Kuemper students help rebuild homes destroyed by Katrina

Catholic Globe staff report
March 20, 2008

CARROLL - More than two years after Hurricane Katrina, students from Iowa saw firsthand the need for continued assistance in rebuilding homes and lives in the Gulf coast region.

Eight Kuemper High School students and three chaperones participated in Habitat North to South Project, March 2-9. They helped to rebuild homes in the Biloxi, Miss., area.

Kathy Braddy, director of campus ministry at Kuemper, said she learned of the project with her local involvement in Habitat for Humanity.

"We believe that part of our mission at Kuemper High School is to love by the principles of social justice established by the Catholic Church," she said. "That is why we have so many service opportunities throughout the year."

They worked on a home in Waveland, Miss. that is owned by a deacon in his 70s, a widower. During the week they filled four 40- ton dumpsters from debris on the site, rotten flooring and walls and siding.

The group also helped at a home in Biloxi, securing braces from the foundation to the base of the house.

Haley Daniel, a junior at Kuemper, said she wanted to go on the mission trip because she was aware that much work needed to be done and thought it would be an exciting project to take part in.

Deacon Tim Murphy was one of the adult chaperones. He was impressed by how hard the students worked together as a team in filthy conditions.

"Watching the students tackle each job with an intensity and passion that had the supervisors talking with amazement was gratifying," said Braddy.

Molly Daniel, a junior at Kuemper, said she wanted to go because even though it's been more than two-and-one-half years after the hurricane there are still many people who need help.

"When we drove, you saw houses and large buildings that haven't even been touched, and we saw people living in trailers," she said.

Junior Ryan Ricke was also surprised to see that so many homes were still abandoned.

Dillon Weitl, a junior at Kuemper, said they accomplished more than he had expected.

They also witnessed other people volunteering for the project.

"We saw people old and young, rich and poor, sick and healthy, leave their home to come make an influence on someone else's life," said Weitl.

Through all of the volunteers, he said that is where he saw the face of God.

Senior Nate Hook found it powerful when they were working on a house and neighbors came over to help.

The mission trip made him thankful for what he has.

Many of the students felt God's presence when they found Bibles, a rosary and the movie Pay It Forward that appeared to be untouched by the destruction.

Ashten Vonnahme, a junior, was the one to find the rosary in the ground.

"It withstood the hurricane with nothing wrong - God works in powerful ways," she said.

Without the trip, Vonnahme said she would not have known how much help they needed nor how much they can accomplish when they work together.

"This trip has made a world of difference," she said. "It was such an amazing opportunity and I can't wait for the next."

Senior Wes Pudenz said he found it to be a great experience and through the mission trip it has made him aware of the need to go out and help others.

Ricke said he was impressed with the number of people involved in rebuilding the community.

"I would just like to say that if anyone is able to go and help along the coast, I urge you to go," he said. "It was the best experience of my life."

For senior Alex Markway, this mission trip was also among the best experiences of his life. He extended gratitude to the Kuemper family and staff for helping to make this life changing experience possible.

Hook said he would like to go again and would love to see more go with them so that they may experience it.

"There was such a variety of people and they were all there to accomplish one thing, which was to make a difference," said Haley Daniel.

Deacon Murphy, who said working with the youth helped make him younger at heart, would love to offer the mission trip to students once again.

"This was a great experience and promises to get better as we gain experience," he said.

Braddy said she couldn't have taken a better, more compassionate and passionate group of students.

"These service trips are vital for expanding the borders of our students' world and for seeing the conditions in other parts of our country that put our privileged lives in perspective," she said. "They also see themselves as Christ's disciples - being his hands and feet and especially his heart - to others in need."