Today, Monday March 23rd, we had our first full day of volunteer work with United Saints. The day started early, as we had our morning meeting at 8:00am and went out to our site shortly after. For our first project, we worked on murals and signs for the Hoffman Triangle- an area with many abandoned houses that need to be cleaned/closed up. We worked on many small projects. I, personally, mixed cement and put it into tires to hold signs, drilled sign posts together, picked up trash in the neighborhood, and helped carry materials, among other little things. Other members of the group painted murals and posts, sawed boards, assembled murals, and more related items. By the end of the workday, I felt like we accomplished a lot, and the team leader noted that we had achieved more than they expected.
When we got back to the apartment, I was physically exhausted but feeling pretty good about the effort put forth. One of the most inspiring aspects of today's work was that the projects that we worked on/completed were noticeable, and I felt like we were actually making a difference in a short amount of time, even if on a small scale. It has made me very excited for the future work and projects that we'll be doing throughout the rest of the week. Just this one day has also made me realize that whether big or small, any help you can give is important. It has also inspired me to think about other volunteer/service work that I could do in the future and how I can "make a difference."
After resting up, we went to the mosque again and got to talk to a few of the men- including Musheer and Yusuf who we met for breakfast on Sunday- for an hour and a half. They also catered a nice meal of hot dogs and other snacks for us. During the open discussion, we talked about their personal roles in the community as well as goals for the community. It was extremely intriguing to hear about their efforts in helping out community members, including providing free meals, housing, recovery efforts, and medical care. It is amazing to see what people will do for their neighbors. It's really moving to hear about their real examples.
We also got to hear testimonials about their experiences during and after Hurricane Katrina. A lot of the information is horrifying, shocking, and just plain tragic. It seems like most of the people from New Orleans that we've talked to had either family or friends who died during the disaster. I am astonished every time we hear about this, but it is even more shocking that I am finding out many things about the devastation for the first time, almost 8 years after the event. The discussion at the mosque brought up many problems for the people of New Orleans, such as crime, corruption, violence, and poor health care and education. However, this is not the only time on this trip that we've heard such testimonials. They only reaffirm what we heard on our tour yesterday and from talking to others in the area.
Overall, this was a very long and tiring, yet fulfilling day. I keep learning more and more, and my mind and ideas toward disasters, relief, and recovery are continually expanding. I am excited to see what will come of the rest of this service trip, but I know we will all come back to Hamline at least a little different, and hopefully with new goals for the future.
On a side note, New Orleans is an absolutely beautiful city and the culture is strong and present everywhere. Exploring and wandering in our free time is just magical.\
Ashley
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