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Did you come across our blog for our 2009 trip? Check out our blog for our 2010 trip in Texas City, TX! uccuconnasb2010.blogspot.com

"Love Connection" Meditation by Sarah Hardy

God’s love brings people together. He works by creating communities, leading us here to church every Sunday morning, and in bigger ways as well, bringing people together for disaster relief. On August 29, 2005 Hurricane Katrina hit the Louisiana area. Just days later, volunteers rushed to the area, willing to do anything needed to help the situation. A year and a half later my fellow UCC UConn members and I flew down to New Orleans to see what we could do. There, we met the members of the First Church of Slidell and heard testimony from those who witnessed the disaster for themselves. The widespread grief led too many people to question God. However, based on those testimonies, God’s love was evident in the rebuilding response from the church members and communities we visited. That year, UCC UConn was able to initiate change in two church communities as well as a woman’s life. In my experience, the expression of gratitude has yet to be matched to that of those people whose lives we began to rebuild.

Again, after this year’s trip, my fellow UCC UConn members and I made a great impact in the Slidell area. Among other things, we further strengthened our ties with our First Church of Slidell friends, despite certain Tennessee and UConn fan interactions. We also worked on multiple homes and a homeless shelter for men. All our hard work for one week for our mission. All because of God’s love. It brings people together. The call to help rebuild, the motivation to work hard for one week, the drive to make change. While we worked, my fellow trip members and I met some people of quality character and undeniable faith and gratitude. My personal experience was with four young men, who gave up six months of their time to come down to the North Shore area, more than three and a half years after the storm, and continue the rebuilding process. I continue to be in awe of their commitment to their mission and their faith in the Lord. Their drive to help is proof of God’s love. He truly works in wonderful ways, and the more I witness, the more I believe. God’s love brings people together, especially in the wake of something as destructive as Hurricane Katrina. As the rebuilding process continues, God’s love continues to grow - creating a close network of good people doing His work. The UCC UConn members, along with those who supported us, are part of that network and we will be forever grateful for our experiences.

Thank you.

"How God Makes Everything Better" Meditation by Daniqua Boulware

It took me a while to finally decide I wanted to go on the Alternative Spring break trip to Slidell, Louisiana. Actually, it was kind of like it was out of my control and I was somehow meant to go on the trip. Last semester, I started off getting updates from another friend interested in the trip because I couldn’t make the meetings, but little by little I began to make slightly bigger commitments to the group starting by participating in the candy and screw sale fundraiser. Eventually I paid my $100 fee and this semester I began attending meetings. During these meetings the things I held onto in my mind, that were, admittedly, potential excuses and justifications as to why I didn’t have to stick with my plans to go to New Orleans began to die away. I had a little encouragement and motivation to stay committed after the group was informed of a participant whose plane ticket was already booked, non-refundable, decided to drop out. It was then that I realized not going on this trip because of my own doubts and fears would affect more than just me. Not wanting to be selfish I continued to participate and doubts continued to persist but I went on apprehensive and all. I finally decided to stop lying to myself and accepted the truth; that this trip was something that I really had to do. Fortunately, I stand here today saying I am glad I did. The experiences I had, memories I earned, and many lessons I learned made me better today. On this trip I was shown many things I often prayed to see. Things about me, things about the world, and things about God that I knew were true, but doubted because of the way life had previously presented itself to me. Through working for the hurricane Katrina victims and bonding with the others on the trip I was able to see the strength in me and the love God has for each of us. I realized that although in some seasons of our lives hurricanes may come, strong winds may blow and heavy rains may fall, you are never defeated unless you give up, unless you turn and run away. Just as God is there to protect us during the storm he will be there to rebuild what gets damaged and turn our devastating situations into blessings. God will take what we once had and make it better. I was blessed to witness a woman have a brand new home dedicated to her and God years after she lost nearly everything she owned. I witnessed a man talk about dreams hurricane Katrina had put on hold and speak about plans that had once been turned down, now turned into possibilities. I watched him present our group that worked on his hours with a thoughtful gift and caring message of gratitude because we all did what God asked us to do. On this trip I observed God showing me that if we do what we are called to do, he will certainly do for us what he promised to do. God will make us feel like the blessings we are. This trip was full of laughter, pain, frustration, dedication, and contemplation all the same. It was better than one of the best experiences I can imagine, and I definitely look forward to doing it again!

Back to Africa

I alway love going to Slidell, LA because the people are so friendly and hospitable. Being in Slidell not only allows me to meet old and new friends but also to learn new things. Last year I learned how to use screw-gun butthis year, I learned how to use nail-gun. The nail-gun was not helpful for my first day of using it because it was making hissing noises like a snake and I wasn't comfortable using it. On my second day I said to myself, let me try one more time and by the end of the day I learned how to use and how to load nails in the gun. Now I feel comfortable how to use it without hiss noise. On Wednesday night, Sarah H, Sarah S, Chelsea A, and I went to see the African Children's Choir. When I saw these young children singing their songs, my mind was back to Africa. That night if I had wings, I would have flow back home but unfortunately I did not have wings. My spirit was back home, my mind was wondering and recalling everything that I had done when I was their ages. Thanks to Laura Harris and Jason Gould for allowing me to attend the African children choir becuase I was supposed to help them do dishes. Also, thank to Sarah H, Sarah S, and Chelsea A for your company. I really appreciated it.

