You know how things happen in your life sometimes...things that you can't really explain? Often times we write it off as coincidence, or lucky, or fortunate, or some other fancy word to leave God out of the equation. But I've seen a few things already this summer that are too incredible to be a coincidence. I'd like to share just a couple of those things in this blog post.
We're here in Pawleys Island, SC for the summer, working for LeaderTreks, leading mission trips for Jr. High and High School groups from all across America. Pretty sweet job right? Well, we arrived a few days before the first team got here and I went over to check out the house that we would be working on in the community. As part of all LeaderTreks mission trips, each group does a work project for a decent portion of the day. So picking a great work project is key to a great summer. The house that I had selected back in February was a total disaster. But I hadn't realized how bad it was because I hadn't been able to go inside back in February. As I entered the house for the first time just a few weeks ago, the odor almost knocked me over. I thought for sure it was mold, which meant I'd have to find another project very quickly.
I called one of my connections down here, an expert in all things construction, and he came over to take a look at the house. We walked in, looked through the whole place, and we left. He didn't want to say anything in front of the home owner, but after we left, he told me that he knew exactly what that smell was. It wasn't mold. It was the smell of cockroach infestation and dog feces. The home was clearly infested with bugs. Everywhere you looked, bugs were crawling over everything - the furniture, the walls, the floor, even in the fridge. It was disgusting. This family had also let their 3 dogs live in the house and use the floor as a bathroom. The conclusion that my friend arrived at was that, practically speaking, there was nothing we could really do to help this woman. Nothing could be saved in this house. He suggested that we just build a deck for her and find another project, somewhere else in the community.
I left there feeling very discouraged and conflicted and was about 95% sure that I would have to tell this woman that we were not going to be able to really help her. But then I began to pray about it. As I did, I began to have clarity. My job is to develop students as leaders and as disciples of Christ. Would it be better for them to just build a deck and do some other random work in the community, or would it be better to let them see the conditions in which someone in desperate need was living? Which would provide the better environment for leadership development and discipleship? Which would demonstrate my faith in an Almighty God more clearly? I felt like the Lord was wanting me to step out and take a risk on this house, so I decided to go for it.
That first week, the Lord responded emphatically. On Monday, a guy drove by the house who worked for "Marshall Pest Control." He just happened to be driving by and asked if we might need the house to be sprayed for bugs. Ha. I told him I wasn't sure if they had enough spray in stock for this house. They've sprayed the house twice, dusted it twice, put chemical food out once and still, there are bugs. Kind of impressive right?
On Tuesday, we were in the middle of demolition, and a couple of the students ripped the sink out. As they did so, water went spraying everywhere. I came over and turned the water off underneath the sink, but that wasn't working really well and some water was still coming out. I had to find the main shutoff valve to the house, and I needed to find it quickly. I started looking all over the place, but couldn't find it anywhere. Eventually, I called the homeowner and she told me it was out by the street, in her neighbors yard. I went over and started looking for it. I found the water meter, and saw that there was a valve that could be turned, but I couldn't turn it. I called for Taylor (our intern) to run and get me a hammer to see if I could hit it to get it started. As she was gone, I sat there on my knees on the side of the road, hoping and praying that this would work. Just then, a man drove by in a truck. Not just any truck. It was the official, "City of Pawleys Island Water and Sewer" truck. He stopped, rolled down his window and said, "Are you looking for the main shutoff valve to that house over there?" I'm not sure what look I had on my face, but I'm pretty sure my mouth was open. Dumbfounded, I said, "Yes...as a matter of fact that's exactly what I'm looking for!" He jumped out of his truck, came over, dug around for a few seconds, found another hole in the ground that had the shutoff valve, turned it off, jumped back in his truck and took off. It took him about 30 seconds. I NEVER would have found it. I probably would have done something really bad in fact, by hitting that other valve with a hammer.
This was not a coincidence. No. This was the Lord sending someone at the exact moment when I needed help. It was an affirmation from Him, yet again, that He has my back. He's looking out for me and cares for me. This was a miracle that I got to be a part of. Incredible.
Other things happened that week that were clearly the Lord, but one other thing that I thought was especially incredible was that this house needed a roof really badly. However, LeaderTreks no longer puts teams on top of houses due to liability issues. So I had no idea how this roof was going to get done. But I trusted that the Lord would provide in some way for that as well. Sure enough, word got out about what we were doing, and people wanted to help. During the second week of the summer, different groups of people came every day to help replace this roof. We had several professional contractors, professional roofers, and others who had zero experience, but who wanted to help. The roof still needs to be finished (and as I listen to the thunder storm outside right now, I'm tempted to worry a little bit), but I have no doubt that it will get done very soon. I never would have dreamt of such an overwhelming response from the people in the community (both the white and black community). But again, that's the Lord providing for the needs of His people. Awesome!
This past week, we were able to finish demolition and begin the rebuilding process. There's an incredible amount to do and I truly believe it will be a miracle if the house gets finished. But we serve a God of miracles and He loves to reveal Himself to us and bring glory to His name. Week 4 has begun already, and I can't wait to see what He has in store for us this week. There is no adventure like following Jesus!
