John shares...

We've asked all those who participated in the trip to New Orleans to share their thoughts about the week...lessons God taught them, highlights, memories, and struggles. Our first entry is from John W. Thanks, John, for sharing your heart...
My highlight of the trip would be spending time with the little kids. It was a gift from God seeing the smiles on the kids' faces despite all the devastation. During this time with the kids, there were 4 of them who I allowed to get on my shoulders. That was fine, but it did get a little tiring. One of the kids who got on my shoulders was a 6 year old kid named Kalvin. He was a very nice kid...really. But when I told him it's time to get off now, he sqeezed his legs so I couldn't get him off. I'm like, "but I'm tired." He said, "You need to exercise more!" Then he made me run. I know I didn't have to run, but I was doing it for him.

When I really looked at what just happened with him saying I need to exercise, I studied it and took it in to deeper thinking. I put it in the way of God saying: "You need to exercise a little more, to be flexible for where I (God) want you. I know you're going to get tired, but you will learn something."

And that's what happened. I learned that I need to exercise my faith, yes, but I also learned that if I would have given up, I would have never seen what God was trying to tell me. "Lemme on yo shoulders!! It's not about you." It's about HIS people, and what we have to give.

I learned that loving God is loving others. -God, -people ( neighbors), then -yourself. Sometimes it seems too hard to love a person more than yourself. But through Christ all things are possible. Being in New Orleans, I personally learned that I need to give ALL I have to God, and give WHAT I have to the people. You know what I have? I have a voice; with that voice I am able to tell people that I love them, Agape...and tell them God loves them.

God is coming and I don't want to be sitting around not saying anything. I want to show the world that God is love and with Christ all things are possible. GOD has given use a voice...let's use it.

~ John W.