Emily Norman Installation

Yesterday I was blessed to be able to attend Emily Norman's installation in Romeo, MI. The story goes back several years to when Emily was a youth and was attending our Fixin' Up The Thumb Servant Event. On the Wednesday of that particular year, Emily made the final decision to become a Director of Christian Education (DCE). After four years of college, and one year of internship, Emily (as of yesterday morning) is an official DCE! Congratulations Emily! God's blessings on your ministry!

In Emily's own words, here's how it all came about:

Wednesday

The waves crashed into the shore with a soothing roar and the sun dipped below the horizon as we sat together in the cool smooth sand. The quiet chatter died out as a question was raised: “How has this servant event helped in your faith life?” I sat there, thinking about the question as a seashell traveled around the circle and people began to share their own personal stories. For some reason, my thoughts were directing me towards the future, not the question at hand.

My reservations began a year ago, at the same servant event. I discussed the future with our group leader. But, “the future,” had raised several questions in my mind. The detail I remember the most about the conversation, however, is his comment to me: “You should be a Director of Christian Education.” I waved the words off without as much as a thought, but they hid in the back of my mind, unbeknownst to me.

As the shell continued around the group, each person shared his or her own story. One of the adults exchanged an experience in teaching, and how the event drove him to realize that it was the kids who fulfilled his yearning to teach. Several of the teenagers shared their amazement at being surrounded by so many strong believers their own age. As I listened intently, nervously waiting my turn, my mind whirled with thoughts of what exactly I wanted to say. The experience had been great thus far, but something kept telling me that I needed to say something more.

As I ran my hand across the smooth shape of the shell, my thoughts came together, and the words spooled off my lips as if there were never a question in my mind. My exact words remain unclear to me, but I do remember that all of a sudden my body trembled with emotion. Tears flooded my eyes and trickled down my cheeks, as I realized that all my months of questions had finally been answered.

That seashell, passing through 44 sets of hands, gave me a sense of wisdom and clarity. I hadn’t realized it until that point, but when that shell touched my hands, the Holy Spirit had embraced my being and answered my prayer. The questions no longer filled my mind with confusion and stress. Now, an overwhelming sense of joy and relief broke through a once built up wall of uncertainty. I had finally been given an answer. That seashell represented an experience that I will never forget. Like the unique shape and curvature of that shell, my life will always be filled with twists and turns. But I know that, like putting the shell to my ear and hearing the roar of the waves, I will always be able to hear that voice guiding me towards the right decisions for my life.

I never thought that my calling would be to serve the Lord. But as I embrace the thought, I remember that Wednesday night, as the sun set over the lake, and how that seashell gave me a voice of hope and understanding.

Fixin' Up The Thumb Review

It is Tuesday morning, and I can see my desk! Yesterday the church was still buzzing with activity until about noon. We were cleaning up the kitchen, tearing down the bunk beds, returning tools, and generally making the church look "normal." Somebody has said that normal is boring, I might have to agree.

I did very well with the clean-up until I went into the sanctuary. I saw all of the chairs where the servants all sat, and sang so wonderfully, I saw the focus object on the front pew and heard...quiet. It was then that I got choked up and really missed all of the youth, their constant activity, and their servant's hearts.

I realize that I left off on Thursday, so I have to do a little catching up. Thursday brought a pretty normal day as far as Servant Event day's go. It was a busy work day. We knew we were in striking distance from the finish line on all of the work projects. We also began a new painting house for Margaret LaValley.

Friday brought the threat of rain in the afternoon. This meant that several sites needed to hustle in the morning hours. Friday we thought the painting crew would finish. I knew on my roofing site that we would be close but I figured we might need Saturday morning to finish. We also expected that the ramp site would finish, because on Wednesday they thought they could finish early. At that time I told them to hold off, that we didn't really need them to finish early. The ironic thing is that all but the ramp crew did finish on Friday. Matter of fact, within an hour of finishing the roof we felt a few raindrops. (That evening the whole sky let loose and we got a huge rain storm-I didn't care because the roof was done!)

