What I’ve noticed here in Bay Saint Louis is the complete and utter thankfulness the community has towards any volunteer that comes into town.  Never would I have expected such kindness and gratefulness by the people.  An example was at Sicily’s, an Italian buffet restaurant, where the host gave our group a discount after finding out we were volunteers here in BSL to help in the rebuilding efforts.  Our waitress at the restaurant was also a victim of Katrina’s damage.  One of the previous volunteers at dinner recognized her and later found out that he had worked on her house some months earlier.  Though she did not remember him, she thanked him for his work as well as the rest of us for being in BSL for helping others.  She appreciated the work we were doing and invited us all over to check out her new house and to even come in the summer to swim in their newly remodeled swimming pool in their backyard.  In Seattle, how often would a complete stranger invite another group of complete strangers over to their house to have a swim?  

 

At the Stennis Space Center, the workers were also appreciative of our work and even provided extra folders and booklets of information about Katrina’s impact on the space center. Around town, when talking to any local, they have a story to tell; a story of how their life was affected and changed by hurricane Katrina.  When they ask about my story and I tell them I’m here to serve and help those who are in need of getting some part of their life back together, a look of gratitude comes over there face.  Their reactions constantly remind me why I have no regrets of being in BSL and that my smallest contribution to their house is worth much more to them than I can imagine. I am constantly amazed by the optimism and hope the city has.  A woman I met from St. Rose Delima, a catholic church, talked about the hardships she faced as Katrina came and the financial hardships she has in rebuilding her house.  Yet she continues to be thankful and optimistic about her future, about her family and has this beautiful excitement of adopting more kids.  She’s excited to get her house rebuilt so her family can move in and believes in a wonderful and bright future for her kids.  As I said my goodbye, she gave me a hug and thanked me again for being in town.  It is moments like these do I feel blessed to be in a city that is so kind, warm and opening.  It has made my transition in moving away from home easier and has also allowed me to open up and be more relaxed when meeting and talking to new people.  It has also opened my eyes to see that a tragedy such as Katrina’s devastation is not one full of sadness and sorrow, but one that is also full of hope.