From Alex Rose

Hi Friends,

I saw a lot of Dirty Hands last night at The Third Wave screening and then at the bar afterwards. It's so exciting for me to see how many of us have become more engaged with New Orleans and other volunteering opportunities. I know I'm not the only one that came home transformed and it was so special to hear how other people on our journey have changed since getting back home.

Let's step back 5 weeks. The day before most of us left New Orleans, Paul encouraged us to do something concrete. We built a driveway and sidewalk at Noah's Ark church. We made a garden. We fixed the landscaping at the church. I think back and realize I made a lasting impact in the rebuilding process. It's small, but it is real.

A few people in Pastor Willie's congregation told me that our caravan was a beacon of hope for their community. All of us who left New Orleans came home transformed with knowledge and awareness to share with others. I know my experience has inspired other people. I'm sure yours does too. And now, I look at the new website and I feel the same way. http://www.thedirtyhands.org/ I can't wait to see photos of the Youth Center we will be building and the music festival stage in the Lower 9th Ward. This is more than talk guys, what we are doing is real and it is helping people whose lives are still not back in place since the levees broke.

The Dirty Hands in New Orleans are working hard to build a home for us. They are doing this while they are also making a difference in the neighborhood they are living in. I get goosebumps thinking about Sarah, Vince, and Saffron yesterday telling me about the joy they feel of continuing the Dirty Hands mission.

I will be back in New Orleans later this month and will have a place to stay. I am not going to take this for granted. Thank you to all of us!

Alex Rose
Venice, CA