Saturday we got to clean up the garage, sort tools, clean the church, and generally unwind as the ramp crew finished up. Everyone was then treated to a couple of hours of swimming and relaxing back at the Kern's. We need to finish on Friday more often!

Saturday evening was just a very special time of worship, washing feet, many tears, singing, and generally celebrating in each other's fellowship.

Sunday morning we sang "You are my all in all" for church and held our final presentation. Then everyone was faced with their most challenging job all week: saying goodbye.

All together we finished six houses: a bathroom, a handicapped ramp, repairing floors in a trailer, a roof, and painting three houses.

Check out some of these before and after shots:

Thursday Morning and Still Alive

I realize that I have to do some catching up. Sorry if you have been looking daily for updates and I haven't been there for you.

I will start with Tuesday afternoon when we hear through the grapevine that the Pauline Amend site is done. I couldn't believe it, and had to find out for myself. Indeed, it was true. They painted that whole house in a day and a half. They came over to Paula Schmidt's house and helped us paint it.

Actually that led to a little a problem. We had to have a small covenant meeting that night and remind everyone that we were all on ONE team and that one crew was not better than another because all sites are not created equal. It was pretty much amazing to see how the team has pulled together since that meeting.

Later that evening we received a call that one of the youth's grandpa had had a heart attack. This grandfather is who she lives with so, needless to say, she was very shook. We gathered the whole group back together and prayed around her and for her grandpa. (For those of you who have heard me say over and over that I don't believe in a God of chance, you might just re-read those two above paragraphs and note their proximity in time!)

Then there was Wednesday:
At Paula's we had to get the house painted down to the rooflines so we can start roofing the next day. Nobody was going to roof because it was just a half day of work, everyone was going to do nothing but paint. Will you believe that by 11 the painting was coming to an end. So, being one not to waste time, I quick redirected and we actually stripped half of the garage roof. So now we have almost completely painted two houses in two and a half days! Amazing!

Of course, we have all these bodies and we need to make sure we have work for them...anybody need a house painted?

What can I say about Wednesday at the beach? There is nothing like it. It is easily the high point of the week for so many reasons. This year was no exception. About half of the group participated in the plunge. Which were rewarded with a colder than average temperature. Then we proceeded to play some water football and keep away. (And we wonder why we're more tired on Thursday) The showers were out of commission so we all ended up showering in a sprinkler...with hot water coming out. It was the strangest thing, but very effective. Then I just have to tell you one humorous picture: the youth told me that Nate was down at the beach trying to catch seagulls and that I needed to come look. I look down to the waterfront and there I see Nate crouched down in the water with just his head sticking out, and his head has a bunch of seaweed draped over it. There are about 50 seagulls on the beach all looking at him and about three of them are swooping down at him. I am still laughing my head off! Then when it got to be sharing time I am once again amazed at the depth of the sharing, the bonding, the laughter, the tears, and the Christian fellowship. We had the normal "You're the greatest friends I've ever had" sharing, but we also had two youth share about their suicidal thoughts and cutting, a couple share about plans to become DCE's, and many just felt the warmth of God moving in our midst.

We actually are letting them sleep in an extra hour this morning, but that doesn't mean my brain didn't still go off at 5:30. (I am so looking forward to my Sunday afternoon nap!) But, alas, my time is up and it is now time to wake them all up and see what Thursday will bring us!

Serious Skills

The Servant Event is in full swing. We have a lot of youth here: 49! At times I wonder what I was thinking...

Lots of work, which probably doesn't surprise anyone. At times I wonder what I was thinking...

Our first work day brought several surprises. Some negative, like floors that were more rotten than we thought, plumbing that wasn't connected, broken elevators from the building supply center. But some positive surprises as well: the ramp site found all kinds of buried treasure as they dug their post holes (a plastic goose, a BB gun, silverware, a shirt, and many many more items!), great fellowship and a great group of youth and adults.

I'm sure we will rise to every challenge!

Keep us in your prayers, and I'll keep you posted.