Mucking and Gutting

     As you may have read in my last post, the Disaster Recovery Center where my team has been working is no longer in operation and is waiting to open up at a new location.  My teams leaves for Vicksburg, Mississippi in two days.  Because we have not been able to work at the DRC, we have been doing  Individual Service Projects, which means that we are not working with FEMA, but rather a non-profit organization.  My team has been working with New York Cares and the traditional AmeriCorps NCCC, lending our hands and bodies to clean out houses, which they call "mucking and gutting".  I was excited to do some physical work for once, though it was sad when we got to the houses and realized that all their belongings were destroyed by Sandy.

    On the first day of mucking and gutting we cleaned out a few garages, taking the wet belongings to the curb side.  We also tore down the walls of a room.  On the second day we spent the whole day clearing the first floor of a house: taking out belongings, taking down walls, basically not leaving anything in the house.  The owner of the house was really appreciative and said he didn't know what he would have done if it were not for us.  Because we worked in homes, I do not have pictures of us actually working, although I do have a picture of us in our PPE- Personal Protective Equipment.  This is important when working in houses with black mold and with working with tools.  Knowing how clumsy I am, it's a good thing everyone is wearing a helmet!

     We have gotten the official word that we are going back to New York after Winter Break.  I am super excited to see my family, friends and congregation back in Lafayette! 

A prayer that kept me going: 

We believe that God is present

In darkness before dawn, 

In waiting and uncertainty, 

Where fear and courage join hands, 

Conflict and caring link arms

And the sun rises over the barbed wire.

We believe in a with-us God

    Who sits down in our midst

    To share our humanity.

We affirm a faith

    That takes us beyond a safe place:

    Into action, into vulnerability and into the streets.

We commit ourselves to work for change;

    To put ourselves on the line;

    To bear responsibility, 

    Take risks, 

    Live powerfully and face humiliation;

    To stand with those on the edge;

    To choose life and be used by the Spirit

    For God's new community of hope.
Amen.

My teammate Lizz and I in our PPE

Organizations involved

We FINALLY got our boots dirty!