As our culture becomes more isolated with ipods and phones stuck in our ears, there’s nothing like helping your neighbor to bring us all a little closer. Our ragtag team of volunteers is ready to work on a neighbor’s house 1000 miles from our own homes — what a job!
Our second day on the job began with a prayer but even before the prayer was finished the work began as the supplies showed up and we start to move. The intensity and energy of the crew was incredible as we tear off the roof of Wanda and William’s house. John, Ted, Mary, Ron, Bob, Monica, Mike, Dickie, Teri, Petey swarm over the place, in and out, up and down. Tearing off the old roof, replacing rotting wood, shoring up the structure in hopes that the home stays a home and not a ubiquitous pile of rubbish.
The morning turned to afternoon, the hard work paid off and the house was coming together stronger. The crew continued to swarm … scraping, shoveling, hauling, sawing, nailing and … only one person fell off the roof. Fortunately he was a fireman and knew how to ride a ladder. The morning felt like a full day and when we broke for lunch we felt good about the house. After more fried food and starch for lunch, Wanda brought out a birthday cake as it was William’s birthday and we sang and went back to work.
The house was finally done. As the storms moved in that night I was lying in my bed, I thought of Wanda and William sleeping in their home for the first time since Katrina without rain falling on their heads and hope grew a little stronger and I realized that we all are neighbors and if we work together we can do anything.
