Amanda Halvorson and Tim Draeger paint on a universal sealant to keep moisture out of the walls at a flooded out home on J street in Southwest Cedar Rapids
One of the things I love about serving God is that every new day is full of surprises. It’s a lot like my former life as a TV News Reporter actually. One day I find myself knee deep in flash flooding helping to relocate a basement floor and the next I’m talking to a young man who is considering becoming a pastor. Today was such a day. All this week the younger members of our church serving God by rebuilding flooded homes right here in Cedar Rapids. They are having a “staycation” of sorts. They are sleeping in our church basement at night and busting their tails during the day on several houses destroyed by the great flood two years ago from last month. I can’t say enough about the heart of these young people to give a week of their busy summers (let’s face it – kids are busy these days) to help others in need. It’s Christ at work in us. And trust me, they feel God’s presence.
I stopped into a house today on J street SW and happened upon Amanda Halvorson, who is going to be a junior at Kennedy, and Tim Draeger, a future senior at Linn-Mar, laughing and having a good time. Hey, why not, right? The pair were slapping on white universal sealant with paint brushes on the inside of a bare wall on a day that’s predicted to reach a heat index of 106 degrees. Maybe the heat and paint were making them loopy or perhaps it was their good natured love for life. I’m going with the later.
I asked them if they could feel God with them while they work. Amanda emphatically nodded her head ‘yes’ and said, "We were working in a basement and there wasn’t any sunlight at all. Then suddenly a ray of light broke through from the floor above and we knew He was with us. It happens all the time." Tim asked me a few questions about seminary and said he was considering becoming a pastor. It was such a joy to discover. I can’t say enough about First Lutheran financially supporting Christ’s ministry that allows days like this to happen. Amanda and Tim’s lives are being shaped by this experience. Our community is being brought back to life. A future homeowner will be blessed. It's all because of God and it's because of you!
One of the things I love about serving God is that every new day is full of surprises. It’s a lot like my former life as a TV News Reporter actually. One day I find myself knee deep in flash flooding helping to relocate a basement floor and the next I’m talking to a young man who is considering becoming a pastor. Today was such a day. All this week the younger members of our church serving God by rebuilding flooded homes right here in Cedar Rapids. They are having a “staycation” of sorts. They are sleeping in our church basement at night and busting their tails during the day on several houses destroyed by the great flood two years ago from last month. I can’t say enough about the heart of these young people to give a week of their busy summers (let’s face it – kids are busy these days) to help others in need. It’s Christ at work in us. And trust me, they feel God’s presence.
I stopped into a house today on J street SW and happened upon Amanda Halvorson, who is going to be a junior at Kennedy, and Tim Draeger, a future senior at Linn-Mar, laughing and having a good time. Hey, why not, right? The pair were slapping on white universal sealant with paint brushes on the inside of a bare wall on a day that’s predicted to reach a heat index of 106 degrees. Maybe the heat and paint were making them loopy or perhaps it was their good natured love for life. I’m going with the later.
I asked them if they could feel God with them while they work. Amanda emphatically nodded her head ‘yes’ and said, "We were working in a basement and there wasn’t any sunlight at all. Then suddenly a ray of light broke through from the floor above and we knew He was with us. It happens all the time." Tim asked me a few questions about seminary and said he was considering becoming a pastor. It was such a joy to discover. I can’t say enough about First Lutheran financially supporting Christ’s ministry that allows days like this to happen. Amanda and Tim’s lives are being shaped by this experience. Our community is being brought back to life. A future homeowner will be blessed. It's all because of God and it's because of you!
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