The Ultimate Gift

Minnesota!This is Lurelia of the Environmental group.I just like everyone was profoundly struck by Hurricane Katrina on many levels; as a Southerner, as an African-American, as the granddaughter of a native of Louisiana,and someone who had a very dear friend who suffered. I desparately needed to do something and I waited for this very opportunity.My friend, Vance Vaucresson, met us when we arrived Friday night to give us an personal perspective of the current and historic situations.Yesterday we spent a large part of the day helping him clear the house he grew up in. His house was by far the highest water levels we had seen as well as the worst mold inside. The water settled about 7 feet up and was all the way up to the roof, and sat for over two weeks. I knew before we came that this would be the most important thing short of having my daughter I have done in my life and I was right. My first reaction was relief upon seeing him, knowing he was really alright and then feeling his pain. In addition to loosing his childhood home, he lost his home as well, which he was of process rebuilding from a fire suffered a year ago, as well as the family business, Vaucresson Sausage Company, which had been in the family for four generations.Today all of what we have witnessed finally hit me particularly Vance's situation.I finally broke down and cried late this afternoon while working on another house. Yesterday we also got a chance, thanks to Vance, to visit Xavier University and talk to some of the administrators who were stranded with some 250 students on campus for several days about their experience.Also very hard to take-if not for the grace go I.....It is clear to me that all of America must stay engaged in this process something that has been stressed by everyone we have met.I think that Hamline could and should have an important role to play.A couple of us have been talking about organizing another trip during the May term.There is still so much to do-perhaps one that would involve both Xavier and Dillard universities.... All my fellow education majors out there... there is something special for us to do as well we could very well be involved in helping rebuild these schools and help tilt the scales a little bit in the other direction for the future not only of New Orleans but this country.....think about it!I'll write more later.
MAKE LEVEES NOT WAR!!!!! LAISSEZ LES BONS TEMPS ROULUEZ!!!

Lurelia Freeman