Rachel's thoughts...

This trip was such an amazing experience! One of my favorite things we did in New Orleans was the Challenge Circle. As soon as our big vans pulled up, excited kids with huge smiles came running. It was so much fun playing games with them. And even though we usually came home with sore backs and without voices, it was worth it to hear those kids laugh and see their smiles. I met some really sweet kids that I will never forget.

Another thing that really impacted me was the prayer walk. Even though it has been two years since the hurricane, there were still sheds flipped upside-down, toys lying on the ground, and empty lots where homes once stood. Keke, one of the interns, was in New Orleans during Katrina, and she shared her story with us while we were walking and looking at all the damage that was caused by the hurricane. It was such an incredible experience to hear from someone who was actually there and to hear what it was really like during this tragedy.

Through this trip, God has brought me so much closer to Him. I can't even imagine going through something like Hurricane Katrina without Him. To have everything you've ever worked for destroyed from one storm, everything you own ruined, and to lose so many loved ones would be absolutely devastating. If that had happened to me and I didn't have the Lord as my Savior, I don't know how I could carry on. I would feel so hopeless. You can always buy new things, but people are irreplaceable, and so many people lost their lives to Hurricane Katrina, not to mention I'm sure many of them weren't saved either. It's very sad to think about, but that's one of the reasons why it is so important to get out there and share the gospel with others. I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to help the people of New Orleans and serve my Savior, and this experience is something that I will never forget.

~ Rachel