When going into mission, I didn’t really know anyone and was really shy. After Saturday night at the Steubenville conference, I became much more open and was just bursting with energy. Throughout missions I have opened up and have met some amazing people. I also found out some things from God which I was wondering about, which is an amazing feeling! I know when I’m older I will be involved with the church and that I will always be in contact with the people from my first mission trip, and all! Wes says all the time, “ The mission never ends, it just changes location.” It’s true whether we acknowledge it or not. Missions has definitely changed my life. I know I will be a returning missionary!
Jeremy Parker
I have had two older brothers go on missions over the past few years and this year I finally got to go. This mission trip changed my life for sure and I sort of expected it to. What probably changed me the most was the Steubenville on the Bayou Conference! We praised God in such and amazing way and of course we still had our fun with games and chants. Then we actually got into the city of Nawlins and we got to stay at the Center of Jesus the Lord. This place was truly amazing and the people there are the nicest and most blessed people. Then we finally got to do our ministries which included Free Prayer, ACT, Vacation Bible School and much more. Through these ministries we are working hard and sweating like a dog out there in that constant 90 degree heat. But we also got to meet some of the friendliest people ever. Through this mission trip, I have strengthened my spiritual life to the highest it has ever been. But I also made a whole ton of more friends. I just thank you all for supporting us, praying for us, and organizing it all.
John Ryan
This was an interesting week and a half for me because I came down here looking forward to doing many ministries from last year like Project Lazarus and VBS. That plan basically fell through pretty quickly on my first day of ministry because instead of getting to do all of those ministries I had so looked forward, God had a different plan for me. Monday morning, a man that goes by the name of Charlie, needed help rebuilding a grotto (shrine) at the Center and Jason Morich, Mike Brasie and myself sort of fell right into it. When we finished Monday, Charlie asked all of us to come to 7:00 AM Mass with him so we could start work early. Of course, we were all thinking ‘no big deal, seven o’clock is easy.” We had no idea how difficult that it would become! Monday through Thursday I woke up before the 7:00 AM Mass and worked from 8 until 4:30-5:00PM except Thursday when we finished early and I joined a Free Prayer group. Friday, none of us made it to morning Mass. We were exhausted, but we finished Friday early afternoon and I got to VBS for a while which was awesome because I had wanted to really bad. Through all of this pain and exhaustion, I learned how to die to myself and put others in front of myself and how to place God above all. I am a terrible carpenter and I couldn’t figure out why I was supposed to be working there and about mid-week I was fed up and angry, because it seemed like I couldn’t do a thing right and I wanted to quit. But I stuck through it and the rewarding feeling I got at the end of our work was really worth it. Humility and self-sacrifice is very important when doing the Lord’s work and I’m glad I experienced that first hand and hopefully, I won’t forget those lessons soon.
Ann Scott
Daily living had become very stressful for me and then we went to Steubie on the Bayou and God reminded me that He’s the one really in charge! Eucharistic Adoration always reminds me about how awesome our God is! He reaches out to each and every one of us in so many different ways and each of us feels so fulfilled! For me, He showed me again that He can take care of my world without my help and that I only need to listen and follow Him.
