Serving with Your Friends

I had never volunteered with Habitat for Humanity until about a month ago. I had been looking for a regular service opportunity for myself and my home group. My friend Manny Rosado has volunteered with H4H in Lake Norman for some time and I started asking him about it. He got me the name of the big cheese in Union Co. and the rest is recent history. I don’t even know anything about building houses; between you, me, and the wall, I don’t even do things like paint walls neatly. That’s ok with them. I just thought the idea sounded cool. When our group showed up bright and early on that Sat. morning, we didn’t really know what to expect. Doug, the site manager, gave us all jobs and showed us what to do. With the help of some teenage volunteers and Russ Spinney (Kelly’s dad from the video at church about the $1G), we got a lot done. The roof was on and tar papered, the exterior insulation was finished, we Tyvek wrapped the house, and I got to help install hurricane clips.

I haven’t had a hard day of physical labor like that in a long time. My hand was cramping into a claw shape from swinging that hammer. Needless to say, I slept well that night. It also goes without saying- even though I’m saying- there are a ridiculous amount of pictures to document the occasion.

I went back 2 Saturday's ago, alone. It wasn’t as much “fun” though. Don’t get me wrong, I am entirely glad I went. I got to work with Doug again and the 2 electricians who were wiring the house. Those guys were so funny! The one guy talks like he is from the deep swamp of Louisiana (like that one character in The Waterboy- the one you can’t understand). Fun was an added bonus last time, but it gives such a great feeling to know I was helping someone who desperately needs a home. Give me any project to tackle and I would rather do it with my friends than go it alone. I'm going with my group again this Saturday; who knows what we'll be doing...

“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.” Ecc 4:9-10 NLT

I would encourage everyone, small group or not, to find a way to serve in your community. You get the chance to meet new people and possibly share Jesus with them. One of the best parts of serving is that for that period of time, the world stops revolving around you (I must decrease) and it about reaching out to others (He must increase). John 3:30.