Team Testimonies

 

Nick Batteglia.I grew up in a church but I did not know what missions was until I went on my first mission trip.  I have always gone to church but it really was never enough for me.  I have always wanted to go on a mission trip and I’m very happy I was able to go on my very first one my freshman year.

Before this, I had done on this mission trip 3 times.  Every year had changed me in some way.  I have seen God work through me in some way on each of those trips with the children mainly.

This year, being my 4^th year, God used me for the children mainly once again.  This year was also different because of the new people I did meet.  God’s Presence felt very powerful when at the homeless shelter and I got to work with the cook.  He had showed me that going out of your comfort zone sucks but it feels good and benefits others which really spoke to me.  I hope I can use that in my everyday life and I hope to be able to come back next year for more fun.

Kent Beckman. Third year in New Orleans.  I’ve been here a lot and I’m not new to this but that doesn’t mean I’m not affected by it.  I actually think I’m affected more.  I’ve learned so much this week.  I’ve learned how important and meaningful relationship with people are.  I’ve learned that I can work harder than I thought I could.  And I’ve had the best food in the world.  I love New Orleans.  I also learned that Jesus goes past emotions and into our thoughts instead.  I had another great experience here and can’t wait to apply what I learned back home.

Todd Blocker.

Tonya Blocker.

Alaina Bowman. Going on missions is like turning the page of your favorite stories.  There are good parts, scary parts and happy parts.  There are parts that leave you wondering how the ending could be positive.  But the beauty is that going on missions for the idea to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ does have a good ending and you can learn from these trips to walk in that confidence.

Missions reminds you of the urgency of spreading God’s love right now because otherwise people may not hear of it.  This trip reminded me that children are in need of that now more than ever before.  So many kids are going home to empty homes because their dad’s gone and their mom’s are at work.  Some are doing their best to raise their kids and others have given up and their kids are left with their results.

So now is the time to guy them, look them in the eye and tell them they matter.  Now more than ever before.  Yes, New Orleans needs Jesus and being here has reminded me why it’s essential to live that out daily.  Here, home, or wherever the next mission takes me. 

Trevor Bowman.

Abby Burgett. This is my 2^nd time to New Orleans, so I came in with expectations to live up to last year.  I slowly realized that these expectations would go flying out the window and that they would not matter. 

I was expecting to come out of this trip with a Jesus high and an extremely rare experience where I have one child glued to my hip the whole time, but that did not happen either.  But, it was Thursday night when a girl, named Kellie, walked up to me and said “Abby, I will always love you!”  This made me realize that I have a relationship with God that is a Jesus high every day.  I have grown so much closer to God building up to this trip that everyday is a Jesus high.  I also learned that although I may have not worked or connected directly with the kids, my work was noticed and appreciated by them.

This week our team had the opportunity to give the kids on eagle Street a sense of stability that they don’t usually have and that is how God worked.  We were able to share the Gospel with these kids and show them how when we leave, God can be their new stability that is everlasting.  “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”  Psalm 18:2

Hannah Horton.

Tim Horton.  To be honest after going to church for 15 years I thought I knew everything.  After going on this trip I’ve realized how important it is to reach out to kids.  After working with them I have been changed when it comes to perspective.

I grew up going to church, so I’ve always had Christ in my life.  I didn’t fully embrace the Lord as my Savior till my dad left.  I’ve realized how it would have been impossible for me to do so without God’s grace and mercy.

God used the hardest times in my life to bring me closer to Him.  I’ve been ignoring Him and I realized He’s always been there.  He was waiting on me to open up.

Emma Indlecoffer.  At the beginning of this trip, I wasn’t fully into it.  I was scared because I didn’t talk to most people going.  In the beginning I was scared to be alone and by myself.  As we started driving things little by little started getting better.  I began to talk to people, learn about them – just within the mission team.  And as the week went by day by day, it got even better. 

We finally arrived in NOLA, and by this time I had spoken to everyone at least once… and trust me, that’s an accomplishment!  We started working together on Miss Libba’s Eagle Street house and soon enough we got the whole house clean and painted. 

Reaching the end of the mission I had come close to almost everyone.  And as the kids left and we had to say goodbye the only people left for us were the mission team.  I has an AMAZING TIME on the trip and in a heartbeat would go back!

Andrew Keaskowski . This mission trip to New Orleans has really opened up my eyes.  This was my second year coming, and to be honest, I expected the same as last year, and I was totally wrong.  Not one single thing was the same.

On a specific day, we were driving home from Eagle Street when we saw a homeless man.  We all felt bad, so I got out of the car, gave him some trail mix and gave him my “Love as Jesus” bracelet.  After that I went back to the car, but as soon as we were about to leave, he walked up to our car and he told us his story.  He told us about how he was an alcoholic, and how he became one.

