Important links in a great chain

Our week in Delaware was one of our most memorable for me as we worked in the state parks on a variety of different projects. I think one of my favorite memories from the week was the very last day. We were sandbagging on the coast to prevent serious erosion near three cabins which are in danger of falling into the Atlantic within the next three years. Our group filled around 2,000 sandbags toward the 20,000 they needed. The very last thing we did before leaving was form a huge human conveyor belt to transfer the bags 75 feet over to the fence to be stacked. It was the perfect culmination for the end of our week. We were working together, transferring hundreds of bags in less than fifteen minutes. Every person was a vital part in our line—if one person stopped the whole system was at a standstill. And as I was thinking about this, I realized what a great analogy it is for our lives. How cool is it that God uses all of us in the same way in our daily lives without us even knowing it…we’re all part of this great conveyor belt for God, a link in a chain that we may never see but we must trust that it exists. The Wartburg service trip impressed me the most that week because of their enthusiasm to work and to work hard. They didn’t question the purpose or the means of the projects, they just worked at what they were told to do. It caused me to reflect on how often I fail at doing that with such trust. God has placed before me great tasks to accomplish, but usually I like to figure out the purpose before I dive in. The service trip reminded me of how much fun it can be to just get in line, follow His will, and be willing to be that necessary link in a chain that is much greater and reaches much further than we will ever fathom.

Kelly

Left Behind

Lately, I've found myself indulged in the Left Behind series. If you have not started to read them, quit reading this and go find yourself the first one. Hah, actually you can wait to finish this, but as soon as your done...But anyways.

How scary would it be to wake-up and realize you've been left behind? Even worse, how scary would it be to wake-up and have no idea where everyone else has gone. Everytime I read these books, I continue to Thank God for all he has done in my life. From having been raised in a christian family, to have accepted salvation as a young age. This is also the main reason why I choose to be active in the Christian faith and evangelize. Giving people hope and the chance to avoid the tribulation is a reason in itself to spread the gospel.

I know this is short, but it's how I feel. Thanks be to God.

j.meind

Moved by God

“How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?”

I love the ocean. This is something that I didn’t really know about myself until this trip. I love to listen to the waves. I love to look for the perfect necklace shell. I love to touch the sand and walk in it. I love the fishy smell of the ocean. I even like the seagulls. I love that you can’t see the end or the beginning. Just like God, the ocean just is.

“How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?”

People fascinate me. Everyone has such an interesting story to share. Everyone is unique, but so similar. I like to watch people. Ask my dad, I hate shopping, so he and I would watch people at the mall. Today I watched people and I am amazed by the creation of ‘us’. I love that you can’t find two people the same. God loves to create.

“How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?”

I have a friend who loved to build things. I have another friend who loves the Latino culture, a friend who loves to sing, one who loves to play guitar, and one who loves to act. Still another friend loves to write, one really likes to read (especially this week), and one likes to paint. I know people who love math, others that love biology, others that love to learn about computers. God gives passion.

“How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?”

As we get closer to Holy Week I am reminded more than most parts of the year what it means to be moved by God. It is a call to follow Him as a response to Jesus’ sacrifice. A response to an incredible act of grace. As I stand with Christ looking at my life how can I stand here and not be moved by Him? God loves.

“How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you? You are all I want, you are all I need, you are everything…”
(excerpt from Lifehouse song)

Laura

Simple Note

Sunday night things came to a sudden halt as I was turning out the light to go to sleep and I looked down to find on a little notepad the following phrase: "Whatever needs to be done, the Lord is doing." I was going to bed with a lot on my mind but let out a peace-filled "humph" when this jumped to me on the side of a cluttered desk at the last moment of the day's light.

In Life of Pi, Pi says: "I know zoos are no longer in people's good graces. Religion faces the same problem. Certain illusions about freedom plague them both." Some people look at religion (Christianity) as a cage denying the freedom to live. Other people think quite the opposite. I wish I could pull a quote from Seizing Your Divine Moment but it is passed on to new hands to read. The premise of the book, however, is that there is so much to do for God and so many ways to live for Him. If we simply live with God on our hearts in each moment we will have a life filled with love, purpose and freedom.

Damen, the Fisks and the Meinders have all recently written about experiencing Latreia and what an awesome experience it is to serve... forget all else and serve. It is freeing to live for God and serve our community. I have to admit that a few things have weighed too much on my mind and I have allowed them to take away from the freedom that God has given me to let Him be in control. The past few days it seems as though I have forgotten to "serve" and remembered "all else."

It may take a week in another place to rediscover “freedom.” It may take a special reminder from Grandma B who points out that there are so many ways - far and near - to live out that freedom. It might take a good book to remind us how freeing our God is. Other times the reminder - that God is in control and we need only live with Him on our hearts- comes from stumbling upon a simple phrase penned by your youngest brother and left out on a desk.