~John Amol

Affirmations

It is Sunday evening, March 15, and I am tired. I thought I would get a nap in this afternoon but alas, that didn't happen. I just read my "Affirmations", which is a ritual we adopted from the High School Pilgrim Fellowship group (Thanks Louise!). We decorate bags on the first day and then through the week we write little notes of affirmation for each other. We take our bag home at the end of the trip, and typically read them on the plane. It makes you feel great! I however, packed mine in my suitcase, so I didn't get to it until this evening.

Perception. Tom spoke of it in his "Mudbug Award" (see entry) to us when he asked what makes space sacred. What makes us sacred, I want to ask? I think it is being perceived in love. We know God perceives us in love. The joy and the challenge is to perceive each other, as imperfect as we are, in love. Affirmations remind us that we can and are perceived in love and kindness. What a gift.

I am so thankful each year for the group of college students who want to spend their Spring Break working hard and serving others in need. This year the particular combination of students was particularly striking. Our evening reflections were powerful. Don't underestimate college students. They are bright and wise and observant. I felt humbled early in the week to have them show me how to be a better follower of Jesus. I am looking forward to our worship service next week and hearing their testimonies, their reflections. I always strive to create a safe space to have the students share their faith, wherever it is in their journey. Sometimes I worry too much and err on the side of not bringing in enough spirituality. But the amazing thing that I discover, time after time, is that I am not in charge. Not really. Nor is Richie, or any other student leader. God is at work, and we simply need to get out of the way of ourselves and let the Spirit move. God is at work in the sweat and the labor, God is at work in the giggles and the laughter. Or maybe I should say God is at play!

~Rev. Hilary Dahlberg

Pow's, Wow's, How's: Part II

From Thursday March 12th, our fourth day of work

TOP POW’s:
- the slow start to the workday, we wanted to get started right away!
-the time commuting to and from the worksite, and the dedication- lots of driving
-too many gnats at the house dedication for Yolanda

TOP WOW’s:
- again, the teamwork, what we accomplished, what we could do together!
-The African Children’s Choir on Wed. evening
-the dedication of Yolanda’s home- all finished & move-in ready, 3200 people hours later
- Tom’s gift of the poster, the thoughtful words and the Mudbug Award!
-growing comfort with tools

TOP HOW’s:
- How interactive we all were at the dinner that evening when we invited Tom, the homeowner from one worksite, and 4 Mennonites who were working at the other worksite with the other team and their “house parents.” People were able to talk and share. There was a “buzz” in the room.
-Tom’s presentation of his gift
-how incredible the 4 Mennonite young men were in how they are devoting 6 months to help with the rebuilding
-Yolanda’s dedication of her house, and Yolanda herself, looking at the joy on her face makes what we do worthwhile
-The African Children’s Choir

From Friday, March 13, our last work day

TOP POW’s:
- leaving the worksite early because we had to return tools
-leaving Slidell
-not feeling done yet, not satisfied yet
-the fact that drive-thru daiquiri stores exist in Louisiana
-sunburn, mosquito bites, scratches, sore muscles.

TOP WOW’s:
- our wonderful Celebratory End-of-the-Week Dinner, shared with Josh, our Disciples Coordinator, his wife Laura, and their twin babies.
-how much we got done this week, what we accomplished, how it’s all coming together
-admitting how there were reservations, doubts, fears, and yet how much fun we had together getting to know everyone
-no matter how exhausted we were, we still kept on going!

TOP HOW’s:
-Seeing the Spirit in everyone here, including our site supervisors, Josh and Chris. Feeling full of gratitude.
-The dinner there was wonderful energy
-The Spirit was present in that we all still like each other, we’ve managed ourselves with maturity being in tight quarters and working really hard!
-The Spirit was present in all of the little conversations, little by little getting to know one another
-The Spirit has been present simply in that the energy has not stopped all week!

~Rev. Hilary Dahlberg

We're back!

After an early start to the day (5 am), we left New Orleans and the warmth (it was 70 at 6am) at 9am, and after an hour and a half layover in Detroit, we made it back to Connecticut around 3:30 weary and tired. Everyone had a wonderful time throughout the week, and brought home so many memories, and a few new skills with rebuilding a home.

While our trip is officially over, continue checking out the blog throughout the next week as we hope to have a few people write reflections on their whole week.

Also, don't forget that next Sunday (March 22nd), we will be running the entire 10 am Worship Service at the Storrs Congregational Church where we'll have a few people share reflections during the sermon period, and provide slideshows with all of the pictures we took throughout the week. Hope to see you there!

~Richie