Braden's Memories...

The highlight of my trip would be the couple hours a night when we would go to the Projects and play with the kids. While tearing down walls and having cockroaches crawl out all over was fun, the kids were amazing. One boy who stands out in my mind would be Cheddrick. From day one he was on my shoulders and also was on my team for Challenge Circle each night. This boy was amazing. On the last day that we were there, he shared with me how it was for him during Katrina. You don't normally hear a kid's perspective on the disaster. He also shared with me how he did in school and why he wasn't doing summer school when he should have been. He told me of his home life and who he thought Christ was. He told me that I was his best bud and he was never going to forget me. The last day we were going around stealing hats off of interns and at one point he took one and put it on my head saying that I should wear it because I was his best friend. It broke my heart when I had to say good-bye and how he wouldn't want me to go. Playing with these kids taught me that I have a heart for kids, so I went from New Orleans to a bible camp and counseled there.

One other part of the trip that stood out to me would be when we took the 9th Ward tour. I was able to walk around in what used to be an elementary school and see the destruction there. There were computers inside other computers and desks in windows and ceilings caved in. There was one part of the building that was completely caved in and pipes hanging down from the walkways. This just brought the realization that God can destroy anything he wants and this is his Kingdom and he can do with it what he wants or sees fit for it.I took away from this experience that I have a heart for kids and so I plan on working with them more in the next few summers.

~ Braden