You ever get in on something at the beginning… before everyone else really “gets” how cool it is? I feel I had the chance to do that recently when I was invited to speak for the Alive in You workcamp being held in the diocese of Lake Charles (in the city of Jennings LA).

Last October, at the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) in Atlanta, there was an exhibitors’ booth near mine that was causing a positive stir. Jim and Heather Weir (from Florida), along with Cory Howat (whom I knew from my work in New Orleans) along with Brogan (don’t remember his last name) were launching a new workcamp called Alive in You.

(pictured above are Jim, Heather and Cory)

Their booth was “slick” and their hopes and energy for their upcoming camps was impressive. They were going to do workcamps in the areas hit by Hurricanes Rita and Katrina. Later they asked me about giving a talk to the teens at one or more of their camps.

I got to speak to about 150 teens—from Wisconsin, Texas, Georgia and Louisiana– who gave a week of their lives to help people whose lives, homes and schools were affected by Hurricane Rita in southwest Louisiana. It’s always a joy to me to see young people responding in love to the needs of others. These young people were tired from our humidity but their spirits were still high.

After my talk, I chatted with Jim, Heather and Cory (Brogan was doing his “DJ” thing!). I grew in admiration for the drive and openness I see in them. They did a super job in their first year of a workcamp. They have learned much from previous experiences and this year also taught them valuable insights for the future. They were tired (and rightfully so after 3 straight weeks in Louisiana and on the road.) but they were looking ahead to better things for the future.

To Brogan, Cory, Heather and Jim, yes I actually did say that I can see he IS Alive in You.

For more on this workcamp see their website.