environmental company, but they are still in need of a kitchen and major repairs on a half bath.  They have been living on the second floor of their home for six years, cooking in microwaves and toaster ovens and going to Freda’s mom’s house for meals. We look forward to making this family whole again.Gina and Tony Bono. The Bono’s had to demolish their home in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina due to the extensive damage of over 13 feet of water. They  received a small amount of insurance money, but not enough to cover the demolition and rebuilding of their home. Gina lost her job after the storm and Tony, who is also a builder, has to work on other houses to keep income coming in. Gina now works at a local supermarket. The couple is rentingand paying a note on their new home. They became very discouraged as the funds ran out and were on the verge of walking away from their house when The Storehouse of World Vision came along. The kitchen and bath that is being donated to the Bonos has renewed their hope and given them the strength they need to persevere.I have so much to share with you about New Orleans. Some events that are pretty and some “not so pretty” but it’s all real and thats what’s most important.