Thursday June 19,2008

This is my first trip to New Orleans. I have written about hurricane Katrina and the peoples lives and losses prior to my experience here this week. There is still so much destruction here in so many parts of the city it can overcome you in a short period of time. My reason for being here is to help be a part of the rebuilding effort. My feelings are mixed because I truly want to help more than just this week. So far I feel I have done little in response to such a great need that entire city has, but I am only one person.
There are fourteen people on this trip from the MCC church all who volunteer to do a portion of the needed work according to their skills. The group has been great working together, and through some bumps in the process, but coming out better people in the end. Life is a process, no matter where we are in it. We have more learning for the process and to live to serve in many different ways as we walk the pathway to a better understanding of our selves and our true mission in life.
Sometimes it takes us on a different path when we listen to our hearts and follow through on our feelings with action. Those actions make us better people, and our families enlarge as our hearts do because of this. I salute all of our volunteers for their input, the community and religious leaders and organizations which have come together to provide the tools, housing accommodations, and meals so we can do the work.
While there is still a great need here for volunteers in organizations in New Orleans, they still need to be able to function, and contributions are still needed to complete the work. I urge those who are reading these blogs to look into your hearts and follow up with action. In peace and love,
Diane Knaus, one of fourteen.