CHAPTER SUMMARIES

PROLOGUE

On April 8, 1998, the Wednesday before Easter, a storm cut a deadly 34-mile swath through the Greater Birmingham, Alabama, area. At its peak, it packed winds in excess of 300 miles per hour, designating it as an F-5 tornado. In its wake, 5 communities were decimated and 34 lives were lost. A week later, sitting in a van full of strangers, we entered the community of McDonald Chapel to begin our first day of cleanup. Nothing could have prepared us for our first real look.

SECTION ONE:  THE ROAD TO SATISFACTION

Larry and I had discussed helping at a disaster site.  This chapter introduces us to readers, shares a little of our personal history, and brings readers up-to-date on the chain of events and decisions that resulted in our being there.  Our vision to become full-time RVers with the aim of dedicating more time to service is defined, and the fears and security issues which initially kept us from pursuing it are enumerated.

Included are the practical steps we took to divest ourselves of the majority of our possessions, and how all the particulars "fell into place" once we made the long-avoided decision "to go for it" and head out on the road to freedom.

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Changing one's setting and changing one's approach to living are two different things.

Having traded things and obligations for time, this chapter addresses some of the important lessons we needed to learn--not filling time with empty busyness and avoiding over-planning; describes the internal shifts that were necessary--learning to live in the moment and not forcing life; and discusses the awesome responsibility of using freedom wisely.

Focusing on the Unbroken Line shares an experience the author had one night while driving on a dark winding road, which provided insight on how to relax and allow our vision to unfold--one day and one road at a time.

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This chapter affirms the premise that humans beings are created and born to serve one another.

The author tells how her priorities were altered by her experience in Brethren Volunteer Service, and how her husband's desire to serve was heightened after returning from Vietnam.  It describes a work trip to rural Maine with reluctant teenagers who became infected with the "service bug."

The critical balance between giving and receiving, necessary for a satisfying life, is discussed and exemplified by the story of Millard and Linda Fuller, co-founders of Habitat for Humanity, who found that the only way to save their marriage was to give away millions of dollars and dedicate their lives to service.

The chapter also defines the unique opportunities for RVers to contribute their skills and knowledge to help others, and shares why people who live a transitory lifestyle learn to expand their "family circle."

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SECTION TWO:  THE HABITAT CONNECTION

CHAPTER 4  - THUMBS UP FOR HABITAT(Read entire Chapter)

Making a significant difference in someone's life, giving a "hand up" in the spirit of partnership, and making a personal connection with those one is serving are not only the reasons we chose Habitat for Humanity as one of our primary vehicles of service, but also why it has such popular appeal worldwide.

In this chapter the reader learns about Koinonia Farm, the historic spiritual battleground during the Civil Rights Movement where the seeds of Habitat were planted, and spotlights the cooperative efforts of a black Southern Baptist church and a white Presbyterian church in building not only homes for two families, but also trust and appreciation between their members.

Money Isn't Everything praises the dedicated people at the Habitat Headquarters who are receiving more than money for their work.  The stories and motivations of three key individuals are shared in A Pact With God, The Crucible, and Number One.

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This chapter relates how the reluctant author was enticed by the President of Habitat Canada, a man with the mesmerizing attraction of The Pied Piper, to commit to a blitz build in St. John's, Newfoundland.

Also treated with a lighthearted touch are accounts of financing the trip, traveling and sleeping in the bed of a truck with a cat, and misunderstanding Nova Scotia's 50-foot tides.

The Longest Day describes a delightful afternoon and evening at the Cape Breton County Exhibition, a sleepless night in the ferry line, the camaraderie among the passengers on the fourteen-hour ferry trip, the thrill of sighting whales and dolphins, a taste of "Newfie" humor and culture presented by the on-board entertainers, and our arrival at our hosts' home at 1 a.m.

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The heart of Habitat's mission--hardworking families who become proud homeowners--is the focus of this chapter.

The author discusses the misperceptions that are dispelled by working alongside a Habitat homeowner family and explains the family selection process.

The candid stories and words of four recipient families are portrayed: Cathy, a single mother with four children who had lost faith in people; Rick and Cindy, the parents of three children, who felt trapped in their low-income housing; Jerome and Elaine who wanted desperately to provide a real home for their daughter, but had almost given up hope; and Lois and Lewis, forced to leave all they had worked for because of a personal crisis and move across Canada, with their two children and an infant, to start over.

