New Orleans 4

What continues to astound me about this city is that the people are so thankful for what we are doing here. My connection with New Orleans began last year on our Youth trip, where we stayed and worked with Canal Street Presbyterian Church. I am so grateful for all of the ways we saw God on that trip through New Orleans natives, VBS kids, and fellow students on our trip. This year my family had the opportunity to host a young woman named Joel Dyson. When my dad first introduced the idea of hosting someone from New Orleans, I thought, "Sure, that's cool," but I had no idea how much it would mean for me and my family.

Joel Dyson is an eighteen-year-old woman, born and raised in New Orleans, and has done and experienced more than most of us have by that age. She is one of many who were affected deeply by Hurricane Katrina, losing her home and becoming separated from her family for an entire school year in order to attend a boarding school in Boston. Her reason for coming to Colorado Springs? She would be attending the Windrider Film Forum put on annually by our very own Colorado College and was in a documentary that would be shown about a production of the musical "After the Storm" in New Orleans.

In 2007, a group of award-winning artists including Gerry McIntyre, James Lecesne, and Randy Redd, went down to New Orleans and decided to help out by renovating the local community center, St. Mark's, and putting on a musical. They auditioned a bunch of kids from all over the city and eventually made up a cast of young teens that each had talent and a story to tell about their hurricane experience. Joel was fourteen at the time and was cast as the lead role, Ti Moune. The documentary, directed and produced by Hilla Midalia, followed all cast and crew involved in the production and goes deep into the lives of some of the cast and crew, showing how they were affected by Katrina.

This documentary is a truly unique one that puts in perspective the affect Katrina had on people's lives. The chance my family had to meet Joel and hear her story in person was amazing and our church group was extremely lucky to be able to catch up with her in New Orleans this year. We got the chance to attend a powerful service at the church where her dad is a pastor and were overwhelmed by the love the congregation showed us.

New Orleans presents a new challenge to this society daily. The people have an amazingly strong spirit in a city plagued with problems. This trip has been a great experience for all of us to discover a new culture, draw closer to God, and put our hands to work. It's sweaty and dusty and grimy work, but the relationships we gain are indispensable.

-- Jennifer Cage