Day 4 - December 16, 2005

wow. what a paradox to what we have been experiencing this week. currently we are hanging out in rue de la course, a cafe in a part of the city that was not as badly affected as the areas we have been seeing. today has been amazingly trying. we went to a school to partner with students from tulane university to help clean out a community center that offered educational after school programs for kids. i was very overwhelmed all day. we got there i had no idea where to start/ the whole bottom floor was destroyed. we were doing work in the kitchen and it was very disgusting. i have never smelled anything as horrible in my life. a couple of refridgerators were on the floor and had gross water and food and juices seeping out of them. in the process of removing them one leaked all over and tony and i worked to clean it up and get rid of the stench. at first it was unbarable and i invisioned myself vomiting in my mask as i was gagging from the stench. thankfully it didn't happen. while i was sweeping gross water and three month old fridge juices, i prayed that i wouldn't puke, and started sinking worship songs to distract myself. it worked. god closed my nose to the stench and gave me a joyful heart as i sloshed around in the grossness. it was amazing and humbling and a great reminder that i am here on this earth to do the lords work, and that a humble heart is what living a christlike life is all about.

cait