today it became personal
This experience has been interesting, exciting, fun, hot, muggy, tiring, and today it became personal.
Some continued their cleanup efforts in the lower ninth district (one of the poorest and hardest hit areas), battling heat, bees, fire ants, foot high grass, and overgrown lots that haven't been worked on in nearly five years.
Others worked to revitalize churches and private homes that are still struggling to be inhabitable. And we all got a closer look at the lives of grateful Katrina survivors as they shared their horrific, occasionally humorous, and always moving stories of how this disaster has impacted their lives.
Some of the comments from tonight's panel of hurricane survivors and first responders include:
o I kissed the floor because I didn't lose everything and then I kicked the wall because I didn't lose enough (from a woman who was able to return to her nearly wiped out neighborhood when most of her neighbors and friends could not)
o You are all going to have a Katrina experience in your life, just know that you can turn it around and be better and stronger than you thought possible
And lastly, in appreciation for the efforts of the participants in this program…
o You may not be the first responders, you may not be the second responders, but you are the long time responders - thank you!
Jessica Pegram has put together some thoughts on her experience in New Orleans and here they are…
Today was the last day of our service projects and it was a hot one! I went with 3 buses to the lower Ninth Ward to remove overgrown grass from people’s yards.
The city is charging people $100 per day if they have overgrown yards and if the situation continues and the city feels the fines will not be recovered, the property will be taken from the owner. Our job was to remove what we could so that these individuals will stop being charged and hopefully be able to get back to their property and fix their house.
Along the way we passed several of the homes that Brad Pitt has built. See a couple of the photos attached – very cool, modern design that will also keep the homes safe during future hurricanes. The kids worked very hard despite being very tired after a couple days of service and hot weather. We were all very proud of them and all of their giving attitudes!
The speakers at our evening event were amazing! There was a panel of Katrina survivors ranging from victim to rescuer to current day neighborhood hero. I think I speak for everyone when I say that we were blown away by their stories. For one, it was the first time telling her story and she entertained us all with her horrific, and sometimes humorous, tale.
I think the past few days have showed us what really went on down here, how horrible it was and still is, and what these people continue to struggle with.
The list of challenges and struggles grows by the day as we meet more survivors and I think we all wear what happened heavier on our hearts now. Despite the sweaty days, bee stings, cuts, sunburns, and tiredness I think we have grown in our appreciation for New Orleans and the people.
This city is the hero to us and any of the struggles we may face and we will think of them for months and years to come as we face our challenges and realize what all of the people here made it through.
Tomorrow it's a taste of New Orleans culture with a plantation visit, a bayou tour in airboats, and a Mardi Gras style celebration!