Last summer I went on a Missions Trip
with my church to New Orleans. For anyone who has been to a disaster area you
know how overwhelming it can look at first glance. We went three years after
hurricane Katrina and many places still looked like a ghost town. As soon
as we were on the way to the church we would be staying at everyone realized that
some serious work needed to be done, not only in rebuilding the city, but in
the hearts of the people who lived there. We were staying in a large church
with rooms that were separated by tarps.

The
first task we had was to take a house down to the studs. What we didn't realize
when we were first assigned there was that the house hadn't been opened since the
hurricane. Going into that house for the first time really humbled us and showed
the kids on the trip that this wasn't just an ordinary summer camp. The house that
we were working on belonged to the mother of a woman named Reverend Jordan. As
we took out the damaged furniture and trinkets that lay around we were constantly
reminded that this wasn't just a house, it was a home that had been in a family
for many generations. Reverend Jordan didn't break down and cry until we took
out a picture of her mother that had apparently been hanging on the wall.
Seeing such a strong woman cry was again another humbling experience.

Later
in the week we took the extra food that was made for us at the church and gave
it to the homeless. It was amazing while we talked with them how open they were
to have us pray for them or give them some Bibles we had brought along. I
absolutely loved connecting with them and hearing their stories. Feeding the homeless was probably the most
life changing experience of the trip. We got to do it twice, and both times I got
to really get into their shoes and look at life from the perspective of the
people.

Once
we got home from the trip I knew that I had a heart for the homeless and less
fortunate. That is one of the main reasons I decided to go on a missions trip
and I look foreword to being able to be a servant to people who need to hear of
God's never-ending love for them. I pray that this trip will be as productive
and life molding and New Orleans, and that the people of the Amazon will be
blessed.