Team Testimonies

Liz Rizoff

Well at first, I didn't know what God in plan for me to go on this mission trip. I just knew I had to go. God showed me how much He cares, loves us, and chose us. Everything fell into place and it was amazing to see it. People realizing what they're holding inside and their skills that needed to be used for others. The love that God built up in us ran through us this week and a half. Prayers being answered left and right, miracles happening everyday. People feeling the presence of God working... I remember praying to God to show me His love work because I had a hard time seeing it at home. Seeing the things that God sees in every one of us and putting light into darkness is powerful and that's why my testimony was. 

Sabrina Tegge

When I first got down here, I was scared and I didn't know what to do, but when two of the guy went to our hosts' house, I decided to come. We came to Hy and Libba's house to just fix a pipe and that was supposed to be a one day job. That became a three day job. The first day was just trying to find the leak in the pipe (which took about 2 hours just to figure that out). So the second day was fixing the leak and everything but because of where the pipe was located, that was the tricky part. As we worked with the pipe, it took another 3 hours. Just to work with it was the fun part. As we finally finished up on the third day, I got to help put everything together. What I really liked about this part was just being able to help someone that couldn't do it themselves or getting someone to do it. The experience was also just really fun. 

Surina Kubiske

I knew that missions trips were supposed to be impactful. I cashed in a miracle card and prayed for the best when I boarded the pane. I didn't know I would grow to love my mission team as much as I do now. I didn't know that what I did truly did impact a child's life. I didn't know much about missions in general. I took my leap of faith and grabbed on to God tightly. Then I took my first step into the plane. Being in New Orleans was different than anything I've experienced. Something that really hit me on this trip was the power of prayer. I was seeing prayers being answered daily for other people (as well as myself) and I knew it wasn't just a coincidence. One day in particular, I was really feeling kind of down about my position on the team and that night at dinner, I was walking to go get a cup of water and Wes, our leader, just looked up at me and said, "Surina, you're awesome. I hope you know that." I was sort of taken aback by that, but I knew that this was God's voice just reassuring me. Other smaller instances just showed me that the power of prayer is seriously a force to be reckoned with! God does have our life planned out and he'll set up the divine appointments. We've just got to let God have control and trust that things will happen; not on our time, but God's time.  

Morgan Walker (MoMo) 

This was my sixth mission trip to New Orleans and God has made this place and these people a part of my heart. This past week, God has shown me that He loves to work in ridiculous ways. On Wednesday, Wes handed me a 2 lb. bag of Skittles. "God told me to get these for you." I brought them with me everywhere, sure that God had a reason for getting them to me. The whole team knew I was trying to figure out why I had them. Monday, a sixth grader wanted to go to the store. Miss Libba finally asked him what he wanted. "I don't know,  I guess I just want some Skittles; something is just making me want Skittles today." A teammate ran outside to get me. We opened up the Skittles  and talked about God's promise that we remember through the rainbow. Then he asked if we could do a Bible lesson and pulled the whole group into a side room. We had already done our planned lesson for the day, so we just made it up as we went. The conversation turned to the Gospel and we spent a long time explaining and answering questions. One boy in the corner was quiet and said, "I.. I just never have heard any of this before, so I'm just trying to listen." The next day, we found out that his family is Muslim. A friend overheard him having an argument with his mom and saying, "I believe in God now." God used a bag of Skittles to keep a child at Bible study long enough to rally everyone into having Bible lesson, where the Gospel was received by a Muslim boy. And He chose to work through me and my time. He is amazing. Don't underestimate what God can do through you, He is fond of working through unlikely means and people!

Colton Oldenburg
On this missions trip many things had stuck out to me, i had an amazing time learning and growing with all of these wonderful people from different walks of life. Something that really caught my attention on this trip was cleaning up Eagle Street and helping out all the kids with Bible study, i felt really drawn to some of the children and they ended up being drawn to me. I loved connecting with all of these kids down here just talking, doing crafts, having snacks, or just playing basketball with all the kids. It just made my day when i say them and they were just so excited to see me saying oh Colton whats up man here to do Bible study? or wanna play another game of basketball with me? It made me feel appreciated and i just wanted to make them happy while i was here. The fun and games was great but when it came down to it these kids honestly were really excited and very open to bible study. They get a little off task once in a while but other kids will usually settle them down and say something like "come on man relax and listen" it was very encouraging to all of us there seeing that these kids were really interested in learning and becoming believers. Helping and guiding these kids was where i was called to on this trip and i enjoyed every moment of it.

Brenda Lerner

“Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you shall find, knock and the door will be open to you.”                                                                                                                                  --Matthew 7:7

As I stepped onto the plane I was afraid of the road I was taking. Mission trip? Will I be ok? Will I be alone?  But as the plane took off and we flew above the clouds, I knew I would be with God. As the sun beamed upon the clouds in the sky, God was reminding me I would never be alone.

