Lessons

This week I discovered the faces behind the storm. Before we came I looked more at what the physical damage of the storm was!! Since being here and talking to those affected, I have begun thinking more about the people than the actual physical devastation.
-Ben Adams

This trip has taught me to fully rely on God and know that life always has a plan. I have learned that there is always a reason behind everything that happens. I have seen God’s amazing power in so many ways.
-Shara Linscott

As of this week, not only have a learned new skills, but I have a whole new outlook of life. The world is full of hurting people, but it’s not hopeless at all. I can actually make a difference to someone. My relationships with the people here on the team as well as others in New Orleans have strengthened immensely. I’m also excited because for the first time in ages, my faith is on fire. Here in New Orleans people are so open with their stories, and I will never forget their smiles amidst a tragedy.
-Christy Russell

This trip has made me realize that the things I go through are not that big in comparison to what could happen such as Katrina. I have realized that this isn’t just a nice thing I’m doing, but it is what we are called to do. I have really seen God this week, and once again realized that God uses the bad situations to create good situations. Katrina caused devastation to the area but it is allowing Christians from all over to come in and spread the word and show that they care, it’s still going, but most of all, God cares for them.
-Colby Adams

Everything I think I will ever see is as overwhelming as New Orleans. I will always remember the hope I saw in Lester. Storms will make me reconsider my life and ‘’bad’’ it is.
-Jake Linscott

I’ve noticed that people will always genuinely share their lives with someone who is willing to actively listen, not just pretend to listen. My prayer is that I will continue to be an active listener genuinely interested and caring about the concerns of others.
-Robin Linscott

I am no longer the center of my world. I always knew it was good to serve others; I now want to. I’ve learned that one of the best ways to become closer to God and glorify him is to serve others.
-Amanda Berglund

I don’t think that I will ever forget the devastation. I still can’t believe that two years later things are still not back together, and the people are just heartbroken. I will never forget their stories and how friendly and welcoming the homeowners were. They were so happy to see us. I’m glad we got to meet them, pray for them, and share the love of Christ. If they just trust in God everything will be fine. If they pray, God will answer their prayers. I never realized that there were still people down here with nothing, and that I was just so selfish. I have learned to put others before myself, and that God has provided me with everything that is needed.
-Jesse Cinque

I don’t think that I will ever take anything for granted anymore. I can never know when a storm would hit my home. Sometimes I expect my parents to pay for a camp or for something else. I don’t think I will expect any money to come from my parents to be spent for my entertainment or pleasure anymore.
-Michael Gardner

This week I’ve discovered the power of prayer and how it can affect people, whether it’s praying for strength during the work day or for someone who is struggling.
-Josh Larrabee
I never thought that serving others is what we are supposed to do. I just always thought of it as something nice to do. This week I’ve learned that I should always be serving others in any possible way I can. I will definitely continue to serve as much as I can throughout life after this week.
-Kelsey Berglund

Seeing the effects of the storm two years later impacts me most by simplifying life’s priorities. What is most important? While the experiences, the miracles, and the stories strengthen my personal faith, it is my home and family that I value most deeply, as I see those who have lost theirs.
-Rus Willette

I don’t think that I will ever forget destruction, emotionally and physically, the storm had on the people and the landscape of this city. The people seem to be happy but you could tell that they were covering emotional damage and those who were physically damaged can’t really cover it up. The rest of the city is pretty much a mess, people’s lives in shambles, their houses, belongings, everything is destroyed.
-George Grant

This trip has changed me greatly. I never again believe that I will be able to look at the swing in my side yard without remembering the pain and sadness I felt looking at the swing across the street from Doug’s grandmother’s house. I also do not think I will be able to see natural disasters the same. I will never forget Lester and how depressing it was to me that he thought that playing with a flat soccer ball in a broken house was so amusing or that he may never play little league, and that he still has joy in this situation.
-Jake Groom

I’m still amazed to see the devastation that remains nearly two years after the flooding. My mind is thinking in a “split screen mode” – one screen is what I see- the other is of all the comforts I enjoy. To see the resolve of so many people to smile in the midst only inspires me to look for needs all around me and not look past them. .
-Bill Simpson

I don’t think I will ever think the same way about natural disasters. Now I will know that what the news shows only scrapes the bare surface and the true horror is too grim to put on TV. I also will always remember the people that I have met and spoken to and have their perspective painted their true story.
-Sam Larrabee

I will never forget this trip. I have never seen God work in so many ways around me, not that he doesn’t every day. The care and thoughtfulness of everyone in our group shows is overwhelming. But from this trip, I will never forget the grave sites I would see every day while driving to my work site. The houses boarded up are people sitting on their front steps waiting for a miracle. But the greatest part is that we are giving hope in God’s word to the people we are serving, something that they may never have witnessed before. Barbara will never be forgotten as I see storm warnings on TV.
-Scotty Gardner

This trip has really changed my perspective on the affects of Hurricane Katrina. I saw the storm and the flooding on TV. The media showed burning buildings, murders and looting. As I came down to New Orleans, I learned that people had lost their homes and a life time of possessions and had to basically start over their lives. While talking to people, I was shocked by the reality of the destruction and death that it occurred here and how it changed people’s lives. It made me think of how fortunate I am to have the things I own and the family and church I am a part of.
-Laura Mason

I’ve seen God do some amazing things this week in my life, as well as in the lives of my teammates and the people of New Orleans. But what I’m coming away with most of all is that God answers prayers in amazing, powerful, and unexpected ways. The way I think about prayer has been changed. God hears each of my prayers and I know that I will continue to see him answer them amazingly and powerfully, and rarely how I expect him to.
-Heather Erdmann

By experiencing and seeing so many different, shocking, sad, and overwhelming things over this week I have learned to be thankful for everything that I take for granted in my life. Now, whenever something seems so terrible I know I’ll look back to this trip and think of all of the stories and situations of the people I’ve met and talked with. I know I won’t feel so bad for myself anymore. I’ll remember those people down here and how their lives were thrown upside down and yet they’re still moving on. I know I’ll be thinking of these people often and remembering that my life isn’t so tough after all.
-Sarah Krabbe

I don’t think I will ever forget Annie and her attitude. She said that God allows devastation but in the end he shows his beauty. She lost everything but chose to have a positive attitude. That really impacted me. Also every time it rains or I hear the word hurricane I will think of New Orleans and all the peoples’ stories I have heard. I have also learned that if you pray to God for… let’s say, patience, he won’t just “bam” give you patience but he will give you situations that challenge your patience. This trip has also taught me to see God in everyone.
-Kristan Bowie

This week has made me see that I must do all I can with what God has given me to serve others. Each person is created by God and is eternally precious to him. I have to reach out to the poor and needy without judgment. I will also never see any disaster, especially a hurricane, the same way ever again. Finally, my heart has become even more compassionate toward those who are in need to a point of action.
-Bob Gardner

I will never again be able to see a natural disaster without thinking immediately of the people.
- Scott Linscott