On a logistics/update/service note… a special thanks to Karen Fountain of Fountain Financial who has volunteered her time to prepare our taxes for us. You lead by example.
Jesse

Life with Latreia

Greetings readers,

This week it was my great job and pleasure to spend a week experiencing life in the world of Latreia. While this week was not the norm, fifteen as opposed to four people, I found myself getting just as lost as I'm sure they do on a week to week basis. As I reflect on the week, it was the getting lost that I enjoyed the most. Throughout my school year I find myself becoming increasingly frustrated with the apparent pointlessness of school work. Often I feel as though my wheels are just spinning and I am not getting anywhere. But this week the rubber hit the road for me. Just being able to lose myself in service for others made me as though I had accomplished something. It was a chance for me to put my faith into action and I must admit it felt pretty nice. But the question must now be asked, how do I continue this in my everyday life? One week a year is not enough. How do I become a servant while here at college. While, giving up spring break and traveling to Delaware, it is easy to view myself as a servant. But in the midst of writing a paper, while hunkered down in library, or while shopping for new clothes, my self-image as servant becomes slightly skewed. Yes I know I can do the little things, but that doesn't seem like enough anymore, and it hasn't for quite sometime. I feel myself now, more than ever, called for more. Who knows what that is or if I'll ever find it. But I just wanted to thank all my friends both on Latreia and on the Wartburg Service Trip for helping (at least partially) discover and claim my calling. And by the way, for those that are interested the Wartburg Doughnut count is at 82.5.

roger out,
D-Mann

Meinders in DC

We too would like to share our thoughts on the week we had in Washington, DC with Latreia. It was an awesome week, and it was fun getting to know the kids even better. We noticed that this group just digs in and does what needs to be done. They have very willing hearts and hands and we saw that their attitudes truly match their hearts. I wish every young adult would commit a portion of their life serving others the way this group is. They don't look down on others, they don't judge them, they just share their love of Christ with them through service.

One of the highlights of the week for us was working at S.O.M.E. on Monday. We enjoyed the staff (especially Calvin!) It is a very organized operation and we felt like we were able to encourage some of the homeless people we met. Sometimes all they need is a smile and to know that someone cares.....and it made us realize that not just homeless people need a smile and encouragement.....we can all be "Latreia" where we are!

We also enjoyed working with Family Life Services.............I believe Derek, the maintenance man, truly appreciated all of our help. Even though the task of cleaning and painting that apartment seemed overwhelming to us at first, Latreia just took it with a grain of salt. And we had the place looking "great" when we left. I can only imagine how happy some mom and her children will be when they get a place to call their own. We're blessed to have been able to help.

Which leads me to the part where we had to come back home to Sibley. It was so hard to leave! We four parents discussed how much we would love to be on a journey like this! And yet we need to stop and think about how we all really are on this type of journey. Even though we aren't traveling to a different place every week, we still can apply the same principles at home. No matter where we are, we can all love others, help others, and encourage others right where we live and work.

Thanks for a great week Latreia!

Randy & Cindy Meinders

Fisks in DC

"Mom, you could write a journal entry. You know Bill and Randy wrote one when they served with us."

"Ok,..ok,.......I'll try...........here goes...."


I'll have to admit it,......Gary and I were pulled alittle out of our comfort zone at first. Big city life, 6 lanes of traffic, congestion everywhere, people rushing to and from their jobs on the metro, homeless on the walkways trying to keep warm, constant sirens and honking! It sure made our small town Milford life seem pretty stress-free compared to DC.

But as the week continued, we grew to appreciate the rhythm and style of DC and anxiously embraced it's differences.

Serving meals at S.O.M.E. ( So Others May Eat) was a highlight of my week. (Gary was suffering from a bad cold and couldn't serve with us early in the week) Over 500 men and women enjoyed hot meals that particular day. The wonderfully fun staff embraced our willing hearts and hands to help us crank out the full plates at an amazing pace! The smiles on mens' and womens' faces said it all!

Volunteering with Community Family Life Services was another new experience. Latreia would be cleaning and painting a subsidized apt., getting it ready for a new family. I wish I could see a photo of our expressions when we first walked into the place. Lots of elbow grease would definitely be needed here! But once again, many willing hearts and hands made the project possible. What a transformation! Leaving the clean and newly painted apt, I said a little prayer asking God to bless the family that would soon be moving in. How excited they must be!! And how good our hearts felt to be able to help prepare their home for them!

Our apprehension had given way to appreciation and excitement. We had a wonderful time working together with Kelly, Laura, Steph, Josh, Randy and Cindy, Gary and I, and Allen. Thanks Latreia!

We had mastered the Metrorail, toured the historical sites, fed the hungry and homeless, got paint in our hair and dirt under our fingernails.

But most importantly, we realized first-hand what an amazing journey Latreia is on, their commitment to serving others, and their deep faith and trust in God to lead them day to day.

Gary and I didn't want to go home,....neither did my brother or sister-in-law. But commitments at home prevented us from staying for now...............we will have to be our own Latreia at Milford and Sibley.

Let's see........Latreia Sr.,..... it COULD happen!!!!

Fondly, Kathy
(PS. a BIG thank-you to David and Emily and girls for hosting us with our own little cottage! It was perfect!)

The why behind...

In Washington DC this week we worked with an organization called SOME, So Others Might Eat. It is a large organization that works with the homeless in a variety of ways, offering everything from a free nursing clinic to job training programs. We worked in their kitchen where we helped serve both breakfast and lunch to almost 500 people. While the people we worked with were really fun, it was actually the hour in between serving these two meals that made the greatest impact on me.

As part of SOME’s volunteer program people have the option to sit through a social justice program and we jumped at the opportunity. Our discussion with the facilitator was fascinating because she forced me to go beyond the physical work and evaluate what I was doing and why. Why was I there serving a hot meal? Why was I there mopping the floors? As an answer to these questions she had us fill out budget worksheets given two sets of facts: the average costs involved with living in Washington DC and a typical salary of someone who needed SOME’s resources to survive. The numbers were unsettling. One person earning one dollar above minimum wage could not afford housing of any kind in Washington DC let alone afford to pay for other basic necessities. She also told us that people who apply for subsidized housing often wait years to make the top of the list… The session really helped me put our volunteer labor into perspective. It is so easy to get caught up in the action of our work that I forget to take time to reflect on why we are doing it. I encourage you to ask yourself why you are doing whatever you are doing in your own life right now…

Kelly