Thoughts from the New Orleans Airport...

Vanessa – The best thing about this week was getting to know everybody and getting to work with a great group of people. I’ll never forget gutting the house on the last day. The trip was so much fun.



Joanna - My favorite memory was meeting Miss Cora and working on her house. The best thing about her was her colorful personality. I had a fantastic time and I would do it again in a second.



Jensen – It’s been a really fun week and we all meshed together as a group. It’s sad to leave, but we leave with a feeling of accomplishmnet as we get back to our own lives.

Lindsay – I thought it was sad, but it made me feel better that I could help. I had a really good time.



Torrey – This trip was amazing. I learned many new skills that helped me to help people of New Orleans, which I really enjoyed. I’m really sad to leave and I wish I could do more for the city. I hope to come back as an intern sometime soon. The end.

Brittany – I finally accomplished my goal of helping New Orleans and I feel like I made a big impact on their lives.

Nicky – I think that the most important thing was that we just got to meet each other and know each other really well. And we got to know each other helping the people of New Orleans. It was just a great experience.



Heather – There are too many memories and great moments between all of us because we all got to bond and become really close. The most rewarding thing is leaving at the end of the week and seeing the physical change – leaving it behind you.



Rachel – I had an amazing time this week meeting new people, especially our chaperones (Mommy Kim & Aunt Sarah) and all of the youth on this trip. My favorite memory was the awesomely awesome sod roll (three times bigger than Rachel herself :) which we rolled up off of the street.

Katie – It was an amazing trip, and I’m glad to have been able to help plan it. It came off as well as I expected it would. I can’t wait for the next one!



Sophie – I had the best trip of all, and I met amazing people, and I feel like a better person because of this trip.



Corey - Best trip ever.



Ellen – It’s been real, but it’s time to go home. I had an amazing time.



Alyssa – Pain is temporary. Pride is forever.



Kim – If I ever hear another person say that kids today are apathetic I will point to these 16 youth and consider myself proud to be an influence in their lives.

Hank – Our one team with one dream far exceeded our goals and expectations. It was a pleasure working with seventeen young adults and the other adult leaders of the group. I look forward to seeing everyone and working with everyone in the near future.

Sarah – I am so proud of how hard everyone worked, and how well the group worked together and supported one another. I can’t wait for the next trip!!

Brian – If you parents are even remotely thinking of putting your children up for adoption, I get first dibs.

Joan – Me too. I’m so proud of all of these kids. They accomplished so much and made a difference for other people and for themselves.

Demery - New Orleans is a better place because of this talented, bright, joyful, strong, committed group of teens and adults! All over the city people thanked us for coming to be present with them -- not only the people we worked for and with, but strangers on the street, waiters, car rental associates, airline ticket agents, diners in restaurants, fellow worshippers at the Cathedral. But truly the work we did was just a drop in an ocean (as I heard Joan say this week). The people of New Orleans want for us to remind the world that New Orleans is still here - still a wonderful place to be and still very much in need of help.

Thanks be to God for a rowdy, joyous, safe and transforming week!