Finally, making it to New Orleans
My name is Amy Bachman, and I’m a sophomore at Wake Forest. I had heard about the Wake Alternative Break trips as a freshmen but didn’t really know too much about them, but then as I got involved with Volunteer Service Corps this past year I learned about the planning process. I heard about the New Orleans trip that Devin was planning since we’re both involved in the Corps.
I have never been to New Orleans before and always wanted to go. When Katrina hit, I really wanted to go down there to help out, but I just never got the chance. Like everyone else I was glued to the TV watching the events unfold. I did what I could to donate money and organize fund raisers at my school, but I still felt that without going there I was not doing enough. Two summers ago my church went on a mission trip to the Gulf Coast region, but because of a previous family conflict, I could not go. I was really upset as I have loved the 3 mission trips I had been on with them in the past.
I feel though that going now, nearly 3 years after the hurricane hit, is just as significant as going there in the weeks following. Although the need may not be as urgent or critical, there is still a need. The problem is not gone. It is just not on the news anymore. America and the world has effectively moved on. And I think this is awful but so typical of our society. There’s a new tragedy every day and the old ones get forgotten. The victims of Hurricane Katrina are still suffering and I am so glad that I have gotten this chance to do SOMETHING, however small it may be.
I truly do not know what to really expect as I have never been there nor have I been to an area recently affected by a major disaster. I’ve been abroad twice to do service and I am really excited to be staying in the United States. Because as much need as there is other countries and as much of a passion as I have for reaching out to that need, the need in my own country is not something I can ignore and I feel like it is something I forget about. I want to go on this trip to remember this need and finally make my contribution to New Orleans after all this time.