Thursday

Thursday-
While Thursday is our last full day in New Orleans, it's also one of our most meaningful days for our students. Not only do they get to see the fruits of their labor like the fence being built and house painted, but they also realize just how strong the relationships with the locals they have built when they have to say goodbye. Today we finished off our work sites and the students did great! We then took everyone down to the French Quarter to do some sightseeing. This is a wonderful time where students get to experience the New Orleans culture through local food and jazz music. When we were done with that we spent the evening at our last VBS night. At the end of VBS, the people of New Birth Missionary Baptist awarded each student with a certificate that declared them to be honorary citizens of New Orleans.
It has been a great week and there will be stories to tell for a long time. Please pray as we start our travel home Tomorrow. God Bless.

Wednesday

Wednesday-
Today was a true New Orleans experience for our students. We started of the day doing work projects again. The fence we are building around the community is taking shape and the painting at the widow's (Shiela) house is looking great.
Then we had a great surprise for lunch. Our students got a chance to taste true New Orleans food (besides their regular lunch). Pastor Stewart treated us to an authentic crawfish boil as well as some turkey necks. Not all students had the courage to try them, but the ones that did loved it! Then after lunch we took them for Sno-balls, which are Sno cones but a lot better.
We topped the day off with VBS and building more relationships. Pleas pray for us to continue to draw on Gods strength.

Tuesday

Tuesday-
What a great day! Today we worked before lunch and participated in VBS in the evening. God has been moving in great ways. Not only have the students over-achieved in the work projects by making the community better, but they have truly been great at building relationships. Seeing our OBC students mingle and love on the people in this area has truly been a blessing.
God has also helped us weather wise each day. Everyday, we have had great weather for our work times and it hasn't started raining until we are done. Please pray this trend continues.
God Bless!

Monday

Monday-
Our first full work day lived up to its expectation of being hit and productive. We had work team begin clearing a lot to put in a children's play area and clearing out the weeds from the community garden. During the work day, students had numerous community members drive by and thank them, grab some veggies from the garden, and even help in the labor! This is awesome since we talked about relationships tonight and how we show the love of God to all. Speaking of showing the love of God to all, one of our students has even taken this to another level by reaching out to the hotel staff where we are staying. While I was standing at the check-in counter tonight to ask about something, this boy saw one of the ladies that works at the desk and said "Hey Victoria!" And she replied right back "Hey Matthew! How are you tonight?". I guess he has been having great conversations with her and the night manager and has begun showing the light if Christ to them. Haha Awesome!
Tomorrow we will continue our work projects in the morning and have vbs tomorrow night. I also have a surprise for the students after lunch tomorrow. I am taking them for New Orleans Sno Balls (New Orleans version of snow cones but MUCH better)
Please pray for continued strength and good weather. God Bless!

Sunday

Sunday-
Today was a GREAT day. We started by going to worship with the church we work with in the upper ninth ward, Carver Desire Baptist Church. The students were able to experience worship like they never had in the 2 1/2 hour service. After service we provided lunch for the church and our team and then had some church members give us a tour of New Orleans.
This evening was just as special as we were treated to dinner by our other partner church, New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. The great meal consisted of fried chicken and red beans and rice. After dinner our students hung out with the local teens from the church playing basketball before returning to the hotel for our team time.
Tomorrow we start our work projects. Please pray for safety and for our students to be truly used by God.

Saturday

We arrived in New Orleans safe and sound. While we could probably push it and make the trip from Olathe to New Orleans in one day, breaking up into two not only helps everyone keep their sanity, but gives the students more bonding time on the road.
After arriving and getting settled we had our first team time where we talked as a team about some of our anxieties about the coming week and how God has truly chosen us to be His ambassadors. Tomorrow will be our first day spent with our friends from inner city New Orleans. I can't wait to worship with them as we come together as a family.

"So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 1 Corinthians 5:20 (NLT)

New Orleans 2014 Is Coming!!

New Orleans 2014 is just around the corner!

Please be at OBC at 1pm on July 11th ready to head to the Big Easy!
If you need another copy of the packing list, email dusty at dustyd@olathebible.org.