Well here is it 9:30 on Friday night.  We are getting ready to go home tomorrow, very early in the morning.  We are shooting to be back at Oakhill between 8 and 9 in the evening.  This trip has been amazing. Since I last posted some pics, so much has happened.  The construction team finished the drywall project with Barbara.  The other part of the construction team turned into a gutting team and helped a man finish gutting his house.   The VBS team finished up at the community center yesterday and it was very hard for them to leave.  They grew very attached to the children.  The most excited thing was some of the girls were able to lead a boy to Christ.  Last night we took everyone out for an authentic Cajun meal.  Some of them even ate alligator.

Some of the adults and students had a great time doing some cajun dancing.

Tonight we had the oppurtunity to put on a block party for a local church that is coming back.  We were able to talk to a lot of people from the community and share the gospel with several people.  Again some of our students lead a boy to Christ.

When I was first told I would be doing a VBS type program instead of actually helping with destroyed houses I honestly was disappointed.  The first day was so totally overwhelming. Then after seeing the faces of the children, the anger they seemed to display, the hopelessness and loneliness in their lives broke my heart.  Instead of laughter and carelessness that most children have at the ages of 5-12 there was fighting, screaming, and a genuine desire to just be loved.  I have always known how blessed I have been but now see things in such a different light.  God is so good.

Erica, Robin, Angie, Nick, Alan, Bryan, Becca, James, Emily, Morgan, Chris, Matt, David, Brad, Wanda, Dara, Sara, Erica, Kaylee, Clifford, Susie, Beth, Maggie, Zac

Christian, Dale, Zach, These are the name of the new Heroes in my life. Thank you for allowing me the time to spend with these new heroes. Thank you for allowing me to share with those, thank you for involving me, thank you for your protection. The question I ask is where are you leading me? If I could see in the future what would you be having me to do in a year? One thing I have learned this week is that you are truly in control of everything. Who else could have protected us form the rain, Who else could have prepared the way over past few months, Who else could have brought everyone together at this time and place, Who else could have placed those along the way, Who else could have? Today my heart is truly thankful for all that you do.

Hi This Is Beth,

        This was the last day for V B S  it was vey difficult to leave the children behind at Fischer School. We were only with them 4 days but grew very attached. When all of us left, there were no dry eyes in the van. Some of the kids asked to come home with us. They asked when we were coming back. We are hoping that we will be able to return.

God is so good!

I cannot say that enough. God is amazing!

Today, Thursday, was the last day with the kids at the Fischer community center. We've spent all week building relationships with these beautiful children and today was truly our day of opportunity. Last night, during our devotion time, we got in prayer groups of three. I was with Morgan and Nick Scott. Morgan and I were balling our eyes out as Nick talked with us and prayed for us to have strength today. Morgan and I wanted so badly for these kids to open up and hear the word of God. Well today, that prayer was answered by one little boy.

Today, we were painting whale banks with the children. "Pastor Paul", as the children call him, opened up his Bible to Genesis chapter one. He read to us the couple of verses on God creating the sea animals because we spent the whole week discussing beach stuff.  When he read this, our friend Jermaine started talking with Morgan and me. We were trying to explain to him about God creating the earth and who God truly is. Jermaine decided he wanted to see where it said all this about the animals for himself, so we borrowed Paul's Bible and showed him. He began reading to us from Genesis 1:1 (or close to it). When he stopped, Morgan and I couldn't help but get overexcited. We were almost in tears just listening to him read. While he continued painting, we continued teaching. Eventually it got to where he was ready to get more serious and move to the hallway to discuss it more "in depth." Morgan and I walked him out into the hallway and plopped a seat in the corner. We discussed the creating of the earth and everything in it, God sending Jesus to die on the cross for us, and how Jesus had two fathers. I think Jermaine really grasped the concept once we showed him pictures of our earthly fathers and told him of our heavenly father. The three of us must have sat out there at least 15/20 minutes going over little things and answering questions and crying. At the end of our discussion, Morgan and I prayed a prayer and Jermaine repeated it after us. It was the best feeling in the world to know that God used me to bring someone to him. I can't explain the feelings that were going through me after this. Morgan and I cried for like 5 minutes straight because we were so thankful that God answered our prayers the way we wanted him to. I just want to thank everyone who prayed for these children this week. This woulnd't have happened without all those prayers.

