RN-Gainesville, GA
It was just a couple of weeks after Katrina hit when we pulled out in a church bus pulling a tool trailer.  We arrived in the evening near Gulfport and the church grounds was covered with tents and vehicles.  

The next morning we got our first assignment which was only a couple of blocks from the Gulf.  On the route we were given, there was a police road block and we were turned around even though we had the proper pass.  So we went to another checkpoint that was manned by soldiers.  They checked our paperwork and passed us through to an area called Long Beach.  There was some difficulty in finding the house as all the street signs were gone and many of the homes.  We found the house and met the lady who was living elsewhere.  

The water had been about five feet deep in the house and everything had floated around and was banging into each other.  At least we didn't have the mud like in Louisiana.  Our job was to remove the sheet rock which was beginning to grow mold and clean out the house.  So we constructed a ramp from the front door to the ground, and used our wheel barrow to move stuff to the appropriate piles outside.  

After removing the trim, door/window facing, we started removing the sheet rock by reversing our straight claw hammers.  The lady was given a hammer and she outdid all of us.  I guess it was a good way for her to get rid of her stress.  As we worked, she told each of us about what it was like and what had happen.  It is difficult when some of your neighbors died in their homes.  She had to leave at a certain time before we finished but she stayed on about half an hour.  Before she left, she had to hug each of us.  I was last and there were big tears in her eyes when she hugged me.  We had given her hope and the first step.

PJ-Marietta, GA
“The trip to New Orleans was one of the most outstanding experiences of my college career.  From the trip and the people, I was impacted. Lending a hand and making a difference in the lives of people who have been displaced for many months was so appreciated and I was greatly humbled. 

The amount of work we were able to accomplish as a team is amazing to me, and yet is just a drop in a very large bucket in regards to the total work left to be done in the area. Being in the New Orleans area and seeing the destruction taught me how much of the process to rebuild is step by step and requires much patience. 

The fast-paced way of life so many are accustomed to is slowed and we were forced to deal with the unpleasantness of reality. This is where hope shines through. When relief workers from all over the country come together with one purpose it can't help but bring some hope to the people who suffered loss due to the storms. It was an amazing trip and a life-changing journey.”