Yesterday was the Last Day

My team finished the living room yesterday, and with the exception of the bathroom, the house is almost completely dry-walled. We won the day and celebrated appropriately (I perhaps celebrated a little too appropriately).

We are now in Nashville, staying at a hotel, and I smell a euchre game.

So many thoughts and emotions are running together and against one another that I cannot really comprehensively explain what this week has meant to all of us. Be sure to ask us about this experience when we get back.

This is the last post regarding the Mississippi trip. I write this from Nashville with love.

Peace. Goodnight. Good Luck!

Tomorrow is the Last Day

And my group will finish sheeting the living room!

Things are coming along great at the Davis home, and the food at the camp has been excellent. A few of us (not me) went to a blues concert at a local coffee shop.

I, however, remained at camp and read more of John Dower's Embracing Defeat: Japan in the Wake of World War II. If you are interested in the Pacific War, Japan, or if you are Matt Yates, read this book.

Also, if you are Matt Yates, I'm sorry to say this, but you're bald. ;)

Thanks to Brian and Peter for being really super cool and leaving comments.

Work Days 2 & 3

Trudy's husband's name is Ed, not John, by the way. My mistake.

We have been really productive the past two days. I have personally gotten to know a fellow named Keith, a career Air Force officer and Vietnam veteran. He and another man named Howard are from the Diocese of Florida, and they are volunteering this week with us. Their guidance has been crucial to our success in rebuilding the Davis' house.

I should say something about the others here. There are almost 100 people at camp this week, over sixty of whom are in a high school church group from Illinois. A few others are from Wyoming, and a few of the leaders here are AmeriCorps volunteers. The actual on-sight leaders are Camp Coast Care staff. We have worked with two such staff: Doug and Jim. They have done an excellent job.

Last evening we walked on the beach, which was fun. Tonight the Illinois group is having a cook-out on the beach, and the rest of us will be eating burgers, hot dogs, or vegetarian alternatives here at camp.

The Gulf of Mexico is one of the more peaceful bodies of water in which I have set foot. Looking out at the scenic view, I would turn around and see probably irreparable damage done by Hurricane Katrina. In his poem "The Tyger," William Blake asks the evil, opportunistic subject, "Did he who make the lamb also make thee?" If God is responsible for the beautiful ocean, then is S/He also responsible for Katrina? Nobody is qualified to answer that question with any certainty or confidence, I think.

Work Day 1

Today, we installed insulation and dry-wall at a home of a woman named Trudy Davis. She lives with her husband, whose name I cannot remember at the moment (John, I think). It was an incredibly humbling yet life-affirming experience for all of us. Elizabeth found her inner-carpenter! She and a new friend from Casper, Wyoming were installing insulation at a gruelling and unstoppable pace! Chris and I were unable to keep up.

Afterward, there was a meeting of all the volunteers, a small worship service (I missed this part because I had to deal with financial aid issues over the internet -- thank you, Ohio State -- but thank you Camp Coast Care for providing wireless so I can deal with these issues all the way in Mississippi), and then us in the St. Stephen's group had a small meeting in which we discussed our general impressions from the day and the trip thus far. I was happy that the intellectual character of our Thursday night meetings carried over all the way to Mississippi.

It seems that an Ohio State group was already at Camp Coast Care, perhaps for an alternative spring break.


Farewell, and peace!

P.S.

Tara did NOT eat seafood last night.

Arrival at Camp Coast Care, Eating Seafood, and Walking on the Pier

After a long day of driving, we made it to Camp Coast Care in Long Beach, Mississippi at around 4 PM this afternoon. Orientation was short and informative (the best news was that there was free, high speed wireless internet). We then ate at a local seafood eatery called Lookout 49, "where all the cowboys and cowgirls gather for a fun meal" (Tara's words). Afterword, we hung out on the beach and then returned to camp at around 8:15 PM.

Our group consists not only of members of St. Stephen's, but friends from different places. J.J. and Tara, who many of you probably know, are Lutheran seminarians who have been married for a few years now. Laura, whose family recently moved to Ohio from upstate New York, is an Ohio State student majoring in art education. We have had great fun getting to know one another on this wonderful trip.

Matt Yates' absence has not kept me from profusely discussing history, ideas, politics, etc.

Take care and God bless!

Our Journey to Mississippi

We reached our hotel for the evening safely in Athens, Alabama. On the way, we passed through Louisville, KY and Nashville, TN. It has been a fun trip filled with reading, sleeping, and interesting discussions.

That is all for tonight.