Thursday's report

Wow, it was hot today! The sun was out. We tried multiple applications of sunscreen, but some still got a touch of burn. We call a hydration break every 30 minutes to keep from getting heat sick. Today the internal walls were framed, the front porch got framed, and the most of the rest of the sheathing got installed.

There are about 30 volunteers at our site, and we are partnered with 3 women from Chicago, 12 parishioners and their pastor from Philadelphia, 2 women from Philly that just decided to come down and help. plus individuals from New Youk and other places, Habitat reports over 400 volunteers this week. Camp hope is at 258, low from the usual load.

Last night a local resident, John Wilkes Booth (really!) and Steve took us on a 2 hour tour of Saint Bernard parish. We saw giant alligators and fed them apples, visited the museum of the Canary Island settlers, saw a haunted fireplace, and then drove to the bayou. The area looks like it has been blasted with a nuclear bomb. Dead trees are everywhere, and entire forests are wiped out. 2 years later and there is still furniture and pieces of boats in the trees.

Two years after the hurricane, and they still do not have operating sewers.

The physical damage is immense, but hearing the stories of their human loss was devastating. Many people died not from the hurricane and flood, but from the stress and heartbreak. I asked what we could do against such loss, and John said, "Just tell the world what happened. Remember us."

The camp Director told me that the best thing we were doing down here was letting the local residents know that the world has not forgotten them.

I am coming out if this experience a different person, and I am haunted by what I see.