I've been away all weekend, so I didn't see Southern Blue Bloods posts about the Houston area stake assignments to be in the Baton Rouge area this weekend to assist with flood recovery. In addition to his region, the North American Southeast area (which includes stakes from Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia) was assigned to assist this weekend as well. We also had members from stakes in Arkansas and Tennessee in our area. In fact they split us up into two locations to camp at a church building which was used as a headquarters and staging area. My stake (Shreveport Louisiana) was assigned to the Baker Ward building. Baker is a suburb in north Baton Rouge. A lot of people (including members) had been affected by the flooding as well, so last week the effort had concentrated on assisting the members. This week we assisted some members who still needed help, but mostly we mucked out homes of non-members--and I mean mucked out! I'd like to share a bit about my experiences to add to Southern Blue Blood's reports, and between the two of us I hope it will help us all be thankful for what we have and to understand and even appreciate what a great organization the church is.

We worked in the Denham Springs area and were told it was the hardest hit area. I can believe it. Virtually every home where we worked had had 6 to 7 feet of water in it, so we basically had to gut it. None of the homes we worked on were inhabitable. We took out sheet rock and insulation, removed water-logged carpet, and took up wooden and in some instances tile floors that were beginning to warp. We even tore out bath tubs and showers. Some of the residents had us haul appliances to the curb for disposal. Those appliances were just added to the piles of destroyed furniture (beds and mattresses, living room furniture, etc. and even pianos) that were already lining the curbs in front of the houses. It's difficult to realize how bad the destruction was unless you see it. Of course, things were really beginning to smell.

The church had set up an 800 number for people to call to request free assistance, so we were visiting the homes of non-members who had called the number. My group worked on two houses in the same neighborhood, and I'd like to tell you a little bit about each. The first house had already had the sheet rock and insulation removed from the walls, but there was quite a bit of linoleum tile that was buckling and had to be removed. We also took out a bath tub and shower for her. She had been able to salvage a few items, including quite a few photographs. They were wet and some of the pages in the albums were starting to wrinkle. Anyway, one of the members in my group is a visual arts professional, so he and his two daughters who were with him stayed behind and took a digital copy of each of her photographs while the rest of us went around the corner to the next house. He's going to send her digital files of all her photos.

The next house had a car in the front yard with a boat that had ended up on top of the car. The boat was the homeowner's. I had been in the driveway but the flood had lifted it and deposited it on top of the car. Anyway, the owner was limited physically by a bad back, and while he had two sons who were trying to do some things, our arrival really got things moving. Carpet removal, sheet rock and insulation removal--we did it all. We took out a bath tub and a shower as well. Shortly after we got started the owner saw what we were doing and i overheard him remark that we were working like a well-oiled machine. Now I don't know about the rest of you, but I've been involved with enough church service projects to know that we don't always work like that, but in this instance it's probably closer to the truth because we were all working together on a common task. And even if we weren't, to him it was as though we were because without us he could not have done what we did.

The final house I worked on was with a different group. The group I was with left, but I joined another group just two doors down from the previous house. It was more of the same work. This time the owner was not there but I found out that the group had talked to the owner yesterday. The man and his wife are an older couple in their 80's, so of course they are not physically able to do what needed to be done. The insurance company is coming by on Monday to see what progress had been made in clearing the house. The amount of work that had been done would be a factor in determining how much assistance they would receive. If nothing had been done then they would not be receiving much help and would basically have to pay to have everything done. Because of their age, the man had basically resigned himself to the fact that they would have to pay for everything themselves. I also found out that the couple has already met the missionaries and are interested in finding out more. After this experience, I'm thinking they will be even more interested.

To me it is interesting that each assignment I worked on had the same physical needs but was different in that each had special circumstances we were able to meet. It's funny how the Lord works that way, isn't it?

It was a hard and difficult weekend. When we first received the assignment I struggled because I selfishly needed the weekend for myself. After all, I have plenty of projects at my own house needing attention. I even told my bishop how much of a struggle it was to commit to going. Well, my projects are still here, but I don't regret having spent my weekend the way I did. Actually, I think the experience has just made me more determined to be efficient in taking care of my business.

One final note--every time I participate in one of these assigned service projects (and with all the hurricanes and floods the Gulf Coast has experienced in recent years our stake has had a lot of opportunities), I marvel at how great the church is at mobilizing a force such as that which descended on the Baton Rouge area this weekend. And it's not just in getting the workers to show up. Even though we are asked to bring whatever tools of our own that we have, the church shipped in supplies that would make Home Depot or Lowe's envious. Each team of 10 to 12 workers could pick up a wheelbarrow, a sled for hauling waste, shovels, crow bars, hammers, utility knives, work gloves, goggles, safety masks, etc. etc. Even if we, the individual crews, may not always be a well-oiled machine, the church is when it comes to disaster relief. There were also cleaning kits in a 5-gallon container and hygiene kits that we were to leave with each family.

We experienced heavy rain late Saturday afternoon and into the evening. even though the tent city we were all camping in on the grounds surrounding the church building became muddy and uncomfortable, I'd have to say that nearly everyone just took things in stride. The people we were serving had lost almost everything. We still had our homes to return to. Well, if you made it all the way through this, thanks for allowing me to tell you about my experiences. If you ever have an opportunity to be involved in one of these projects or something like it, just go. Do it with as much cheer and joy as you can muster. You won't regret it.