First Post! We (Elie and I) have been down in Galveston for a week and a day, and thought we should write about it. This trip is quite different from the trip in January since it is only the two of us. We are staying at The Alamo School, the headquarters of One Mission Galveston . There have been two groups through since we have been here, one high school inter-faith group from Boston, and a group of students from Oakland University in Michigan. Tonight we have 60 members of the cadet corps at Texas A&M arriving to work with us tomorrow.

What I have seen since I have been doing down here has been saddening, intimidating and inspiring. It is saddening to hear from hundreds of people who still need help 18 months after the storm, it is intimidating to see how much more still needs to be done, but it is inspiring to listen to the stories of hope and to see the groups of volunteers who come through and work to bring hope to individuals and the community.

I am continuously reminded of a teaching from Pirkei Avot (Teachings of the Sages) 2:20-21, "Rabbi Tarfon taught: The day is short and the task is great ... You are not obliged to finish the task, neither are you free to neglect it."

-Ben Cohen