Christine's Thoughts

It is always an interesting experience to see what a small group of people can accomplish. Before this trip I had volunteered for numerous organizations but had never done anything quite like this. Our small group of 14 came together to help rebuild a house that had still not be repaired since Hurricane Katrina hit. We helped to put insulation in, tear down the ceilings, lay tile, and many other tasks that would seem pointless to some but it meant the world to this family. Our group had some help from some of the volunteers from Wisconsin. These men have taken time off work and time away from their families in order to provide service to this community.
When we first came together we hardly knew each other, some of us knew one or two people, but besides that we were all strangers. I feel that after this week has ended we will be walking away with not only memories and having done service for the community of New Orleans, but we will be walking away with friendships that we had not expected. It is amazing how strangers can come together to do something so meaningful for a community that is not even their own. Along with volunteering for the community of New Orleans, we are helping out in ways that many people would not expect to make much of a difference. When talking with the homeowner, Cynthia, whose house has yet to be completed since the storm hit eight years ago I was able to really get an insight into how much her life had changed due to what had happened. She has had to live in various locations while her house is being worked on and has had to make so many life changes for her family. It is amazing to see that she still continues to push forward knowing that everything will come together soon. I was also blown away by the fact that her husband, is the man who provides the coffee for Camp Restore, has spent the past eight years providing service to this camp instead of only focusing on himself. He has spent the past eight year volunteering at the camp instead of spending time trying to rebuild his house. This selfless act shows character and that there is more to life than just having objects. It shows that there is more to life than trying to possess materials and objects, that life is meant to be more than these things.

Christine Hannis