10 Years Later

Like everyone else I am reflecting on what happened to our nation 10 years ago today. I was in my last semester at Clemson. I recall walking to class and overhearing people talking about a plane crash in New York. Not sure what was going on or how big of a deal it was I went on to class.

My professor came in and gave a brief explanation of what was going on. He then dismissed class and added that if we were people who prayed that we needed to pray. Thanks for that Larry Abernathy.

I went back to my apartment and with my roommates (Barbara, Lindsay, & Tera) watched all of the television coverage. I think we were watching when the plane hit the second tower. We were stunned and it felt so awful that there was no room for emotion.

Josh and I were dating and he called to check in and see how I was. We talked a bit but there didn't seem to be anything to say. It felt like being in a haze. There was disbelief, fear and anger.

A few weeks later I was given the opportunity to go to New York City for Thanksgiving and volunteer with Disaster Relief of the Southern Baptist Convention. I felt compelled to do something and my parents were supportive and so I signed up to go.

There were two church groups and a group of World Changers summer staffers. After a long bus ride from Atlanta our now combined group made it to New York. We were staying at the Naval Shipyard, in their brig. That's right, I've spent some time in jail. My good friend Allison was one of the coordinators of the project.

We were divided into small crews and each morning we went out and helped clean out apartments that overlooked Ground Zero. My crew worked in a couple's apartment washing their dishes, using a shop vac to pick up dust, washing and rewashing every flat surface, cleaning windows, and trying to help them put their house back together. We could look out their windows and observe when the Ground Zero workers found a body and removed it from the rubble.

We had lunch at the "safe house" with the firemen and rescue workers. Rudy Giuliani came through one day. He shook my hand and thanked me for helping (he did this to everyone there). The project coordinators had arranged for one of the volunteers to be interviewed on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered" and Allison, being the friend she is, suggested they interview me.

I spoke with the host and did my best. My interview wasn't exciting or even memorable (as proof of that, it doesn't even exist on their website anymore) but it felt good to share how we wanted to help and show God's love.

My grandfather passed away while I was in New York. He had had a stroke earlier in the month and we knew this was a possibility. That loss served to add to the surreal feeling of the whole experience.

Now, 10 years later, the pictures and stories of September 11th still bring tears to my eyes. I am so thankful that I was given the opportunity to help in some way. I hope I always feel emotional on this day. I don't want to forget.