God of This City

"You're the God of this city,
You're the King of these people,
You're the Lord of this nation,
You are.
For greater things have yet to come,
Greater things are still to be done,
In this city."
-Chris Tomlin

As the trip approaches us (9 days away!) our hearts grow ready.

We have one more big fundraising event this Saturday, a bbq. Our group has come together, and we are all scheduled shifts to work. We will be at our local IGA from 8am until about 4pm selling food, and pouring our hearts out about our trip, I'm sure. Pray for some great weather and community support!

We got our packing list and a short preview of our week in New Orleans this past Tuesday at a group meeting. We are ready to get sweaty and dirty for the Lord! Although we are not exactly sure about what we will be doing in New Orleans, our hearts are open for the work we have set before us.

As a group, we are extremely excited, but for some group members this trip hits even closer to the heart. Two of the team members, Emily Hagedorn and Melissa Studniarz, this wont be their first time visiting the city of New Orleans. For both girls, hurricane relief in New Orleans was their first missions trip. Emily Hagedorn first visited New Orleans in 2007 as a junior in high school. She spent her spring break in New Orleans doing a lot of yard work and gutting houses. She met people there that changed her life forever. She says "That trip was the first time I can honestly say that I experienced what it feels like to not be living for myself." As for Melissa, she says she had a similar experience. Melissa has went on several trips to New Orleans for hurricane relief, the first time being the summer after her freshman year in high school. Melissa got the experience of staying in the 9th ward (the worst area in New Orleans after the hurricane hit) and she gutted houses as well. Melissa says "I got to see things happen that were bigger than myself. I got to see how good God really is. As the trip nears closer, my heart is breaking for these people. It yearns to be with them, helping again." We will all get that chance in 9 days...

Keep our team in your prayers as our departure nears. Pray for open and willing hearts, for finances, and for God's plan for our trip to unfold. God is good!