Service Projects - Thursday April 9th

Thursday, another rainy day, we were scheduled to work at two different elementary schools in the North Highlands area. When we gathered at the church, all 18 of us, I made an executive decision for all of us to work together so we headed to Sierra View Elementary School.

When we arrived we found the gentleman who was in charge of maintenance for the school and to say he was thrilled to see us is an understatement. He was ready for our group and proceeded to take us through the list of work that he had planned for the day.

While giving all of us instructions on what he needed us to do for the day he received a phone call from his wife. Seems that his wife wanted to take a shower that morning so she asked the teenage daughter to watch the 4 year-old for just a few minutes. Well of course the teenager did not watch the 4 year-old so the child decided to grab a marker and go about writing on top of a desk in their home office. The conversation was very sweet on his part, you could hear the love in his voice for his wife. Knowing that we would be there to do lots of maintenance for the day he was able to head home and address the situation.

We had our instructions so we divided into teams, washing windows, sweeping walkways (those which were undercover - as it was still raining), mopping floors in the lunchroom, leveling bark in the play areas and knocking down spider webs.

We worked at the school for 4 - 5 hours until our list was completed, we put our tools away and headed back to the church. It was a great feeling to know that again today we really helped out someone, the maintenance man told us that he just never has enough time to get everything done, and if we had not shown up it would have been months before he would have had a chance to get to the chores on his list.

Service Projects - Wednesday April 8th

The service projects for today was to work at two different Elementary Schools in Sacramento, were we assigned to work at Hagginwood Elementary School in Sacramento. We met at the church 9:30, a smaller group today than yesterday, probably due to the fact that it was a rainy day, but no matter there were 5 of us, all guys, and we don't mind getting a little wet.

We arrived at Hagginwood Elementary around 10:15 and located the maintenance guy who did not speak much English, shades of Tecate Mexico, we communicated to him who we were and why we were there and he immediately put us to work.

The weather was not cooperating very well especially since the work which was assigned to us was mostly gardening, racking up leaves, sweeping up fallen debris in the parking lot and walkways. We worked as quickly as possible, ever conscience of the ominous storm clouds above us.

Of course as soon as we had arranged the large piles of leaves and debris which we had raked up, the storm clouds opened and it poured and poured, creating huge puddles of water on the lawn and walkways. As soon as there was a break in the downpour we quickly picked up the piles of leaves and did our best to make it look like we had made a difference.

Returning our tools to the maintenance guy he decided to call it a day since the weather forecast was not getting any better and headed back to EDH. When it was all said and done the guys did a great job, no complaining, and another fabulous day of serving the Lord.

My thanks to Shane, Joe, Shane (yes 2 Shane's today), and Brandon, you guys are a great crew and I look forward to working and serving with you all in Mexico next year.

Service Projects - Tuesday April 7th

Tuesday was another day to serve the Lord in our community instead of building homes in Tecate, Mexico. Axel and I were the leaders again and the service project for Tuesday was to help out a senior member of our church (Bernie) with some chores around his house. We met at the church around 9:30 and to our surprise more students showed up to serve than we had expected, this was great because we really wanted to help Bernie out for the more work we could get done around his house the less he would have to worry about.

After missing a couple turns and stopping at the wrong house (I was driving the lead vehicle...mistake) we arrived at Bernie's house. Bernie came out to meet us in his wheelchair and he was so excited to see the number of volunteers that had come out to help him. After introducing Bernie to everyone Mitch and Carmen led us in prayer before we got started for the day.

Bernie was prepared for us, he had made out his to do list with 11 items on the list, everyone jumped in and started work on his to do list, one group started washing windows inside and out, another group started spreading bark for ground cover, there were weeds to pull, rocks to move, plants to fertilize, and walkways to sweep.

Within 5 hours all of Bernie's to do list was complete, he was so pleased and impressed with the group of young men and women, he complemented them on their efforts, and told them all that he had been concerned about his ability to stay in his home without some help with the upkeep of his home and property, but after their effort he felt confident he was okay for another year.

The kids were able to spend some time visiting with Bernie and getting to know him better, we hated to leave but Axel and I wanted to get everyone some lunch and then back to the church on time. We had to say goodbye to Bernie but not before everyone shared some hugs with him.