The reader is privy to the struggles these families have overcome, their excitement and gratitude for the opportunity to improve their circumstances, and their bonding as a neighborhood during the hundreds of hours they worked together preparing the sites for the build.

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The author takes readers behind the scenes to understand that a blitz build is 75% organization and 25% participation.

The organization of the Newfoundland blitz was superior.  Conversion of a railroad engine repair facility into a multi-function center set the stage for an efficient and cohesive operation.

Soul Satisfaction describes the chairperson's "schmoozing" of Newfoundland's finest chef to enlist his services.  The role of corporate sponsors and other constituencies in the community, the personal transformation of professional builders and tradesmen, and the prebuild activities are also highlighted.

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Readers will observe each day's progress--from the pounding of the first nails to the planting of the last shrub--during the phenomenal process of building seven split-level homes in one week.

Day 1: Raising The Roof--The excitement and sound of hammers resonating along the row of houses, the poignant revelations of the homeowners as three hundred people bustle about to build their homes with them, Larry's and my first-day assignments, and the incredible progress made by day's end are vividly portrayed.

Day 2: The Men In White--Readers are introduced to sheetrock specialists who walk on stilts and elf crews that scurry about at night.

Day 3: The Insulation Queen--The title was earned by the author, who cut insulation for four basements.  Clearing and grading of the steep hillside behind the houses began, and the crews of each house were challenged to be creative in building a deck.

Day 4: Oops!--Progress continued on numerous fronts, except on the author's house where a major error was discovered.  Readers will observe the commitment of Habitat volunteers through this incident.

Day 5: Finishing Touches--Conveyed are the fever pitch of the last hours of the build as people hurried to finish painting, cleaning and clearing; and the emotions, as homeowners saw their dreams about to become reality.

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CHAPTER 9 - THE PERSONAL TOUCH

A collage of the many heartwarming interactions, incidents, and emotions that were part of the week played in everyone's minds as the participants of the blitz build sat on the curb waiting for the dedication of the homes to begin and to watch the elated homeowners receive the keys to their new homes.

Let The Celebrating Begin captures the feeling of accomplishment and the festive mood as everyone shared in the Habitation Worship Service, listened to the families express their heartfelt gratitude, and participated in a "screeching-in ceremony."  The evening ended with many of the families nestled in sleeping bags on the living room carpet in their new homes.

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In this transitional travel chapter, readers explore with us the breathtakingly unspoiled island of Newfoundland.

The Soul Of Newfoundland describes the moving portrayal of the harsh realities of early fishermen's lives in the living history pageant at Trinity Bay, and shares our feelings as we look out over Bonavista Bay, where John Cabot's ship arrived 500 years before, and watch whales breaching.

Other highlights include coming face to face with our first moose (albeit the remains), and exploring the variety and grandeur of land forms at Gros Morne National Park, the World Heritage Site where the North American and African continents collided 600 million years ago.  The reader also learns about our unexpected encounter with the "Potato Patrol" and the surprise awaiting us when we crossed the border into New Hampshire.

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CHAPTER 11 - THE EASTER MORNING COMMUNITY

This chapter gives a different view of a blitz build as we helped construct the first twenty homes in the Easter Morning Community in Americus, Georgia.  The process having already been explained, it focuses, instead, on the participants.

Faith Produces Perseverance shares Margo's thirteen-year wait for a Habitat home, the steadfast faith which sustained her, the hardships she overcame, and the hard work she invested.  Margo's spirit and zest were an inspiration to everyone.

Teach Your Children Well explains why the young Taylor family donated $40,000 to sponsor Margo's house and why they chose Habitat for Humanity as their vehicle of service.  Readers will understand their message when four-year-old Kyle proudly builds a birdhouse for Margo.

In Their Footsteps, tells how Sarah shocked her parents by becoming a Habitat volunteer after college instead of pursuing a lucrative career.

On Good Friday, news was shared about the Birmingham tornado. We immediately recognized that this was the opportunity to fulfill our desire to go help.  The chapter ends with a hilarious presentation by Tony Campolo poking fun at the differences between black and white culture, and homeowner Anthony's stirring words and challenge to his new neighbors during the Easter Sunrise Service.

