Living Reflections from a Dream

Another update from my friend, Joan, who is in Mississippi helping with Katrina cleanup.

It's 1:15AM and I'm just hitting the hay. Days are hard here (physically -- labor and heat -- and emotionally) so most people are hitting the hay after dinner.

A reporter from the AP wire came by today as did some folks from CMT
(Country Music Channel). Lee, the Camp Manager, insisted they interview me
and Dave, who just started today as our Project Director since Gary just
left tonight...in addition to others of course. It's funny, the AP wire
folks thought we were housing homeless families in our tents and the CMT --
"the MTV of the South" as someone here said, ha ha! Were stuck in traffic
and were basically like what's going on here with all this. Folks from the
Kentucky Public Health Dept came by today. I did get back to Mr. Booth with
some things, and Mr. Coleman, and the two boys. I don't remember if I told
you but I found two cool backpacks for them and filled them with kids kits
someone from here brought down that I amended slightly for their age (in
addition to adding a couple treats), the Soldier bears and water. I
specifically chose the bears of a colleague of mine from work who had her
children write the notes so I could tell them they came from other children
in Washington, DC, (well Maryland) who were just a little younger than they
were. It was nice. I sent out some with another team because I knew they
had kids and they said the kids loved them!

We were in the local paper on Monday. It's strange because being here
without tv (none of us), you really do not know what is going on. Not that
you can't get a paper, but we're so focused on our Mission that's really all
we do. It's interesting though, the CMT keep filming some volunteers
playing soccer and football because they wanted to capture volunteers
"letting off steam". Although there had been some soccer balls and
footballs around, it's not like that's what people are doing once they're
back at camp. Anyway, I'm rambling and tired. Thank you for your kind
words, encouragement, and prayers.