Listen and follow is exactly what I did when we returned to New Orleans. In the past I had taken on too many of the daily jobs of shopping and cooking and helping to clean up the kitchen and dining hall and was totally exhausting! This year I let go and had 2 angels- Denise and Sue take over the shopping and cooking which allowed me to concentrate on our daily ministries. Since there were only 7 adults, most of us drove to one of the sites each day. I renewed my friendship with Miss Ava and her husband Tracy when I took a group of teens over to her home. Ava’s Victorian house had just been restored to its former glory when Katrina hit and flooded the house with 10 feet of salt water that remained for 2 weeks! I first met them in June of 2006, 10 months after Katrina. The first floor had been gutted to the studs and they were still fighting with the insurance company. This year their house had become their home again. The teens helped to repaint and clean. Besides fixing their house, Ava has fought breast cancer with surgery, chemo and radiation and has come out of both experiences more faith filled and still trusting in God! Trace actually told the teens that “Katrina was the best thing that had ever happened to him” They told their story of staying at the Center during the actual hurricane experiencing the stain glass windows in the church blowing in on them. Ava now laughs and says she was blessed because she found the face of Baby Jesus which is the center of the largest window still intact on the church floor. She was so thrilled. Then they tried to find out about Ava’s mom who lived in the lower 9th Ward. Trace rode a bicycle against the flow of evacuees until the National Guard told me that the lower 9th was under 22 feet of water! Later they found out Ava’s mom had been sent to the Super Dome. They found her and took her with them when they evacuated. Miss Ava’s mom was visiting for the first time since she evacuated when we were there. My group did not have the opportunity to meet and visit with her but others did.
Trust in God and abide Faith sustained Ava and Trace. Another life lesson for me—
Trusting God was really brought home to me every night at worship. Every night we would come together, tell our experiences for that day and then sing praises and give ourselves to God. These teens are amazing! They trusted and had faith and God showed up! There was such a feeling of joy and peace that enveloped me every night. The gifts I truly needed to refocus and re energize myself. God ministered to each of us just what we needed. Praise the Lord! Thank you Jesus!
Chris Slawson
My New Orleans mission trip was an amazing experience! I spent time helping a girl named Trachelle learn to read better. She is 16 and just learned to read because she has dyslexia. For years and years the New Orleans school system has had such big challenges that she went unnoticed and didn’t get help. Three summers ago I diagnosed her because that is what I specialize in. I put together a program for her and have been teaching her every summer and consulting with Miss Libba McHenry, a type of youth minister that lives in New Orleans referred her to me.
Trachelle went to an overcrowded school before Hurricane Katrina and an understaffed on after, that couldn’t meet her needs. Because her family is so poor, they couldn’t get her into a better school. Though now, through Libba’s persistence and advocacy, she goes to a really good school, a new charter school. Actually, this summer Libba received a literacy kit for dyslexics that I was able to use with her. Then I brought materials with me for her and for the other teens from team #11 to keep using with her. Trachelle also came back to the Center with us every day and joined us in outings. This is the highlight of her year.
Trachelle has had a very hard life, but she is such a great witness of God’s love. When she told our group about her story of what happened at the Super Dome during Hurricane Katrina, we were astounded! It was horrific and she is lucky to be alive.
I am so thankful to God that He helped me find this very special and beautiful girl. Even though we look nothing like each other and aren’t even the same skin color, our bond is so strong that she calls me Mom. That blesses me immensely. Praise God!
Jessica Smith
This mission trip was such an awesome, life changing experience and I am happy I decided to do it! The first night during worship I was wondering what everyone was doing and I was so confused and honestly really wanted to go home. But I was trapped there so I made the best of it. Steubenville was the best experience ever. Worship became my favorite thing and the ministries made me feel so good about my self by just helping someone. This was one of the best 10 days of my life! I am already counting down the days until next year’s trip.
Allie Virgilio
This mission trip has really opened my eyes. Before coming here, I really didn’t 100% believe that God was a big part of our lives, and I didn’t really think He was involved in our lives. I didn’t exactly feel His presence, and I blamed Him for all the bad things that have happened. But now that I’ve come here and actually experienced God, I do believe that He wants the best for me, and everyone else, and I believe that God brings people happiness. I have opened my heart to so many new things, and it enabled me to experience a great mission trip! I also loved meeting all the new people in New Orleans. Miss Libba was my biggest inspiration. She is the most selfless person I have ever met in my life. She gives so much and rarely receives even a thank you. This past week, I got to show her that she is appreciated and loved for all she does, and that was really a blessing. All in all, my time in New Orleans has been inspiring, unique, and life changing!
