"God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called"

Hey Ya'll!
This week has been amazing. God's power and presence has been so evident. This morning we had our group debriefing - where we discussed our experiences, expectations, well just everything!! We were placed in three different groups and three different work sites. It was just so encouraging to hear everyone's stories and memories.

Josh Saludez says "as it rains almost everyday we realize God's power when we look into the skies and watch the large bolts of lightning and listen to the
thunder...ALL AROUND US! We also got to see clouds circling above us, and of course i was noot scared....(AHHHHHHH!!!)."

That is one new ASPECT...the weather! Last week it was hot, sunny, humid, and just plain muggy! However, since then it has been rather rainy - it's stormed almost everyday - and it hasn't been as hot for some odd reason.

'ello :] this is tina uyeno. life in New Orleans is pretty darn gnarly :] its one thing to be in a hot sticky car. but its another to be in a hot sticky car with your fellow brothers and sisters :] it definitely makes life here easier if you can all suffer as the body of Christ and laugh about it :] thats all.

ASPECT #2: Car rides
- a time to sleep - and a time to stay awake
- a time to sing - and a time to talk
- a time to laugh - and a time to cry...
well maybe not all that, but from what I've heard and experienced car rides have been great opportunities for team bonding.

Hey this is Janice! Some of us went on a swamp tour. We saw alligators, egrets, ducks and turtles. To get the alligators to come to us, they fed them marshmallows!

This is alisa!!! Ditto! The "Cajun Encounter" was really cool and the swamp was beautiful!
Today was our last day at our work site and I was so sad to leave! Its amazing to see how many people in the "hood" we've met and how much we accomplished in Miss Pat's house by the grace of God :)

ASPECT 3: the work site -
Two groups were given assignments to do dry walling - which meant cutting, placing, and screwing them to the frames of the house. And one group, my group, did painting. We all got to learn new skills and meet new people. I know that God revealed Himself in a new way to each of us!

Okiedokie, well it is almost dinner time and I just wanted to close with a passage that God has placed on my heart. 1 Corinthians 1:27-29; just to summarize it talks about how God choses the weak things of the world to shame the strong. I see so much truth from those verses - it is basically our team - we don't have the most experience nor strengths in the area of house repair but we are God's chosen and His servants to bring glory and honor to His name!

*( the pictures above are of this past few days - no particular order or selection just pictures of what we've been up to and experiencing)
Today is Tuesday - the new group is beginning to finally adjust to L.A. time.
Monday included tasks such as drywalling, painting, and meeting new people. We have such a large group now, we have to travel in four vans, we have three different work sights, are experiencing three different aspects of New Orleans.
Everyday we have to drive across the Causeway, a 24 mile long bring going through lake Pontchartrain - it isn't very scenic, and its hard for the drivers to stay awake but I personally think it just adds to the adventure;). The temperature is in the nineties - humidity is high as well, we are doing our best to stay hydrated, I don't think I've ever had so much water consistently!
Some groups have learned to dry wall and from what I've heard said, it is tedious and hard. Not everyone was able to contribute to dry walling so they went around the neighborhood meeting new people and establishing relationships.
My group taught a mini VBS then went on to painting - I had a blast!
Well, it's almost time for my group to head out for day two - please continue to uphold us all in your prayers. Pray that each of our hearts stay focused on Christ and others - it has been a common theme to put ourselves first and be selfish - its our human nature, but we need to learn to be selfless and cooperate. I ask that you pray for God's love to shine in and through us to bless Him and each other, and the people we come in contact with as well.
God is so good, I know He wants us to be here serving, and I can't think of any place I'd rather be then in the center of God's will! I can't wait to see what He has in store for us this week!

27 strong!

We now have the whole group here - all 27 of us! The second group arrived safely on Saturday morning. Now we are finally together!
As for the rest of us - we are relieved that we have one week behind us. I went around asking the first group to describe the past week in one word, some commons words were "hot!' or "long" - but others were "revitalizing" or "blessed." It truly was a great experience and to finish off the week our host's kids Ryan and Kaylee took us tubing! It started off sunny and relaxing and about an hour and a half into the river it began to rain - storm actually - thunder and lighting and all that jazz. I personally had a blast - and we all have a new memory that won't soon be forgotten!
Please pray for the upcoming week - we've been assigned basically drywalling and painting and various other tasks such as hauling trash from place to place. We also have two mini vbs clubs this week. Please pray for guidance and wisdom to know how to teach the clubs. Seven of us are teaching clubs while the rest of the groups will be working.
Another request that has been on my heart has been - team unity. Please pray that we will work together and keep in step with Christ in order to be sharp and effective. I know that the enemy is on the prowl ready to strike at any given opportunity. Also pray that we trust God with every situation - many things are up in the air and worries are being thrown out and passed throughout the group. Our hearts need to be right with God and completely relying on Him.
Today we are going to explore New Orleans again, and most likely visit the French Quarter again as well. We also are performing a skit and sign dance for the children's church

Thank you for your encouraging words and prayers on our behalf - God Bless

before and after pictures

before and after shots

So far...

