Walk Down This Mountain: October 2012

Late Fall WyCo

Today is the end of our mad rush of volunteers. I'm planning to sleep and then maybe go hiking, but it's cold and rainy. However today might be the best day to go since they're expecting the fallout from Hurricane Sandy to be pretty substantial here--10 inches of snow by Monday.The snow won't stick because it's been 80 degrees all this week, but it will be wet and heavy and take out a lot of trees that still have lots of leaves. Because of this, they're also predicting up to 10 days without electricity (which for us includes our water because it is not gravity fed from the mines or a water tower, but from the pump house in the yard.) So it's starting to look a bit like Y2K in here-- filling up all our gas tanks, water coolers and pantries. Should be an interesting time, but at least we have candles, board games, blankets, and oh yeah, FIVE generators in our construction warehouse. I think we'll be just fine, but I'm even more glad we won't have volunteers for awhile.

"I lift my eyes unto the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, Maker of Heaven and Earth." Psalms 121:1-2

Life is a GIft

I have two pretty valid excuses for why it has taken me so long to write a new post: We have a TON of people here this week, including the church who donated all of the money to refurbish our center (and because of them, our CEO is also here to shmooze..) AND my computer broke. Since I'm now using a loaner computer from one of my staffers with a space bar that requires much force to use, I'll be pretty brief.

The story of my computer is sad and uninteresting, but it is related to a more interesting yet more terrifying story of my recent car crash. Driving home from Beckley where I had gone in an effort to fix my computer (all on my day-off), I had a most frightening driving experience. Thankfully, there were no other people, cars, or animals involved--just me and a very, VERY well-made guardrail. I am perfectly fine (incidentally, seatbelts are nifty inventions) and my car sustained very minor damage (also bumpers are great, too). I learned two pretty big lessons from this, my first big accident:

1. Drive slower
2. Life is pretty special

I hate to be dramatic and talk about how "life flashed before my eyes" but there was a split second where I was pretty convinced I was going to break through the rail and go over the cliff. All I thought was how it was an awful place for one of those road-side crosses to be and how sad my parents were going to feel. Morbid enough for anyone?

Since I am alive and here to write this blog (which is no doubt about to cause my Nana a partial heart attack), I have to believe that some kind of force kept me on the road and safe. I realize, too, that everyone is kept safe each day, most in much less obvious situations. Every day we wake up is another day we've been given to do something great. It's pretty awesome to know that God knows best and will give us enough time to accomplish lots of amazing things for Him. I'm going to work really hard to make it so that the next time (which will hopefully not be soon) it seems like I'm at the end of my life, I can know that I've used it well.

To recap: I am OKAY, just feeling very blessed to be able to do more great works.

"For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

My life in GIFs

The following idea stolen from Margie White:

When people ask me what I'm doing for my day off:

When I get an awesome package in the mail:

When volunteers ask me if I know the difference between treated and finished lumber:

When morning devotions are about to start:

When I drive to the top of a mountain and get 10 seconds of cell service:

When we find out that there's a plumber or electrician coming to volunteer:

When someone finally finds what they were looking for in the warehouse in exactly the place I told them to look an hour ago:

When a project gets finished...AND is done correctly:

When I'm already having a rough day and then get stuck behind a coal truck:

When I think I missed a turtle save but it turns out to only be a leaf in the road:

Life and Death and Puzzle Pieces

Today a very close family friend passed away. This was somewhat expected, but nevertheless difficult, confusing, and painful, as any death. In thinking about all the "why" questions that death always brings, I feel extra comforted by a devotion that was recently presented to me.

Imagine that God has given each of us a puzzle piece. This piece represents our life and all the things we will accomplish. If you look at an individual puzzle piece it's generally just a mess of colors, completely confusing and hard to understand. Could it be water? Maybe a tree? There is no way to know what this piece contains, why it is shaped the way that it is and in what way its colors and shapes will be used. An even more uncomfortable thing about this puzzle piece life is that we will never, ever know what the finished picture is supposed to look like. We simply have faith that we are important and that our lives are meant to touch and share and connect with other lives in someway that will all contribute to this great plan--the final puzzle that only God can understand.

