Being my first time in the beautiful city of New Orleans, I was amazed at its unique culture, character and charm. A city that has deep roots and heritage, but is also in the midst of rebuilding what has been lost. This unique character has created a city filled with proud and strong, yet vulnerable people.

Each day we would take a team out into the city for an “Urban Plunge”, riding the street cars, walking along the riverwalk, etc. As our team of adults and students would journey out into the city, many of the students on our trip would say that they were afraid to talk to strangers, to which I would respond “Just ask them questions about themselves”.  Upon returning, many students would respond, “I asked them a question then they started talking…. and I never got to say anything else.”  They were amazed at how willing people were to open up and share about their lives. These students would feel as though they had not offered anything to those they interacted with, to which I quickly disagreed.  I told them that they were exactly what that person needed at that time. They were someone to care enough to ask a question, a willing ear ready to listen to their stories, someone taking the time to see them as a person.

How often do we walk through our days and just glance over all the people around us… those we encounter in the grocery store, on the bus, at work, etc. We are a people and a culture with a constant agenda, and so often unless the person in front of us is helping or hindering that agenda, we fail to even notice them.  My encouragement to the students, adults, and myself was to make sure when we all leave this beautiful city, that we take a name, a face, and a story with us. True compassion is rooted in suffering with someone, entering into their story. These students did just that….they talked, laughed, and cried with the people of New Orleans.  And in the process they realized that although they came here to love, bless, and encourage these people and this city, they were actually the ones that left feeling loved, blessed, and encouraged. The gospel of Jesus came alive this week, both in the people of the city as well as the participants, and I feel blessed to have been a part of it.