Hermana Marks and her companion, Hermana Palmer getting ready to help with Hurricane Isaac clean-up on Sept, 2, 2012.
Hurricane Isaac hit the coast of Louisiana the last week of August. Kylie and her companion were sent to Baton Rouge during the storm, and then returned to New Orlean's area at the end of the week. Power was out through much of Metarie, and with the storm, things like emailing on P-day were out of the question. However, we did receive a picture through text from Bishop Thompson. President Hiatt's son (Troy) lives by New Orlean's and is in Kylie's English speaking ward. The morning of Sept. 3, the day Kylie would normally email, she and her companion were meeting at the ward building with other members to organize into groups to help serve and do clean up. Troy took a picture of Kylie and her companion and sent it by text to his Dad, who sent it to Bishop, who sent it to us. So though we didn't get a letter, we knew she was safe and busy serving the people in Louisiana. Kylie was able to finally email on Friday the 7th.Kylie's Letter:
Hey Everybody,
I am at a members house right now in La Place, which is the area that was flooded the absolute worst and they're letting us use their computer so we can email. I've been here in La Place every day doing awful crazy work, ripping houses apart in mold and water. Tons has happened, I wish so bad I could tell you about it. I just have no time. Mainly, I was glad Troy thought of the idea to send that text, but I still just wanted to let you know that I'm o.k. I have probably never worked harder. All the missionaries in the mission have been here every day this week, plus we have up to a 1000 volunteers coming from all over this weekend. Today President had me stay at "command central" (at the La Place church building, which was totally flooded and is being ripped up) and basically was involved in organizing what's going on. There are 100's of houses we haven't gotten to, and keep hearing of more, so I was working on organizing the logistics of the work combined with the people coming in from stakes from surrounding areas and other states. Which was actually really complicated, but I took it by the horns and got stuff done. You know how i am with organizing :)
Tomorrow I'll go to the New Orlean's Stake Center at 6am to help organize. There's been news crews all over, it's just crazy to be right in the middle of this huge thing going on. But I haven't been on the news, so not famous yet :) I don't know what you've seen on the news, well probably nothing actually, but it's just crazy here. But if you see any yellow Mormon 'Helping Hands' shirts on anything, know that that's me :)
And....my brain is fried because I'm so exhausted so I know there's so much to write, but I can't even think straight. After a few days here of wading through flooded streets helping people, I got what we now call "swamp feet" which basically means that the bottoms of my feet were so waterlogged, that it became permanent and I got blisters on the bottom where the wrinkles were. Gross, huh? So I called Sister Wall and she called the doctor and found out some creams and stuff I could use. So I used my emergency cash I had to buy those creams and a cheap pair of dry work shoes.
We also moved late one night to an apartment in Kenner (I've never packed and moved so fast) because there are sisters for Metairie English now, which means I won't finish teaching Mahala, but I'll still get to attend her baptism. So I'll probably use the rest of that money to buy stuff for the apt (food) because its new so its empty. But still just send whatever packages to the other address for now because the new sisters live there. I'll be super stoked to get that gps, transfers are wednesday and I am training so it'll be nice to have at least one thing I know how to do, which is how to get home to my apartment! :)
Well, I probably sound super disjuncted and tired in this email, but I really am doing well! I'll be doing this service Saturday and Sunday and then proselyte next week for the first time in two weeks, and then we'll do service again the following weekend.
I love you all so much! It'll be fun to write you a real email next week but here's at least a small update on whats going on with me. And Will, you're a rockstar, 28 LESSONS?!?! And I'll look that scripture up :) Erika and Garrett, don't have too much fun in school :) Mom and Dad, I love you so much, you've made me who I am today. Not perfect, but striving, and doing lots of good and helping lots of people. And I can't imagine doing anything else!
Love,
Hermana Marks
Hey Everybody,
I am at a members house right now in La Place, which is the area that was flooded the absolute worst and they're letting us use their computer so we can email. I've been here in La Place every day doing awful crazy work, ripping houses apart in mold and water. Tons has happened, I wish so bad I could tell you about it. I just have no time. Mainly, I was glad Troy thought of the idea to send that text, but I still just wanted to let you know that I'm o.k. I have probably never worked harder. All the missionaries in the mission have been here every day this week, plus we have up to a 1000 volunteers coming from all over this weekend. Today President had me stay at "command central" (at the La Place church building, which was totally flooded and is being ripped up) and basically was involved in organizing what's going on. There are 100's of houses we haven't gotten to, and keep hearing of more, so I was working on organizing the logistics of the work combined with the people coming in from stakes from surrounding areas and other states. Which was actually really complicated, but I took it by the horns and got stuff done. You know how i am with organizing :)
Tomorrow I'll go to the New Orlean's Stake Center at 6am to help organize. There's been news crews all over, it's just crazy to be right in the middle of this huge thing going on. But I haven't been on the news, so not famous yet :) I don't know what you've seen on the news, well probably nothing actually, but it's just crazy here. But if you see any yellow Mormon 'Helping Hands' shirts on anything, know that that's me :)
And....my brain is fried because I'm so exhausted so I know there's so much to write, but I can't even think straight. After a few days here of wading through flooded streets helping people, I got what we now call "swamp feet" which basically means that the bottoms of my feet were so waterlogged, that it became permanent and I got blisters on the bottom where the wrinkles were. Gross, huh? So I called Sister Wall and she called the doctor and found out some creams and stuff I could use. So I used my emergency cash I had to buy those creams and a cheap pair of dry work shoes.
We also moved late one night to an apartment in Kenner (I've never packed and moved so fast) because there are sisters for Metairie English now, which means I won't finish teaching Mahala, but I'll still get to attend her baptism. So I'll probably use the rest of that money to buy stuff for the apt (food) because its new so its empty. But still just send whatever packages to the other address for now because the new sisters live there. I'll be super stoked to get that gps, transfers are wednesday and I am training so it'll be nice to have at least one thing I know how to do, which is how to get home to my apartment! :)
Well, I probably sound super disjuncted and tired in this email, but I really am doing well! I'll be doing this service Saturday and Sunday and then proselyte next week for the first time in two weeks, and then we'll do service again the following weekend.
I love you all so much! It'll be fun to write you a real email next week but here's at least a small update on whats going on with me. And Will, you're a rockstar, 28 LESSONS?!?! And I'll look that scripture up :) Erika and Garrett, don't have too much fun in school :) Mom and Dad, I love you so much, you've made me who I am today. Not perfect, but striving, and doing lots of good and helping lots of people. And I can't imagine doing anything else!
Love,
Hermana Marks
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