Sounds like we need to head back to Bernie's next year at this time.

Life Happens when we all pitch in and help out.

Service Projects - Monday April 6th

Since the decision was made to cancel the High School Mission Trip to Tecate Mexico over Spring Break this year, alternative plans were made to give the students an opportunity to still serve the Lord but on U.S. soil. While Matt and Heather (my amazing Son in Law and incredible Daughter) took some 30 High School Seniors to New Orleans for the week, those High Schools students who stayed behind in El Dorado Hills were given an opportunity to perform service projects in the community every day.

On Monday Axel (one of the other leaders) and I took two small groups and performed some maintenance on two elementary schools in North Highlands. Once the maintenance was complete we decided to make sack lunches (Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches - aka: Lunch in Mexico) which we wanted to give to the homeless in Sacramento. Axel had the forsight to purchase the fixings for the sandwiches and someone had donated chips and snack bars.

When we finished making the sack lunches we realized we only had enough lunches for about 16 people, then one of the students who was with us (Mitch) had a great idea, he suggeted we should stop by McDonald's and pick up a bunch of hamburgers and hand them out to the homeless also.

We headed to McDonald's, purchased about 30 hamburgers, and then headed out to serve the homeless. The students spent the next hour or so handing out sack lunches, hamburgers, bottled water, and snack bars to almost 50 homeless people living on the streets in Sacramento.

What a blessing it was to be able to help out on the service project Monday, the students were great and the people we were able to serve were very thankful for our presence.

The Best Christmas Gift

The best gifts are ones that reflect the loving heart of God!

The Christmas gift I received from my son and daughter is just one of those gifts. Matt and Heather made me part of something very special this last year, this Life-Changing gift, given in my name, will now bring joy to a corner of our world that desperately needs to know that others care.

So what is this gift......One Chicken. Now you say how can One Chicken be a Life-Changing gift, well let me explain:

Matt and Heather made a donation in my name to World Vision, World Vision has in turn provided a Chicken to a family in need which will provide this family with a lasting source of nutrition and income. Fresh eggs raise the levels of protein and other nutrients in the family's diet, and the sale of extra eggs provides money for other household needs.

I would encourage everyone who reads this Blog to support the efforts of World Vision which is a Christian Organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide. What a wonderful way to demonstrate God's love for all people.

Thank you Matt and Heather for making me part of something very special!

Now Life Happens for another family.

Wait, Wait, Wait

Why is it so hard for us to wait on the Lord, I have seen recently in some individuals who are going through divorce and some of those who have been divorced for a while that they want to rush entering into a new relationship instead of taking time to seek that which God wants in their lives.

I was listening to Matt’s message on Sunday and it hit me how much this message has to do with every aspect of our lives and I couldn’t help but think about all of those who are going through separation and divorce right now and how this applies to it.

Isaiah 9: 6 foretells the coming of Jesus and describing him as Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace…I decided to look up the word “Counselor” and “Counsel” in the dictionary, these words are defined best as “advisor” and “guidance from a knowledgeable person”.

Wow who could be more knowledgeable that our Lord and Savior, and if this is the case why would we want to do anything in our lives without first seeking HIS counsel and advise.

Philippians 4:6 tells us “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

We need to take this time of singleness in our lives and seek God and turn everything over to Him and wait on Him. For when we seek that which is His purpose for our lives then “Life Happens”.

Financial Security

"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength" Philippians 4 : 11 - 13

This last week we watched a video about Financial Security, and every time we talk about this subject it brings me back to the verse above where Paul was writing to church in Philippi. Paul is trying to teach people that they can rejoice in the Lord and that they can be content, whatever the circumstances. I know as we go through separation and divorce it may not always seem possible to rejoice in our situation, but as Matt mentioned in his sermon today "all things are possible for God" (Mark 10:27) but it is up to us to pray to God and we need to believe in His power.

I am so encouraged by all of you and how you step out on Tuesday night and join us in the Divorce Care Ministry, all of us as leaders know what you are going through and we know how difficult it can be sometimes to take that step and get out on Tuesday night and how easy it could be to just want to stay at home and not join the group. But you need to be there on Tuesday nights so you can start the healing process and look forward to the future to see what God has in store for you.