Reflections on
New Orleans Trip:

By: Donovan Groh

Powerful doesn’t even begin to describe it.  An experience like this can’t be put into words, only feelings.  As we, the group, drove down I-10 towards New Orleans I saw a change in everyone - a change in their eyes, and a change in their attitudes.  What once was a van filled with laughter and games turned into pure silence and awe as we drove the last 30 miles into the city.  It is not possible to find a way to write that would give readers a clear image of the complete destruction that littered the area.  Rebuilding the city seemed like an impossible task.  For one building, though, we gave new life.  A community center in Gert Town, a place where citizens joined often for friendship and activities, was a project that we tackled head on.  Tireless effort was put into tearing up the floors, breaking down walls, and ripping up insulation.  The thought on everyone’s mind at this point was how much could we actually help this place in one week?  We knew that it would be a drop in a bucket for what needed to be done, but once we got the Community center shaped up, the impact of what we were doing was finally understood.  It takes those drops in the bucket to equal a full pale of water.  With that in mind it was inspiring to see the inexhaustible effort put forth by all of my new friends on this spiritually enlightening and faith strengthening journey.