The following is from my journal on Feb. 3rd. What prompted this was receiving my copy of the AIM Soul Search Katrina Relief book. Memories washed over me like the flood of Katrina herself. I was soon bathing in the tears of rememberance as I flipped through page after page of a story I personally played a part in... and even more specifically stories from Kelsey, Katie, Jessica and Amanda (my fellow Mexico FYMers) came crawling off the pages... as did the named mention of all of us who were a part of the relief efforts there and in the River Center. I just wanted to share with you my own heartfelt rememberance of a time and place that now seems so far away while at the same time feeling as only yesterday...

As I'm sitting here in the comforts of my new part-time job here in East Tennessee, my heart is sad as it remembers a time just months before. A time when I was surrounded by 5,000 evacuees from Hurricane Katrina. It feels almost surreal to think that that even truly occurred--and more so that I was in the very heart and chaos of it! Oh the memories--the intense pain and love I felt and still feel for those wounded people. And what breaks my heart the most is that above all else--I wish I could have done MORE!! I mentally scold myself now for not doing more, working harder, spending more time with more families. Oh, but my memories are precious. I've got no photos, but my mind has forever captured the images of the River Center. The crowded room of cots and tents. The babies and kids everywhere--running up to give you a hug. Now, looking back, I realize even more how God used us. We truly were Jesus to those people. God gave us supernatural power during our days serving in the shelter. We labored more intensely that any other time in our lives--and yet, I would have been ready and willing to work twice as long and hard. How is that possible? And how is it possible that over 50 18-24 year olds would voice virtually no complaints amidst the tiring chaos? One answer--with God, all things are possible. I thank God for this opportunity I had to serve Him in such a unique way. And my feelings of wishing I could have done more will not remain as a regret but will be transformed into wisdom and passion for future missions God places in my path. I will never forget Baton Rouge... the hungry and desperate souls seeking the true hope in Christ many don't even realize they need... and the blessed honor it was to serve alongside such a selfless crew of young leaders armed and ready for the battle that awaits as God is calling out His next generation of true disciples.

Now my prayer... that our tomorrows are few in which we find ourselves looking back on the days before... wishing we would have done more.