Reflections from Day 1 of work PART ONE

Thanks to Heather and Jesse for typing these in for me! They got about half of them done tonight while Hannah, Dali, Colby and Sam and I took a WalMart trip. We will work to upload the other half tomorrow. - Scott

Praise the Lord! Our first entry... How do I feel? Well, I feel like bubble gum. I’m chewing some right now, but seriously. First, you start with this hard chunk of stuff. I have a mindset of how things should go. Then you start chewing and, well you get stretched. Then your plans get chomped. Then you find your place; then you get stretched again. Praise the Lord! Hey, I haven’t been spit out or run out of flavor. God is and will still continue to use me. Challenges have come up, assignments have come that I feel right off are way, way out of my zone. What do you do then? You trust in an almighty God. And what has become of me now? God has stolen my heart. I see the pain in NOLA. And I know I must help God’s people; his creation. All to You Lord!! Isaiah 6:8. .. Use me Lord!
-Adam Bridges

During the time we have spent here in New Orleans, God has really reinforced the idea of service in me. The homeowner at my worksite today said how much he appreciated our group for coming to help out people we didn’t even know. This really stuck with me and made me question myself why anyone would do that sort of thing. It’s because we are all created and loved by God and I want to show that love with the people in New Orleans. My faith needs to be more than just going to church and praying once in a while. I need to be like Jesus and help people, even strangers.
-Laura Mason

This isn’t what I pictured it would be but I would not hesitate for one minute to do it again and again… The feeling you get from helping people truly in need is unmatched by any other feeling I’ve ever had. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2.)
-Jordan Rogers

There are two children we met in Day 1. The little girl I was able to meet is just a little younger than Elizabeth. She is very excited to see a picture of Elizabeth tomorrow. This little girl will grow up hearing about Christ at least from her grandmother. The second little girl may never hear of Christ, except through what she hears this week from us. As I think of my family and those so close to us it is so clear how blessed we are. One of our memory verses says, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” I pray that we begin to notice each of these families we come in contact with. May we meet their needs this week in New Orleans, and then, that I dare to do the same in Maine.
-Rus Willette

It is heartbreaking to see how much still needs to be done, so many abandoned homes that have not been touched. I think about and pray for these families. We talked to men today who were a block away from where the levies broke. They explained to us their trials through the hurricane and afterwards, everything from having to break through their roofs from their attic because it was the only way out to having to live in the unsanitary Super Dome. They were so open to us even though we were kind of apprehensive to them in the beginning. It made me realize that we all often worry and complain about foolish things when we have so much to be thankful for.
-Dan Larrabee


Today, the first day of work, was great. Now, looking back, I can think about the house we were at and our homeowner Maddie. I loved Maddie’s outlook on the devastation and loss: these are God’s things. He gave them, took them away and is now giving it all back. Maddie has helped me gain perspective. I’ve seen the pictures and gone through the streets, but until I was in Maddie’s house I never understood. Listening to her talk about her children, play with her granddaughter, hearing her on the phone with friends all made me realize these people aren’t defined by what has happened to them. They are just the same as us. They have lives and stories and families. Everyone is a real individual.
-Hannah Brown

When I thought about why God wanted me back in New Orleans I wrote about wanting to bring a family back into their home. Arriving on our site I very quickly felt as though I wasn’t doing anything that was going to be helpful: tilling a yard, rebuilding a patio, planting a garden, and putting up a fence. Although through the day I have thought “why am I doing this?” and eventually another team member pointed out that this trip is about rebuilding someone else’s home, and bringing them back into their life.“Where he leads me I will follow.” God has lead me to a place in which I can get a man back into his home, now I must follow Him.
-George Grant


I think something God has impressed on my heart already this week is the fact that even through the devastation of Katrina, He was in control and had a plan. We’ve talked with some Christians, homeowners and church leaders alike, who are confident in their belief that God did not permit Katrina to judge New Orleans, but rather to wake up the American church to His calling on our lives, as well as to provide an incredible ministry opportunity to “soften the hard soil of New Orleans.” I have seen more hope in the eyes of the Christians we’ve met here this year than I think I saw last year. Their commitment to make the most of the opportunity God has given them is truly inspiring to me.
-Heather Erdmann


