SUBMISSION DATE: FEBRUARY 23 . 2006

VOLUNTEER: Kathy Hoevet

NOTES: The first entry is not not edited and was taken from my TREO 600 per her exact words. The second entry was written on a piece of paper and folded up. Kathy gave it to me the day her and her daughter left to go back home to Oregon.

...the word that comes to mind that can explain my experience here is "surreal" it's an emotional experience that I will never forget..it makes you want to stay longer than what you can. Hitting a wall with a sledgehammer for the first time gutting a house is the oddest feeling ...but the progress you see, knowing you are helping the people rebuild is the most rewarding feeling I have ever felt.

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It's true when you hear people say "you can't understand the enormity of it till you see it" - you really don't.

Working with Relief Spark here has been a humbling experience as well. When you are working with the people that have been affected by the hurricane, gutting houses, cleaning salvaged items, or just listening to their stories, you know you are where you should be at this moment in your life.

Today driving through a neighborhood to access a house to be cleaned out and gutted I saw a hand written sign in a window. It said

"SOS HELP US People Inside"

...and in that same neighborhood I saw a little boy rollerblading, laughing and having a great time. It was heartwarming. It really was a ray of hope among all the ruins. I hope to be back.

Kathy Hoevet
Medford, Oregon