            Of the 10 days I was in NOLA, there are many stories I could share with you, but one day stands, the 4^th of July, Feed the Multitude. An event that draws in 10,000 people to come eat for free and be around God. Just as Jesus took 5 loaves of bread a 2 fish to feed 5,000.  I didn’t know God’s plan for me that day. I just prayed and asked him to guide me. So God was telling me where I needed to be. To wash the feet of a child who needed to hear the love of Jesus because he didn’t know who Jesus was. To pray with a woman who is dying of cancer, to give her the understanding of what she is going through and the strength of God to get her through. For god to have me interpreter a pray to a deaf man with many eyes amazed and awed at the presence of god, sharing the love and word of Him to a Deaf man. At that moment God made sure I knew he is always listening to me and he will answer my prayers and requests in His time, not mine.  On the first day of our mission meetings I asked that somehow I touch the life of the Deaf in NOLA, and God knowing the passion I have to share His work with the Deaf, he answered my prayer to a man who needed me to be there are that time and place to pray for him.

            Now when I first heard the word “mission” I thought, “NO WAY, NOT ME!!” I can’t do it, to leave my life for 10 days and share God’s word with people 10,000 miles away. But when my daughter expressed she wanted to go, I took the first step. At this moment, this time in my life God new I needed him most. I was not only in NOLA for the people here but for myself. I am not perfect, I get upset, yell, scream, punish my children and my family. I needed to be surrounded by others to help me feel within myself the presence of God.  So in our life of hustle and bustle, jobs and everyday busy live; STOP, PAUSE, LISTEN and if you are presented with an opportunity to share God’s word, go on a mission, listen to God and he will guide you to have the experience of His love and His Word. He will give you the opportunity to see the world through His eyes.

“I have a plan for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

                                                                                                                                    -Jeremiah 29:11

Chris Pecen
Before this mission I couldn't pinpoint the exact reason for going on the trip.  I couldn't tell you God's Divine plan or purpose for what I was to do.  Just that the smallest of voices/ a notion in my heart, said "Yes".
With boldness I say, God answers prayers!  The least expected in my mind but most powerful for God is what He chose to use.  A testimony never spoken became God's hope to His children who are out in the desert searching for the Promised Land.  With it He opened a door for His ministry to take place.  He opened hearts, I didn't know what I was supposed to do down here, but God did.  I didn't plan on working with the boys from Eagle Street, but it was God's plan.  I prayed for God's will to be an authority, that He would be bold where I could not, that His love would pour through, that I would not hinder the desires of His heart through me.  And even though I haven't felt worthy of His love, mercy, and grace & have often wondered and asked why only making it some times by the teather of the faith he has given me.  The life He breathed into those boys, He breathed back into me through them.  End even though the trip is over the Mission has only begun.
In reading this, perhaps you may be curious, of God's plan for your life, maybe you feel like you would like to go one day, but life is too hectic right now.  May you think it's not for you or you don't think you have anything to offer.  But if you listen to perhaps even the most quiet of voices in your heart and head, He is saying, "I can use you!" So the real challenge question is, "What are you going to do about it?"

Robert Haase

Let me preface my testimony to say that I feel that the lord speaks and moves in people in different ways. I feel that discernment is necessary but I usually get the same response which is usually, “get out there and do my work,” or “go out and represent me well.” I observed many people this week that were doing the lords work and representing him well. Observing this throughout the week along with seeing the tireless work that people like Hy and Libba do on a daily basis has really touched me more than anything. Their passion and energy, that is clearly spirit driven, is an example that all servant hearted Christians could draw from.

I guess that the person that made the biggest impression on me this week was a lady at Feed the Multitudes that was clearly high on Heroin. I watched her as she was falling in and out of consciousness with her child at her side. It did not seem that anyone noticed her as I was sure that was something that she and her child had unfortunately grown accustomed to. I observed that she had track marks up and down her arms that she did not try to hide. I went up to her and asked her if she was ok and perked up which almost seemed instinctive and informed me that she was fine. Her young son then said that he was watching her and which also seemed to be an answer that he had given before. The man that she was with disappeared very quickly when I approached her. I asked medical to respond our location and got her up and walked her around for a bit. The medical team responded and I turned her over to them. She did admit to them that she was a heroin addict and they gave her care on site. I later observed her and her son being spoken to by a ministry team and then kind of lost track of her. I later saw her and her son approaching me and she was wet from head to toe and clearly more sober. She informed me that she had just been baptized and seemed to have a new possibility in her life.

