Trabajo! ("Work")

Our first time on the job site went well today. Although productivity can be low on the first day, I really enjoyed Brad's (our house leader) enthusiasm and positive outlook for our week of work. This was in spite of Brad being the victim of a scratched cornea last week and a dentist appointment today for a chipped tooth. Most of my day entailed nailing and measuring - as Jason mentioned, much bracing is done to the roofs of houses that will most certainly be affected by hurricane winds in their lifetime. Time spent on the worksite with Bluffton group members and meeting Americorps NCCC members was also a highlight of my day.

Watching a local newstation's documentary tonight of the events of Hurricane Katrina, which made landfall on Monday, August 29, 2005, gave me another small glimpse into the real effects of the storm. Though I see footage and watch interviews with survivors, I still feel that I cannot fathom how it must have felt to view the carnage left by Katrina. A home, a business, a church, a monument, a bridge....Gone. There is no shortage of need here in Southern Mississippi, even 3 years after the initial response. 

On a lighter note, it's exciting to look forward to some roofing, as we get the roof on a house and cover it with tar paper and shingles hopefully by the end of this week. 

Peace, John Badertscher

 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. - Matthew 5.16