Submitted by Intern Pastor Sharon Rogers

Click on any of the photos to see a larger version.

Mosquitoes and gnats that defy belief, shortage of stores open to buy basic supplies like food and anti-itch cream; piles of trash still lying everywhere, people going about their business banking on their hopes and dreams to rebuild their homes and their lives. These memories and many, many more are a part of the experience of a group of thirteen students and adults from Lutheran Campus Ministry at Northern Illinois University led by Intern Pastor Sharon Rogers. The group sought to live our their campus ministry mission statement: serving and growing in Christ through worship, outreach and community, by serving in New Orleans/Slidell, Louisiana March 10-19 as a part of Lutheran Disaster Response’s “What a Relief” alternative Spring Break program.

Housed in a tent city known as Camp Hope on the grounds of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (LCMS) in Slidell, the group was a part of over 1100 students, who over the three weeks of Spring Break, were housed at churches and camps across the Gulf Region and participated in a program offered by Lutheran Disaster Response which partnered students and uninsured or underinsured homeowners affected by Hurricane Katrina. Teams worked “mucking out” homes, carrying out ruined furniture, appliances, household and personal belongings, tearing up carpet, pulling down drywall, pulling out nails, shoveling muck and more, and moving it all to the curb for disposal.

As a work team, they went to homes of people who requested assistance with the hard work of debris removal and cleanup. It was easy to feel overwhelmed when first looking in the homes but the team, suited up with safety gear, literally dug in and worked hard. Their ministry, however, wasn’t only about the physical work. Their physical presence was important as well as they worked side by side with homeowners to clear debris, and develop relationships with homeowners and neighbors who trusted them with their stories.

Even with devastation all around more than half a year since the hurricane and floods hit, (block after block, mile after mile of overturned cars, sheds, strewn personal and household belongings, dried crusted muck, wet slippery muck, no water, no electricity) the group found people of faith. Among all the sights, sounds, and smells of the disaster they found life, signs of hope and yet frustration: spring flowers beginning to bloom among debris, hope of life someday being “normal” again, homeowner frustration with insurance companies, FEMA trailers, tour buses driving through devastated neighborhoods with people taking pictures of their homes, the expense of government proposals to rebuild homes with hurricane proof, flood proof, 800 square foot “Katrina Cottages.”

“Our mission trip to New Orleans was the first trip of this kind I have taken” said Lisa Murphy ‘07, Biological Sciences major. “I was shocked at the ruin that still remained as if the hurricane had happened that very week. But the people I met impressed me the most. Everyone seemed happy to meet us and appreciative of our work. They weren’t the depressed and angry victims that I expected to meet. Rather, they showed us how amazing God’s love is for us. We were there to help them, but they wanted to help us. Some brought us a good meal, some made a donation, and some simply smiled and shared their stories with us. Our mission trip gave me a better sense of how different people share God’s love with each other.”

“The trip to New Orleans was unbelievable and amazing. I have seen what it looked like on television before but it is a totally different feeling when you are there. Nothing could have prepared me for what I felt during the week I spent there. Even though we were just throwing material items out into a pile of garbage, it was these people’s lives. Something pointless to me that I was throwing out was something that meant the world to the owners. I would not trade anything for the experience that I had at New Orleans” said Tony Petraitis ‘08, History major.

Chemistry and Biochemistry/Business Administration freshman, Daenna Lundberg, said: “My experience in Louisiana was like none I have ever experienced before. The combination of people, work and fellowship made this trip one of the best. This trip allowed me to learn of the real devastation left by Katrina as well as the hope that has been created because of it. Hearing stories and seeing other volunteers gave proof that God does provide, and that with every tragedy there is a helping hand ready to serve. I am grateful and blessed to have been able to be a part of this experience.”

“Going to the New Orleans area was by far one of the greatest experiences of my life” shares Amanda Kromphardt, junior Meteorology major. “It didn't feel like we had to work at all because everything we did made me feel so good on the inside that I could have been down there for a very long time. The people we met were so nice to us and made us feel welcome. My favorite part of the trip was being able to play with three young kids for an hour who had not had any neighborhood kids to play with in ages. Their happiness is still making me smile, even being back for weeks now. I will never forget this trip.”

“The New Orleans trip was an awesome experience for me. It was difficult to sort through other people’s belongings and see what a person could save and couldn’t. I felt like it was an awesome that people would be willing to share their life with you and open their homes to strangers. It was quit an impact to see the actually damage that the hurricane was able to accomplish. I know they show the damage to you on TV, but it’s so incredibly different and makes a more mental impact on a person when they can look at the damage and see how it actually affected lives. This was a great experience for me and I encourage anyone who can to go and help” said Cindy Hammil ‘08, Teaching and Learning major.

“The spring break mission trip to the Gulf Coast was such an eye opening experience. The families we worked with were so appreciative” shares senior Kinesiology and Physical Education major Mallory Hauk. “It was such a great blessing to serve others who are in need. Through this trip, I realized how important life is and how
quickly your life can change. The essential thing in my life is my faith and relationship with Jesus Christ. No matter what happens, I know that He will always be there to carry me through the hard times. I know that God will provide for those families who have suffered greatly from hurricane Katrina. There are ways to touch lives like Jesus, I am thankful for the opportunity to muck out homes and to continue praying for the
families.”

“The experience that I had on the mission trip will be one that I shall not forget. I went down there wanting to help, but I didn’t realize how much I would be helping. Have the owners of the home there made it so much more worth the trip. Seeing the homeowners as we would find things in tact that they thought were lost gave me a feeling of accomplishment. To know that we were making a difference in someone’s life is quite fulfilling.” Jeff Heath, Computer Science ‘07

“The Spring Break trip to New Orleans stands out as one of the best experiences of my college career” senior music major, Patrick Jenkins, shared. “From the trip there and back, to the people, I was able to experience the journey where many fond memories were made. Perhaps the greatest part of the experience was lending a hand and making a difference in the lives of people who have been displaced for many months. The amount of work we were able to accomplish as a team is amazing to me, and yet is just a drop in a very large bucket in regards to the total work left to be done in the area. Being in the New Orleans area and seeing the destruction taught me how much of the process to rebuild is step by step and requires much patience. The fast-paced way of life so many are accustomed to is slowed and we were forced to deal with the unpleasantness of reality. This is where hope shines through. When relief workers from all over the country come together with one purpose it can't help but bring some hope to the people who suffered loss due to the storms. It was an amazing trip and a life-changing journey.”

Charlie Kim, sophomore Political Science major said, “I saw the true devastation when I went to New Orleans this spring break. I didn’t know how devastating it was in New Orleans because we just don’t hear about them anymore. I didn’t think it would be that bad before I went to New Orleans, but when I actually got there I was shocked how much of damage they have taken. The damage was not only physical but psychological as well. With all that, I saw the work of God in New Orleans. I had all the reasons not to go but I did and God strengthened my faith through this experience. People in New Orleans lost almost everything, but they didn’t lose their faith.”

There is much work that remains to be done in the Gulf Region. Prayers and ongoing support are needed as the recovery efforts continue for people whose whole world has changed will continue for years. Alternative Spring Break programs through groups like Lutheran Disaster Response provide college students the opportunity to respond to God’s love by being the hands and feet of Jesus to neighbors in need. Support for campus ministry helps students like these helps them broaden their world and take the next steps on their faith journey, to continue growing into the community Jesus brought into being, living as the people God calls us all to be.