Our church (First EFC- Maplewood, MN) youth ministries have partnered with CastleRock Community Church and Urban Impact Ministries in the Central-City of New Orleans since 1997. This blog will highlight the activities of our 2011 team.

Thursday, June 28, 2007

A Tour of the City and More!

Thursday was bit of a different day for us. We have so appreciated Urban Impact Ministries and CastleRock Church's efforts to help us understand the community and history of New Orleans. This has been helpful for the us as we work with the children, teens and adults in the area.

Today we took a tour a large area of New Orleans (not Downtown or French Quarter). We visited the Garden District (St. Charles Avenue), Central City, 17th Street Canal Levee (middle class neighborhood that was devastated by flooding), and also some of the local schools. We were encouraged to hear that a number of great charter schools are coming into the area that should really help build a solid education foundation for the area. Urban Impact is starting this fall a high school charter school of 10 students. We stood outside one of the new charter schools and prayed for all schools, teachers, school board, Louisana Education Board and the students and families.

The weather has warmed up again, but we haven't had rain. The amazing thing about that is it rains in buckets in New Orleans regularly. We will be near 90 at 6PM tonight with only 65% humidity, so it really only feels like 95 degrees. Keep praying, we fully believe it is the result of your faithful prayer.

The Challenge Circle Update: What can we say the students have been doing a fantastic job. They are "hyped" (excited) to be working with the children even though many shoulders and backs are a bit sore from all the rides, but the smiles and laughter are abundant. We end each night with a water balloon launch, which seems to be a favorite amongst the children and our team. What's better than getting a water balloon in the face and have the water splash all over you?

Prayer Items: 1) Pray that we would finish strong. 2) Pray for us as we meet up with other groups and do a community clean-up activity called "Super Friday". 3) Pray as we say goodbye to all our new friends from the community and the other groups. 4) Pray for continued good health and weather.


2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dave and Team:

Thanks for the update. Terrific news about the weather and the efforts of your team.

My prayers are with you as you conclude your time in New Orleans and travel home.

Press On!
(Philippians 3:14)

Mark Dembouski

Anonymous said...

Praying for you all and your travels to come! Thanks for keeping us all informed!

Brenda