When I left that night I was very touched.  The next day we went to Eagle Street, we saw the same man walking on the side of the road.  Austin, Trevor and I walked up to him and talked to him.  He told us that he had cancer for two years.  When he told us that we all locked hands and prayed.  That was the best feeling ever because he told us that he would miss us.  Later on that night, Ronney, the homeless man, came to the Eagle Street house and showed us some card tricks.  When he left, he gave us his phone number and he told us to call him when we were safely back in Illinois.

Brandon Keaskowski.

Jason Keaskowski.  This mission trip is my second trip.  My first trip God allowed me to do amazing things.  I was not sure what this mission trip was going to do for me if anything at all.  God had an awesome plan for me on this trip and showed me He had plenty more for me to learn and plenty more people for me to reach.

My first trip I feel God sent me to work and get lots of things done for Hy and Libba.  This year I feel God sent me down to New Orleans to connect with an teach kids about their Savior Jesus Christ.  And that is exactly what happened on this trip.  God gave me the strength and ability to reach kids through having fun with them and being serious when needed.  One kid in particular is a boy named Calvin who grew up Islam and I was able to talk to him about our God and how Jesus dies on the cross for our sins.  Not sure how much he heard or remembers but he did continue to come back each day and asked for my phone number. 

The lesson this year I learned was can do many things with us in multiple ways.  We need to let Him decide where He is going to use us and how.  And when we are put in uncomfortable situations, Go for it!!!!!!

Kayla Keaskowski. 

Kim Keaskowski. I really didn’t know what to expect on this year’s mission trip.  I knew I wanted my family to be a part of the amazing experience of being a part of a mission team.  I also knew I wanted to serve and be able to help people who were not as fortunate as me.

God revealed Himself in so many ways, and provided for our every need (financially, emotionally, safety).  I saw God’s love, grace and peace in the most unexpected places.  The thing that struck me most is that He loves us all the same!  The drunk on the street, the homeless men, the missionaries who have given their lives, the locals who have nothing, the ids on the streets who don’t have families and no one to tell them they are good enough, the teens who so graciously give of themselves and who love so unconditionally.

I hope and pray that the things I learned this week and the relationships I build will never be forgotten.  God’s love for all of us is a constant reminder that there is hope in this very broken world that we live in.

Jen Locklear. “Love costs.” That’s what has been running through my mind all week while here in New Orleans.  This is my third year coming, and I love to be here.  Love the team, love the culture, love the food!  That’s the easy part.  But love broken children?  Children that are super-wild, neglected, and hungry all the time?  That costs me something.  It is so hard.  But God loves me, and His love cost Jesus His life.  And God has given me EVERYTHING.  So I obey and love.  And they are so worth it – they are precious children of God.  Romans 12:21 says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”  My paraphrase? Overcome evil with God.

Paul Polelle.  One of the greatest strived for any person is to be happy in life.  To find a purpose and meaning.  I myself have found this and it was found through Jesus Christ.  I grew up in a Christian home my entire life.  I went to church every Sunday youth group every once in awhile.  Most of my lie, I knew who God was but I never really had a personal relationship with Him until I grew much older.

When I was in seventh grace, my parents got divorced.  This was a very hard time in my life and I found myself asking God “Why?” many times. To this day, it still affects me every now and then, especially since my mom got remarried.  Now that I am older, it’s something that I have accepted and I’m still blessed to have both a loving mom and dad that I know will always be there for me.

The biggest impact God has had on my life is the heart He has given me for kids and teens.  I was about 18 years old when I started leading a small group of junior high boys at my church and ever since, my life truly changed forever and for the better.  I love the teens I get to lead.  They each hold such a special place in my heart and I am forever grateful that God has placed them in my lie.  It’s such a blessing to witness all the things God is doing in their lives and I can’t wait to see where God takes them in the future.  I could easily write an entire book on how much I love these teens I work with and how each one of them plays such an important part in my life.

I was baptized when I was 18 years old and my life has changed for the better truly.  I know Jesus Christ is my Savior and that He died for me.  I simply can’t imagine where my life would be if it were not for Christ and what He accomplished at the Cross.

Austin Stevens.  Wow!  This year’s mission trip was a blast.  I don’t know where to begin.  The first thing was feeding the homeless.  I wanted to have a blast talking to the random people, but God said “no.” God put me to work bringing out food that was going to be eaten.  I reflected on it and it was a total God thing.

Then came Monday when we were going to be working on Eagle Street.  God made me a leader with painting and handling all the doors.  I came home each night and reflected that God wanted me to lead peole in work and that was final.  The most memorable event was leading a couple kids, Elroy and Ryan, to Christ and have Him eternally be with them.  I prayed that I could have an impact on people this week and God made that happen.  I had a quote that I have stuck with, “Time is love”, and that sums this trip up in three words!  God bless.

Dima Skinner.

Kayla Yarbrough.

?When I went to New Orleans I felt God working through my heart when I met “Kennedy”.  She was very nice.  Also when we fed the homeless, it made me feel lucky because I have a home so I was thankful.