Digging ditches in Mississippi

Hello all,
I am now in Biloxi, MS working with many groups housed in the Hands On facility which is basically bunkbeds, tents and a big dining area. Those of us from New Orleans will be here until their new location is settled.
Yesterday I worked my ass off-well, I still have a big butt:) I worked with a large crew on the rebuilding of a pier. Most of what I did was drilling holes in planks and using a drill to screw in nails. There was an architect from Scotland who had just arrived the day before who was put in charge of the project. He told me he was making it up as he went along-they don't teach pier building in architecture school. It was beautiful out there and I was amazing at how well the crew working together and how much stamina they had. I found it so hard to work in the sun and left early at 3pm to go and help on the dinner crew. We had a great chef who ran the hectic kitchen with grace. Enchiladas, fruit, tortilla soup, handmade chips and salsa...key lime pie for desert. For 150 people. Wow.
Driving along the Gulf coast it's unbelievable. For miles all you see are skeletons of hotels and land with only a chimney or stairs left of a home. A year later...
Today I thought I had signed up to do kitchen work at the Salvation Army but instead I ended up working at the Salvation Army location digging trenches in the sun. Again worked with a great crew-a combination of people from different organization. Habitat for Humanity, Americorp and Hands On. The salvation army made lunch for us.
I am soooo very sore. But great in spirit. How I long for a precious bath and an air mattress that stays inflated. Regardless, I know I'll sleep well tonight. Tomorrow I hope to take on something easier like tutoring or the animal shelter. Waiting for the dinner call. Grumble grumble.