Tuesday - Ready to go!

After a crazy first day with the kids, we felt like we knew a little bit more about what to expect today.  Every day starts the same with breakfast, personal devotions, and group devotions.  For group devotions we are reading from the book Radical by David Platt.  We also discuss questions or comments about the day.

Today we had chapel after devotions.  We heard from an intern named Dingo.  He has an amazing testimony of coming to Christ.  He was displaced from New Orleans for the flood and had to leave his Mom in her house with a flood coming.  He found out later she had to chop a hole in the ceiling and get rescued by a helicopter.  He lived in Dallas for a while and got REALLY mad at the world.  He did drugs and drank way too much.  One day he walked in a room and there was a Bible.  It was open to Romans 8:28 and it was like the movies with a light shining it and a light humming of angels, " LAAAAAAAA."  He came back to New Orleans and joined Castle Rock Church.  He has been living for the Lord ever since.

After chapel we had some free time.  We chose to walk about 8 blocks away to a little grocery store.  It was very interesting.  They sold fresh cut meat, but it didn't look like HyVee!  They had pigs tails and other strange stuff.  Soda was cheaper as well, and that is mostly what the kids got.  We also bought apples, as we were craving fruit!  Well, some of us were.

After lunch we had our second day of Day Camp.  Again, we were split up into teams.  Some of us were doing crafts, Bible, and games.  Others went to a basketball ministry in a park.  They try to recruit older teens to church.  One team went on a prayer walk.  In the middle of the walk, a thunderstorm came out of nowhere!  The kids were drenched, but they ended up carrying groceries for people and thought it was worth it.  The work team got soaked as well.  While they were taking shelter in the building, three weed whackers were stolen off the porch.  It was rather frustrating to the leaders.

After supper, we had our Challenge Circles again.  The groups, including Lindsey, Dean, Ryan and Katie, had an area that was too muddy.  They just played with the kids for two hours, and they were exhausted!  It was more tiring for them than the group games.  We had a lot of repeat kids, and some new ones, too.

Wednesday night is talent night, and the whole group is practicing a round with actions and drums.  I will try to video it so you can all see how talented our group is!!!

In the evenings we all get to hang out together.  It is fun to hang out and wind down after a big day.
Thank you all for praying for us.  We are all having fun and getting stretched at the same time. 

Heather - To answer the intern question - Some of the interns (who are in charge of us as volunteers) seem to have other things on their mind like, romance, dating, texting, etc.  It is just kind of distracting for the teens to see.  For example on girl has been texting during the chapel/prayer times.  Some of them seem to be more interested in each other than anything else.  Also some of them don't follow the dress code, which seems silly.  I think our group is pretty much past it now, it was just kind of a shocker at first.  Thanks!


Some of the kids from Challenge Circle.



...Moonddaay..... (Katie's Title)

Lori says, "What should today's title be.."
Katie says, "Hmm...  Monday."

OK

I guess it has been a long day!

We started out the day with a great breakfast of eggs and sausage, then moved to devotions and group time.  We are liking this time of the day, because we are all together. Pat, Carley and I were VERY happy to have some coffee this morning, thanks to a director named "J" - We had been missing it Saturday and Sunday. 

We then heard from the head pastor about poverty and the mind set of the people.  The goal of this ministry is to give the kids a safe neighborhood where kids can ride their bike.   He said the hardest people to love are those that need it the most. 

After some free time, mostly playing basketball, we heard from Urban Bell.  He shared about what culture is, and that we should be careful judging others culture.  We need to find out if it is working or not before we try to change anything.

After lunch, we started day camp.  Some of us worked with the kids, while others did a prayer walk.  Some of us went to the new church area that they have purchased and cleaned up.  The buildings have not been touched since the hurricane.  The new buildings used to be a Catholic Church, school, and convent.

This evening we did our first challenge circles.  There are three of them around the city, all block apart.  It is basically a big Awana Circle with all the kids from the projects, with the interns leading and the kids are the line leaders.