Karen Williams

No doubt, the need for God is great, no matter where you are. Yet, nowhere is the need more great than in the city of New Orleans!! This year marks the tenth anniversary of Katrina!! Time in New Orleans is now marked by before or after Katrina. It is the aftermath that people have been most affected by. Most of our week here was spent with Hy and Libba McEnery. They have a ministry to inner city kids called Eagles Wings on Eagle street, it’s a safe haven for them!! A place where they can get away from their gang infested lifestyles!! A place where these children can come and just be loved as Jesus would!! On the 4^th of July we helped with feed the multitudes. I was blessed to help give out tickets for over four hundred pairs of shoes!! Some washed feet, some washed hair or gave manicures, some prayed, and all were fed, physically yes, but also with the life of Jesus!! The highlight of my trip came this morning. I hear Wes say “Karen Williams you’re going to Lazarus House at eleven a.m. This was an answer to so many daily ferverent prayers!! All I could do was hug Wes, thank him and cry. So much was happening with Hy and Libba this week. I wasn’t sure if Lazarus House was going to be able to happen!! I just praise God that it did!! Three years ago, we built three mall brick walls, for their compost and stuff. Katherine showed us where but none of us really knew what we were doing. Yet, by the end of the week, walls were up!! My desire was to re-see the wall and of course Katherine. When we pulled up I saw the walls through the bushes!! It was a very stirring moment!! Jessica met us and showed us around. What fond memories, Unfortunately Katherine wasn’t in. Jessica told us of the history of Lazarus House, it is a temporary living shelter for those who have tested positive for HIV. They can stay three months to two years. They are helped with schooling, jobs, financial help, medical help, all of it, prayer is needed because HUD is trying to pull their grants because it is no a permanent living place. I was checking supplies when Katherine got there, I came around the corner, we hugged like old friends!! A bond had been forged three years ago, and it was just as strong today! She was thanking me for contributing to think about and care for them, it was God, He used Katherine to make such an impact on me, being there is where I felt I belonged!! God has given me a love and burden for this city of New Orleans!! He has called me to this city!! The future will be determined when I come again, for I know I will be back!! What a blessing, to be a part of this team, and see God give others, the same heart and burden, only in different ways!! Lord willing, many of you will seek his will and accept his call to this much in need city of New Orleans!!!

Al Kubiske

To me, most things happen as part of a process. The “Mission Trip” on my process to better know Jesus, began in Stone Mountain GA, 2002. A group of missionaries were on convention there, and they were all so happy to everyone they met! This looked great, but confused me. I had not read the Bible much prior, and thought maybe that had something to do wit it. I’m not certain “more than coincidence“ is the right term but the first verse my eyes fell on was Isaiah 52:7. He spoke of happiness, proclamations of peace, good tiding and salvation for those proclaiming God reigns. That certainly described the people at stone mountain, but it did not describe me.

            There are a few events of this particular trip that I believe, have helped me finally realize Isaiah 52:7. The trip started February 2015 when I was complaining to my wife that there had to be more to life than work for corporations. I needed something real. That opened the door for the New Orleans trip. Odd thing was I had convinced myself that though I said I was going, and I knew going was the right thing, I was not going. The excuses were persistent- too tired, too old, too busy, not good enough- but one by one I came to know the truth of what they really were, and that is lies. Fait in Jesus and the Holy Spirit removed all barriers, calmed all fears. Before I knew it I was in the NOLA missions house with ten people I hardly knew, looking at repair work I did not know how to do, and, I was not worried about a thing. Second Timothy 20:2 s true. – trust in God, be true to him, BELIEVE, he will guide and provide. He knows you, he knew me , and how I could best serve. One assignment that stands out was working at feed the multitudes. Myself working security. Alone with a line of 500 people. And at no time did I feel that God gave me more than I could handle. The day was filled with challenges, all of them ending with a smile, helping someone, a thank you, or “God Bless You”, it was a great day. I saw the Spirit in a man named Downy. He was waiting on the shady lawn with his wife and three children “Hey Mr. Security man” he called to me “Let me ask you a question”. “What name would you call God today”? Jesus Christ we agreed on. And we talked of the Trinity, Jesus as God on earth, faith, and his resurrection. And he told me his story. Downy was partially crippled yet the spirit radiated from him. This family was beautiful, as was he. We prayed together before he left. I’m not 100% certain why Downy chose me to give witness to.  But I think it was God showing me that after a day of providing for the neediest, he is here with them as well. That I say the needy don’t need me, they need God. They need the love of Jesus, and when they have it, though they have earthly needs, they are no different than the people at stone mountain. They are happy, they proclaim, they have salvation. I believe many spiritual battles within me were won on his trip, and they were won because of the grace of God put the love of Jesus in me above all of the excuses I had. He used me for his will. And now I fully understand the spirit that s behind Isaiah 52:7

Pastor Wes Slawson

This was my 18th mission trip to New Orleans since 2003. New Orleans truly is my second home and I deeply love: the people, the culture and, yeah, the food! This team of mostly first-time missionaries, were very quick to take leaps of faith and to switch into Spirit-led mode. I was very impressed with those who surrendered their need to be in control to trust God and others. This is a very difficult, sometimes impossible task for some. I saw peace and true joy come over them and his carried over ink every aspect of their mission experience! This team really enjoyed each other and this reminds me of the Scripture where Jesus said, "by this all shall know that you are my disciples, by how much they love each other." I saw growth in each and every member. At our final debriefing time last night, each of the first-time missionaries admitted to feeling unprepared, even unworthy, of this ministry. But now they know that "where the Lord guides, the Lord provides!"
Haven't been on a mission team yet? Please listen for God's gentle call and take a step of faith to let us know. You could be the answer to someone's prayers!