This trip has ment alot to me. I see the faces of those who we help and can see their spirits lift. I am glad that this trip falls around the winter holidays where everyone tends to go out of their ways to help others that need it.
Today i felt both a great hope inside of me for mankind in general and also great disappointment. I was disappointed that the weather plays a big role in this Trip. Its first role was the flood that caused us to be here in the first place. This flood made many lose their homes and possesions that everybody (including myself) take for granted. I heard the stories of all the students about how some houses didnt even have running water yet... the site that my group (DELTA) went to on tuesday had nothing in their house. They had no heat and no water. The people that owend the house was an elderly lady who lost her husband in march and has three grandkids that she watches during the day. Up until three weeks ago they where living in a house with no heat, mold field, and no water. They where lucky to have the church get them a trailer to live in while we worked on the house. the first day there tuesday we couldnt due much due to freezing in the pump we were using to spray for mold. we could not return on today tho due to the roads being to icey in the area.. i am heartbroken since we could not get anything done for these people.
WE did manage to go to another site and help tear up a subfloor to a 62 year old army vet. Leon was his name. When you walk up to his house you could see all of his postions out side in the back yard. We where there to help replace the subfloor in one of his rooms. we managed to do this and have great fun. We got to go "office space" on the floor with some crobars. While the four of us (Zack, Steve, Josh and I) Ripped up the floor Leon decided to join in. i saw in his face the joy he was having by just being with us and hearing our stories and jokes. He was a kind man who alot has happen to over the last few years. When it was time for us to leave he said he wished we could stay more today. I dont think it was to finish the job but more of interacting with us.
The Wrap up today was deep and moving. i learned alot about my self and the others. i am finding more and more that there are people with my drive in this world.
Until tommorow keep classy Ft. Lauderdale...
~Bill Lacava
