Day 1

Well day one began bright and early, (OK not so bright as there was no sun at 3am), but it began. Everyone arrived and we loaded everything we had in the back of a sweet Honda mini van. The rest of us pack in like sardines into a 15 passenger van and we took off. It was actually a real blessing leaving so early. Most of the students slept for the first 5 hours, which probably made the trip seem a lot shorter.
One of our desires on this trip is to simply bless the people around us. So we decided that we would bless the people around us every place we stopped to eat. It was actually really cool. We would all put 1 dollar into a pot. We would use that money to buy the customer or customers meals behind us. The first stop was Wendy's. The ladies behind the counter just look at us like we were crazy, the agreed to the task. I was sitting down eating when the manger came back up to me with change after she paid for the first persons meal. I told here we wanted to use all the money. She repeatedly asked to "are you sure" we kept replying "Yes were sure." She just smiled and said OK. It was awesome. Our next food stop was at a Subway. A family came in to the restaurant right behind us. It was so awesome. We bought there whole meal. The mom said thank you and left with her daughter. The two women behind the counter just keep asking us question about what we were doing and why. Were we able to share about the missions trip and just wanting to show people God's love. It was great.
The drive was really good. No problems and honestly no complaints (Serious). We stopped a total of 4 times two gas and two food. With my awesome organisational skills i did not factor us gaining an hour, so that was a surprise blessing. We actually arrived to the church at 6:30pm instead of 7:30. Check in time was before 7pm, so God hooked me up. We are basically in an older church. I'm not really sure if they still us it for service but it is defiantly being used. The Noah staff was so sweet. I believe it is Felisha that is running our facility and she has a great spirit about her. All the staff her are truly servants. The facilities are as follows. The basket ball gym is split in half by a large curtain. On one side is our eating area and on the other is the male sleeping quarters, bunk beds line up military style. The female sleeping quarters is up stares away from the males.
After arriving and checking, we unloaded our stuff and headed out for dinner. We found an IHOP us the street and at dinner. This was probably the biggest blessing of the night. Two of our student Travis Forkner and Sam Woods were the last to leave the restaurant. Before they left a family noticed the shirts we were all wearing, which is basically an outline of Louisiana with our logo over New Orleans, and stop to ask the boys what they meant. Travis and Sam were able to share with them what it mean and what we were doing. They were both able to pray with the family right in IHOP. Praise God.
We all came back and gather for a time of prayer in a small room off to the side. This week we will be studying Phil 2:1-11. I encourage you to please study along with with. Tomorrow we will be meditating on verses 1-3. We read through these verses and pray for the families we will be serving tomorrow. We have been give 3 work orders, two exterior paint jobs, and an interior drywall so this will be awesome. Light out here is at 10:30 so basically that means i am typing this in the dark to the wonderful sound of men young and old snoring. :) Please continue to pray for us that we will be a blessing to these people.

By Grace,
Jon

P.S. as soon as i can get pictures loaded on here i will.

P.SS. Phil 2:1-31 "If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves "