As children of God, we are called to serve. This can be seen in many different ways and I believe that we can all interpret that in the way that fits our lives the best. But for some, giving of their time is the way that they see called to serve. Have you ever thought that without volunteers, soup kitchen meals wouldn't be served? Or that communities with volunteer fire departments wouldn't have someone to come to their rescue when their home fire alarm goes off? Or that homeless shelters would be left empty due to staff exhaustion?
Since I graduated from college, I have worked in a field and it jobs that require volunteers in order to operate. If it wasn't for volunteers, the temporary LEOS shelter that operated in the old Lenoir High School gym would not have been possible. It was because of volunteers that a place was provided for the homeless to stay during the freezing months of the year. And then a dream was set to build an emergency shelter in Lenoir. It was then that volunteers became crucial. There were volunteers that helped transform an old cabinet shop into a beautiful emergency shelter to serve Caldwell county. But the need for volunteers didn't end there, it continued with the need to have volunteers that would operate the shelter, help with intake and cover the overnight task. Sometimes having enough volunteers seemed impossible, but volunteers always were provided and slots were filled. And now I work in an agency that without volunteers we wouldn't be able to serve 10 meals a week in the Soup Kitchen, or have a place that clients can shop for clothing in a judgement free zone, or have a place that individuals wanting to better their life can work on their ged. Volunteers have been a blessing in my life and I am so thankful that I have had this opportunity to work along some beautiful people.
Like I said before, we are called to serve. I often find myself in a situation of wanting to serve more. I want to serve in the volunteer aspect, but instead I work along side volunteers that help me see that what I do is serving too. I am blessed to work along all the volunteers that have impacted my life, but often their have been some that have really changed my life. There are some that I have unfortunately lost connection with and others that I still communicate with today. In my blogs, I do not normally share about other people directly, but this post is going to be an exception.
I believe their is truth into the saying, "people come into your life for a reason, not just a coincidence". I can't quite remember when the Hime's came into my life to volunteer, but I can say that it wasn't long ago. In addition to them filling the need of a volunteer area, they also worked hard to accomplish any other task that I had hanging. Mr. Hime became the 'gas filler' for our agency vehicles, checking on them once a week to make sure they had gas. He also became the apple or potato fetcher, pallets beyond pallets. I feel like I had known them forever. Mrs. Hime worked hard to care for the clients of the agency in the clothing closet and serve each one with true respect. Together they got their church to have a second soup kitchen team that serves once a month on a Sunday evening. And again, they go beyond what is asked. They prepare the dining room like a restaurant and serve the clients. The clients say they feel like 'real people, not just like someone having to eat at a soup kitchen'. The Hime's felt a call from Christ to serve those that are unsheltered, and began HOWI (Homeless Outreach Warming Initiative) with the hopes of caring for the homeless that do not have a place to go with tents, sleeping bags, sterno cans, propane for their little heaters, ponchos, and other helpful items. They worked diligently to raise awareness about this matter. The Hime's became more to me than just volunteers, they became role models. But as in life, there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven; a time to move and a time to take root somewhere else - they felt their call to move to a new place to call home. I truly will miss these two individuals that demonstrated their call of service in a way that truly demonstrated and reflected compassion. Everything that they started is still in action, because God found someone else to equip with the necessary skills to continue what has been started. I wish the Hime's great days serving the Lord.Volunteers are more of a blessing in my life than they probably even realize. But sometimes we aren't meant to know those things. God does a beautiful job at placing people in lives when we need them, not necessarily when we know we need them though. I have had volunteers that have helped me learn so much and for that I am truly thankful. As children of God we are called to serve, serve in the way that we are called.
Dear God, I pray for everyone that is serving you and everyone that is working on figuring out what that service looks like. It is not required to do it in the volunteer form, but it is required to serve. And with that I pray for everyone who is not currently attend church, just get in worship... I truly don't care what denomination, just get in church and get your family in church, make a commitment to serve and worship God. God, thank you for the sunshine and rain! In Jesus name, I pray, Amen.
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