Stories - faith and courage

Group from California

As I walked around getting more and more depressed, I suddenly heard cheering somewhere close by. I began to look around and saw a brightly colored house surrounded by young people cheering as their friends on the roof scraped off the old roofing and tossed it down to the ground. It turned out they were college students from Los Angeles who had come here to help those in the Ninth Ward by offering legal aid and comfort. How wonderful to see young people so involved in a project for others - and having a blast doing it.We saw the Brad Pitt project - sorry fans no Brad - and the Habitat for Humanity projects, and it is so encouraging to see life returning to New Orleans. After a wonderful New Orleans dinner, we walked Bourbon Street and later talked to a Carriage driver who told us All her life story. It was something to listen to someone who has been trying to cope and survive since Katrina - and hear how hard it has been to do so. There are so many stories of evil here - people willing to do anything to survive - balanced by stories of faith and courage - it is a complex place and no one story tells it all. As we finished our work today - how hard it is to leave with so much left to do - it feels like torn in two. There is the wish to stay, (we could do so much more now that we know how), and keep working - and the wish to go home and see friends and family - and dear little grandboys. So as Peter and I head home, we send our love to everyone in Connecticut! And we find our hearts turning both ways - and as we go we wish everyone here in the Big Easy a fond farewell. We know we will come back - this has been too great an experience to not come here again - and we would encourage anyone who feels a call to service to others to check this type of trip out. I have heard it said that you get more than you give, and in this case it is all true.With love,Kathy