Main Street Presbyterian Church of Petersburg, Indiana, team serves in New Orleans: July 2008

By Roger Stuckey

Roger Stuckey, Pastor Boyd Heldring, Sarah Waddle, Katie Graves, Coli Nazario, Pat Waddle, Missy Willis, Richard Recob, Jason Armstrong, and Vance Hays (in front). Photo by Roger Stuckey.

Ten members of the Main Street Presbyterian Church of Petersburg recently traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana on a summer mission trip. The mission team, traveling by van, left July 12, and returned home early in the morning of July 19. The trip was supported by the Session and the congregation of the church. While in New Orleans the mission team members stayed at the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) camp about 30 minutes from the downtown area and the French Quarter. The objective of the trip was to help in some way to rebuild the city. The group was assigned the task of drywalling a home owned by Mrs.Hamilton of the 9th Ward in the Orleans Parish. Mrs. Hamilton had lived at the location for 19 years. Her home was located approximately 300 yards from the levee that broke in two places right after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the area in August 2005. In the five days of work on her home, the mission team completed nine rooms, including four closets and a bathroom. They completed over 340 hours of service on Mrs. Hamilton’s home. It was hard work, but one of accomplishment and pride.

Mission team pictured in front of Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton’s house which they worked on in New Orleans. Everyone had a wonderful time truly inspired by God and can’t wait to go back and help again. Photo by Roger Stuckey.

Our mission team members worked hard, learned a lot, laughed a lot, bonded well with each other, cried a little and well-represented the passion of Christ. When the week came to an end, it was difficult to leave Mrs. Hamilton and her husband, but we knew a new group would be coming the next week to continue God’s work. Before leaving, the group purchased a mailbox for the Hamilton family because she will soon be able to receive mail at her address. It was an experience that none of us will ever forget and we are all grateful for the opportunity. Mission members included: Pastor Boyd Heldring, Pat and Sarah Waddle, Richard Recob, Coli Nazario, Vance Hays, Missy Willis, Jason Armstrong, Katie Graves and Roger Stuckey. The group was joined a day late by two young men from the Boston-New York area who worked well with the group.

Landmark the team made to show who was on the trip. Photo by Roger Stuckey

The trip wasn’t quite all work. They had the opportunity to worship and visit a Presbyterian church in New Orleans and the group made two trips to the French Quarter to experience the atmosphere and cuisine of the city.