Thanks for praying.  We can really tell.  Everything seems to have gone great today.  No complaints except for some of the interns seem to not be here for the right reasons, and it is obvious to some of the kids.  It kind of bothers them, but we are learning that our attitudes come through with our actions.  It has also shown some of the kids that others are watching them, like we are watching the interns.  They are learning it is important to be a good example.  Everything happens for a reason!  Praise God!!  Even frustrations are blessings.

I am trying to get pictures of everyone.  We are in different groups most of the day so you can probably tell who I am with.  I am sorry that I don't get everyone doing their various activities, but hopefully you can see a variety of what we are doing.

Thank you for your comments.  The girls have read them over and over.  Keep them coming.....

I am TOTALLY facinated how the houses that have been untouched since the flood have plants growing out of them, straight out of the wood.

The kids are having a great time playing basketball.

Working in the new church area was hard, but great to see a change when we were done.

Katie had her face painted with sidewalk chalk by the little girls at Challenge Circle.

Rene dunking the ball.

The boys had a backwards pushup contest.

Sunday - Training Day

After another short night of sleep we were up early for breakfast.  After, we had personal devotions with our group.  Our verses for today were Philippians 2:1-11.  A big message we are learning here is that God is first, everyone else second, and ourselves third. 

While Castle Rock Church had their morning services, we heard a history of the Ministry and a message on evangelism. Then, the team went on a tour of the inner city of New Orleans.  We learned a lot about the projects and that Castle Rock has purchased a new, bigger property for their Mission.  It is amazing to see one fixed up house next to two others that are still destroyed by the hurricane.

We next heard a message from a man who grew up in the projects, grew to hate white people, and then realized he needed to make a difference, and not just be part of the problem.  He educated us on the difference between poverty and being poor.  He explained the mindset of the people here, how they don't even really want to get out.  We were blown away that people don't leave these few block for their entire lives.  They NEVER see any thing else. 

After lunch, we learned about the day camp we are running.  During that time, some of us will be working in the projects, cutting grass, picking up trash, etc.  We are also running a basketball ministry at a local park. 

Challenge Circle is what our evening activities will be filled with.  We will go into the projects and run games, much like Awana games with the children.  We are at three different sites.  We actually played the games and had a great time.

After supper, we had a beautiful prayer time with worship songs.   It ended with singing, and dancing, hm hm.

Thanks for praying.  The kids do not like being split up in groups, and some of the groups are hard to be in.  Please pray that they can concentrate on the service and not the other kids.  Our group is really trying to follow the rules as well, and some other groups are not.  Please continue to pray for us!

Settling down for night...sorta....

After walking about 1/4 mile to east, we chose Wendys and Poppeys.  Not quite traditional cajun cuisine..but they had great soda, or COKE, as it is called here.  Our girls dorm has us piled three high, literally.  We are trying to take showers as eighteen girls are sharing three showers and two toilets.  Yippie!We are already being challenged to be flexible as we may not use our ipod, mp3s, phones, etc.  We will post more of the males tomorrow.  The girls say, "I love you mommy and daddy!!!  We miss you."  And Carley says, "I am SOOO HOT!"  By the way, it was 104 degrees today.

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We are there!!






The church in Tyronza (sp) made pancakes and meat for us.



The floors are HARD



The boys are playing games instead of sleeping!



Thanks so much for praying for us.  We have made it to DownTown New Orleans.  I am posting pictures right now, and will update later.  Everything is good, we are all in the same room on bunks three person's high.  The boys are in a different location than us girls, and when they get back we are walking to St Charles Street to eat.  Will send more later....





We are excited!!!

Our group, here at Morningside Baptist, has met many times, preparing for our mission trip to New Orleans, LA.  We are praying to be God's hands and feet, obeying His call, and to be open to His leading.  We are praying for the youth that we will soon work with.  We pray that their hearts will be parepared by God and that we will be used by Him to win them to Christ or encourage their Walk.  We are also praying that our own hearts have the right attitude of serventhood, as well as for patience for our long trip!  It would be a blessing to all of us if you could join us in this prayer.

And I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.  Philemon 1:6