The Final Rundown

Cue Europe (it's the final countdown)!

At the beginning of the trip we were asked why we came on this trip. We were not supposed to answer out loud as the question was rhetorical. At the end, we were asked, rhetorically at the time, what the trip meant to us. Well it is now time to make my final feelings known!

When I first thought about making going on this trip it was for three reasons: first was for the construction/demolition experience, second was the chance to visit New Orleans (another place I have never been to), and finally was the chance to help someone in need. I had no thoughts about how humbling the experience would be and the great relationships I would take from it. Another thing that I didn't think of was how it would affect my relationship with my wonderful wife Molly.

This was the first time Molly and I have been apart for more than a couple of days since we have been married. I honestly didn't know what to expect when I returned home. I came back to a completely different house; Molly and her parents spent a lot of time, and money, making our house finally feel like home. I am extremely grateful to all three of them for everything they did. The biggest thing in being apart and being around college kids made me realize that I have been kind of uptight about a lot of things. I used to live by the expression "if you take life too seriously you won't make it out alive." I now know how true that statement really is. Taking life too seriously affects you in ways you will never know. Our marriage may have been saved by this time spent apart.

The relationships I took from this trip were another great surprise. I met a lot of people that I wouldn't have otherwise met. I am very grateful for the chance to meet so many new people. My only regret was not getting to know more about everyone. That is 100% my fault as I kind of went into my anti-social shell a few days into the trip. If Molly was there I'm sure I wouldn't have been able to go into my shell as she wouldn't have let me. I am looking forward to talking to everyone now that the trip is over, and I am planning on visiting Graceland before school is out for the year.

All of my primary objectives (construction/demolition experience, visiting New Orleans, helping others) were met. I didn't get construction experience as much as I hoped but I did learn demolition. New Orleans is an amazing city; I can't fathom how difficult the rebuilding could have been. Helping others was extremely gratifying and humbling. Nothing could prepare me for what I was about to see. I could not imagine having to leave memories behind. Photo albums and baby books would be very difficult to leave. Having to start over would be even more difficult. I can understand why people wouldn't want to come back as it's bound to happen again. It might not happen during my lifetime but it will happen again somewhere.

On Wednesday I was talking with Eric about the destruction and I had the thought that this was a repeat of Noah's 40 day flood. God wanted to clean up the city and decided that the best way to cleanse it was to cause a great flood. It is my sincere hope that the caring response of God's children is either as great or greater than it was for this tragedy when it happens again, either in the same area or a different area of the world.

It was an amazing opportunity to witness, first-hand, God's power and His children's generosity. Molly and I are very excited about the next young adult mission trip. Thank you once again to Dan and Maggie for letting older "kids" go along. Thank you also goes out to my new friends, you are all wonderful people and will lead very fulfilling lives as long as you keep along this path. God bless you all!