Matt Biederwolf
I’ll start by saying my name is Matt Biederwolf, but a large portion of the people involved with missions probably don’t even know that. They call me Biederwolf or now even Father Kaim. Those are only two of my about fifteen nicknames.
Anyway, New Orleans 10 was my second mission’s trip. I went on New Orleans 8 last year as a newbie and really found God in a new and stronger fashion then just Religious Ed. and Mass every Saturday. My journey started before that though. My first prep retreat helped me to focus and inspired me to find more in my faith. I’ll tell you this; I have found out more out about myself and my faith then I could ever have imagined.
God is always calling us to do things, but sometimes we don’t always hear all He says. Both missions I’ve been on, I have really doubted myself and my faith to the point of not feeling like going. But in a way, that worked out just fine, it helped me to find my path in life. My greatest memory will always be the two families I have joined through god during missions.
The best thing for me: well it has to be the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit always brings joy into people lives, but the gifts go even further then that. They help you, and me reach farther and higher in faith. I have three of the gifts that I now know of (tongues, prophesy and knowledge) and I can’t be anymore thankful for them. I can’t forget though, worship because that is where everything is started up for me and where most of my growth in faith has occurred.
The reason, if you were to ask why I love God so much is because He leaves me so much. All I have comes through God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Anyone who is open can receive what I have too. God cares so much.
To finish it all up, Missions has opened new doors and showed me new things. They also have helped me develop relationships that will never end. I’m just thankful to have the opportunity to learn and build myself in faith. PTL!! God Bless!!
Mike Brasie
“Whatever you eat or drink do for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Working in one hundred degree weather everyday, its easy to forget about God and just get pissed off. By the end of the Tuesday, I didn’t want to spend one more day outside. But then I remembered Rugby practice and how we would offer up our sufferings for other people. I began to put that into practice and give up my sufferings to God because I knew it was to bring him glory. AMDG.
Grant Bright
These past ten days have been some of the best in my life! It was amazing. I knew I had a relationship with God, just not a strong one. After going to Winter Extreme twice I thought I was ready to go on a mission. I really didn’t know anyone going into it, but in the end I have forty-nine new friends. This trip has changed my life, I have become way closer to my God, even though I was sick pretty much the whole time. It was still great. From Free Prayer to Intercessory Prayer, God never gave up on me. I also worked on Ms. Libba’s it was really gross I mean cockroaches, termites, and geckos aren’t the best. Also, this shed was pretty big and it was stacked top to bottom with garbage from a toilet to paint cans and even doors. But it was amazing how grateful she was that we were there. Another thing that happened down there was I learned how to freestyle rap which was an adventure in itself. But every night we did worship which was amazing. Adam Smyth and Jason Liuzzi were awesome. It was a great time to open up to God, whether its praying, resting, or reading it’s amazing. The Center or in New Orleans the “Centa” was a great place to stay with Dawnell. Woah she is a crazy woman but it’s fun to be with her. Also, Father Perera and Father Lance both warmed up to us and were excited. New Orleans is a great city but needs a lot of rebuilding still and a ton of God and Holy Spirit needs to be brought back. It has been an amazing experience. I love and am really close with God and I love this mission trip so much I will never forget them.
Marianne Collard
These past ten days on missions have been a life changing experience. In the beginning I didn’t know everyone and was a little scared, but by the end I knew everyone and our team was like one big family. I grew so much stronger in my faith and loved growing closer to God. One of my favorite parts on mission trip was just praying. I loved going to New Orleans and it was so much fun!
