Many of you have asked about the mission trip I’m attending in Louisiana in a few weeks. I thought I’d fill you in on the details.

I am going with a group of 30 people from Durham Evangelical Church and about 75 UNH college students. We are going to an area about 65 miles south of New Orleans called Buras. It was one of the first places hit by hurricane Katrina and the area is still divested. The purpose of our trip is to work on completing the rebuilding of about 15 homes, as well as to build relationships with the people of Buras, the college students (most of whom are not Christians) and each other.

I feel blessed to have been chosen to participate in this trip. Although, is not just about pounding nails, and cleaning up but about the restoration of lives, the rebuilding of community and the return of normalcy. For me I go into this with many fears but I trust in God to give me the skills needed to accomplish HIS mission. With all the planning and organization that has go into this I know that God will guide us through this week and will stretch us beyond our comfort zone for his name sake. Our reward will be the building of relationships between one another and to live out the grace of God, to be a light in a dark and forgotten town.

For those who are interested, I have attached below links showing the area, as well as pictures/video from the group that went down last year.

I will be gone from 3/13 – 3/22. I would covet your prayers for the safety of our team, the people of Buras and the hearts of all involved.

God Bless You!

Tim

Imagine losing everything familiar to you. You have lost your home, all of your family has lost their homes, and your neighbors have all lost their homes.

The stores you shopped daily are all gone. All the post offices, banks, funeral home, lumber yard, coffee shops, flower shops, gift shops, clothing stores, restaurants, they are all gone. No one living outside the Gulf Coast area can imagine or picture what Post-Katrina life is like here.

This passage is how Patrisha Walker a resident of Buras, LA, has begun to describe her family’s life even now 2 1/2 years after the storm

you can read more of her story from their website

http://www.angelfire.com/la/dwalker

Take a look at this photo showing how the flood water has devastated their town and the whole Plaquemines Parish.

Last year DEC and IVCF sent UNH Students and church members down to Buras, LA to help rebuild their city.

DEC/IVCF video:

There are many more videos and photos how life is still 2 1/2 years later.

If you feel lead to give then contact DEC (www.heartofdec.com) and they can guide you.