On Sunday we had a tour of New Orleans after church. As we drove around it was sad to see the work that so needs to be done but is not. There are many homes that have not been worked on at all and others that have much work still to do before being complete. I am glad I am here to help because of what I’ve seen. I am thankful to God that I have this opportunity to help these people.
-Dali Tauwala

After just one day of work, I can see my purpose for working in a pretty junky neighborhood… to share with those who live in poverty. Today our team had a tremendous opportunity to talk with and pray with the neighbors of the building we were working on. I saw them earlier and said to myself, “Wow, I’m not talking to them!!” But clearly God thought otherwise. We talked to the three men for around 30 minutes and learned amazing things. I believe God is trying to teach me not to judge people based on their looks, but to look deeper inside their heart. We should try to help and minister to them but only by God’s grace can they be saved. “By grace you have freed me, I will not suffer anymore.” (Inhale Exhale)
-Michael Gardner

Starting off our trip to New Orleans it felt like I had never left; but now that I’ve been able to spend some time down here I’ve realized it is going to be much different than last year. I feel God has taught me so much already. One of the things I feel God has shown me so far is that not only should I be helping people during this one week we’re down here but when we return home also.
-Kelsey Berglund


I came to New Orleans to serve others and serve God. Today, we did. I realized what not a small, convenient sacrifice can feel like, but a major one. I realized I have a warped perspective of helping others. Giving up a free day of summer to help a stranger doing physical labor in the heat is a true sacrifice. I feel like this is one of the times in my life I will begin to comprehend the ultimate sacrifice Jesus did for us. It was a very rewarding feeling to know that you are doing what Jesus would do.
-Annie Criscione


This year seeing the devastation for the second time, there just wasn’t the same shock value of what we saw. Don’t get me wrong, my heart was still crushed to see it, which later got me thinking. To myself I thought, if this seems so “old hat” to me, I can’t believe how people live through in every day. This year I am realizing that this isn’t a quick struggle they fell into. So far it’s lasted 3 years. I laid awake last night thinking of how people make this their everyday life and that there is nothing that we up North would consider “Normal life.” How do they get through it and how can I help?
-Colby Adams

After driving around and seeing the city over the last 2 days, I have seen a city that has made a lot of progress. I don’t see as many blue tarps on roofs or as many FEMA trailers in front yards. But the work is not done yet nor close. We can still see houses that haven’t been touched since the storm. Today I noticed the sound of nail guns as we drove through different neighborhoods. So I’m encouraged by the work that’s been done, but also glad that we are able to help the people who aren’t back to normal yet.
-Ben Adams

As we toured the city, my face was glued to the car window watching all of the pictures I had seen of New Orleans turn to life. The trailers, the weather-beaten houses, the torn people. But why has God sent me here? Maybe to paint, do yard work, and get a lot done. But maybe it’s to talk to at least one person—to have a lasting impact on his or her life. I met a little 5 year old girl today. Did I plant a seed? Maybe. God has that figured out. I’ve found that I am down here to do what God has planned.
-Ali Strayhorn

There is progress!! I was so worried it’d all look the same. Not only is there physical progress but more importantly spiritual progress. Doug said last night that the government, the insurance companies, and the contractors all let the people down but it was and continues to be the church that truly cares about the people. Before Katrina very few people here were Christians but through the rebuilding process and process of bringing hope Christianity and God have become more than a bunch of talk but something real and true.
-Amanda Berglund

Day One Reflection: I was nervous today as I found out I was leading a team doing more than “unskilled work.” We were hanging sheetrock, ripping up tile, patching drywall, etc, and not being a contractor, I was nervous I wouldn’t know what to do. But God has shown himself over and over to me in this one day that he has given me all I need to lead this team. Additionally I’ve had a burning desire to call Joe and Annie from last year ever since we left them. Tonight I called them. She sounded so very happy to hear my voice even though her home has STILL not yet been torn down. She told me my team is working in her area and basically made me promise to stop by tomorrow. I can’t wait!
-Bob Gardner