Connor Crowe
This was my second mission trip to New Orleans, and the one thing I noticed was that it was completely different to the one that I went on last year. I figured I would be doing ministries that required physical labor like gutting out a house. I actually spent most of my time doing intercessory prayer. Which is a small chapel with three or four other people praying to God while others out doing other ministries. Really you don’t know what God’s plan is, because sitting in that chapel for those three days actually made my relationship with him grow stronger. It’s when I finally said “Crow stop thinking, and start doing” and opening my heart to God completely I was able to do his will. Believe me when God wants you do something, your going to do it whether you like it or not, because there is always a purpose for you being there. In my case he used me to warn others about where they were heading, that where they were wasn’t exactly there were supposed to be, and they needed to turn around. I learned that even though our team members might be doing something different each day, we were still connected, still working together. One thing I found amazing was when I met Sal. My free prayer group was coming in for a break and we went into the dining hall where our other team members were sitting at a table listening to this guy Sal giving his testimony on how he came to know Christ. Then I started talking with after he gave his testimony, and he said, “I’m going to take you guys, and were going to go pray.” So a bunch of us from free prayer hopped in the back of his truck and we headed toward the Cathedral in Jackson Square. So we’re praying in front of the Cathedral, while Sal is standing in back watching and praying for us. An extraordinary thing happened, within five minutes; we had three other missionary groups come pray with us. After the last group left Sal comes up to us and says, “You see there God’s telling ya’ll that he has an army building up.” That day didn’t end; later Sal came up to me and told to read a part in Ezekiel. It was chapter 37, the Valley of dry bones. The most important thing about that chapter is that it’s saying we Christians must give life to others, the same life that we have because we know God. This trip has changed my life, and I can’t wait to go back next year.
Jessica Gascho
Over these past ten days, I have seen God in everyone’s eyes. I started out nervous and shy. Through out this mission I’ve become closer to God and have made friendships that will last a lifetime. I know that coming home, I will spread that name of God and will show everyone how much this experience impacted me. The people I have met here in New Orleans really effected my life. I realize my life is a lot easier than I thought Ms. Ava was the sweetest person and showed me how the smallest things can make her day. I’m sure none of us newbies ever could’ve dreamed of how much faith was in us and the people around us. None of this could have ever happened without the presence of God. God was in everything- our eyes, ours hands, our heads, the Center, the streets of New Orleans, but most of all our hearts. This mission trip was a contagious disease of faith, love, hope, peace and happiness. The reason for everyone working hard is God. I am very happy god called me to do this missions trip and all the activities in between. Even though many things scared me, I followed what He was telling me to do. Coming into missions I was nervous, shy and even scared. But through out the memories, the laughter and the smiles on everyone faces I know that this trip will be in my mind, soul and heart. This mission trip will forever be in my heart.
Carolyn Gorski
I have to say this being my fourth mission trip it was one for the ages. This was my second trip to New Orleans and it was AMAZING. But I wasn’t always so stoked to come, I was actually very nervous and scared to come because I tend to rely on people a lot and the people that I rely on most weren’t coming with me so I thought I would just crawl back in my shell that I lived in for quite some time. But it was the other way around. Everyone here made me feel so welcome and it was AMAZING. We all got along very well right from the start. With the boys, they’re a great bunch of guys and they definitely included me with their jokes and fun. With the girls I really felt that I could go up to any of them and have a conversation with them but also have a blast! These people truly helped me break out of my shell for good! (I would like to think that I no longer have a shell). They helped me and showed me how I could grow in my relationship with God and on this I truly think I have. Three of the days on mission I did Intercessory Prayer and it was AMAZING all three days. Prayer is the main source that keeps us connected with God and to tell the truth I have been lacking in that a lot lately, but with the help and guidance of my friends I grew in my prayer life this week. I can truly say that I have grown so much in my faith and I am just so excited because this isn’t the end this is just the beginning of all of us. The first day Wes asked us to say one word or phrase to describe the trip so far and I said “life changing”. And this trip is truly life changing.
Erinn Hilt
At the start of the mission trip I wasn’t very close with God, but I still did believe in Him. When everything started I was scared out of my mind, but once we got on the bus and all started talking I felt welcomed. There was never a dull moment from start to finish and I loved it all. But because of this whole experience my faith with God has grown so much and hope for it to grow even more. And I’d just like to thank everyone on this missions because if it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be the changed person I am today!
