April+20+Second+Day+of+Work

Today was the second day of work. As my group will explain, we have started a variety of projects. I am very impressed with our students once again. I have found that they have incredible skills and a lot of patience. I am excited to see all of the things that we accomplish over the next few days. Miss Corcoran

So far the Operation Katrina trip has been fun and exciting. Today I helped finish painting Ms.Davids house, then my group went into her house and listened to her story. It was nice to hear about her story about what she went through hurricane Katrina. Tanaisha Coleman

Today I met a woman by the name of Larissa Milner. We made a menu for our demonstration Cooking for Kids She told us a little about her self and why she came opver here from Russia. Tomorrow we plan on cooking a cheeseburger chowder, a pecan salad, spring rolls, fruit smoothies and pineapple sponge cake. We went shopping for our groceries and prep cooked for tom. We are going to demo for a group of ten and eleven year olds and we are going to be on the news. Dominique Dixon

Today we went back to the house we were painting for two days. We finally met the lady that lived there and her name was Ms. Davis. She was really nice. She invited us into her house and showed us where the water level was when the storm hit. I also went out of my comfort zone and went higher on the ladder that I would usually go. It was also really hot today but I also enjoyed myself. Brianna Clay

Today we went back to the site we were at yesterday morning. Myself and the others continued to paint Mrs.Davis' house, but they had us go all the way up to the roof of the house. I must admit I was very scared to go all the way up there, but I knew I had to do it. At the end of the day it made me feel like I actually accomplished something great today. Also we actually got to meet Mrs. Davis and her family, and she even invited us in her house. She told us that the water from Hurricane Katrina reached all the way up to the top of her door. She also said that she is eighty-four years old and she has two children and five grand children. To me her story inspired me to do great and to be a better person. =) Kiara Jubilee

Hello, My name is Crystal Samuel and this is my first time being a part of the Operation Katrina Team. I am very happy to be a part of this team helping people out here in Mississippi. Today was a very exciting day for me a was able to use a nail hammer while putting wood up in the finishing touches of a house on Holley Street. I also then went to the Mercy Housing and Human Development new building which OK Team 2010 helped fix last year. At this building I put together a brochure for the "Kooking and Kids" project that will be happening tomorrow with the culinary arts students. I had a very good time doing new things and making people like Ms. Larisa Milner happy about the things I have learned in my business education like putting together the brochure and getting a personal request to help with other things I know. So Long Now Crystal Samuel

This is Year Six for me travelling to the Gulf Coast to help with the rebuilding. My, how things have changed! Highway 90 (Beach Blvd.) has been rebuilt and there are beautiful sculptures of animals carved out of the dead trees. The casinos are all up and running; however, many lots are up for sale as people have chosen NOT to return and build along the coast...Today I had the pleasure of observing three of our culinary students (Dominique, Max and April) design a cooking demonstration for middle school students here in the Biloxi area. They will teach 10 to 15-year-olds how to cook cheeseburger chowder, spring rolls, fruit smoothies, pecan salad and pineapple shortcake! April showed me how to "mince" an onion (I was using a steak-knife to cut an onion, Mom, sorry!) Crystal, one of our business students, designed the brochure to be used for tomorrow's "demo". Every evening, after our "family-style" dinner, we reflect upon our day. As I look around the room, I can't help but feel proud at the growth in our students from freshmen year!! They are truly "Mercy": caring for each other, building relationships and using their excellent skills (a BIG shout-out to their shop teachers!!). They are making a BIG difference in this community; they are working so hard and for many of these young people, have stepped out of their comfort zone, tried new opportunities and met the challenges!! I cannot thank our Administration, Katrina Home-Front faculty and Benefactors for making this trip a reality!! We do miss you but each day brings new experiences and this team works hard and plays hard!! You are all in our prayers! God Bless and Happy Triduum.... M.T. Lopata

I worked with our young men and one young lady, Crystal, at a house in Biloxi. The guys were installing trim to the seams of some drywall. I was impressed with their skills and how efficient they worked. At one point they asked me to try installing some of the trim. So, I climbed up the ladder and used the nail gun to install a couple of strips. This was my first time doing something like this. They were good teachers. It is nice to see how well our students work together to compete the projects. They encourage each other and help out each other. They are growing up so nicely! We are proud of them. Enjoy the pictures from our work day. Catherine Glatts

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