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CHAPTER 12 - A TIME TO TEAR DOWN(Read entire Chapter)

Eight days after the tornado, we arrived in Birmingham and parked our trailer at a large Baptist Church.

This chapter recounts our first tense night in tornado country because of the issuance of a tornado warning.  It describes the preempting of regular TV programming to provide continuous weather monitoring reports, and our expedient education in the terminology of storm tracking.

On Our Way reveals our thoughts and anxieties the next morning as we sat in the van waiting to be driven into one of the devastated areas

The sights and sounds of the numbing scene are vividly portrayed, as well as many of the compassionate people who came to haul rubble with their bare hands or put a comforting arm around a survivor's shoulder.  The sobering work of tearing people's homes apart board by board is starkly contrasted with the building up that had just been celebrated.

Readers will observe the effects on people--quiet resignation, walking around in slow motion, the tendency of one's perception of reality to get out of kilter--and will learn about the organization of the clean-up process and the grinding labor and emotional toll of relief work.  They will also observe heartening moments such as the discovery of three plump two-week-old kittens and the familiar jingle of an ice cream truck, and get a little comic relief from the gentleman with the winch.

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CHAPTER 13 - PUTTING A FACE ON TRAGEDY

Four generations of the Mitchell family lived in two houses on a hilltop in the community of Rock Creek, the most profoundly impacted by the tornado.  On the night of the storm, the three families were in different locations.  This chapter depicts that frightful night through their own harrowing experiences and lauds their courageous response to overwhelming adversity.

Narrow Escape relates Brenda Calvert's frantic efforts to get down the hill and to safety when she heard the siren and saw debris swirling in the wind.  Passing an impaled horse and with power transformers exploding behind her, she made it to a nearby store where her waiting husband pulled her in.

Becky and Greg and their seven-year-old son Scott fled their friend's home where they had been watching Twister and survived the storm behind a neighbor's house and in a ditch.  Dorothy, the matriarch of the family, raced home from her night job but was turned away by a roadblock.

Following an emotional reunion, the family would discover that the tornado had flung one of their homes down a steep ravine and left the other substantially damaged.

Other features in this chapter include the rapid search and rescue response of local fire fighters, the indispensable aid of the inspiring ALERT team, our efforts to help rebuild Dorothy's house, and a terrifying night spent huddled in the church during a tornado warning on the one-month anniversary of the killer storm.

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This chapter familiarizes readers with the members of the Mitchell family with whom we worked for a month:

Dorothy, the gentile 71-year-old matriarch, who immediately took charge to begin rebuilding her home, all the while never failing to exhibit a generous and appreciative spirit.

Dorothy's daughter Brenda, whose own house lay in a tangle in the ravine, who put all her efforts into helping her mother, children, and grandchildren, and in the midst of myriad responsibilities made time to plant Mother's Day flowers for Dorothy and host a barbecue for volunteers.

Grandson Greg, his wife Becky and their two young children, who already had more than their share to cope with since Greg had suffered his third heart attack at the age of 31 just prior to the tornado.

The reader will witness the deep bonding that took place between all of us, the ability of people to enjoy simple pleasures together in the midst of dire circumstances, the incredible capacity this family had to give even when they had lost so much, and the difference we all made in each other's lives.

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Our plans to rest after we left Birmingham were foiled by news of the tornado which leveled the little town of Spencer, South Dakota.  Making arrangements to hook up at the Salem National Guard Armory, we spent two weeks assisting with the relief operation.

Readers see the phenomenal outpouring of support from all over South Dakota (8000 turned out to help retrieve survivors' belongings on one day) and the country, and the exceptional commitment of the next door town of Salem. 

Besides the laudable hands-on leadership of Governor Janklow, who personally coordinated all aspects of the response and recovery, other notable figures were Bev Christensen, the young mother who assumed leadership the night of the disaster and was later officially put in charge at the Armory; Leonard, the 78-year-old man for whom we constructed a makeshift bedroom in the Armory; three Seventh Day Adventist volunteers who helped organize and conduct the gigantic rummage sale that realized $14,000 for the tornado relief fund; and the tireless citizens of Salem who worked at the Armory for 22 straight days.

