This year the trip is more like a marathon than a race. In years past we would have been home by now; sleeping in our own beds, showering in our own bathrooms, doing the mountain of laundry that follows a mission trip. We stayed this year to take part in an event called Feed The Multitudes, which feeds and cares for thousands of homeless and needy people on the 4th of July every year here in NOLA. I am really hoping it will be an amazing experience for the students and leaders alike.
Right now we are getting ready for church and eating breakfast. It feels like a luxury that we slept in until 7:45 this morning. When we come to New Orleans we are hosted by a church here that we have come to love: Celebration Church. Five years ago Celebration lost their building to the Hurricane Katrina and they have not been back to their main campus since. They have been very fortunate to have an alternate church campus - the Lord really provided for them. Anyhow, today is their homecoming. The building renovation is finally done and today is the first service back home. I could not be more excited to be here for this day.
As I have been reflecting on Celebration's five years away from their church, I have been wondering what it would be like for us at home. Where would Marine View meet if we lost our entire campus? What would church feel like if we lost 80% of our regular attenders? I just cannot imagine. It would be so hard. Celebration has made it through, however and they have even grown as a church. Most of their regular attenders have never even been to this new/old campus becuase they became a part of the congregation after the hurricane. They way that God has restored this congregation and this building is such a picture of the work He is doing in this city. It is Sunday - the day we remember the resurrection of the Lord and the day that this church is being resurrected. Let us worship.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Friday, July 2, 2010
LAST WORK DAY!!!
Good morning Washington! Today was probably the hardest day to get up and out of bed. The girls in my room have gotten really comfortable with each other, so we were up super late last night doing the usual girly things. It seemed super fun at the time, but no effense to the girls, I am regretting it now! Just kidding, I love the girls in my room. The mission trip this year has been so awesome. We haven't had any major drama, no little cat fights; everyone has grown together as a group! It has been really cool.
We are leaving in about an hour to go to our work sites. I work at the home of Mr. Lu Grange. He is always around his house, so we have had the pleasure of getting to know him, along with his family too. My group at the site is Team Win, consisting of myself, Kirin Fostor, Grace Shinn, Courtney Davis, Tyler Foster, Nathan Laske, and "Big" Mike Clark. This group is by far the best work group I could ever ask for! At first I thought that the guys would go off and do their own thing leaving us girls to ourselves, but we have all grown so close. Some may argure that we are too comfortable together now, but it has been a blast. We even have a team cheer, so ask us to show you when we get home (: Besides the best group ever, I was also blessed with the best site supervisor ever too. Thad (his full name is Thadius Maximus!) has been so great with us. The first day, we split up boys and girls, and Thad took us girls to work with him. From the very beginning, he was super funny and friendly with us. And he has been more patient than we could even imagine. We have been working on putting up dry wall, which is EXTREMELY hard if you have never put it up. Us girls are pretty weak, so we struggled a lot with it at first, but he was always willing to help us at any time. Sadly, we had to say goodbye to him Wednesday because he had to switch houses with another person, but he will always be the coolest supervisor ever!
Last year, I honestly couldn't wait for the last work day to come, but this year I am kind of dreading it. I am going to miss my group and getting to work with them all day! But we have already planned some more missions for when we return, so you will see more of us(:
After working, we will come home, shower, eat dinner, and hang out until bedtime. Also sometime today, we will be delivering our secret pal final gift and revealing our cover to them. I have Jeff Baklund and he has NO idea, so this should be fun >:)
I have 2 minutes until devos and I haven't had breakfast yet! I will check in with you when I get home!
Love,
Katelyn Dilworth
ps HI MOM AND DAD! I LOVE YOU!!!
We are leaving in about an hour to go to our work sites. I work at the home of Mr. Lu Grange. He is always around his house, so we have had the pleasure of getting to know him, along with his family too. My group at the site is Team Win, consisting of myself, Kirin Fostor, Grace Shinn, Courtney Davis, Tyler Foster, Nathan Laske, and "Big" Mike Clark. This group is by far the best work group I could ever ask for! At first I thought that the guys would go off and do their own thing leaving us girls to ourselves, but we have all grown so close. Some may argure that we are too comfortable together now, but it has been a blast. We even have a team cheer, so ask us to show you when we get home (: Besides the best group ever, I was also blessed with the best site supervisor ever too. Thad (his full name is Thadius Maximus!) has been so great with us. The first day, we split up boys and girls, and Thad took us girls to work with him. From the very beginning, he was super funny and friendly with us. And he has been more patient than we could even imagine. We have been working on putting up dry wall, which is EXTREMELY hard if you have never put it up. Us girls are pretty weak, so we struggled a lot with it at first, but he was always willing to help us at any time. Sadly, we had to say goodbye to him Wednesday because he had to switch houses with another person, but he will always be the coolest supervisor ever!
Last year, I honestly couldn't wait for the last work day to come, but this year I am kind of dreading it. I am going to miss my group and getting to work with them all day! But we have already planned some more missions for when we return, so you will see more of us(:
After working, we will come home, shower, eat dinner, and hang out until bedtime. Also sometime today, we will be delivering our secret pal final gift and revealing our cover to them. I have Jeff Baklund and he has NO idea, so this should be fun >:)
I have 2 minutes until devos and I haven't had breakfast yet! I will check in with you when I get home!
Love,
Katelyn Dilworth
ps HI MOM AND DAD! I LOVE YOU!!!
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Senior Thoughts
Today is July 1st. My best friends birthday, and the 4th work day here in NOLA. I am doing drywall. Sanding, mudding, sponging, sweeping, and odd jobs. This is my first, last, and only year to be here in Nawlins with Marine View. I am very regretful that I didn't go before but I am using this chance to its full potential. This is an amazing experience. The people here are amazing, they are all thankful, all friendly, and all have a story to tell. On Tuesday we found a stray pit bull, I named him Sniffles, then Geoff Stowe and I found him a home. Today Tank, the pit bull at our work site, got loose and I had to chase him down, catch him, and use my bandanna as a leash. It was exhausting.
Everyday there is something special that happens, normal insignificant things that seem extraordinary here. I have felt closer to God, closer to the team, and closer to the real me, ever since standing in that airport at 6 am. Time here goes by really strange, sometimes it feels like we have been here forever, other times it feels like its only been a few hours.
The food here is great, I'm more full than I can remember, and after a few hours the weather doesn't really bother you. On Monday it started pouring down rain, it was like a mini monsoon, but it was still warm, it was great.
I honestly feel like we are one big family, we are living together, eating together, sleeping and sharing and conversing together, its a wonderful experience.
I really didn't plan any of this, I just typed what I thought, but I have to go, its almost worship time, and Dave Martin, the birthday boy, is going to dance, ha ha.
I love you Mom, Dad, and Kayla.
Post written by Josh Adrian
Everyday there is something special that happens, normal insignificant things that seem extraordinary here. I have felt closer to God, closer to the team, and closer to the real me, ever since standing in that airport at 6 am. Time here goes by really strange, sometimes it feels like we have been here forever, other times it feels like its only been a few hours.
The food here is great, I'm more full than I can remember, and after a few hours the weather doesn't really bother you. On Monday it started pouring down rain, it was like a mini monsoon, but it was still warm, it was great.
I honestly feel like we are one big family, we are living together, eating together, sleeping and sharing and conversing together, its a wonderful experience.
I really didn't plan any of this, I just typed what I thought, but I have to go, its almost worship time, and Dave Martin, the birthday boy, is going to dance, ha ha.
I love you Mom, Dad, and Kayla.
Post written by Josh Adrian
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