3/20/06 A note from Mark:

I just read the wonderful newsletter from our President Dr Ronald Maenza about our trip to Waveland.

I wanted to just share a bit of my thoughts about the trip.

The Place:

Words; my limited ability to convey them can never fully depict just what we saw in Waveland Mississippi.

We stood on the remains and the rubble of the home of the Allen Family from Waveland (now living in Ohio). In the area where we stood every single home, most trees, gone. For as far as the eye could see everything was gone as it once existed. What remained was crushed cars and the rubble from the main bodies of the homes the bulk hauled away. What trees remanded were either on the ground or if standing were broken, dead or dying. Not to be found was a single bird, not one song of a bird on a spring day just the sounds of the roar of the Army Core of engineers machines and trucks removing the dead carcasses of the homes and trees that once stood.

I walked off to be alone and called my wife Kelly, fighting back tears unable to explain what we were looking at and only able to say over and over “ Its un******* believable, un******* believable”. Its all I could say as no words at that time had the power to explain what we was looking at, hundreds of homes just in this small area of Waveland simply gone. What remained was rubble, most trees down some still standing but broken and most dead from the almost 40 foot of sea water that covered them. What was left was mud covered pictures of families, knickknacks, clothing, holiday ornaments, dishes and special plates like the mothers day plates we were able to find and bring home to ship to Mrs. Allen. We all stood on the memories of our friends some known but most not known, but friends still.

This is what we saw everywhere we went, mile after mile, street after street, neighborhood after neighborhood, once beautiful main streets lined with grand old homes and historical buildings of Waveland, its beautiful grand old moss covered oaks, all gone.

Yet, its spring there already and plants are spring from the ground breaking through the rubble and the mud and broken glass and seeking to again return to normal, to start anew.

The People:

Just as in Abbeville we were greeted by the sweetest people one could imagine, people who have lost everything yet cared only for each other and our comfort. Proud people who love their families, community and the people in it and wish only to rebuild their homes and community. As Ron said so well they want to rebuild for their parents and their children all request we received were always for someone else or their parents and or children, never once “ I need or want”.

People almost 7 months later living in campers if they are lucky, tents. Many people cramped into small campers no larger then a bedroom. Children have no safe place to play and are forced to play in the rubble and remains of their homes, glass and danger for them is everywhere.

We have a great team in place lead by Stacey and Renee, so many people we meet so many stories we will share in time, so many sweet people like Stacey's mom who is the clone on my, no our great and loving Cajun Mom Macie (Sellers).

These strong and proud and loving people have lost so much are like the plants fighting their way through the rubble to the sunlight to again flower and they will. But they need our help all of us doing just what we can no matter how small you may believe your help may be it will all add up to a new day in Waveland Mississippi.

Please pass our web site and programs on to everyone you know asking they do the same, keep an eye out for the updates that will becoming out soon, the game plan on how we will rebuild Waveland, together we will do this.

When your fear touches someone's pain it becomes pity; when your love touches someone's pain, it becomes compassion.
- Stephen Levine

It's time to touch many peoples lives and together we can must and will.

May you and all beings be well and happy.