Blue 3 and Lagniappe Staff

On our last night in Bay St. Louis Blue 3 presented the staff with a gift as well as presented them with our sign (each group that comes through Lagniappe leaves a sign).

Farewell Bay St. Louis

The final days spent in Bay St. Louis, MS were packed with goodbyes. Leaving here is bittersweet because in some ways it feels as if it is time to leave, however, Bay St. Louis and Lagniappe have become a home for us. We have been so welcomed by this incredible community and have made relationships with so many people that I am very sad to leave. Bay St. Louis has left an impression on me that will last a lifetime. I have learned so much about perseverance and resilience. The people within the community have gone through so much and have dealt with so many disappointments, yet they still find something to smile about every single day. Recently we helped a woman move out of her FEMA trailer into her new MEMA trailer…this is a bit larger, it is essentially a house in a box….everything you need is provided for you, it is two rooms, a little living area, and a kitchen. It is small, but it seems comfortable. This woman was incredibly happy to have this place, she felt blessed that she was able to move into a MEMA cottage. What is inspiring about her is she has found this incredible sense of joy out of something that she deserves, she is finally moving into a house which is nothing like the house she lived in pre-Katrina, yet, she feels like she is the lucky one, she feels like she is the blessed one to have been given this house. I see it as she deserves this house, she should have had this house two years ago…and that is really what makes all of these people so amazing, they can see the good in their situations, they can find something to be thankful for each and everyday, and they do their best to keep a smile on their face even though what they are going through might be the hardest thing they will ever face.

So, all in all leaving Bay St. Louis is a welcomed change, I am very much looking forward to Portland, OR and seeing a new area of the United States, however, I will miss the Gulf. It is a very special place and I am looking forward to being able to return to the Gulf to continue with the restoration efforts and visit with the people we have met at Lagniappe. Saying goodbye to them was difficult because they truly have welcomed us into their family, they always made us feel like we belonged there, but when we return to the gulf we do plan on visiting them…so that will be just lovely.

Currently we are back in Sacramento; we have 9 days of transition. We will be doing debriefs, briefings for our new project, and meeting with staff regarding our team positions. It’s going to be a long 9 days I predict. But the good news is I am living with my roommate from training! Hooray!

Our New Project

First I must apologize for being very MIA with the blog lately. I have no valid excuse besides laziness, but please if you feel angered refer to the disclaimer/the first blog entry ever written. However, I think you will all be happy to hear that I know where I am going for my next project! Woohoo. We are getting ready to leave Bay St. Louis on Friday, it is going to be bittersweet…I will write an entry regarding that at the end. Look forward to it.

My new project…drum roll please…Oregon! I will be about 25 miles outside of Portland (I think). We are working for an environmental company called solv. We will be removing invasive species in Forest Grove, Oregon. I know very little about the project. I have not done much research on the project yet, and we have not yet begun our briefings…so basically what I am saying is…that is all I know about my future. When we leave Bay St. Louis we are flying to Sacramento for 5 days of briefings and debriefings, then we will drive to Oregon and move into our new housing and find out all about our new lives in Oregon. Woohoo.

In closing please field all questions that you are dying to know about what is going on in my life in the comment section…I realize I have not been writing a whole lot of information so I figure there may be some curious readers out there. Hope everyone is doing well and I look forward to hearing from you all!

A Picture of Blue 3 Anacondas

This is my wonderful team!

Holidays are over and I am back to work…

Hi people, again it’s been awhile, but I did not think anyone cared too much about my Christmas break. It was good. Nice to be home, bla bla bla.

So we have been back now since Wednesday night. It is busy season down in the gulf, there are a ton of volunteers around. Langniappe is filled with volunteers. So, we have been doing a lot of work on the grounds, seeing as there are a ton of volunteers for the houses. We have spent our time tearing apart bunks, building bunks, delivering supplies to sites, and cleaning the tool shed. The work has been okay…it’s not nearly as fun as working on a house, but we are getting a lot done.

Being back with the team has been great. We all really missed each other and the excitement level was high when we were all together again. We had a lovely after Christmas party with Wisconsin cheese and a secret Santa grab bag event.

That’s really it, not a whole lot is going on here. Things are slow, nothing new and exciting, I’ll keep you posted when good stuff happens! Hope everyone is doing well.