New Orleans, U.S.A.
A few facts on the United States:
Population: 295,734,134
Population Density: 29.77 per sq/km
Life Expectancy: 77.1 years
Average Income: $35,400/yr
Fact: Americans have the world's highest marriage rates, divorce rates, teenage pregnancies and one person households.
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A Well-Deserving Family
New Orleans, U.S.A. - October 05, 2005
Our great friend Marcos recently told us an amazing story of an evacuated family he met while he was volunteering at the George Brown Convention Center. 
Silvio, Jovanna and Stephanie. Inset: Marcos.Like many other families, Silvio, Jovanna and their baby Stephanie were literally left with nothing more than the clothes on their back. The flood waters rose so fast into their home that they barely escaped alive. And since many others were needing to be saved at the time they were picked up, the family of three was dropped off onto Interstate 10, the only high ground around. For four days, they survived on little food and water and had to fight the 100 degree heat that scorched the concrete they walked on. At night, they avoided the overpasses, where gangs and drugs ran rampant.
Just a day before we left, we had a chance to sit and listen to Silvio recount what he calls "the most difficult time in his entire life." Thankfully, FEMA had placed this family in a nice 2 bedroom apartment complete with air-conditioning by the time we met them. We were both blown away by the amount of strength and hope Silvio possessed as he shared his heart.
Now, this family is faced with a new set of problems...no job and no vehicle. Without a job they will be unable to afford basic necessities. And since the mass transit system in Houston is almost non-existent, a car is essential to look for a job and to commute once a job is found.
After hearing the story of the Medina family, we knew we wanted to help provide the family with a vehicle. With the help of a generous car dealer and two families who contributed, we were able to raise $1,500 towards the purchase of a used vehicle for the Medina family.
This project is dedicated to our friend Marcos. Without him, this connection never would have happened. Marcos' energy is contagious, and his unbelievable enthusiasm, encouragement and passion for his faith inspired us every second we were around him.
True Southern Hospitality
New Orleans, U.S.A. - September 27, 2005
Our new friends.Since we have been down here in the disaster area we have stayed in everything from convention center floors to shelters, homes and churches. Regardless where we have spent our nights, we have been overwhelmed by the hospitality shown to us. We especially want to thank Rob and Jill Armstrong who took us into their home (allowing us to take over their living room), fed us some great food and even lent us a car...all for over a week. Our many great conversations both long and short have motivated and stretched us in amazing ways. Thank you!
Apocalyptic Drive
New Orleans, U.S.A. - September 26, 2005
Our five and half hour drive from Houston to Baton Rouge yielded 233 tree cutting trucks, 362 electrical trucks, 4 Chinooks, 7 Black Hawks, 2 Media Helicopters, 
Holy convoy Batman! Check out more on the vid page.77 ambulances, hundreds of Humvees and tankers in convoys, countless law enforcement vehicles and uncountable military trucks for miles on end. A mobilization of this magnitude as we drove on I-10, conjures emotions that perhaps one would only imagine in movies. This was real though. It was as though we were at war, here on our soil and the enemy came and went in a brief period, leaving utter destruction in its wake. Although weakened, the destruction of Rita was still evident on the South.
A Spared And Deserted Houston
New Orleans, U.S.A. - September 24, 2005
By Gods grace and to many people's amazement, Hurricane Rita weakened and changed course before landfall. After seeing the devastation caused by Katrina first hand, we cannot be thankful enough that Houston was spared. The chaos and devastation would have been unimaginable. We have heard that 2.5 Million residents left Houston and it shows. Eight lane roads have all but a few vehicles here and there, parking lots completely vacant and many shops boarded up and windows taped. Tomorrow we will head to Baton Rouge to deliver 500 sanitary packs left over from the surplus at the Convention Center.
The Chariot
New Orleans, U.S.A. - September 22, 2005
As Rita barrels towards Texas, we feel compelled to head back to Houston to stage for potential relief that might be needed after the storm. 
