Megan Steinsdoerfer

The Operation Restoration hurricane relief trip was the most amazing, impacting, and powerful trip I have experienced. I have been on mission trips overseas and seen the poverty of third world countries. Nothing I have seen compares to the devastation I saw in Pass Christian, Mississippi. I wish there was some way for me to communicate the desperate need there is down there. It breaks my heart knowing the need down there and not being there to help. I am back from the trip, but my heart and all my thoughts are still with the people of Mississippi.

These people were living just like us one day and lost everything the next. Something like this could have happened to any of us. There is a huge need in America right now, and it is sad people are beginning to forget. God really blessed our group on this trip. Not only did we have the chance to bring hope to a group of hurting people, but we got to experience what it is like to have our lives changed in the process. The people I met changed me. I was finally able to take my focus off myself and see the needs around me. I think God is finally breaking me of my selfishness. I realized that everything God gives us is His. He could take it away in an instant.

Being on this trip with 80 others from the Asbury community proved to be the best Thanksgiving of my life. I am very thankful and proud to have been a part of this group. I will never forget what I learned, the experiences I had, the images I saw, and the people I was able to interact with on this trip. I would go back in a heartbeat. Please do not forget the people of the Gulf Coast. They need help and they need hope. Do what you can now to make a difference. I promise you won’t regret it.

Megan Steinsdorfer