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Selby, South Dakota, was our next destination.  There, farmers and ranchers had been battered and debilitated by the blizzards of the previous winter.

Ramona Yohe, who had driven hundreds of miles of dirt roads on behalf of Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) to assess their needs, explains the continuous cycle of woe precipitated by ice storms, blizzards, thawing and flooding.

Readers observe the rejuvenating effects on George and Josephine when we and a group of young people from Ohio help take down their mangled fencing and string new barbed wire provided by LDR, and learn an eye-opening lesson about not judging by appearances when determining someone's needs.  Other work included cleaning up wind breaks and shelter belts, patching cracked and leaking basements, repairing roofs and, most of all, renewing hope.

Charlie, partially paralyzed from a tobogganing accident, verbalizes his reason for coming cross country with the mission team from his church in Maryland--"We all need to help each other; a lot of people helped me.  This is my opportunity to give back."

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The primacy of relationships, our spiritual connectedness, and the absolute necessity of helping one another are examined.  Accepting as common knowledge that a crisis brings out the best and worst in people, this chapter shares the best.

Small acts of kindness noted include: a man tracing a wedding photo to a couple 50 miles away; a nine-year-old girl donating her Princess Di Beanie Baby to a telethon to raise money for storm victims; and a note of sorrow, $2.50, and assorted toiletries sent from another nine-year-old.

The ability of people to find peace, even with death, exemplified by the Seales' family's steadfast faith despite the loss of their eight-year-old son and the father's permanent paralysis, and Mariesha's broad grin as she stood in front of her forlorn roofless house, thankful that she was alive, are powerful testaments to faith and strength.

A high school principal who, after losing everything he owned, hobbled into church and put a large donation in the collection plate for storm victims, and the spunky 85-year-old "antique lady" who refused to be taken to the hospital until others were cared for, both exemplify people's potential to give despite their own losses.

The potential for gratitude truly amazes as one woman refers to the three small items she recovered, which belonged to her parents who had been crushed to death, as "little gifts from God."

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SECTION FOUR:  REFRESH AND REFLECT

CHAPTER 18 - PRAIRIE PORTRAITS

Leaving South Dakota, we reveled in the prairie landscapes as we followed the Lewis and Clark Trail, visiting Fort Mandan and the Knife River Indian Villages, and taking in the quiet grandeur of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

This chapter focuses on the role we played as facilitators At a blitz build in Regina, Saskatchewan, home of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Training Academy and Museum, we exercise the role of facilitator, enabling first-time builder Karmel Schreyer and others to have a satisfying experience.

Our homeowner Desiree relates how she was introduced to Habitat by the Oprah Winfrey show.

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One night we lay in bed musing over all that had happened in our lives since "turning over the wheel" to our guiding Spirit and entrusting ourselves to the goodness of life.

This chapter examines and discusses how intuition rather than reasoning came to hold more sway in our decision-making; the unforeseen possibilities and opportunities that presented themselves at just the right time; the smooth and affordable transition into a bigger trailer; giant strides in letting go of worry (especially in financial matters); finding creative expression through writing; and the seemingly miraculous way needs were met at every turn.

Also included is our visit to the ALERT training center in Watersmeet, Michigan, where we learned that their whole organization has been built on faith.  How we ended up with a computer and a car is also revealed.

Follow Your Dream shares the author's thoughts about the importance of having and pursuing dreams and her testimony that the rewards are well worth the risks.

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SECTION FIVE: RAINBOW'S END

CHAPTER 20 - BIRMINGHAM REVISITED

Our return to Birmingham two weeks before the one-year anniversary of the tornado revealed that astounding progress had been made in rebuilding both homes and lives, despite still clearly visible scars.  Although new houses had been erected in all the communities, empty lots and the absence of trees were grim reminders of what no longer was.

We found the Mitchell family well along the road to recovery, but still struggling with loose ends, and helped Dorothy with little things that made her feel settled, not merely in her house.

This chapter also emphasizes the superb efforts of the Birmingham Habitat affiliate under the leadership of Jan Bell, and our opportunity to work on a Habitat house for Faye, a tornado survivor.  The home, sponsored by two Methodist churches, was under the supervision of Paulette, who in a year's time had learned how to build a house from the ground up.

