Youth Mission Trip
Louisiana and Mississippi
March 25 - April 1, 2006
From Saturday, March 25, to Sunday, April 1, a team of 25 First Presbyterian Church Senior High students and leaders traveled to Luling, Louisiana, to partner with the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) Hurricane Katrina Relief efforts. Setting up camp at the Volunteer Village located on the lot of First Union Presbyterian Church in Luling, the team traveled each day into New Orleans to help with cleanup efforts. The work in New Orleans consisted of debris removal, mucking out houses, and salvaging valuables and furniture. No reconstruction was done during the trip and none is anticipated until the building moratorium issues are resolved in New Orleans.
It was an honor to partner with the denomination in serving the people of the Gulf Region whose lives have been so severely affected by the events of the past year. Our team proudly represented First Presbyterian of Portland, Oregon, and was honored for the opportunity to experience firsthand how God has been at work in the midst of such a crisis and to be able to give to a people so in need, as we ourselves are so blessed in all that God has given us.
One of the Volunteer Villages where the youth worked is located at Gautier Presbyterian Church in Gautier, Mississippi. Though our young people stayed and worked in Luling, they took a one-day trip to Gautier because of a relationship established with the Gautier Presbyterian Church through First Church's 10% for Mission Funds. In February 2006, our Session approved a grant of $27,500 to help the Gautier Presbyterian Church construct a new sanctuary following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. The idea of building a larger sanctuary for the small but growing congregation had been contemplated before the storm, but the wreckage left behind by the hurricane and the renewed opportunities for ministry in the wake of the storm only served to strengthen the resolve of the members of Gautier Presbyterian Church to expand their church and ministry.
The Youth shared their experiences on May 7 during the annual Youth Sunday celebration, which they titled, "Out of Chaos, Hope" in honor of disaster relief efforts. A slide show of images taken by Nina Nolen and other mission trip members, is below.
Team member Lizzy Kirkham also contributed an article to the PC(USA) Web site about their experience.
Thank you for all your love and support!
| Youth Mission Trip photo slide show
|
