Westerville South IB Thoughts

Hi Brad and John,

As the time draws near for us to depart and I've had the better part of Sunday afternoon to reflect, I felt the need to give you a few of my thoughts. First and foremost thank you to Servants Unite for sponsoring our trip. It is an awesome thing that you are doing for the folks of New Orleans. I think that you have given our IB students something more than accumulating hours, you have given them a sense of what it is like to help those in need, and that is a debt that is only repaid through service to humanity.

I'm no stranger to hard work, but I have to say that this has been some of the hardest work that I have ever done, but what a sense of great satisfaction and the feeling that one person (or several together) can make a difference.

I was somewhat concerned that our students would not be up to the task, but in all honesty, they have been awesome. Have they complained some? YES! They have been tested and found worthy. We are very proud of all of them.

I have been so touched by the stories of the people that we have helped. It has reaffirmed that our God is an awesome God. All of these people seem to have such a strong hold on their belief even with all that they have been through. This has been such an uplifting trip for me that I just wish that I could commit more time, but home and family call me back.

Once again thank you for all you have done- "For whatever you have done for the least of them you have done for me."

God Bless,

Bill Kulju
International Baccalaureate CAS Coordinator
Westerville South High School

Thanks from Ms Ella

Just had to drop you a line and let you know how nice the ceilings look. They did a wonderful job. I didn't get to meet them in person, just on the phone. I had a awful cold which wound me in the hospital with pneumonia. Brian got to meet them and said they were very nice. Got home today and so glad to see how great things are looking. And gee just think it only took nine months. I'm making a joke but in actuality some people still haven't even started. I feel so sorry for so many people that are still having to live in trailers and even worse cars. Let's pray this never happens again. We have been helped by so many very nice people such as yourself. I know you realize we do appreciate everything y'all have done, but I don't think you understand just how much it means to know a total stranger has taken the time to give us their friendship. There's not a doubt in my mind God has sent you to us.

God Bless each and every one of you.
With warmest regards and sincere appreciation,
Ella Smith and Brian Barringer

Editor's Note: 3 weeks after Katrina, Ella returned home from Dallas to find her house in Slidell had been flooded 3 feet deep. She walked right back out and a Marine put his hand on her shoulder and asked what he could do to help. She and Brian had an hour or so to get what they wanted to keep from the house and the crew of Marines gutted it for her.

We met her at the Home Depot with a Penske truck, helped get all the things she needed and started putting her house back together in January. A few other volunteers through Hilltop have worked on it since then, but this week the Shiffbauer family from Westerville finished the last step, painting the ceiling on the day the air conditioning was first up and running. Ella and Brian are now home.

There are a lot of pictures of her house before and during our work linked from this blog entry and you can find more stories from team 7 at the archive of the blog from the week we were there in January.