Although
I cannot simply speak highly enough about them, there is an extended part of my
summer family that I must spend some time praising…my volunteers. One of the
things that terrified me the most about returning for a second summer on staff
was that my volunteers would simply not be as fantastic as they were my first
summer. Granted, I have to say one of the areas the Lord has blessed me in is a
quick yet genuine love for people. Anxiety aside, I was excited to have 501
people enter my life, not just to make new friends but to be enriched and
encouraged by their hearts and their stories.
This
summer we had several weeks of volunteers that come from just one church,
filling up the entire center. I definitely was not used to that because my
church, being so small, was always paired with at least one other church, but
last summer I had success with solo churches so I was hopeful this summer could
only get better. I know I have mentioned before that ASP is a relationship
ministry with construction on the side, where our volunteers minister to our
families on both of these levels, but as
a staffer it is my job to treat the volunteers like the volunteers treat our
families. They come ready and willing to serve but also open and ready for
Christ to enter their lives, revealing sweet truths and rerouting their hearts
to be better servants and Christ-followers. I am lucky and blessed that I get
to be used in the process.
It
is only fair that I break every week up, highlighting sweet moments and how God
grew me by using my volunteers in the process. I won’t call anyone out
individually (hopefully if you are reading this you know who you are), but I am
genuinely so grateful for every single soul that entered and served in Mullens
this summer.
Week 1: A solo church, smaller in size but they made up
for it in their love for one another, this ministry and their contagious
spirits. After their departure, all my staff and I could do was just sit back
and sigh the greatest sigh of relief…because this week was so easy and
seamless! (Now, my Returner and I did give a good deal of warning to our First
Years that such weeks sometimes come few and far between, but always when we
needed them most). Yes, when I say perfect, I mean several hiccups that are
fixed with time and repetition, but overall as a first week of really working
together and putting all of our programming into practice, I could not have
been more proud of how everything turned out. Through these volunteers, I also
caught a glimpse of what I would later come to realize that it wasn’t unusual
but rather instinctual…a deep and genuine love for our families. This church
had immediate connections that were sweet and inspiring, also serving as a
forewarning that the ending final goodbyes would be that much more difficult.
This church enjoyed one another and it was evident they were selfless in their
service. My God Moment for the week was
that I was just so extremely grateful for their patience with us as a staff and
the grace that was poured onto us, whether it be from laughing at our staff
dancing in the pouring rain minutes before our first square dancing, star
spinning on Friday night, or the nurturing spirits that enveloped the little
children that filled the work sites. This week, I gained new insights, new
sisters, and lifelong friends that started off this amazing summer.
Week 2: Our numbers grew a bit…from one church to three,
all with completely different backgrounds and personalities. This is where the
test of our preparations and efficiencies would be challenged. Surprisingly,
even more grace was shown, and although we as a staff had our fair share of
snags this week, everything was still so memorable. Our families continued to
fall in love with this week’s volunteers, and there was just as much love given
to them in return. It was a sweet week for me because of each church’s
diversity, I was personally challenged to be intentional with all of them
(easier said than done), but the results were overwhelming. The adults and the
youth were alike in their constant encouragement that fueled my energy to keep
at a high…even though I thought we had been in Mullens a lifetime; it was only
Week 2/7. Major things also happened this week, like starting the removal and
foundation laying of our double room addition…and my first of so many, many
trips to the landfill (DUMP!!!). There were so many sweet moments this week
that I find myself replaying over and over in my head, like a life-changing and
heart-nurturing 11 P.M. conversation in the cafeteria, letting go and letting
someone serve me ( A LOT easier said than done), pulling an all-nighter with
volunteers before they left the next morning, lifting over fifty 80lb bags of
concrete after realizing I thought I ordered way too many, and a slow drive up
to our picnic site with a newfound friend, stopping often to see the deer cross
the road. The friendships I made this week kept getting sweeter and
everlasting, with meaningful conversations and late talks with new “best
friends.” And as if that couldn’t get any more God-filled…one of our shyest homeowners
opened up and was joking and laughing, all because the folks at her home showed
intentionality and love that would evolve into something so beautiful.
