February 25, 2011, w/ Ali Z.

So, our last 'full day'.  Ok, I admit it, it was more like a half day, but we worked hard.  I went back to the Deborah's house for the 4th time this week.  The progress is noticeable as we look back at the end of the week from where we started.  Today, we got to meet Phillip - and this put a face on what we have been doing all week.  Phillip is Deborah's husband and he says that he comes by just once per month.  I asked him many questions about his journey through life got to this point.  Phillip described how immediately after Katrina passed, most everything in New Orleans was OK.  Katrina did not immediately deal such a bad blow to New Orleans - and then, over the next day, the levees broke.  And New Orleans will not be the same for a long time.

Phillip stayed behind for 7 days, then was bused to Houston - but there was no room there.  Then they sent him to Dallas - no room there.  Then to Shereveport - no more there.   Finally, Phillip ended up in Arkansas.  He was apart from his wife for 3 1/2 weeks (she had left right after the storm hit).  He said "Thank Goodness for the Internet and Cell Phones" otherwise people would have completely lost each other.

Phillip temporarily lives a few blocks away, but is looking forward to moving into the house that we are working on for him.  If things go well, he has eyes on eventually taking over the lot next time, but I don't think that this is anytime to soon.

We then headed to Sam's Club to pick up a few items for the Pot-Luck dinner at the Touro Synagogue.  We returned to camp, showered up and headed out.  We got to temple around 4:30 for a 5:00 service.  We got a tour of this temple that dates back to the 19th century.  6th oldest temple in the country and the oldest one not in the original 13 colonies.  It was a beautiful place.  There was a whole history display so that you could follow the temple through the years - very interesting.  We then attended a 45 minute service.  It was very nice and familiar, though I must say it was also lacking some of the energy that we normally have at Woodlands.  They mentioned in their announcements that next week would be "Blue Jean service".  Oops - I guess we were a week early!  We attended their pot luck dinner - and I must say how nice it was to get a home cooked meal that was not produced for the masses.  By the time we finished, there was a Mardi Gras parade rolling down the street in front of the temple.  The parade was small by Mardi Gras standards, but entertaining with multiple marching bands and of course beads all around.  It was quickly followed by the cleanup crew.

Somewhere along the timeline of the night, we noticed that "hey - we're not far from the Creole Creamery".  So I put the Google navigation into walking mode and discovered that indeed it was only a .5 mile walk from us.  So, our 22 member team, walked to Creole Creamery and enjoyed a moment of indulgence.  It was well deserved for all.  It's late now on Friday night.  We are all tired, but tomorrow, we do not fly out until 4:45pm, so we have time to sleep-in - will be interesting to see how many actually do.  At least 2 of our 5 cars are heading to the French Quarter, perhaps after a stop at the Waffle House.  Others of us are not too sure yet.  Somehow, one way or another, we will end up at the airport tomorrow afternoon and begin the long journey home.

I feel good that I think all - and I mean all - have had a good time.  I'll get a better sense of that tomorrow.


<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< And Now Ali Z. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


This day was the last for my trips here to the Gulf Coast. So, of course, I thought a lot about what I've seen over the years, and what this trip has taught me. As I talked about yesterday, seeing the results of the Hurricane revealed to me a dark side of the human spirit concerning acceptance. But today I saw the light. We went to a very special place today. It was a nursery filled with adorable kids--most no more than three years old. These cute kids, my teammates, and I were in a little parade around the streets surrounding the nursery. These children were special. I didn't know at the time, but this nursery provides homes to pregnant women and mothers that have no place to go, some have been thrown out and would be homeless without this safe haven. I didn't realize these precious kids were the product of such hardship. I didn't realize any of this because these were the liveliest, happiest kids I've ever seen. These kids warmed our souls with their strong spirits. It really made me think about what I love about this city. After three years I still can't get over the warmth that inhabits me when I'm walking down those streets, admiring those balconies. I always wondered what it was about these strange and wonderful people that made me consider this coast my second home. Today, in the faces of those kids, I saw spirit. A spirit unbreakable, untouchable, and unstoppable. These children are the products of hardship just like this city is. The strange and wonderful people here have emerged from the waters. These people have marched out of the Superdome. These people have played their jazz, and celebrated their traditions, and never stopped living their lives to the fullest. These children were the same way. After three years now I know there is still work to be done. But today I saw the future on the faces of those kids, and I know there is a light at the end of this tunnel. The future of New Orleans is full of spirit. And no hurricane can ever stop that. No people can ever ignore that. The future of New Orleans is not a straight path, but I know the path is never-ending. I can never come back here for this week again, but the warmth that I feel right now assures me that this is a city that will survive. I will miss the spirit, but now it has become a part of me. Now I can take the spirit of this city with me wherever I go, and I can build my future. On the back of this year's team shirt it says, "A time to build."  With the spirit of this city we will keep building here. We will never stop. We will never break. Starting next year, I'm beginning to build my future. I'm going to college, taking with me the memory of hardship and survival I've seen in both my life and this city. I don't know what the future will hold for me or the children I met today. But I know that, armed with our spirits of steel, nothing can stop us.