We're here in Pawleys Island, SC for the summer, working for LeaderTreks, leading mission trips for Jr. High and High School groups from all across America. Pretty sweet job right? Well, we arrived a few days before the first team got here and I went over to check out the house that we would be working on in the community. As part of all LeaderTreks mission trips, each group does a work project for a decent portion of the day. So picking a great work project is key to a great summer. The house that I had selected back in February was a total disaster. But I hadn't realized how bad it was because I hadn't been able to go inside back in February. As I entered the house for the first time just a few weeks ago, the odor almost knocked me over. I thought for sure it was mold, which meant I'd have to find another project very quickly.
I called one of my connections down here, an expert in all things construction, and he came over to take a look at the house. We walked in, looked through the whole place, and we left. He didn't want to say anything in front of the home owner, but after we left, he told me that he knew exactly what that smell was. It wasn't mold. It was the smell of cockroach infestation and dog feces. The home was clearly infested with bugs. Everywhere you looked, bugs were crawling over everything - the furniture, the walls, the floor, even in the fridge. It was disgusting. This family had also let their 3 dogs live in the house and use the floor as a bathroom. The conclusion that my friend arrived at was that, practically speaking, there was nothing we could really do to help this woman. Nothing could be saved in this house. He suggested that we just build a deck for her and find another project, somewhere else in the community.
I left there feeling very discouraged and conflicted and was about 95% sure that I would have to tell this woman that we were not going to be able to really help her. But then I began to pray about it. As I did, I began to have clarity. My job is to develop students as leaders and as disciples of Christ. Would it be better for them to just build a deck and do some other random work in the community, or would it be better to let them see the conditions in which someone in desperate need was living? Which would provide the better environment for leadership development and discipleship? Which would demonstrate my faith in an Almighty God more clearly? I felt like the Lord was wanting me to step out and take a risk on this house, so I decided to go for it.
That first week, the Lord responded emphatically. On Monday, a guy drove by the house who worked for "Marshall Pest Control." He just happened to be driving by and asked if we might need the house to be sprayed for bugs. Ha. I told him I wasn't sure if they had enough spray in stock for this house. They've sprayed the house twice, dusted it twice, put chemical food out once and still, there are bugs. Kind of impressive right?
On Tuesday, we were in the middle of demolition, and a couple of the students ripped the sink out. As they did so, water went spraying everywhere. I came over and turned the water off underneath the sink, but that wasn't working really well and some water was still coming out. I had to find the main shutoff valve to the house, and I needed to find it quickly. I started looking all over the place, but couldn't find it anywhere. Eventually, I called the homeowner and she told me it was out by the street, in her neighbors yard. I went over and started looking for it. I found the water meter, and saw that there was a valve that could be turned, but I couldn't turn it. I called for Taylor (our intern) to run and get me a hammer to see if I could hit it to get it started. As she was gone, I sat there on my knees on the side of the road, hoping and praying that this would work. Just then, a man drove by in a truck. Not just any truck. It was the official, "City of Pawleys Island Water and Sewer" truck. He stopped, rolled down his window and said, "Are you looking for the main shutoff valve to that house over there?" I'm not sure what look I had on my face, but I'm pretty sure my mouth was open. Dumbfounded, I said, "Yes...as a matter of fact that's exactly what I'm looking for!" He jumped out of his truck, came over, dug around for a few seconds, found another hole in the ground that had the shutoff valve, turned it off, jumped back in his truck and took off. It took him about 30 seconds. I NEVER would have found it. I probably would have done something really bad in fact, by hitting that other valve with a hammer.
This was not a coincidence. No. This was the Lord sending someone at the exact moment when I needed help. It was an affirmation from Him, yet again, that He has my back. He's looking out for me and cares for me. This was a miracle that I got to be a part of. Incredible.
Other things happened that week that were clearly the Lord, but one other thing that I thought was especially incredible was that this house needed a roof really badly. However, LeaderTreks no longer puts teams on top of houses due to liability issues. So I had no idea how this roof was going to get done. But I trusted that the Lord would provide in some way for that as well. Sure enough, word got out about what we were doing, and people wanted to help. During the second week of the summer, different groups of people came every day to help replace this roof. We had several professional contractors, professional roofers, and others who had zero experience, but who wanted to help. The roof still needs to be finished (and as I listen to the thunder storm outside right now, I'm tempted to worry a little bit), but I have no doubt that it will get done very soon. I never would have dreamt of such an overwhelming response from the people in the community (both the white and black community). But again, that's the Lord providing for the needs of His people. Awesome!
This past week, we were able to finish demolition and begin the rebuilding process. There's an incredible amount to do and I truly believe it will be a miracle if the house gets finished. But we serve a God of miracles and He loves to reveal Himself to us and bring glory to His name. Week 4 has begun already, and I can't wait to see what He has in store for us this week. There is no adventure like following Jesus!
