When we signed up for this volunteer job, we thought it would be a nice fit for us. I would get to "dress up" and do tours and living history. Rick would be able to lend a hand with the maintenance end of things. A good fit for us.
Then Hurricane Michael came along and walloped the Florida Panhandle. Since the Settlement is about forty miles away from the Gulf Coast, flooding wasn't a big concern. The destruction here was from the wind. A category 4 storm packs a powerful punch. And punch it did. From trees uprooted to roofs blown off to whole homes destroyed. Pictures don't do justice to the aftermath of the storm.
Seeing pictures posted by the Settlement, we weren't sure we would have a place to come to! When we called, they assured us that yes, they needed our help, now more than ever.
When we arrived, we were overwhelmed by the destruction from the storm. Every mile that brought us closer showed just how powerful Mother Nature is.
As we walked around the Settlement the day we arrived, we wondered how it would ever be able to come back to the wonderful place it was. A gathering place for the community. A learning experience for visitors. Pieces of history preserved for the future.
But a force greater than a hurricane has been at work here.
We, and our fellow workampers, were supposed to be at this place, at this time.
We have six couples currently working. Everyone brings a certain skill set to the table. Every one of those skills are needed to bring the Settlement back to life.
As volunteers, we're only required to work ten hours a week to "pay" for our site. We all laugh at that....we put in many more hours. But none of us are complaining. We have a job to do. We have to see this wonderful place back up and running.
Each day, we can see the difference that we're making. Is it a slow process? Oh yes it is. But we close our eyes each night knowing that we're a little bit closer (and a little bit sorer than we were that morning).
It's the most rewarding job we've ever had.
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