We had a flat tire before we even left the lot.Also, due to the immense number of evacuations out of Houston our goal is to help the many stranded motorists who have run out of gas by bringing some gas reserves with us. We just purchased a beast of a car...a slammin Olds Cutlass sedan (appropriately tabbed The Chariot by our friend Tomas) stock with bench seats and 2 tires without hubcaps. Thankfully the Suzuki dealer we bought it from was willing to part with it at their cost after they heard what we were doing. Buying gas tanks at the local Lowes was an experience as locals swarmed to the store to buy more gas tanks than they could possible carry (we saw one woman with 3 shopping carts full!). With the gas scare extending far into Louisiana, finding a gas station without an obscene line was next to impossible and any fuel but Super-Unleaded was non-existent. Upon arriving to Houston, we plan on staying at our friend Missy's apartment and hooking up with the GRB gang in the relief efforts for Rita. We'll keep you posted as often as we can.
The Rita Curveball
New Orleans, U.S.A. - September 21, 2005
As we have been touring New Orleans, Slidell, Wavefront and Gulfport, we have had one thing in mind: To bring aid and assistance to others. 
AP Photo. Yikes.The last few days, we have been commissioned to find a place to relocate all of the excess equipment and supplies from the many shelters in Houston (as many of the evacuees are now being relocated from the massive shelters to a more permanent location).
Throughout this effort, our goal and vision has been to set up a command center. Through this, we would work with the church and the local government to coordinate the distribution of supplies and would assist in the overall communication and rebuilding efforts of the disaster area. However, these efforts have been very difficult, as we have gone through hurdle after hurdle of the endless bureaucracy that is so common to this state. Now with Hurricane Rita barreling towards Texas, many Texans themselves may be soon looking for help. As the people of Texas have exemplified through their efforts with Katrina, I believe we will be impressed once again by the resilience and fortitude of the government, businesses, churches and the people of this great state.
Word of the week for us: Patience. In the midst of all the chaos and calamity, we find ourselves waiting. We are standing in the eye of the storm watching all the destruction and desolation occur around us, yet we are calm. That is not easy. Although we are confident that we are being used and helping, we are strangers on this foreign soil with no more than the clothes on our back. Therefore, we are left waiting, until our next opportunity arises.
Pumping out New Orleans
New Orleans, U.S.A. - September 18, 2005
The rebuilding of New Orleans is well underway. It was evident as we drove into the city today that its citizens are resilient. 
One of the many empty streets in the city.Massive generators, dehumidifiers, dump trucks and Port-o-lets were at nearly every corner throughout downtown. Hotels seemed to be housing the wide array of law enforcement, contractors, press and insurance appraisers. Military presence is without question, very visible. The constant rotor noise from the passing helicopters, endless trucks and humvees driving through the streets and large naval ships on the river shows a small window of the magnitude of the military deployment. Emergency Operation Centers have overtaken schools and churches. One would think, from their enormity, that one of these command centers alone would suffice for the city but there are many, scattered throughout the city, a clear indicator of the magnitude and scope of the recovery efforts.
Rubble of Memories
New Orleans, U.S.A. - September 16, 2005
The house in this photo belongs thousands of feet away.A war zone. We know of no other way to begin to describe what we saw today. We have all seen the amazing video and photos and have heard the incredible stories of those who have lost everything. However, it pales in comparison to seeing the devastation personally before our own very eyes. Driving through the neighborhoods that were literally obliterated seemed surreal, as if we were in a movie. The reality of the situation hit us like a freight train as we stood on a white marble floor of a once magnificant beach home now with no walls, windows or ceiling. Only a sandblasted laptop remained next to a twisted pile of metal that was once a motorcycle.
A Church That Keeps Giving
New Orleans, U.S.A. - September 15, 2005
Waiting for the call to go to New Orleans with a truck load of supplies, we felt compelled to go to the disaster area to see how we help in the relief efforts. 
A mother and child sift through the many donated items.Our drive took us first to the city of Slidell. According to our GPS, we were miles away from the water yet in addition to all the wind damage we saw, it was clear that the storm surge flooded everything. A stench of dead fish, stagnant water and mold filled the air. We stopped at a church that looked more like a flea market. Swarms of people on foot and in cars were flowing into the property to pick up clothing, food, water, baby diapers, soap and other supplies. The members of the church were seen in food lines handing hot food to cars driving up, sorting heaps of donated clothing and hauling mud out of their sanctuary. When we spoke to the pastors, it was clear they were ecstatic about tomorrow. They had just told that their church was considered a priority location to receive power. Having power not only means having air conditioning for the volunteers but power to cook in their kitchen and refrigerators to keep food cool and unspoiled.
