December 20, 2005

Surgical masks and chain saws. That’s what 27 Corban students and four sponsors decided they needed to take on their second disaster relief missions trip to New Orleans.

They’re going to do brush and tree removal Dec. 30 to Jan. 6, which is mostly what Corban students did on their first trip, in mid-October. They also expect to go into people’s homes and help them “mud out” by tearing out sheetrock, pulling up carpet and the like, said Kent Kersey, campus pastor.

“These are the requests First Baptist Church of Kenner is still getting from church members and community members, to have brush cleared out of their yard,” Dr. Kersey said. “The city also is opening more opportunities for people to return to houses that have been damaged. That’s where we get into the mud-out work.”

The disaster relief trips are in response to the devastation of hurricanes making landfall in New Orleans and a 600-mile swath of the Gulf Coast. Freshman Cameron Curtis was the first to organize what was a half-formed idea in many students’ minds. Junior Anastasia Soohoo-Hui said when she first heard about the possibility, she knew God wanted her to minister to the people of New Orleans, but like all except for the first team of nine students, she had to wait for the missions trip set to take place during Christmas break.

“I just felt like I needed to be there,” Soohoo-Hui said. “I needed to not just give money and pray, but to be there with the people, cleaning up stuff for them and talking to them.”

That personal interaction with residents of Kenner – next door to the New Orleans International Airport – is what was the greatest value of the first disaster relief trip, Dr. Kersey said, even though the work students did probably saved area residents $30,000 for work not covered by insurance.

“It’s a lot of hard work,” said Freshman Jesse Hayes, who participated in the mid-October trip and who is part of the Christmas break team as well. “From using chain saws to carrying these tremendous pieces of wood that weigh more than I do, it’s the entire team working really hard.

“We’ve been able to pray with every single family we’ve worked with,” Hayes continued. “A lot of them are Christians but we’ve been able to build them up and encourage them, show them that someone cares.”

In regular contact with First Baptist of Kenner’s associate pastor, Benjie Floyd, since the first disaster relief team’s return, Dr. Kersey spoke of homeowners’ growing sense of frustration at the slow pace of assistance and reconstruction.

“Our students will be doing Kingdom work,” the campus pastor said. “We’re partnering with a local church, helping them reach out and minister in the name of Jesus to the people in their community.”

Mold probably is going to be an issue in the homes, Dr. Kersey said. Masks with the texture of a coffee filter that cover nose and mouth will keep out small particles of toxic dust.

First Baptist of Kenner before Corban’s mid-October mission trip was given four older chainsaws in less than perfect condition, which made Corban students’ work harder than it needed to be, so this time they’re taking one of their own, the campus pastor said.

Other than the masks and chain saw, students – who each are contributing $500 to the trip – are being told to pack as lightly as possible, for space reasons. They’ll be sleeping at the church.

Meals will be provided by Melanie Oakes of San Antonio, Texas, mother of team member Matt Oakes, a worship arts major. Matt Oakes also led a benefit concert Dec. 13, which raised about $300 for the mission trip.

Wendell Hayes, a graphic arts student, designed a benefit t-shirt being sold for $18 in the campus bookstore, with proceeds to be given to the disaster relief fund.

“I think one of the cool things for Corban is that we have 32 people who are giving up a week of their Christmas break to go and serve the Lord, and they’re doing that with an awesome heart,” Curtis said. “Just being able to give people a late Christmas present is going to be amazing. God is just going to be using this team in many various ways to bless First Baptist of Kenner and New Orleans.”

A third disaster relief trip to New Orleans tentatively is being considered for spring break.

--By Karen L. Willoughby