Spring Break
Conn. students spend spring break rebuilding La.
John Kennedy
Issue date: 3/16/09 Section: News
Twenty-seven hours and over 1,350 miles on a bus provides one with ample time to think.
As five UConn students embarked upon a service mission to the still-devastated Mississippi Delta on Friday, March 6, hopes and fears about the week ahead ran through their heads.
"I hoped to be an encouragement to the people and the community," said Megan Browne, a 4th-semester elementary education major. "But you're always afraid you'll never do enough."
Browne, 6th-semester biomedical engineering major Danielle LaPointe, 6th-semester civil engineering majors Eric Dorsey and Mike Kowalczyk and I were part of a team of 30 students from UConn, Connecticut College and Yale, Wesleyan and Quinnipiac universities, with four staff members from InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, who volunteered all or part of their spring break to rebuild communities in and around New Orleans.
According to Greg Hendrickson, the Katrina Relief Urban Plunge program director, over 400 students from New England will go to New Orleans on behalf of InterVarsity this March.
Hendrickson has staffed the last three trips to New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina, as well as three prior Habitat for Humanity trips. He said the trip is focused on the intersection between Christian faith and service, and it provides an opportunity for practicing Christians and non-Christians to work together toward a common goal.
Hendrickson said he continues to return because he hopes the experience "will give a concrete opportunity for the group to serve together, and for others to serve with us, and that the service will become part of our lives."
After spending the first night in the sanctuary of Faith Bible Church in Slidell, La., the group, comprising two-thirds InterVarsity members, and one-third non-members, was welcomed into the community at an energetic Sunday morning church service.
The remainder of the day was spent in New Orleans' historic French Quarter, where live music constantly floated among the crowds, and the smell of spices, sweets, coffee and French doughnuts (beignets) permeated the air.
As five UConn students embarked upon a service mission to the still-devastated Mississippi Delta on Friday, March 6, hopes and fears about the week ahead ran through their heads.
"I hoped to be an encouragement to the people and the community," said Megan Browne, a 4th-semester elementary education major. "But you're always afraid you'll never do enough."
Browne, 6th-semester biomedical engineering major Danielle LaPointe, 6th-semester civil engineering majors Eric Dorsey and Mike Kowalczyk and I were part of a team of 30 students from UConn, Connecticut College and Yale, Wesleyan and Quinnipiac universities, with four staff members from InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, who volunteered all or part of their spring break to rebuild communities in and around New Orleans.
According to Greg Hendrickson, the Katrina Relief Urban Plunge program director, over 400 students from New England will go to New Orleans on behalf of InterVarsity this March.
Hendrickson has staffed the last three trips to New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina, as well as three prior Habitat for Humanity trips. He said the trip is focused on the intersection between Christian faith and service, and it provides an opportunity for practicing Christians and non-Christians to work together toward a common goal.
Hendrickson said he continues to return because he hopes the experience "will give a concrete opportunity for the group to serve together, and for others to serve with us, and that the service will become part of our lives."
After spending the first night in the sanctuary of Faith Bible Church in Slidell, La., the group, comprising two-thirds InterVarsity members, and one-third non-members, was welcomed into the community at an energetic Sunday morning church service.
The remainder of the day was spent in New Orleans' historic French Quarter, where live music constantly floated among the crowds, and the smell of spices, sweets, coffee and French doughnuts (beignets) permeated the air.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Julie Fernandes
posted 3/16/09 @ 10:55 AM EST
As an alumnus ('71), I am proud of so many of the things UCONN students have accomplished on and off the fields. But, I have to admit that it is these actiities that make my heart swell with gratitude and pride. (Continued…)
Mat Samuelson
posted 3/16/09 @ 2:10 PM EST
I am so PROUD of you guys and how you let the love of God shine through you. I miss you all and want you to know that you and the people of both NOLA and UConn are in my prayers. (Continued…)
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