|
||
It is Monday and I am feeling overwhelmed. I just got back from a trip to the Gulf Coast and apparently it was, “Hey let’s contact F2W week” while I was gone. When I opened my computer this morning and double clicked on Outlook, (to bring up my emails) I swear I heard my computer curse! Ok, you’re right, it might have been me. Then the phone messages and all the snail mail. I guess my assistant decided to take the week off. Oh right, I have no assistant. Great one more thing for my “to do” list. I guess my point is I get focused on all this "stuff" and start feeling a bit overwhelmed. Too much to do and I do not even know where to begin! (Stay with me here, you will understand) Last week I lead a team of volunteers from Liberty Baptist Church in Dalton, GA to Bay St. Louis, MS to assist hurricane Katrina victims. This was F2W’s first Gulf trip of 2007 so I was unsure of what to expect. Was there any real needs? Is everyone back in their homes? As I was contacting homeowners to line up jobs I came across a young woman who needed some assistance we could not provide. But during our conversation see told me that her husband of several years left her last week. She said he could not take the stress anymore and abruptly walked out, leaving her and their children! The next day, I was speaking to another homeowner we were assisting. He is married and a father of three. We were speaking about Bay St. Louis and its current condition and I told him about the lady and the husband leaving. When I finished he turned to me and tears flowed from his eyes. He said, “That is, that was, me. That is what I felt like; Last week I could not shake the depression. All of this house stuff was overwhelming me. I felt like walking out or worse, and then you guys showed up. Thank you!” Three things from this: One, God is awesome! No seriously... Greater than we can ever imagine and He has a perfect plan. Two, the financial supporters of F2W are making a radical difference in people’s lives. You are a direct extension of God’s love. And Three, Liberty Baptist has some great volunteers. This group of adults and youth took their Spring Break (not to be served, but to serve others) and mudded out two homes, roofed one home, installed sub-floor insulation - twice (an inside joke!), and if that was not enough they even framed up a house through its first floor! Huh... You know after writing about this great trip and reflecting on all God did, I don’t feel so overwhelmed. I guess it is simply a matter of focus. PS: Thanks to the great volunteers and sponsors who make trips like this possible! |