People told me what an amazing experience this would be, but there is no way to describe the feeling that you have when you do something like this.
I met some of the most amazing people this past week while we were in Covington. I had the privilege not only to work with my fellow Deutschers, but also with two future Habitat homeowners, a group from the IOCC, a man named Bill that had a heart attack just 3 months ago, and an older Care-A-Van couple (who were was supposed to stay one month and move on, but ended up staying two).
I spent the week moving dirt from large piles into nicely graded areas, hammering floor joists into place, cleaning and organizing the shed (now called the garage mahal), and finishing two roofs. I never knew how much effort it took to hammer six nails through a 2 x 12 and into another, or how long it took to get used to climbing a ladder up and down from the roof. And, even though it is some of the hardest work I have ever done, none of that seemed to matter as we finished each day.
So after spending each day with all of these great people it was the last night that I think has made the biggest impression on me. While waiting for our table at our last dinner of the week we found ourselves in the bar (of course, Deutschers work hard and party harder, right). It was there that I had a conversation with a woman sitting in the bar with a fellow local. She was a Hurricane Katrina survivor and as I talked with her about my wonderful experience working with Habitat, she decided that she would share some of her Katrina experiences. She talked about how hard it was to live through the hurricane and how difficult it was immediately following. How local stores if still standing would only be open for hours at a time, and when open, barely had anything on the shelves. How there were no sounds of birds or other animals, how all of the plant life was completely gone and everything was brown, and how it all looked like a war zone. I asked her how it has been for her more recently. She then proceeded to tell me about her personal relationship, about how all of the stress from the hurricane and the recovery has torn appart her marriage. She mentioned that many friends had been through the same thing in their own relationships. That the rebuilding, job hunt and the day to day survival just starts to take its toll. So two and a half years later many survivors are still dealing with the impact of the hurricane, trying to maintain the strength that it takes to rebuild and hold onto the things that matter to them most.
It was this conversation that made it all come into a very clear picture for me. It was our conversation that showed me that all of the shoveling, cutting, hammering, blisters and bruises where worth it. That the roof that we put over Tanesha's, and her three girl's heads, was the least that I could do. Thanks to all of you that have supported me and have given me this amazing opportunity. Without all of your support, I wouldn't have met Bill, Tanesha or that woman in the bar that put it all into perspective.
Love, Alyssa
