Working up at the Indian Reservation has been sad. Most of the Indians have dispersed to other areas since their homes have been destroyed. While sifting through the ashes we find bowls of coins, jewelry, and sometimes papers that would obviously be valuable to their owners. Finding two diamond wedding rings yesterday was the highlight. All we can do is leave them on the site we cleaned as there is no one to even give them to. The reality is there is nothing left, nothing to even begin to start over with. I know that when the people return home to the Indian reservation they will be encouraged to find their home site cleaned and will find hope to start over again. The chief is so thankful that we are here to help. We interact with him a few times every day but you can tell the fires and enormous losses have made a lasting impact on him. I hope better days are ahead for the Indians.Although surrounded by devastation, it has been a great experience to work with the firemen. Often we see them trying to cut up and pull trees that have fallen close to the road. Many of these trees are too big to manage with saws and manpower. We stop along the highways and help the firemen with the equipment we have. They desperately need assistance and are always so appreciative of our help.
In a few weeks, FEMA will be bringing in trailers for these people to live in. I hope this will help them feel like they can get back on their own land and begin again. Tomorrow morning we will be sifting through the ashes of a trailer that belonged to a waitress. She says she kept hundreds of dollars in change in her kitchen. I hope we can recover that money for her. Soon the rains will come and these mountains will experience tremendous mud slides due to lack of trees and vegetation that once held the dirt and rocks in place. We will continue to work here and help these people.
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