Stay Tuned

Stay tuned for more information on the New Orleans trip.

Also, come back to see more postings from our entire week, start to finish.

This blog hopes to share our experiences from the viewpoint of every ASB member, and would be incomplete without everyone's input.

ASB members are encouraged to share their memories in the form of photos, video and commentary in the coming weeks.

Ben
Student Trip Leader

Thank You

THANK YOU! For all of your support.

The Alternative Spring Break trip has ended but the story continues.

Through memories shared between ASB members, and through conversations with the people we met.

The story of Biloxi, MS is one of hope. As the Gulf Coast continues to rebuild, students from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh leave Mississippi with a story and experience to share.

This spring break rebuilt lives, rebuilt hope and gave a group of 18 students and two advisers an experience to remember.

Ben
Student Trip Leader

Living Room

Kyle Olson and Abby Eddy level the living room waines coat with a
hammer.

Painting Kitchen Continued...

Hillary Dudzek and Molly Ireland

Painting the Kitchen

Mia Sweeney paints the edges of the kitchen with Molly Ireland,
Hillary Dudzek, Leah Rebne and Adviser Ashlie Kohl.

Wings

Kendra Sheck uses a nail gun on the wainescoat, the wooden side
paneling on the bottom third of the living room.

Molly Ireland Uses the Skill Saw

Working Hard or Hardly Working

Adviser Mike Lueder and Mia Sweeney assist hanging the finished ceiling.

Submitted by Mia Sweeney

Blogger announced it will be maintaining the Web site on Thurs., 3/26 for about 10 minutes at 6 p.m. Central, at which time it will be unavailable.
Ben
Student Trip Leader

Heaven on Earth

The other group of ASBers took a walk on the I-110 Loop Walk.

They entered from the beach, and the walkway circled an overpass back
onto the land.

They were curious to see what the Beau Rivage Hotel & Casino looked
like, so they walked inside and were "stunned by how massive the
inside was," Sam Kapitz said.

On the second floor they chilled in the pool area while club music
played from the palm trees.

Then they went to the balcony and "we looked over the ocean,"
Kyle Olson said.

Pelicans perched on poles protruding from the Gulf, as ASBers absorbed
the surroundings.

Photos to come post-trip.

Sam Kapitz, Kyle Olson, Mia Sweeney and Jon Hall contributed to this
post.

Baptist Experience

ASBers had the option of going to a Baptist church service Wednesday
night.

For many of us, it was a different experience, and somewhat exciting.

The church was extremely welcoming. Once we were seated, the minister
called out to his congregation telling them it was 'time to play
musical chairs.' Church members grabbed us from our seats and moved us
to sit next to them.

Mike Lueder went to the front and introduced each one of us. To our
suprise, we were then asked to all come up and sing from the stage.

So there we were, awaiting instructions for a song to sing. The
pastor waited, and then asked us to sing.

We then realized we were leading a song, but we didn't know which one.

Megan Schildbach saved the awkward silence by saying "Amazing Grace!"

And then the entire congregation sang with us, and it was great.

Many congregation members thanked us for being there, and we took
photos in front of the church.

The church happens to be right accross the street from the NAACP
building that some ASBers repaired on Tuesday.

Jerry, a member of the church, took photos of us as well. He works in
the NAACP office and had driven by our site earlier this week to chat.

Abby Eddy contributed to this post.

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Waiting in Line for Dinner

Seashore United Methodist Assembly (SUMA) has been feeding ASBers
plenty of food, with seconds available and lots of options for
breakfast.

The Junior high school directly behind the building was used as a
hurricane shelter after Katrina, and SUMA brought food in golf carts
to them.

Christy and her cooking staff serve about 130 volunteers at dinner
Wednesday night.

Jigsawing

Sam Kapitz saws a piece of plywood for the ceiling.

It never ended up raining today, but the tarp provided nice shade
throughout the day.

Richard's Paintshop

Jenna Wheat and Adviser Ashlie Kohl stand by a sign reading "Hurricane
Katrina Water Line 7 feet, August 29, 2005."

We get almost all of our supplies here, one block from the house.

Painting from the Scaffolds

Chelsea Sievert and Jon Hall work on the facade of the house.

Rain Tarp

Ben Doing holds the ladder for Melissa Jensen while she strings the
tarp to the roof.

Preparing for Rain

Molly Ireland and Megan Salm help secure the last portion of the FEMA
rain tarp.

There has been no rain yet, but we'll just have to wait and see!

Painting

Mandy Acre touches up the house with white paint.

Reflection Activity, Sonic Trip

Every night, the group splits into three smaller reflection groups.  Tonight's activity - groups competed in a scavenger hunt.

Afterward, each group listened to a song chosen by the reflection leaders, and discussed how it made them feel.  The lyrics were compared to our experiences in Biloxi.

The songs were:
Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Israel Kamikawawiwo'ole
Refuge (When it's Cold Outside) by John Legend
Friends by Elton John

After Reflection, the entire group went to Sonic, a rare sight to many Wisconsinites. We were served by a girl in roller skates, and hung around for a while to chat.

A mild drizzle started once we returned "home," so some called it a night.