Back-to-School Party

On Saturday we had our annual Back-to-School party. We gave out school supplies, books and of course, we had food! Its always fun to get together with the families in our community. In a two hour period we gave out over 150 bags of school supplies! It is only the beginning of the week and we have given out at least 30 more bags. Schools starting to open here in New Orleans (each school has a different schedule) so families are trying to get everything together for school.

Believe it or not, this summer I have met several families that are just moving back to New Orleans since Katrina. I met a grandmother today that is raising her 7 grandchildren. She was living in the Lower 9th Ward and they just returned from GA after 3 years. Her house is being rebuilt and she should be moving in there before school starts, but she was trying to get everything together for the kids. Pray for this family as they readjust to life in New Orleans.

Please remember to pray for all the kids in New Orleans as they start back to school this month.

Saying Goodbye to the Summer

It may still be the summer season, but we are saying goodbye to our summer here at Baptist Friendship House. We officially celebrated the graduation of our girls in Up2HOPE last week. We had an absolutely AMAZING summer!

Our six summer missionaries are slowly dispersing in different directions--heading back home to get ready for college. We had two students from SC, two from MS and two from GA! God blessed us with a wonderful staff this summer. We hate to see them go but we know that God has some amazing things planned for their lives.

Continue to pray for us. We are continuing to work with the girls (and other girls from the community) in after school programs and events. Pray for the girls that attended Up2HOPE and that what they experienced and learned will stick with them throughout their lives.

Fun, Crazy Summer!

These are only a few pictures of this fun and crazy summer....so far! We have such, busy fun-filled days. Some of the FUN things we are doing are: sewing, crafts, Tae Kwan Do, dancing, cultural experiences, etc. We are having sooooooooooo much fun!

Summer is Here!

Yes, summer is here at Baptist Friendship House. Not just the weather or the season---but Life here at the center!

Our summer missionaries have arrived! We are so thankful for the college students that decided to spend the summer with us ministering to the people of New Orleans.

And one more week until our summer program, UP2HOPE. This is a program for girls ages 9 and up. It meets Mon. - Fri. 9am - 3pm. We have so many activities planned for this program! Check this blog regularly because I will keep you guys updated!! :)

Countdown: 7 more days until UP2HOPE. Please pray for us this summer!! Pray for the girls that are coming to the program and pray for the staff that are working this summer.

Another Graduate

Meet Bernadette. She graduated from high school this month. She came to Friendship House wanting to work toward her GED. She had attended school before Hurricane Katrina and then took the required tests for graduation but somehow got lost in the system. She called the school board requesting her scores but they never would give it to her . She figured she didn't pass and gave up on trying to get her test scores.

Until 2 years later she came to Friendship House and met Michelle. Michelle is our US/C-2 missionary that has her MSW degree and is working toward her license. She started working with Bernadette to prepare for the GED test until she found out the whole story. Michelle called the school board and found out what Bernadette had been waiting for 2 years to know... she had passed the test! She was technically a high school graduate!

All it took was a phone call from our social worker to find out that Bernadette had passed her test. She had to wait two years to find out, but she did not let that stop her. She was so excited and immediately worked toward participating in this year's graduation at her high school.

Bernadette has so many plans for her life. She is working toward attending college in the Fall and has a goal of being a nurse. Please pray for her as she takes these new steps in her life.

We are so lucky here at Friendship House. We have the honor of being a part of the small and big things in people's lives. All it took was a phone call--taking the time to help someone, however small it may seem, can change people's lives.

Dr. Kay Bennett

Congratulations to Kay on her graduation day! She is officially Dr. Kay Bennett!! She received her D.Min. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary on May 17th. Her dissertation (Project in Ministry) dealt with training people to help abused women.

We are so proud of her! She has worked so hard and deserves this honor of being called "Dr." She is a brilliant director and we LOVE her very much!!! :)

Congratulations Kay!!

Go Hornets!

Since 2005 we have been given the opportunity to volunteer at New Orleans Hornets NBA games. It has been especially exciting this year since we've been in the playoffs. The Hornets have been good to us--in remodeling part of the building and David West helping our at our health fair, so we want to help them.

They play tonight at the New Orleans Arena.... we are rooting for them.

Go Hornets!