Habitat Heroes

So many people have said very kind things to me for what I am doing (and for that I am very appreciative). Everyone I have met in New Orleans is appreciative as well. But there are people here who really deserve great praise for their efforts. People like:

• Gail from Minnesota, who took time off from her job to work for a month
• Mark (from Chicago) and Andy (from Boston), who are consultants who quit working for six weeks to come down and help
• Matt, from Oakland, who is here for a month and staying at Camp Hope (with limited heat and water) for the experience
  
• Eric, from Houston, who is waiting for his contractor license in New Orleans and is working every day while he waits.

Their commitment and effort is so impressive and it was great to meet them and work with them.

The most impressive were the Habitat staff that have committed a portion of their life to rebuilding New Orleans. I wanted to laud them for what they are doing.

People like Karyn (pronounced "Car eN"). Karyn obsessively learned every one's name on the first day (when she had 100 people working with her) and remembered mine a week later. She was a long-term volunteer who took a job for Habitat to stay on and help.

Or Rachel. She spells her name incorrectly, but patiently taught me how to use a circular saw and mitre saw. Rachel always looked for me every morning to say hi and thank me for coming out. Here is Rachel, early one morning, smiling as usual...

Then there is Ann (shown here with David, who I have mentioned before). Ann is building her first house for Habitat and having a great time doing it. I helped raise the roof with Ann. Every day, she made us introduce ourselves and get to know one another. She inspired us to work hard and then relax "as hard as we can" so we could work hard some more.

I also loved working with Kaitlyn. She always was doing something crazy and fun. But her heart is as big as her insane side. And she was always finding a way to make volunteers feel good about their effort.

I admit that at first, I was wary of Jerod. For one, he drove this car that looked like it had been in a can crusher (he was rear-ended he claims) and he was always saying something bizarre. But, in reality, he really cares about doing a great job for the people who will be living in the homes. And that car provided us with our roll-up (when we wrap up for the day) concerts so it was all good.

Finally, there was David (pictured twice above). David is a long-suffering Cubs fan who has been working for about 3 months in New Orleans. My introduction to David was when I went onto his roof (we were putting down tar paper and then shingles) and freaked out. But I got over my fears and soldiered on, helping us make good progress. I ended up working with David for an entire week and he recognized my talents as a leader so let me run with the siding efforts. Here is proof that David knows what he is doing (my sided wall!)

It is really an honor to work with these people and certainly a key part of the Habitat experience. They are such heroes in my mind for what they are doing for the people of New Orleans.