A Life Changing Experience
Words can't express my experience volunteering in Ocean Springs and Biloxi Mississippi. I have never volunteered in a disaster relief before and had no idea what to expect.
The experience was overwhelming in many ways. I saw mile after mile of destruction and scattered belongings that represented broken hearts, broken lives and broken dreams. Homes, boats and cars were smashed, strewn all over or completely gone. Churches, casinos, restaurants, and other businesses were demolished or left standing with no windows or busted windows. Without walls or with walls with gaping holes.
There was plastic, clothing and garbage hanging anywhere from five to forty feet high in trees. A casino brage 4 stories high was blown over the road and rested on top of a hotel. What you see on television or in Time magazine doesn't do it justice. My personal experience is beyond the words I share with you. I can't put into words the sights, smells, feelings and tears I've experienced. I can't put into words the hope, courage, and giving I've witnessed.
It was an honor to be able to give my time and energy to help clean up and rebuild. It was an honor to witness the selflessness and commitment of the other volunteers that come and go daily from all over the United States.
Everyday our group was asigned a new home or yard to clean out. We were told to bring a wonder bar and a hammer. Also it was necessary to wear long sleeved shirts, jeans, work boots and a hat. When tearing down dry wall and insulation and spraying for mold it was also necessary to wear masks and goggles. The home owners were bursting with joy when we finished and often had tears of gratitude streaming down their cheeks.
We also had the opportunity to work at the church's distribution center located in a warehouse. Survivors and residents could get food, supplies, personal items, and clothes at no cost. Modeled after a fast food drive through cars would line up along the side of the building and tell the greeters what they needed. The greeters in turn gave the orders to the runners to fill and load into the cars. The center is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and would be busy all day long.
Working as a greeter at the center gave me an opportunity to talk personally with the actual residents. Their stories were atrocious. And yet they had hope, faith and the desire to push on. I don't know if I could be that brave if I were in their position. They are truly amazing people!
The rewarding part of the trip was witnessing the human spirit and the resiliency of the people living in this area. They have been hit by the largest natural disaster in our nation's history, they have lost their homes, jobs, members of their family and friends. Back home I will go back to normalcy. They have a new normal. And in spite it all they are grateful for the help they have received, hopeful of the future and happy to be alive.
The experience was overwhelming in many ways. I saw mile after mile of destruction and scattered belongings that represented broken hearts, broken lives and broken dreams. Homes, boats and cars were smashed, strewn all over or completely gone. Churches, casinos, restaurants, and other businesses were demolished or left standing with no windows or busted windows. Without walls or with walls with gaping holes.
There was plastic, clothing and garbage hanging anywhere from five to forty feet high in trees. A casino brage 4 stories high was blown over the road and rested on top of a hotel. What you see on television or in Time magazine doesn't do it justice. My personal experience is beyond the words I share with you. I can't put into words the sights, smells, feelings and tears I've experienced. I can't put into words the hope, courage, and giving I've witnessed.
It was an honor to be able to give my time and energy to help clean up and rebuild. It was an honor to witness the selflessness and commitment of the other volunteers that come and go daily from all over the United States.
Everyday our group was asigned a new home or yard to clean out. We were told to bring a wonder bar and a hammer. Also it was necessary to wear long sleeved shirts, jeans, work boots and a hat. When tearing down dry wall and insulation and spraying for mold it was also necessary to wear masks and goggles. The home owners were bursting with joy when we finished and often had tears of gratitude streaming down their cheeks.
We also had the opportunity to work at the church's distribution center located in a warehouse. Survivors and residents could get food, supplies, personal items, and clothes at no cost. Modeled after a fast food drive through cars would line up along the side of the building and tell the greeters what they needed. The greeters in turn gave the orders to the runners to fill and load into the cars. The center is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and would be busy all day long.
Working as a greeter at the center gave me an opportunity to talk personally with the actual residents. Their stories were atrocious. And yet they had hope, faith and the desire to push on. I don't know if I could be that brave if I were in their position. They are truly amazing people!
The rewarding part of the trip was witnessing the human spirit and the resiliency of the people living in this area. They have been hit by the largest natural disaster in our nation's history, they have lost their homes, jobs, members of their family and friends. Back home I will go back to normalcy. They have a new normal. And in spite it all they are grateful for the help they have received, hopeful of the future and happy to be alive.
posted by Tess Marshall at 11:44 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home