Donna Juliano
Going on a mission trip has been on my heart for quite some time. My youngest son John had been on two mission trips with SEAS-one to New Orleans and one to Toronto and he had loved it! So when I recently made my “bucket list”, a mission trip ranked among my top entries. As my son John led to serve with the Peace Corps in Kenya, he said to me, “ Mom, I challenge you to go on a mission trip.” It stirred my heart even more. After encountering an adult leader at Walmart one day, I talked to her about the concerns I still has. She put these concerns to rest. I then felt a strong tug from God and knew this was the time to sign up for the mission trip.
What a jam packed ten days the trip was! The Steubenville on the Bayou conference was an uplifting, spirit filled way to begin the trip. God’s love was so evident.
The ministry of the mission trip came in many forms. Others were served, those in our group were served, and unexpected opportunities came up to serve. Joy and love just permeated through out the group! Seeing the youth people so faith filled and giving and loving, always with smiles, sure gave me a strong hope for the future of our world. Being a newbie, I found the adult leaders being my “guardian angles” through out the mission trip. God gave me a sense of peace and I felt him with me along the way.
Talking with the people of New Orleans gave me and new appreciation for what they went through with Hurricane Katrina. It was a very humbling experience. I saw the hope and perseverance they have, along with happiness and love of their people and community.
What an intense week! Together we worked hard with lots of sweat, prayed with so much love and praise of God, and played with excitement, fun and laughter. We became a close knit family, bonded in love and faith. When I signed up for this mission trip I did so because I wanted to give so much to others. Instead I felt I received so much more than I gave.
Brendon Knaizer
I’d love to say that this mission trip to New Orleans changed my life. But I can’t, it didn’t change my life but it defiantly improved it. Before this trip, I had a relationship with God. To most people, it would have appeared strong, but in comparison to the relationships some of my fellow missionaries had. It wasn’t the best. But then we went to the Stuebenville Conference where amidst all the chants and “O’s” it almost impossible to change without learning something about your own faith. And that’s just the beginning. Then we went back to “Naw’lins” where we got to stay in a place that was way better than any hotel, The Center of Jesus the Lord, right in the French Quarter. And there, you don’t decide what you do God does. We let God tell us what we should do whether it would be Free Prayer or helping out amazing people like Ms. Ava or ACT, a new ministry this year. I helped out with ACT for most of the week. ACT stands for All Congregations Together, and we spent the week going around the 9th Ward, ( the area hardest hit by Katrina), taking surveys to find the needs of the locals and I met some of the most amazing people there. Most were exactly like us, just down on their luck. And that thought is what really brought me closer to God. So I can’t say my life changed but it got way better. I formed so many new friendships and strengthened many others. All I can really say is that I can’t wait for next year.
Kristin Kozlowski
This trip was the most amazing experience in my whole life. A few weeks before this I didn’t want to go on this at all. The first day I got here I wanted to go home so badly, I thought this place wasn’t where I belonged. When we go to Steubenville Saturday during worship Chris Slawson came up to me and hugged me from that point on I knew I belonged and everyone cared for everyone. I felt God in every person there, it was like a second family to me. Everyday we did our ministries I knew God was calling me to the certain place. This mission trip was awesome. I can’t wait for next years!
Emily Lenzini
These past ten days have changed my life forever. This was my second mission trip down to New Orleans and I was so excited to see what God has planned. The first weekend of the trip we attended Steubenville on the Bayou, which is a catholic teen conference. At Steubie I experienced the most powerful Adoration I had ever experienced. After the conference we went back “home” to the Center of Jesus the Lord. There is something unexplainably amazing about that place. God shows up all the time and it’s awesome! Through out the week we had different ministries to discern about then go to. Towards the end of the week I went to Ms. Libba’s she has a huge shed in her backyard that was full of wood collected after Hurricane Katrina. However, once it was collected there was no place to put in so it was all shoved and stacked ever which way in the shed. So our team got t he privilege of cleaning the cockroach infested shed and starting to rebuild the roof. It was hot and humid while we were working but none of that mattered because we were able to take such a load of Ms. Libba. My faith was strengthened in so many ways this past week, I was out of my comfort zone in many ways and I am so thankful to god that I got the privilege to attend this year’s mission trip. God Bless.