Seek God's love, not God's answers.

Thanking Him everyday for the good health of my own family.

Updates

Today, while channeling a little bit of home by wearing my dad's old painters pants, my grandpa's shirt, and a hat from where my parents had their honeymoon, I spent the last 4 hours of my day helping a crew finish a roof. This brings our stats for the last month of work to the following:

- 2.5 new roofs
- 3 wheelchair ramps
- 1 new window
- 3 houses with new siding/painting
- 5 new floors
- 4 new doors
- 1 new bathroom
- 8 walls drywalled
- 4 new porches
- 2 drainage ditches
- 1 retaining wall

Gotta say--not bad. Also, definitely safe to say I'm pretty blessed to be working for an organization that can do so much good through so many good people.

New walls and floor

New ramp

New roof that I helped finish today! Also note the amazing view!

New bathroom with handicap shower and brand new ceramic tile

"Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." Hebrews 13:16

WyCo In The Fall

Sky on fire

Leaves are changing!

"He cuts out rivers among the rocks; and his eye sees every precious thing." Job 28:10

What Keeps Me Going (Part 1)

Favorites

"Love one another with brotherly affection. Out do one another in showing honor." Romans 12:10

October.

Today, October 1st, marked the beginning of the month with a workload from hell. We now have 60+ volunteers each week who leave Sunday morning and arrive Sunday afternoon. On one hand it's exciting to have this many people (and the respective increase in our budget) to complete projects and serve more of our families, but mostly it's just exhausting--mentally, physically and emotionally. Today was made slightly better when one of my group leaders who recognized that I was having a stressful day (standard Monday) bought me some of the candy that I had listed as my favorite on my staff bio. It's raining a lot lately and we have 2 half completed roofs and crews that have been relocated to different indoor projects. Communication and organization is still a struggle for my staff but we're improving and I'm currently in the process of creating a massive excel file database of all of our applications so we can find good projects easier as we will need new ones in the coming weeks.

My church had their ASP Sunday yesterday and it was sad to not be a part of that and hear from the youth the things they experienced (no doubt the same things I experienced that drew me to this ministry 7 years ago). I find that I'm only not homesick because I don't have time to be. For now, I'm tired and happy, each morning seeming to find new energy without coffee!

"Cast your burdens upon the Lord and he will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken." Psalms 55:22

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You were wearied by all your ways, but you would not say, "It is hopeless." You found renewal of your spirit, and so you did not faint. Isaiah 57:10

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:7-8

But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water up to eternal life. John 4:14

The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. Song of Solomon 2:12

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7

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 all things through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:12-13

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven...A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance." Ecclesiastes 3:1-4

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, f you have love for one another. John 13:34-35

Greet each other with Christian love. Peace be with all of you who are in Christ. 1 Peter 5:14

He said, "My presence will go with you and give you rest." Exodus 33:14

When Jesus spoke to the people he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8

Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. Psalms 63:3

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:8

If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 1 John 4:20

I lift my eyes unto the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, Maker of Heaven and Earth. Psalms 121:1-2

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Hebrews 13:16

He cuts out rivers among the rocks; and his eye sees every precious thing. Job 28:10

Love one another with brotherly affection. Out do one another in showing honor. Romans 12:10

Cast your burdens upon the Lord and he will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. Psalms 55:22

Then Jesus said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions." Luke 12:15

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Psalms 32:8

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. Job 12:7-10

Seek justice. Love mercy. Walk humbly. Micah 6:8

But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded. 2 Chronicles 15:7

I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. Ecclesiastes 3:12

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:3-4

Be still and know that I am God. Psalms 46:10