God is so good!

God is so good that he changed my name to Edica.

            Aspiring to be a journalist means that I report the life and feelings of my subjects, not the thoughts and feelings of myself, so writing a blog for the World Wide Web to read is not exactly my forte. The past four days have been exactly what I have NOT expected. It was pure and utter chaos, and it was none other than amazing. I worked with the alphabet team (dubbed by ourselves) which daily worked with children of Berean's community of New Orleans. While most have figured, these children have been through things most people can only shiver at the thought of. The broken families, the flood, and the lack of compassion from others have been reflected from these children's lives to the children's hearts.

            We went into the community center with a open heart, but with blind eyes. We did not know what to expect which proved to be the cause of most of the mania. Our children didn't know who we were and did not respect us; and who to blame them with a group of white folk they've never seen before start telling them what to do? It was hard to see what God had wanted us to do because of their lack of respect and discipline. But by the end of the first day, all of us grew attached to each other (granted we sang praises when it was time to go home); and we accepted the day as a ?stretch and flex' sort of day and went with what God had stirring. The next two days were also something not expected. We spent the days bonding with the boys and girls while they gained our love, and we gained their trust. I can honestly say that I had almost every one of them on my arm or back at some point in time.

Today was the last day being with them, and it has been my experience in saying that saying goodbye is one of the hardest things to do. I met two boys that came in today for the first time in the week, and God laid on my heart to envelope these two brothers in love and faith. Not only these boys, but the other children have touched my life in a way that has left me standing in disbelief, but in mercy and affection. It is hard to believe that these children will walk home today and continue their life the only way they know it, but I can only pray that they remember a little of what we taught them.

I did not know what God had wanted me to learn at the beginning of this week, but I am starting to realize that this is my world, this is OUR world, and it is only up to us as Christians to show the world the love of Jesus. In the little things we do; the simple smile or big hug can change a person's view of life, and better steer them to the Truth. So far (and yeah, it's not over) this week has been a change in my life. I will always remember the children by name and face (trust me, these faces could not leave your memory after this week). Hearing them tell me they would miss me made the goodbyes so hard I wanted to take them home; however, I do not think my dorm would accommodate to their needs. They will be in my heart forever, but what is better is that Jesus will be in theirs.

Hey guys!  I am having a great time and I could write a book on what I have learned.  I am making this short because it is hard to type into words what this experience has meant to me.  I will see you soon. 

Love,

Julie

Last night we had the opportunity to be taken on a tour by one of the church members of the most devastated areas.  It was really shocking, below are some pics.

This was the most heavily hit area - the 9th Ward.  This street used to be full of houses, but when the levy broke it swept most of the house away.  It is unbelievable how much is still not fixed.  Many homes and business are still not back up.

After the tour we went downtown to Jackson Square and Cafe DuMonde.  They serve the best french doughnut, however if you ask Paul the taste like funnel cake.

This is a large Catholic church in Jackson Square and behind it is Bourbon St.  Isn't it crazy that all around this church is the worst sin you can imagine.  (Just so you know we didn't go to Bourbon St.)

Hey Everyone,

Yesterday and today was a great day of hard work. The VBS team was able to spend time with the kids on two field trips.  Yesterday they went to the aquarium and the IMAX theatre; then today they went to the New Orleans Hornets Basketball Camp.  Boy, are they working hard.  Seriously, they are having an awesome impact on these kids from the Fisher Projects.  Pray tomorrow, they are going to be sharing the gospel very aggressively.  Below are some pics from the last couple of days.

Yesterday the work team split into two groups.  One group continued to drywall and the other group was able to minister to a church member from Berean by helping them move.  Today the drywall team continued to drywall and the other group started a gut job.  Below are some pics.

