Never in my dreams..

Never in my dreams would I have imagined such an experience that is occurring right before my eyes. I was so afraid coming in to this not having a best friend with me every step of the way like other trips. I also was excited to come and experience the culture and life of New Orleans and to learn about the disasters that have happened here. This trip so far has blown my expectations out of the water and even more in the days to come. Renee said in the beginning that she would never imagined that our group would get along so well and I have to agree. I didn't think the trip would be like this at all. The way we all have bonded so quickly and become such great friends is incredible. I have not laughed this much constantly in a long time. I can't even count the amount of "inside jokes" that we now have from this trip.. Sorry Bill. I can't wait to see how the rest of the trip goes and create many more memories we'll be able to look back on someday.
Service has always been a huge part of my life. Mostly done through mission trips or work all with my church. This is a little different. Service through my school that is required for class. I was unsure of what a required service trip would entail but obviously had to go along with it. After the experiences thus far, who can say they got to perform service by riding on an airboat through the wetlands and marshes of New Orleans? Few. Amanda said it well today during discussion that while working today she stopped to think about how blessed and how amazing this experience was.. To do service in New Orleans in a wetland planting trees that will hopefully survive and last a very long time. The work we do now will contribute to the land in the future. This trip makes me feel like I was in the right place at the right time signing up for IS 201 back in January. I love service, and I need service. Its something that keeps me grounded, reminds me of what I have and how I should be thankful for it. Service is an act of kindness with nothing in return to keep except for the memories made.
I am so thankful for the reflection time each night. It is very interesting to listen to my classmates and teachers and learn from them. We are a very diverse class and have many different answers, reasons, ways of thinking for every situation and question...this could be why so much conflict starts...not to worry though, it always gets resolved. Tonight I didn't talk very much in our discussion but just listened to the different opinions through the diverse ways of thinking. The chance to sit in a room with 10 other people discussing life, disaster, and anything else that comes to mind is such a learning experience that I am beginning to cherish greatly. In such little time, I have learned so much just from talking to people and opening my mind up to what others have to say. We have to be thankful for the diverseness in each of us because its what makes us individuals.

I am so thankful that I got the chance to participate in this service trip to help make a difference even though it may be small. I said once in the beginning of class, what can one person do? What can one small group of individuals do? We won't be able to make a difference, were too small? I was wrong. One individual or one small group can make a difference. The little change can create bigger change and lead to bigger and better things.  No matter how small you are or how small the change you do is, it still makes a difference. I love this experience. I love my class. and I love New Orleans.