Anna Cummings '08
When we were arriving the first day at Benjamin Franklin High School in New Orleans, La., our leader, Doug (the youth pastor of Berean Bible Church where we stayed), told us the man in charge of the project was the football coach named Charlie.
Charlie was a tough Italian former Marine with a heavy accent and a cigarette in his hand. We had been prepared to have him depressed and swearing for the entire trip. However, Charlie melted while we were there.
I would have told anyone before I went to New Orleans that anyone can do something good, but when God is the reason one does something good, people can see the difference. All the same, I realized that truth when I was in New Orleans. Any team could have gone down to help clean up that high school, but Jesus went with us. Because Jesus was in us and with us, I believe we were able to make a special impact, both spiritually and physically. For instance, the school faculty had a list of things they wanted us to do in the three days we were there; we did them all the first day.
Charlie told us the last day with tears in his eyes that in all his years as a football coach and even in the Marines he had never seen a group of people with such a good work ethic. He then hugged every one of us.
When my turn came I told him, "I want you to know that I feel blessed because I was able to come here, because I was on the waiting list and I thought I wouldn't get to come. And I know I'm not the strongest person who could have come."
Almost before I finished Charlie said, "You know what? I know God sent you here," and he pointed to me.
It does make a difference.