Katrina Relief Urban Plunge (part 2)


Let the rebuilding begin! From Tuesday to Friday, our group worked with Habitat for Humanity. We were assigned to help frame the houses. Although a lot of us were inexperienced, it was quite fun to work along side with over 100 students.

After a days work, we would return back to the church we stayed at in Gentilly. It was at night time that we had community sessions. These sessions were basically times where we would think through, discuss and share our thoughts, feelings, emotions throughout the trip. As staff, we would lead the sessions to help students to process. We started off by talking about rebuilding the city and we used Nehemiah 1 as a way of helping us think about the attitude and mindset we should have as we start. On Tuesday we talked about lamenting for the city of New Orleans and we had students write poems. On Thursday we discussed the internal storms in our own lives and how Jesus can help us each personally through those times. On Friday we shared about the abundant life that Jesus gives to each of us and how it's available to all. There is hope amdist the suffering!

My small group was a great group and it was exciting to hear a lot of their stories and thoughts about the trip. For each of them, it may not have been a mind-blowing, life changing trip, but for most of them, it was good to see them confront the issues of social justice head on and realize that there are many places like New Orleans where there is a cry for help. They realized that a lot happens outside the bubble in which they currently live in and they need to begin to engage with it!

Praise God for great spiritual discussions regarding who Jesus is! We had a BU student accept Jesus through this trip and there have been many others who are starting to investigate who he is. Please pray for continued follow up!

(Next post, 4/21 -> the end of the year is upon us)

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