Aggies in New Orleans see big picture of God’s work

Posted: 2/09/07

Aggies in New Orleans see
big picture of God’s work

By Marilyn Stewart

Louisiana Baptist Convention

NEW ORLEANS—Texas A&M University students from First Baptist Church of College Station see their part in rebuilding New Orleans much like the inner workings of the engineering systems they study—a small component in the larger machine that God is operating in New Orleans.

“We came to do whatever we could in four days,” recent A&M graduate Emily Guevara said. “Knowing that others will come behind us and continue the work makes us know that this is not about us; it’s about what God is doing.”

Ryan Plesko from First Baptist Church in College Station installs an interior frame.

Led by college pastor Ty Cope, the 14-member group was the third team from Expression College Ministry to work in New Orleans since Katrina. More than 50 of the 125 students involved in the college ministry have participated, and more teams are arriving.

The group postponed a mission trip to Thailand immediately following Katrina, going instead to New Orleans to clean up home interiors in the most heavily damaged areas of the city. Cope said the loss became real to the students as they carried out ruined pictures, children’s toys and mementos of every day life.

“That’s when it hit home that the flood impacted families,” Cope said. “And our love for the people of New Orleans began.”

Meaghan Gasch, a piano major and third-time team member, said the media accounts fell short in conveying the full extent of the devastation. Motivated by the enormity of the disaster, Gasch said, “We did things we didn’t think we could do.”

Recently, the college team worked in conjunction with Operation NOAH Rebuild, the initiative of the Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board to help rebuild New Orleans area homes.

What made the recent trip different, Cope said, was that the students were rebuilding—installing insulation and hanging drywall—rather than tearing out, and the students spent the week getting to know the homeowner.

Savannah Evans, a university student and member of First Baptist Church in College Station, uses an electric drill to hang drywall.

Lillian Freeman, a lifelong New Orleans resident, fled with her daughter and grandson to an upper story of an adjacent apartment complex when rising water endangered their safety. Her testimony to the students was that God has been faithful through it all.

“To see how God has taken care of her in something this big reminds me that God is sovereign and can take care of anything in life,” Gasch said.

Both veteran and first-time team members agreed getting to know “Ms. Lillian,” her grandson and her nephews was the most fulfilling part of the trip. Students spent time playing with the kids and purchased a football for the grandson.

“I’ve been hugging them every day since they came,” Freeman said. “It’s a miracle, and I’m passing NOAH’s name on to everybody I know.”

Working in New Orleans has given the students a vision beyond the dorm room and their own activities and has taught them to be servant leaders, Cope said. “They learn what love looks like.”

“Ty told us we didn’t come just to rebuild a house, but to show God’s love,” Guevara said. “We can’t solve every problem in the city, but we can help this family.”

Students from First Baptist Church in College Station pose with a New Orleans resident after working on her home.

Expression College Ministry emphasizes that faith is best communicated when serving others. Senior architectural student and third-time team member Ryan Collins said he has found his own faith bolstered when helping others.

The admonition in James to care for the widows and children in need is a call to action, Collins said. “Talking only goes so far. You have to go out and do.”

When asked if a one-week mission trip makes a difference, Collins said: “I may not see the difference we have made, but it doesn’t matter if I do. We are still called to be the light of the world.”