Student Stories - Ethan K

Hello everybody! This week I have been working mostly inside at Ron’s house but since we finished most of the work early our family group split up and did some different things. Yesterday (Thursday), the team split up so that some stayed and worked with Ron, while the rest of us went with Laurence (a pastor at the church where we are staying) to minister to the homeless in the French Quarter. It was an absolutely incredible experience. We started out with a time of Bible study and worship to prepare ourselves for the day, which ended up lasting for three full hours! What is amazing though, is that God was totally speaking to all of us through this time and our fears were lifted up to Him. From there we went to McDonald’s, bought 25 cheeseburgers and went down to give them to the homeless in the French Quarter. Listening to the peoples’ stories really impacted me and I was continually blessed as we shared prayers with them. Today (Friday) our whole family group went together to the New Orleans Mission. The Mission ministers to the homeless in the lower city providing food, shelter and medical care to those in need, having centers for men, women and families. In addition, it has a discipleship program for men who have struggled with substance abuse, providing them food, shelter and biblical teaching as they serve in the building for a full year. Kim, the volunteer coordinator at the Mission, showed us around the facility (which was absolutely incredible due to the work of many volunteer groups) and split up our group into a gardening team and a clothes sorting team. I was a part of the group sorting the huge bags of donated clothes into labeled boxes (which we did with great efficiency if I do say so myself). However, I have infinite respect for the gardening team for working hard in the hot muggy weather while we were in the air-conditioned dining room. All in all, it was a blast throwing clothes around and trying on everything from humongous dresses (the girls that is…) to thick flannel lumberjack jackets. What a good and enjoyable experience. It was incredibly uplifting to see what is going on in the city to help the homeless after connecting with people living on the street yesterday with Laurence. I’m sorry that I ramble on so, but there is just so much to say! God is working within us in some incredible ways! Needless to say there will be much more to share when I get home.

Much love,
Ethan