From Jamie....

Hi everyone! For the last two days, we have been working in Mississippi, in a small town. I've been working with four other people from our group, and we've mostly been painting. We started out painting the front and back porch of one lady's trailer, which isn't as easy as it sounds. We've been working on it for two days, and it still isn't finished. So much white paint was used painting all the beams in the ceiling and railings. But I must say, it was lots of fun. We spent hours with brushes, and bottles of Gatorade, in our hands. All we had to do today was paint the floorboards, but last night's rain soaked the wood so it can't be painted. So we were sent to another woman's house, across town. It was so sad to see how much work needed to be done in her home. Her and her son lived in this half-finished home, and also in a trailer parked in the front yard. Tiling, grouting, and hanging of blinds were some of the many things that needed to be finished in order to complete this lady's home. We opted for painting the bathroom, since we seemed to have the most skill in that field. Not all five of us fit in the bathroom at the same time, so some of us listened to the story about the hurricane.
By now, about four days through this trip, I have heard probably four or five stories from people who experienced this disaster first hand. Before I left for this trip, I was ignorant. I did not know how bad it actually was down here in Mississippi and New Orleans. I thought, since I had seen pictures, that I knew how they felt. I guess we can all relate because we all experienced 9/11, but this is probably the worst natural disaster in US history. As we toured through New Orleans the first and second days, we saw it all. We talked to those who stayed during the hurricane, and who survived. We spoke to those who lost their homes, and their families. As we drove throught the lower 9th ward, we saw some of the worst. Some lots consisted of debri and pieces of houses, and some consisted of cheap trailers. But occasionally, you could see slabs of what used to be a front porch or a driveway on an otherwise empty lot. It was terrifying to see everything that was destroyed. It still is a terrible situation for those who still have no homes. It's been two years now, and you still see so many residents homeless. The government won't provide all the money for everyone to rebuild their homes, and that's where volunteers like us step in. It is such an amazing experience, helping these people and changing their lives. It is also, for us, a live-changing experience.
The surviving residents of Louisiana and Mississippi have conquered everything. From the harshest winds to four feet of water in their homes, these people have stood strong the entire time. They have stood by everything they cared for, their homes, their jobs, and their families. They didn't leave in times of disaster, but instead held on and prepared for the worst. They have gone through so much, and deserve our help. So that's why I'm here right now. Not to see how it's like and to visit these places. No, I'm here to help change lives, to save one person at a time.
I'll see you all soon. Good bye for now. =]