Week 3: We kept close to the same numbers, but returned
to a solo church…one that had been coming for quite some time and have had some
members actually come onto staffing. I really got a lot out of their energy to
get their assigned projects done that week, as well as spur each other on so
that everyone would have a part in the contribution. I was extremely encouraged
by how much the youth were given leadership roles and how, at every worksite, they
were the obvious focal point of ministry. This passion from the youth was
reflected in the Friday Night Share circle, getting to hear of all of our
families being deeply affected by the relationships formed with the youth. I
was so encouraged to see some of our older youth in the families we worked for,
starting to open up more, talk about their faiths and begin to allow this
ministry to help grow them. Another God moment of the week was the
relationships formed with some of the older youth volunteers—hearing their
stories and seeing how easily they were to welcome us as a staff into their
lives. Friendships formed this week will last forever, and I’m so grateful for
that.
Week 4: “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there
was light. And God saw that the light was good.” (Genesis 1:3-4a). Well this
week, God allowed us to only utilize His natural light. Yes, we went back to
the basics this week after a severe set of storms swept through the area and
neighboring counties, taking out trees, some homes and power for (in our case)
one day. Although that wasn’t as bad as in some places, it was the longest span
of problem solving and improvisation of our entire lives haha. To say that this little kink in the system
was humbling would be an understatement. It was a perfect time in the middle of
the summer to remember who is in control regardless of what earth throws at
us—God. There were definite sweet moments, like the community members taking
all of our food to a nearby school with working refrigerators off of a
generator, and opening their facilities to us so that we could feed our
volunteers after a squelching hot day. For those men and women I’ll be forever
thankful. This week we also had some past-staffer friends come with their
church so that was a sweet time, and for me personally, a HUGE learning
experience I so desperately needed. I think for the middle of the summer, it
was the perfect week for patience and the Lord definitely tested us all in
that.
Week 5: This was by far my personally most challenging
week, with keeping the energy high for my volunteers, but needless to say, they
provided me with more than I could ever ask for and definitely more than what I
gave them. I definitely experienced God through my volunteers and how they took
care of each other, and across groups. The Spirit of the Lord was obviously in
this place this week. Their motivation to not only continue to get as much done
as they could in their time, but to love on these families was so encouraging
for me to show up every day to a site and see it unfold. There were a lot of
mentors to me this week, and conversations that I will forever cherish—this
time, being mostly from the adult volunteers. It was refreshing to have 20+
different parent-figures this week, filling me with love, encouragement, and
challenges to grow. Highlights from this week would have to be some of the new
families getting a later project start falling in love with their volunteers,
intense amounts of plumbing repair knowledge, having the wiring completed on
our room addition, and the sweet picnic interactions between our volunteers and
all of our families---one big ASP family.
Week 6: Another solo church for the summer, and I
couldn’t be more blessed with what they brought to Mullens this week. It is to
the point in the summer when we are all exhausted but there is still so much to
be done. These volunteers were so caring and united with one another—I got so
much encouragement just in watching their interactions with one another and our
families. I loved seeing how, by the end of the week, every picture I looked
through that was taken by this crew, told a perfect little story of every God
moment that happened. Some of my favorite moments from this week included our
intense dodgeball tournament, last-second yet so powerful conversations Friday
night, sweet reflections at the picnic with our youth volunteers and the kids
we worked for, and our share circle. Yes, I usually get somewhat emotional
during these things but the God moments shared by all of our volunteers just
made my heart burst. Some of the sweetest stories of dance parties, ASL I love
you signs, funny faces from our youngest family member, and even a change in
God moments to one based on the emotional trainwrecks my staff and I had—so many
tears. I was so thankful for this group of passionate, kind-hearted folks that
knew exactly what to do and what we needed to head into the last week of the
summer.