A Semi-Truck Delivery
New Orleans, U.S.A. - September 15, 2005
It was at least 110 degrees in this warehouseA long day started at 5am when we left the Houston convention center with a loaded semi-truck filled with water, food and hygiene supplies. We have been swamped at the convention center with supplies that have exceeded the need of the evacuees. We unloaded the truck in Ponchatula, La where it will be sorted by pallets and await a call from the New Orleans area on what is needed and where it needs to be delivered to. Although one would never think taking supplies is a dangerous job, in this case, it is. Just last week, one of the drivers was taking a load to a New Orleans parish was shot at.
Phasing Out The GRB
New Orleans, U.S.A. - September 13, 2005
The numbers of guests here at the convention center is dwindling as evacuees find more permanent housing or are relocated to smaller shelters. We are now working in the Command Center here at the GRB Convention Center and have been seeing an increasing need to communicate and assist the evacuees to move on to a more sable and proper housing. As the days go by, a select few now see this place as their new home, embracing luxuries that they may not have had. One girl even asked a member of the Command Center if she could get a wake up call in the morning. In a somewhat sarcastic tone, it was pointed out that there are no phones near their cots. No problem, came the reply, she had a cell phone we could call. There have been a few nights when the number of guests does not decrease but actually increases. A lot of energy is now being focused in helping the guests find housing, jobs and assist in the endless paperwork for FEMA, Department of Licensing, Social Security and other services we take for granted such as credit cards companies.
Texan Hospitality
New Orleans, U.S.A. - September 11, 2005
The scene in this convention center is unlike anything we have ever seen. The friendly state of Texas 
A small glimpse of the sea of beds at the GRB.has outdone itself by hosting over 230,000 evacuees since the disaster. Texas has empowered organizations such as Center Point Energy and 2nd Baptist Church to organize and manage the George R. Brown (GRB) Convention Center where the "guests" are being held.
Each guest is entitled to free medical care ranging from physical therapy, OBGYN, vision, dental to mental health and housing and financial counseling to name a few. There is also a 24-hour Walgreens, gym with basketball court, various television theaters and play areas for the children. Guests are treated to three meals each day (and they're good), totaling over 50,000 meals so far. Over 1 million bottles of water have been donated. There are beds as far as the eye can see (the attached picture is probably only a tenth of the total area).
Although the GRB might appear more like a hotel, the reality is that this is the home of more than 5,000 people who did not choose to be here. The thousands of cots scattered on the floor are the only "personal" areas these guests have. However, there is still some glimmer of hope, as the number of cots each day diminish as guests are finding loved ones and other homes welcoming them across the nation.
The Painful Reality
New Orleans, U.S.A. - September 10, 2005
Our first full day in Houston was a memorable one. We began the day outside by helping direct the busloads upon busloads of evacuees that had come to the center to receive their FEMA debit cards. Patrick and I undoubetdly looked a tad out of place in our bright yellow volunteer shirts amidst the sea of nearly 30 private, local, state and federal officials.
Once inside, we had a few opportunities to listen directly to the story of a few of the evacuees as we continued our assistance with the long lines. One story I will not forget was a conversation with a man named George. Within a span of 3 days, George celebrated a birthday with his wife and family, witnessed the death of his wife the day after and then lost his home to the flood. George's eyes pierced through mine revealing the pain, the hurt and the depth of his loss like an open wound. Before I could find even a simple word, George was whisked away.
Although my conversation with George was quite brief, it is a raw reminder to me of how real this situation is. And there are thousands of other stories just like George's, probably within feet of me everyday.
A Long Haul
New Orleans, U.S.A. - September 09, 2005
The sudden blast of humidity as we walked off the aircraft in Houston was oddly a welcoming feeling that we finally arrived after having mechanical problems with our aircraft in 
Our cozy little home.Seattle and thereby missing our connection in Phoenix due to the massive delays.
However, the adventure didn't stop there. The airport literally seemed shut down by 1:30am. Eerily deserted, we walked along the underground tram tunnel from one terminal to the next looking for any bus, shuttle, train or taxi that could take us to the Convention Center. We are now at the George R. Brown Convention Center, and it's just a little past 5am (far past the time we were supposed to meet our contact who had a few cots lined up for us for the night). Looks like we will be snoozing in a little corner of a room for a few hours before we get to work. We are fatigued, but we're also relieved that we finally made it to the place we need to be. Cot or not, we're happy to be here.
