Craig was this year’s team leader. He describes his feelings about the trip
Personally, if I could describe my experience in one word, that word would be “humbling.” Here’s why: The “suffering” I endure in life is nothing compared to what the hurricane victims endured and continue to endure. I come from a very stable family, I own a house, have a steady job, make a decent salary, drive two reliable cars, eat three meals a day, and sleep in my own bed every night. The Hurricane Katrina victims, with what little they have, are still trying to rebuild homes, relationships and a sense of normalcy. Others have relocated to other parts of the country with hopes of starting anew like the woman we met at the Gulfport/Biloxi airport who was on her way back to a new home in Iowa. So, I find it difficult to complain about any of my “sufferings.” I hope to now have a new perspective and thank God more often in my circumstances.
Also, as a Christian, I feel somewhat ashamed that I can’t/don’t put in as much time serving the community as many people I met in Mississippi that aren’t Christians. We met people that paid their own way and drove 14 hours straight just to serve the needy, working in the same conditions and with equal vigor as our team. And, they probably didn’t have hundreds of people undergirding their trip with prayer. Though I am grateful for the support of my family, friends and church, I didn’t have to put out a single cent to get there. So, it was fairly easy for me to go to Biloxi, Mississippi and work with a team (and a fine one at that) building framing components for Habitat for Humanity. I hope I would still choose to go even if I had to pay my own way.
Thanks. God bless you.
Craig