Hope in Opelousas: A Story of Service, Faith, and Community Impact
Hope for Opelousas is built on a foundation of faith and community service, and we work to intertwine these beliefs into every aspect of our organization. As part of this effort, we enjoy welcoming mission teams to Opelousas, Louisiana, to stay on the HFO campus. While here, they partake in community service projects with our students, hear from enlightening guest speakers, and get the opportunity to experience the South Louisiana culture and cuisine!
We were excited to host a wonderful mission team from Northwestern College in Iowa for the 17th straight year this March! We made many memories with the individuals from their team, and now, we want to give you a behind-the-scenes look at their time at Hope for Opelousas!
Guest Speakers:
We believe great value comes from small group conversations, which is exactly what we aimed to provide through our guest speakers. The mission team students discussed all things HFO and Opelousas with Reggie and Marie Dupre and Pat Fontenot, had devotions with Pastor Kirk Alexander and Martin McLendon, and heard testimony from our friend Phil Todora!
Service Projects:
If there was one thing the mission team was ready and willing to partake in, it was service work! The students were excited to use their skills to help however needed! We were thankful for their assistance with numerous painting projects, including the new office and Reading Buddy space, and their help organizing our storage area!
Reading & Art Projects with HFO Students:
When mission teams come to Opelousas to work with HFO, the thing that always sticks with them is the interactions with our students. They love the opportunity to work directly with them, whether through reading buddies, doing art projects, or even just spending quality time together!
Embracing the Great Outdoors:
Louisiana is known for having numerous outdoor activities that visitors and locals enjoy! We gave the mission team a chance to try out one of these adventurous activities by bringing them out to go paddling on Lake Martin! We are very thankful to Pack & Paddle for helping us to secure the gear needed for these outings!
Getting a Taste of Louisiana Cuisine:
No matter where you go, everyone has heard of the delicious foods of South Louisiana! And we would never let our visitors miss the opportunity to try some of those dishes! Throughout the week, HFO families and friends provided home-cooked meals for lunch and dinner. We also went to Randol’s Restaurant in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, for dinner and dancing, and later in the week, we enjoyed another Cajun delicacy on HFO’s campus - boiled crawfish!
No Experience Quite Like Mardi Gras:
Because the mission team visited us early in March, they got to be part of the Opelousas Mardi Gras celebrations. We had a blast catching beads at the parade and listening to Keith Frank’s Mardi Gras concert!
Thank You to the Mission Team from Northwestern College in Iowa
Because these students chose to come to the Hope for Opelousas campus and give of their time and love, we are forever impacted for the better. We hope their experiences with our family and city have left them with positive memories, and we look forward to their next trip to South Louisiana! We’d like to leave you with a journal entry from Mary Walnofer, a mission team member who has come to our campus during four spring breaks and three summers.
