SLIDELL, La. — Twelve youth from Rome First United Methodist Church have spent the past week in Slidell, La., repairing homes damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

In many ways, Slidell, about 25 miles east of New Orleans, is a microcosm of the larger city, which the youth toured on Wednesday.

“We had heard about the storm and have wanted to help out for a while,” said Lauren Willingham. “What we have seen really makes us appreciate what we have.”

The Rome youth joined United Methodist youth groups from Memphis, Tenn., and Starkville, Miss., rebuilding homes in Slidell and Lacombe, La.

Slidell did not get the news coverage that New Orleans received in the wake of Katrina, but the storm was just as devastating to this town of about 39,000. Katrina destroyed more than 500 businesses in Slidell, destroyed or damaged thousands of homes and put more than two-thirds of its population out of work.

“Katrina was one of the biggest disasters in my lifetime, and I thought this would be a good opportunity to help,” said Stephanie Butler.

Devon Smyth, Rome First’s youth director, said the church puts a lot of emphasis on mission work.

“We want our youth to learn what it means to live in community with others,” Smyth said. “They work in places where they are not entirely comfortable and perform tasks that they might not normally do. They also have to think of someone other than themselves.”

During the first half of the week, the Rome group worked on three homes and got them ready for families to move back in. They moved on to other projects over the rest of the week.

Smyth said that while the Rome First youth often do mission projects around Greater Rome and throughout Georgia, the Slidell trip, which is sponsored by Project NOAH (New Orleans Area Hope), helps the young Romans “learn about a part of the country they are not familiar with.”

“We get to help other people, but we have a lot of fun, too,” said Jon Ross Maddox.

“I usually go on the mission trips because I like to help other people,” said Carter Hightower. “I know the people of Louisiana need our help because there was so much devastation here.”

The Rome youth saw some of that devastation firsthand during a tour of the lower Ninth Ward, which sustained some of the heaviest damage when the levees protecting New Orleans broke during Katrina. The youth also visited the French Quarter.

“They are here to be the hands and feet of Jesus, but we also want them to come home with an idea of the impact the hurricane had on the lives of the people in the News Orleans area,” Smyth said. “In some ways, Slidell was sort of forgotten in the larger picture of Katrina.”

“We feel like we are giving a lot of people a second chance,” said Jon Galloway, one of two youth interns on the trip.

“We’re trying to set an example of what Christians should do,” said Bailey Freeman.

Smyth said the trip has been a learning experience for the Rome First group.

“These kids need to step out of their comfort zone,” Smyth said. “We also wanted to be in a place where there is clearly a need. And it’s also a way we can live for others.”

The youth who traveled to Slidell for Project Noah are Josh Billian, Stephanie Butler, Weston Earp, Bailey Freeman, Jon Galloway (intern), Carter Hightower, Jon Ross Maddox, Emily Poolos (intern), Will Rowston, Ryan Steen, Katie Tushim and Lauren Willingham.

Staff Writer John Willis is a youth volunteer at Rome First United Methodist Church and traveled with the youth group to Slidell.