Jessica Link
During this mission trip, I became a lot closer to God. Before this trip, I believe in God and knew he was there, but never had a close, personal relationship with Him. I now have a better relationship then I thought I would have. I know feel that I can trust in God and I really know that he always loves me. I saw Him at work when he took the pain away from my ankle for a short time for the first time in four months. I always want to have a close relationship because it has really made a difference in my life and I feel like it has made me a happier, better person.
Gina McLaren
My experience here has been unforgettable. I met people who touched my life in ways that I cannot explain. I found myself worshiping God in a new way that was stronger and more devoted to him. I have never known that people could rest in the Spirit or help people rest in the Spirit. When we were at the weekend conference, I felt God in a whole new way. By resting in the Spirit, I found myself trusting those around me to catch me and bring me to the floor safely. I have never experienced a week like this in my whole life. Even though I experience many, many good things, there was still the time when a man came up to me when I was helping with Feeding the Hungry. That was the scariest time of my life, but I knew I was not alone. Even though people did not come to me aid and get me away, God was helping me keep clam and smile when I wanted to cry. I just thank God for the experience that will make me a stronger person and I am glad that no one had to go through it. I know that they would have taken it differently than I did and to be honest I was glad to take that heat away from any of them. Because it was their religion that was getting trashed and I am glad that God put me through it. It showed me that after a few days I totally loved and cared for all of Team 10. And I felt their love for me when I told them my story. Knowing that they were happy for me presence and noting how strong I was to stand there with a smile, was very rewarding and I would/will do it again for any of them. I have a huge family here and I am glad I can call them my brothers and sisters. I know I will have to leave them and go back to Washington but their faces will be in my heart forever.
Melissa O’Connor
Before this trip I did not believe in God at all. I believed that there was a guy named Jesus and the rest seemed to be fantasy. My true journey of Christ began at survivor camp. Being in the chapel with all of those teens who believed in all the same thing and were so open to new people was unbelievable. I left survivor camp believing in God and everything, but I had a lot of questions that I needed answered. We had arrived at Steubie and the amount of teens that were in that room offering and surrendering themselves up to God was so powerful and overwhelming. Steve O. and Adam Tudor helped explain everything to me which really helped my “transformation” to becoming a true catholic. The worship and praise that happened at Steubie will never be forgotten. Back at the Center of Jesus the Lord I met even more people who welcomed me with open arms…literally. Everyone was willing to talk and take the time out of their day and explain everything.
The ministries really helped me grow in my faith because I was so able to see personally the impact that I made. Seiser, Seanna, and Ellen really made me believe that I belonged there if I was struggling with anything oh yeah and Adam Tudor as well. The Center has honestly become my second home with everyone as my family. This trip has no doubt changed my life forever. My relationship with god was formed. I came on this trip hoping to gain two things, a relationship with god and forgiveness of my past. I obtained both and owe it all to my parents for forcing me to go on this awesome trip.
Chris O’Reilly
This trip to New Orleans has changed my life forever. From the moment I landed in New Orleans I was very nervous about what was going to happen because I was a newbie and didn’t know what to expect. As soon as I went to Steubenville everything changed. I felt like I belonged there and that God wanted me there. All of the veteran mission team members really made an effort to know me and to become friends with me. After Steubenville it felt like one big family and that we had all known each other our whole lives. At the start of the “work week” I started to get nervous again and didn’t know what to expect, but after the first day of Intercessors, I felt like I could do everything there. So through the week I spent time enjoying the work I did and enjoying myself. This week has been the best start to a summer vacation ever! I wouldn’t take back one second of it!
