Several more initial reflections

Last year I felt like God was showing me what ‘s important in life, what serving is, and that my life is not all about me. This year , already, I feel like He is introducing a couple new things. We are here to serve these people by rebuilding their houses plus other things to the property even if they seem insignificant. It’s about the people, giving them hope, and if tilling their yard and starting a small garden does that then we have done our jobs. They have new hope and light that they’re one step closer to moving in. Serving isn’t conditional, it is unconditional.
- Sarah Krabbe

I am glad to see fewer blue tarps. You have to look for the trailers in the neighborhoods. My prayer is that progress is getting people in their homes and not just people giving up. It’s sad to see empty houses left behind with nothing done to them . It’s sad to hear of the red tape that is in the way, governmental or inspections being waited on. It is humbling hearing the stories of gratitude from the Body being the prominent group coming to help. Not PTSM, not Park Street Church- the Body of Christ. I just hope that the giving of the Body has been something that has been duplicated back at the homes of all the team members returning home at their church’s and neighborhoods.
- Bill Simpson

I really think God is trying to get me to go out of my way and share my faith with someone , even a complete stranger. I feel that he wants me to bring others to him through my words. The physical helping gets things started. But my words are going to be the final thread. I’ll be looking, and I know he’ll have me ready.
- Scott Gardner

Today it felt so good to drive down the street that my work house was and see no F.E.M.A. trailers. As it is written on the Katrina Memorial “We will come back!”. It feels as if I’m turning the last pages of the book of the effects of Katrina for at least one person. Years from now I pray that kids will only remember Katrina when driving by the memorial. For evidence that the hurricane ever hit, I want them to have to ask.
- Jake Linscott

As we arrived and settled in and later toured the city, it dawned on me that the devastation is now familiar to me here. I expected an eye opening experience in touring as God provided me with last year, but this year as I am here and ready, the shock value is not there. Last year I learned and grew where as I feel this year God is calling me to grow and learn through speaking and teaching the locals about Christ. I was excited for the childrens team but when that did not work out I realized it was not what God wanted and I must be flexible.
- Jake Groom

When God opened the door for me to come down to New Orleans this year I was very curious and excited to see what he had in store for me once I arrived I was in shock at the amount of damage still left after 3 years. This was a huge eye opening experience for me. After three years, people were still living in trailers, X’s remained on untouched houses, and houses completely abandoned by the owner. As the youth group pastor at Berean Bible Church put it, this was the best thing that happened to New Orleans due to the amount of Christian groups coming down. I knew God wanted to expose me to this and give me my first real chance to share my faith with others.
- Rebecca Howell