Overjoyed . . . Overwhelmed . . .Tears of Joy . . . Tears of  Sadness

                                                I Have Dry wall in my Nose.

The four of us (Matt Schloss, Zac Carr and Chris Paisley, and Nick Scott) have never dry walled in our lives of 16 years with the exception of Nick. Then the time came where we had to learn. It did not take long to catch on. With our team (Us 4 plus Bryan Gotcher, Clifford Doom, and Brad Ditter) we dominated, even though we never have worked together before. Our mission is to dry wall Barbara's house, which at one point had two feet of water. It started as we moved 80 sheets of 75lb dry wall into the house. That's all we had a chance to do on the first day.
             The next day began with dry walling.
And it continues...............

            Written by the 4 in the 1^st line.

God is so good! Oh my goodness..this trip is the best! I came here with an idea of what I thought it was going to be like, but man that sure changed when I was actually here. I came here with the idea that there would only be a couple of  kids, that was a mistake. There are a bunch of great kids that just want us to give them love and play with them. These kids have been through so much and all they want is someone to love them and care, someone to trust and look up to. I am so happy that we have the opportunity to be here and care for these kids! I have made many new friends that I can never foget. Please pray for us as we are sharing God's word with these children.

God is so good! God is so good! God is so good! He's so good to me!

The Alphabet Team

The New Orleans mission trip has been a great experiecne. Today went went to work on home. Some of us worked on dry-wall and some painted. I was on the paint team. The owner of the house had not gotton the paint yet so the paint crew went next door to play with the children. We had a wonderful time being with the children. We invited them to the block party but unforuately they did not make it. I cant wait to show everyone  all of the pictures I took and tell them more about the mission trip.

Talk about a day of difference, in the morning we worked at day camp for children then in the afternoon we did a block party. What a day!

            Sometime the direction you think things should go are different than the direction they go.  Today I was honored to see what God had been planning for a long time. Our VBS this year is sports central so for the Egg Outreach this year our church purchased sports equipment for the games. And when we arrived in New Orleans they wanted us to do a block party for a sports camp. God is great. A lot of children came to the block party; let me say that again a lot of children came to the block party. Thank you for praying for us and the children do New Orleans.  

Here are some pics from the block party tonight.  One of the pastor's Lawrence was so excited about it, the church is committed to bringing the gospel this project.

Here is the old abandoned Fisher Projects

The new Fisher Projects

Here are some pics from the job site.  This particular house had 4-6 foot of water, fortunately she is off the ground about two feet, so she was able to save some of the plaster work.

We met some neighborhood kids.

Here are some pics of the group working with kids from the Fisher Projects.

Hey Everyone back home,

I just have quick minute to write to you.  We got back from the job site and the VBS site and cleaned up.  We are getting ready to leave again for a block party tonight at the Fisher Projects not to far from the church.  I will post some pics tonight unfortunately I don't have time right now.  Please continue to pray for us.  The house work is hard, but everyone is doing a good job.  The VBS site is very challenging as most of these kids are what we would consider inner-city, but I know God is going to use us in a mighty way this week.  Write back soon.

Check back here June 24th - 30th for pictures and stories from New Orleans.

Pray for us, start now.  The names are listed below.

Carr, Zachary	Hall, Angie	Riggs, Glen
Comer, David	Hollis, Robin	Rogers, Erica
Comer, Emily	Hollis, Paul	Ruston, Beth
Comer, Maggie	Lamar, Kaylee	Scott, Alan
Daugherty, Dale	Langford, Zachary	Scott, Morgan
Daugherty, Sharon	Lee, Kelly	Scott, Nickolas
Ditter, Brad	Lott, Sara	Schloss, Matt
Ditter, Susi	Martin, James	Schultz, Wanda
Doom, Clifford	Minor, Arica	Shigley, Dara
Doom, Rebecca	Paisley, Chris	Vinson, Christian
Gotcher, Bryan	Peerman, Julie