More reflections from Monday

Right now I have a mixture of feelings. I’m happy to see all the FEMA trailers that are no longer lining all the streets. I’m also happy to be helping people out. And I know that essentially that is why I’m here. But last year the first day of the trip I was already experiencing a “life changing” trip. But three of four days into the trip I still don’t know exactly why God called me to go on this trip. I pray that He will show me that throughout the week.
- Anonymous

After a long train ride, we made it, and as soon as we arrived, I looked around and everything looked so familiar. It seems like just last week we were going over that same bridge to help out different people. Today I got to help out at Mattie’s and it brought back so many memories of all the unforgettable stories from last year. I keep thinking about Charlie, Annie, Erica & Lester, and Barbara… How are they doing now? It’s been so great to see all of the improvements. There’s a lot less FEMA trailers which made me feel so good that we helped them get out of those, although it’s still amazing that all the devastation is still here. I’m glad to be here again and I can’t wait for the rest of the week to see what God has for all of us.
- Jesse Cinque

My reactions to coming down here and actually seeing some of the houses that were damaged by Katrina were just that I was shocked. I thought it was pretty unbelievable at what the conditions of these houses were 3 years later, I expected to see the neighborhoods put back together and the houses rebuilt for the most part anyway. But when we drove by some of the neighborhoods, the houses have still been untouched after all this time. Although there has been a lot of progress it was sad to see some people have given up trying to rebuild, but very encouraging to see the church groups, and home owners haven’t.
-Nicole Mason

Last night the youth pastor from Berean talked to us about some of what has been happening here. He told a story about girls bringing sandwiches to homeless people while she was here. When she gave one man a sandwich he asked her where she was from and went on to ask if they had homeless people there. Of course she said “yes”, at which point the man proceeded to say “oh well you must do this type of thing all the time.” So many people take the perspective that Katrina was sent to change New Orleans and bring them a revolution, but Doug posed the question that maybe it was also sent to revolutionize the church and Christians. Not only can this storm allow for the people here to see Jesus, but it can also help the Christians realize that we not only need to see and believe in Christ, but also follow him and try to be Him. God calls us to do that not only here in NOLA or on a missions trip, but everywhere. This has been on my heart since last night. Who am I serving here? Are there people like them at home? Do I serve those people at home too? How can I serve and be Jesus not only here, but everywhere?
-Shara Linscott