Week 7: Whoa…what a way to wrap up the end to one of the
best summers ever. My heart is humbled and overflowing with joy when I think
about this week. This was the week when
not only did all of our projects end but when it was time to face reality—the
reality of saying goodbye to each family member and to the place we called home
for nearly ten weeks. One statement that sums up this week pretty accurately is
this: GOD IS HERE!!! I am literally beaming from ear to hear just realizing how
divine this week was, and it was all because of our Lord and His hand in this
ministry. Of course, there were the moments I held my breath, not knowing if
the weather would hold out or materials would last…or to be honest, if
everything would get completed…but deep down I just knew it would (well, it had
to haha). There were so many sweet times that happened this week that can all
be accredited to these volunteers. Unlike anything I had ever dealt with as a
staffer before, these amazing people came to Mullens last summer—found home
here—and returned, knowing some familiar faces. This alone presented a little
challenge because we as a staff needed to make this week just as special as
week one and yet different enough from their year here before. The energy and
optimism they shared with us kept our spirits strong as we were tired by this
point. They loved everything about ASP—and this love POURED all over this
county. Some proud moments for me that make me even more so thankful to God for
them include constant flexibility with projects and materials, inspiring
conversations at every meal, God-filled singing that bounced off the walls
during EG, a much-needed and intentional moment throughout Wednesday night,
tear-and-truth-filled conversation on the stone wall with a newfound sister in
Christ, lying next to the creek outback in silence, border patrol dance and
singalong parties, smoothies, Kountry Kitchen dining, and a 4 hour Friday Night
Share Circle that will never be forgotten. Although there were so many more
moments, both on a staff (plus SIT) level, one will never ever leave my memory.
On Wednesday morning of that week, right before I left for my day off, Jake and
I roamed the halls for wakeup…two guitars and two morning-cracking voices
jamming out to “Wagon Wheel” at the top of our lungs to wake our volunteers up.
Well on Saturday morning, after staying up into the wee hours of the morning in
fellowship with my new brothers and sisters, my staff and I were sweetly sleeping
in (after telling the volunteers to get us before leaving)…and all of a sudden
the door swings open and almost all of the youth came into our room, guitars in
hand, singing the best version of “Wagon Wheel” I had ever heard. We all just
laid there taking in such a beautiful moment—I’m tearing up just thinking about
it. I couldn’t imagine any better way to end the summer than that moment. It
was perfect, and just what we needed to get us through the rest of the summer.
Overall highlights that I realized, thanks to my awesome
2012 volunteers:
1) Late (and I mean extremely late) night
conversations that budded into amazing friendships are always worth it.
2) Even if you think you are good at math and
calculating the amount of materials, volunteers most often times use more than
you think…and if you ordered too much they are always there to help you move
one monstrous pile to another location only a few feet away.
3) Accept the service of another person, especially
when they offer to go to the dump with you.
4) Dance in the rain when EVERYONE is watching…it
gives you more of an opportunity to make a carefree, foolish mess of yourself.
5) Seven weeks of the same square dance makes you
look like a champ, but yet you still sweat and laugh just as much.
6) Evening Gatherings on Friday nights never need a
time limit, whether it is 30 minutes or 4 hours.
7) Warm Fuzzies never get old, and are best read
even weeks after you received them from the volunteers.
8) Remember…no matter what kink may throw off the
plans, everything always works out.
9) Vulnerability is expected for you to show to the
volunteers.
10) Volunteers are EXTREMELY good and quick at
working puzzles and eating Dairy Queen, but when it’s all said and done, no one
sings Wagon Wheel better than volunteers and staffers with a few guitars on a
Wednesday night!
A note to my volunteers:
THANK
YOU. I hope each one of you reading this understands that it is January and I
still remember…all of your staff still remembers you, your faces, and the
memories we shared in that friendly town. Thank you for challenging me to be
better, supporting me in my growth, and feeding my soul with exactly what the
Lord had in mind for me this summer. I hope you all got something out of your
week in Mullens, and that you know you impacted me in ways that can’t fully
ever be expressed. You all, each and every one of you, with what you bring and
what you share, are why I love what I do and have done the past two summers.
YOU are the hands and feet of Christ. YOU keep this ministry alive and I cannot
begin to tell you what it means to me to see and hear the lives of our families
transformed because of YOUR hearts and YOUR willingness to serve. May God be
with you and move through you always and hopefully you all will come back to
ASP to serve again. Amen for YOU! --All
my love, Your CD
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