It’s the little things…

It was a tough week and coming back to ‘civilization’ we’ve realised that it’s the little things we take for granted. Upon arrival back from Bay St Louis over the weekend each and every one of us ran for our showers (with a continuous stream of hot running water…what bliss!), the comfort of our own beds, and food we could decipher (i.e. no more ‘mystery meat’).

But while we relish in the delights of the small luxuries we call home, we still have a heap of stories to share with you. We intend to upload more commentary and imagery over the next couple of days, so stay posted!

Before I start posting these additional entries, I thought I’d share with you some images of the conditions we lived with over our stay…

The site was previously a timber yard, next door to a water park. As you can see, the church built a large ‘bunker’ (similar to an aircraft hangar) to serve as a mess hall and seating area. Across the way (a noisy gravel path), a series of temporary structures were built to serve as dormitory housing for the volunteers. These contained the bunk beds in which we slept for the duration of our stay.

The back of the hangar contained the shower rooms, which as Ava mentioned, consisted of shower cubicles with ropes we had to pull to activate the water flow. As the water would only flow when the cord was pulled taut, we managed to become quite skilled in the balancing act that was our one-handed shower routine (simply washing our hair was a difficult feat). The temperature of the water couldn’t be guaranteed either, so some days it was blistering hot and others a cold drizzle.

But gripes aside, the site was functional and served as a convenient base for volunteers assisting on local projects. It was also great to see the signs volunteers have erected at the front gate, which illustrate just how far everyone has traveled to lend a helping hand.

Although, despite a wonderfully rewarding week, it was with great pleasure that I cut-off my ‘church hospital ID bracelet’ and retired to the comfort of the ‘little things’ I often take for granted…

Welcome Home!

On Saturday before we left, Habitat held a dedication and celebration ceremony for the McNeely family, which will be moving into their Blitz Build house on Olivari Street shortly.


There were remarks from the local Habitat project manager, the mayor of Waveland, the leader of the South Carolina volunteer group, and from the McNeely family. Since Habitat is a Christian organization, the family received a bible and there were a few short prayers to bless the house. At the end of the ceremony, we presented them with a gift from SEI. Before we left, the volunteers had made quilt squares and Annmarie Tosh compiled them into a beautiful quilt that she presented the family as a housewarming gift. It was a really nice way to end the week and the smiles and excitement on the family’s faces were a great send-off gift.



We’re all back home now which—after spending a week in the Gulf Coast—we all appreciate more than ever. As we look forward to Thanksgiving, I think all us of will be even more thankful for what we have and for being fortunate enough to experience this past week. We worked hard, learned a lot, and made a difference. There’s a lot left to do and our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected in the Gulf Coast as they continue to rebuild their lives and community.