9.18.2011

Birthday Week

So this is my 'birthday week'... on Thursday I get a year older.  While I have no seriously exciting plans, my week has started off with a bang. 

Today I spent the day on a service project with my church... yep, on SUNDAY.  It is unusual for the LDS Church to cancel meetings but for this project, arrangements were made to do just that.  Ok, we had a brief Sacrament Meeting at 8 AM (yes, 8 AM) but that was it.  For those who don't know, we usually have three hours of meetings, so this is a significant point.   Before we left the building, we were teamed up into groups of 10.

Part of our team...



I'm not an uber spiritual gal, nor a complete pagan either... so imagine my surprise when I walked into the chapel and looked at those gathered SO early, all dressed for work (jeans and workboots in the chapel? It felt very decadent...lol) and willing to give of themselves and their time.  It was one of the few times that I have been...overwhelmed.  We (Christians in general) are taught to be Christ like, to take care of each other, even strangers... and I gained a new level of understanding of this principle today.  And it moved me to tears.  

We arrived at the chapel where the entire project was meeting and HUNDREDS of people were there, even some from New York in to help!  Our task? To provide help to people around north Jersey that were still struggling with the damage caused by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee (they had asked for help).

Our team was awesome!  To be fair, I was the newbie, most of them had participated last weekend, some of them on the same team.  The whole experience brought back a feeling from my childhood... I was fortunate to have grown up in a place where helping your neighbor was just what you do... church or no, its about community and taking care of each other. 

We went to two houses... and mucked out basements.  Three + weeks after the storms and the water damage is still obvious (beyond the smell). The water marks...and mold... showed how far the water had come. The father of the woman who owned the house was with us, the house without power or water.  The water mark was a good three feet above ground... ABOVE ground.  What do you think happened to the basement... that's right!  FILLED UP. Seeped through the floors of the first floor.  Everything had to come out... lifetimes of memories, toys, clothes, books, paperwork... not to mention the actual furniture and cabinets that had to be torn out.

The father reminded me a lot of my own father... especially when he shared with us that he'd begged his daughter and her family to come to his home the night before (they insisted on staying) and now has welcome her family of five into his(and wife) home...indefinitely... he's totally ok with it. 

The second home was mostly just hauling things out of the basement.  The owner was there, and frankly, she looked a little shell shocked still.  I would not be surprised to find that she, and others, haven't been able to start on the recovery because they just don't know where to start.  We were happy to help her get past that hump.

Its amazing what a team of 10 can accomplish in a short time when they work together!  Our hearts went out to not only the families we served, but the homes we passed where piles and piles of damage were laid on their curbs.  I can't imagine how hard its been for them.  I am most grateful that my home  and so many the homes of those I care about fared well. 

In the words of one of the hymns from this morning's meeting...

Because I have been given much, I too must give;
Because of thy great bounty, Lord, each day I live;

I shall divide my gifts from thee
With every brother that I see
Who has the need of help from me.

Because I have been sheltered, fed by thy good care,
I cannot see another’s lack and I not share
My glowing fire, my loaf of bread,
My roof’s safe shelter overhead,
That he too may be comforted.

Because I have been blessed by thy great love, dear Lord,
I’ll share thy love again, according to thy word.
I shall give love to those in need;
I’ll show that love by word and deed:
Thus shall my thanks be thanks indeed.

-- Grace Nowell Crowell