Sue Schulz
There are really no words that accurately and clearly describe a mission experience to New Orleans. After attending my first trip last year, returning for another had been tugging at my heart all year. I was sure that this desire was of my own wishes and this was not going to be the year for me to go back; however God had other plans. I prayed on this summer’s missions for several months and had “decided” to take a pass this year and will consider going back next year. Listening skills are not my strongest suit. God made his plans very clear to me about 6 weeks before the team left, when they found themselves short adults and asked me to consider attending. Thank you Jesus!!! The benefits and rewards are far too numerous to count.
How could this experience measure up to the invaluable lessons learned, the lifelong friendships made with so many youth and adults alike that you cannot help but fall in love with, or the deep relationship with God that I discovered last year? Well let me tell you – the lessons learned are far greater – the relationships built have been even stronger and the time with God – unbelievable!
After an incredible youth conference at Steubenville on the Bayou – we returned back to New Orleans Sunday evening and were invited to join in on a prayer walk through the streets of New Orleans with an amazing mix of people and music led by the Archbishop carrying the Monstrance for about a mile. We found ourselves joining in fellowship with so many of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. It was a true testimony of the enormous faith shared by the people in New Orleans.
The week was tireless with the youth and young adults. I found energy and strength to continue forward through them that I thought would never return! They are filled with so much life and love that it is completely contagious. I find myself in awe of each and every one of them and the many special gifts they all have to offer.
On our last Saturday there – after working day and night ministering to others in so many different ways, there were no plans for any ministries that day. I would have expected the youth to take “me time” and enjoy a day of relaxation. They amazed me again. Someone suggested praying in front of the abortion clinic and we ended up with 3 van loads of kids sitting out in the heat lovingly and devotedly praying with caring hearts, hoping to touch the lives of others. I was so proud and impressed with all of them. I have much to learn and I hope to spend more time with all of them.
If you want to stay young in life – spend time with the youth – they are a real treasure that we must truly appreciate!
Airin Virgilio
Going into this mission trip, I had absolutely no idea what my experience would end up being, other than the many stories of previous missions from siblings and friends. All I knew was that this was going to be that one great experience that changed my life- and I was right!
Our first day of traveling was a long, tiring and drawn-out day that drained many of us newbies' excitement in a matter of hours. But once we got to the Steubenville Catholic Youth Conference, we all experienced God's amazing love as well as the love we had formed for one another.
Starting Monday, back at the Center, the whole team was pumped up and ready to go. Throughout this trip I made some connections and relationships I never knew could even be possible. I was able to hear some of the most incredible stories from Hurricane Katrina survivors. These people had more faith and hope in their hearts than my whole neighborhood (back at home) put together.
At first, it was hard and even scary to open up so much, but I am so glad I did, because this trip made me get a whole new perspective on life. I've made so many great friends that I know will be there many years to come -
And I also found myself in all of this crazy, sweaty, awesome chaos that was my New Orleans Team 10 mission trip.
I am so overjoyed and thankful to have met every person I did, and every place I was able to go. My faith after this will continue to grow, all because God brought me here.
Brandon Seiser
As I woke up a few days before we left for New Orleans, I was questioning my presence as a team member. I had had a bad couple of months in terms of my faith. I still went, hoping that my God would forgive and allow me to have a great trip.
The first major point in our trip was the Steubenville on the Bayou Catholic Youth Conference. At this conference, I realized how great it is to be Catholic and what can happen when we are open to God. Also I learned all about the Mass, which was the first time I learned what each part was and why it is done. After the conference, I felt great and was excited about doing the ministries in New Orleans.
Free Prayer is a ministry where small groups walk around the French Quarter holding a sign that reads, "Free Prayer!" I got to hear a lot of great stories from people who we prayed with. Over the whole trip, this was my favorite ministry.
Towards the end of the trip, I felt that I was able to make connection with my God and now I feel that I will be able to keep that connection strong forever.