^This is where the levy broke^
>This is part of a memorial also located in the lower ninth ward.

Sunday after church was sight seeing day, we visited the lower ninth ward and the French Quarter. We also got to visit the places where we will be holding the "4-day clubs" next week.

We had our first real ministry day yesterday, and I discovered that this will be a tiring and straining week (also as we are trying to adjust to the 5 hour time difference), but also rewarding and very fulfilling. We are currently doing yard work, (for those of you who've seen the Knapp's backyard - yard work isn't our favorite thing in the world) we helped clean up mostly plants, and weeds, and I got to mow for the first time.
Today's project is to take apart the barn that collapsed - piece be piece. However, that is much easier said than done. Alisa asked me to mention our new favorite plant, p.i./aka poison ivy!! Our hostess took me around and showed me what was poisonous and what wasn't, and now I've become zone examiner for every new area we work - including the barn - which has poison ivy all over.

Speaking of our hostess, her name is Shelly, her home got smashed by two giant oak trees. The overall house was still in one piece, except for the roof. They lived under a tarp for two years until finally the house was able to be completely covered again. Her yard is now our project like I mentioned before. She is a Christian, and is extremely generous and hospitable. She has a son Ryan, who has helped us immensely with various tasks - we don't know if he is a believer .

Here are various pictures of VBS and yard work.

Getting there...

After about 10 1/2 hours of flying we have finally arrived in Louisiana! But on the behalf of my group I must mentions a few "events" that made our travels oh so much more exciting. Our first flight went smoothly but as soon as we landed we were literally running around LAX trying to get to our next flight. We started off in terminal 1 - and had to get over to terminal 3 - in 30 minutes. Seems simple, but due to some complication we had to recheck-in all of our check-in's again. So imagine this 6 people plus 4 carts full of luggage running almost a mile, and to make a long story short, the departure was planned for 10:30 pm - we didn't get on the plane until about 11:15!

All in all we got here safely and God just kept us aware and on our toes. I know He was watching over us and just wanted us to remember that we can trust in Him. GOD is good! As I am writing this my watch, which is still on Hawaii time says 3:22 pm. But everyone else here in getting ready for bed - which I can honestly say sounds absolutely wonderful!
We are all tired - we don't know what day it is, nor do we want to know. But the people here at Trinity Church are extremely welcoming and they've had many many groups pass through so they've got a great structured routine that is rather easily to follow.
We got to eat "gumbo" for lunch, i can't remember what was in it besides shrimp and good old pizza for dinner. We also attended a VBS meeting today and helped with decorations, set up the sanctuary for church tomorrow morning, took a trip to a Super Wal-Mart, and and ummm...I thinks that's it.
I thank you for your prayers, I know that God is faithful and will keep his promises. Please pray for continued strength and energy, the enemy will most definitely be attempting to find footholds to wreck our unity and harmony. A praise would be that we arrived safely and have met many new wonderful believers here who love God.
Thank you thank you thank you for you prayers, encouragement, and support! -h

Tomorrow!

Hey all! Thank you for your feedback and encouraging words, it is very much appreciated. Well, my group leaves tomorrow, ahhh! I personally am both excited and a tad nervous - but I am trusting God and leaning not on my own understanding (Prv 3:5-6).

I just wanted to mention the names of those in the first group, some of whom are already on the mainland, they will be meeting up with us in N.O.:
- Gary O.
- Janice O.
- Matthew T.

The following are those whom are leaving from Hawaii:
- Pastor Steve K.
- (Auntie) Kori K.
- Justin K.
- Nathan K.
- Hannah K.
- Sean T.
- Wade T.
- Alisa W.

Also a couple members of our group are participating in Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) and are in training this week and next. They are rigorously preparing to teach the gospel, mainly to children, and need your prayers. I myself have done CEF and I know how trying, stressful, and overwhelming the training can be - but it is also a great learning experience where I have met many great godly peers. Those from MCC who are participating are:
- Kevin O.
- Sean S.
- Sarah T.

they will be joining us in the June 21st along with the following:
- Andrew C.
- Travis N.
- Chad R.
- Joshua Sa.
- (Auntie) Crystal S.
- (Uncle) Joel S.
- Josh Sh.
- Crystal T.
- (Auntie) Debbie T.
- Terry T.
- Gabriel T.
- JB V.
and - Tina U.

I hope that this is helpful information. I was reading Colossians 3 the other day and found so many great words of wisdom that we could learn from everyday, but especially while we are on this trip. Please pray that we will encourage one other and not tear each other down, and that our love for the Lord and one another will shine and be evident.
Mahalo!

Summer 2008

-this is our team (click to enlarge)

Aloha!  Thank you for taking time to check out this site!  

This is Hannah Knapp - and I just want to keep anyone whose interested updated about what we're up to this summer during our trip to New Orleans, Louisiana (NOLA).  I will do my best to write every other day or so.  Please keep us in your prayers.

We are divided into two groups, the first group (of 9) leaves the thirteenth (this Friday), and the second group (the remaining 18) will be meeting us up there on the 21st.

God Bless - oh and feel free to leave a comment - just let us know who you are;)