Nicodemus Wilderness Project -- Global Registry of Apprentice Ecologists

Cleaning up, although not fun is a helpful job or activity that is a blessing to others. For instance doing chores around the house is greatly appreciated by most parents whom come home tired form work. Cleaning up after a Sunday dinner is a cordial thing to do to help the adults. Sometimes in life a horrible disaster takes place that leaves a mess to be cleaned up. Hurricane Katrina left its mark in many areas from Mississippi, to Louisiana, and more. Families lost everything, from their homes which included family pictures and precious valuables, to loved ones that were apart of their life, to the pets that gave them joy, comfort and much more. The environment was not what the pictures once showed. Trees were everywhere and debris was like fog hovering over the city. Roads were blocked by natures means. Animals were wondering around aimlessly for food and shelter because the homes were caved in, or damaged from the water. Words can not describe the image of Pearlington.
In March of 2006, six of my fellow classmates including myself, along with two adults who drove us and kept us going in the right direction headed to Mississippi. When we got there my heart dropped seeing the houses and the environment in such bad condition I didnâ€™t know what I could do to help, it seemed as if the hurricane had destroyed the land to where there was no fixing it. We stayed at First Southern Baptist Church and branched off from there to the surrounding houses. There was much cleaning up to be done. We started out at one house where we had to take down a fence if you could even call it that. We dug up the tree stumps out of a yard for an elderly lady. Planted flowers for a home that was trying to re-establish itâ€˜s feeling of safety. One building that was to far from saving needed to be torn down, so we got to participate in demolishing a huge building, so that a knew one could be built. Cleaned the streets that were covered by the trees to allow people to get around and about. Most importantly the trash, it was spread everywhere and it wasnâ€™t just trash from inside the houses it was from the ocean and the trees whose branches and leaves were spread out all over. We picked pounds of trash over the five days that we were able to go. We found many items that families were going to miss but were too destroyed to save. The trees we had hope for. Debris was cleaned up, windows were washed and building were washed. We even washed dishes for there local school by sitting outside and using buckets to wash the plates and silverware with . Food was also donated to the school.. One of the main reasons we were down there along with the cleanup for the environment was to spread Gods word. We cleaned up a local playground for the children to play on and held a camp. We were able to play games with the kids, give prizes and share Gods love. Just a little help to clean up goes a long way. Seeing the faces of the people we helped was a blessing. Some people just arenâ€™t able to clean so we were there to lend a hand and help the environment to become their home they once knew and loved, and God created.