Hope Still Being Served on the Mississippi Gulf Coast

The teamwork and camaraderie on our work sites was a special experience for all of us. Many of us didn't know each other, and even the ones we did had never worked together on a project like this, in an environment like that. We also were blessed with outstanding leaders (foremen) on our work sites: Bob and Doris Meyer of Valrico, Fla; Bill Oates of Portage, Mich.; Mike Hosey of Ohio; and Jim Gourley of Maryland. They were leaders about as fine as you would ever hope to get. They not only put up with our nonsense, they were even willing to eat with us and be seen in public with us!

At first, they weren't sure what to make of us. And if any of you loyal LDN readers know any of us, that is not hard for you to imagine. But after the first day, they even broke out the air hammers and the good tools so we could "get 'r done." Our team had pretty lofty goals. We didn't just want to be another group that went to the Gulf and helped with the rebuild. We wanted to set the bar high -- we wanted to get so much done and so much done accurately that it would motivate all future groups. Katrina victims who are displaced are not that excited about tourists who just want to come down and take pictures. They want workers to get their homes built so they can move in and get on with their lives.

*Excerpt from Jeff Mayfield's article in the Lincoln Daily News, February 22, 2008.

Jeff Mayfield

Jason Taylor and Katrina Survior, Hester. Photo from the Lincoln Daily News

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