My Birthday Present

I started this blog as a birthday present to myself to do what I say that I should do. I want to tell my view of what is going on in deep south AL, MS, and LA after Katrina. I feel empowered to step out into the world with whatever eloquence I can muster on the keyboard and reach out to others so that they can make a difference like I hope to do.

I didn't complete much when I volunteered with a group of 13 from Dorchester Presbyterian Church in Summerville, SC to go to Pearlington, MS and stay at a Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) Volunteer Village for a week. I knew that I could drive a group to get there. Maybe that would be my biggest accomplishment. I am not a home builder nor overly handy around the house (let's see if my wife comments about that). My strengths and skills and work passions are with enterprise computer software solutions.

With that strength I was able to help mud, sand, and prime a house and help roll out linoleum in another. I was able to help at 4 houses in 4 days edging the residents of Pearlington closer to getting back their home. Most importantly, I answered the call to go and volunteer. In listening to that call, I was able to share in the hope of America by working with volunteers coming together from across the country and world to meet people that are gracious and hospitable in light of getting their material life and sometimes their family member's lives washed away. The strength that the residents have to welcome new groups of volunteers each week is impossible to describe without being there. So - just go!

More than 19 months after Hurricane Katrina, many people are still not in a home. As described in other volunteer's blogs that have inspired me to write here, like Jane Els, everyone is working towards a "new normal" after Katrina.

I encourage you to get involved to continue the rebuilding like the many groups and individuals that have volunteered already. You will gain hope while doing what is right and expected of us as people in a first-world community. Particularly as Americans, we need to be a role model to other countries not by what our government does.

The biggest work that I have to do right now is to turn my thoughts into some coherent read rather than some rambling rant. I agree with Dennis Miller that a good rant is always needed, but he has better pictures and writers than me. Please have patience as I post, edit, and delete until I get a good rhythm.