Going to Biloxi has been something I've wanted to do since this school year began. I wanted to see and help the people affected by Hurricane Katrina.  Living in Wisconsin we hear about how life is down in the Gulf and see the pictures on TV, but we really don’t have a clue of how or what these people along the Gulf coast went and are continuing to go through. 

My part in the hurricane relief effort consisted of doing three days of tree removal for elderly folks in the Biloxi area and two days of yard clean up at a Boy Scout camp.  Throughout the course of the week I had the privilege to meet and listen to many different people tell amazing stories about the storm.

I think one of the strongest messages people can experience from the aftermath of hurricane Katrina is the sense of unity among the people. Story after story expanded on how race, religion, gender, age, and geographic location no longer separate people.  We heard, for example, of a Baptist group coming down to Biloxi and fixing up Catholic churches. You see and hear of young people from across the nation spending their spring breaks in service.  You hear of neighbors leaving their home which is demolished to go help another neighbor in “worse shape.” 

It’s sad to think we need a catastrophic event to bring about unity in our nation and yet it’s good to know we are still capable of uniting to help one another.  That is how God works and I’m thankful I was able to be involved in a small, but instrumental way.

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