The numerous recovery celebrations are reported, including the building of a house in 24 hours by the Alabama Power Service Organization, dedication of several Habitat homes by Millard Fuller, volunteer night at the Barons baseball game, and the joyous consecration of the Church of God's rebuilt Family Life Center, which had been demolished by the tornado.

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In some people's eyes, the tornado was "God's urban renewal plan."  Utilizing information garnered from interviews of all the key players, this chapter tells how the Birmingham communities came together in a remarkable spirit of reconciliation and cooperation to spearhead the physical recovery and to foster a new way of relating to each other, as well.

Intended to help readers understand the enormous commitment, selflessness and cooperation necessary to sustain a recovery, it explains the short- and long-term success factors, the roles of the Unmet Needs and Interfaith Committees, the importance of trust, and the need to address race relations.  The indispensable part every agency and volunteer played was recognized and celebrated at a volunteer appreciation dinner.

To help readers personalize the information, the author lists the chain of steps one would need to take to obtain emergency and recovery aid if they were wiped out by a disaster.

That's What It's All About shares "Austin's Story," written by his grandmother to document the six-year-old's frightful experience the night of the tornado.  Worried about his dog Bear after the storm, he "found out old bear was in the basement with the Methodist folks, and they didn't even care that he was a Baptist chow."

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Any notion that churches are irrelevant institutions is countermanded in this chapter.  From the smallest to the largest, the Birmingham churches were omnipresent throughout the relief and recovery period, turning their fellowship halls into dining rooms and free supply houses, offering comfort and support, and raising and dispersing hundreds of thousands of dollars for repairs, appliances, and other needs.  Many ministers exhausted themselves meeting not only the needs of their own parishioners, but also joining forces to make sure that no one fell through the cracks.

Featured is The Gentle Giant, Brother Steve, known to everyone as an omnipresent and reliable fount of relief and hope. Though survivors were the immediate beneficiaries, the churches profited by transcending denominational differences as they united in a common mission. Readers also learn about the elaborate disaster response programs supported by many church denominations.

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Readers are brought up-to-date on the people and situations previously reported.

Three new homes sit on the Mitchell property, and everyone is making progress toward healing and improving their lives.

The families in St. John's are thriving.  Many of the homeowners have secured new jobs or gone to back school.  The children are all happy to have good friends, a safe place to play and a home they can be proud of.

Margo is working on a new career, Nikki is in college, and both exterior and interior of Margo's home reflect her bold and resolute personality.

Desiree in Regina says the love expressed by all the people who helped build her house bolstered her self esteem and gave her the incentive to obtain a driver's license and become a full-time school nutrition planner.

The town of Spencer struggles to redefine itself, but is making slow and steady progress toward that end. The ranchers who were helped in Selby are back on their feet.

Habitat for Humanity's 21st Century Challenge to eliminate substandard housing around the world is spreading community by community and is being embraced by the whole Central Alabama Region, a concrete extension of the spirit of recovery.

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This concluding chapter makes the case that there is a critical need to foster a spirit of hope, rather than despair, in this country; to focus on the abundance of good quietly expressing all around us rather than on the discouraging news disseminated by the media.  It maintains that hope is what gives people the will to act rather than retreat, and to see a purpose in reaching out to others.

The author concludes that serving others is, in fact, in one's own best interest and the source of deepest personal satisfaction.  People in all stages of life, and especially retirees and RVers, are encouraged to devote time to serving people beyond their own circle, thus contributing to bending "the moral arc of the universe" a little more toward love.

The book ends with a recapitulation of the children's tale, The Happy Prince.  In it lies the model for the deep compassion we are called to have for our fellow travelers through life.

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In the fall of 1999, we responded to a appeal by Habitat for Humanity founder Millard Fuller to spend a week or two helping to repair the deteriorated buildings on the grounds of Koinonia Partners.

The epilogue relates why we decided to stay for the winter, the profound impact the 30th anniversary observances of Koinonia founder Clarence Jordan's death had on us, and how we were confronted by a different call--this time to commit our skills and energies for an extended period to preserving and revitalizing the historic spiritual battleground nestled amid pecan groves and the red clay farmland of southern Georgia.

Reflection helps define that our journey has been about openness and trust.