Genuine Serving Encompasses Body & Soul

“Life is short and there are no guarantees that I will live to be old or safe,” said Joe Darago. “So while there is breath in my lungs and strength in my body, I will do all I can to make the most out of this life that has been given to me!”
On November 17, 2005, Darago, pastor of Journey Church, led a group of 20 individuals on a disaster relief trip to Waveland, Mississippi, in order to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. I accompanied the group on this mission and although we did not know what the trip would entail, we were prompted by the calling to put our love for others and God into action and were ready to serve in any way needed.
Now I have served before in various different ways including donating items to charities and cleaning people’s houses and neighborhoods for “Make a Difference Day”, but I do not think I ever really grasped what actual service is all about. At least not prior to this trip.
According to the Encarta World English Dictionary, service, or to serve, is defined as “providing a community or organization with something that it needs” or “to be useful or helpful for a particular purpose”. That definition is pretty basic, but what going to Waveland taught me, as well as the other members of the group, is that there is really so much more to serving than mechanically going through the motions.
When we got to Mississippi, we were amazed to see total devastation. Even three months after the ravishing storm, the town of about 8,000 people was wiped out. “Most disasters come and go in a neat arc of calamity, followed by anger at the slow response, then cleanup,” stated Cathy Booth Thomas in the November 28 issue of Time. “But Katrina cut a historic deadly swath across the South, and rebuilding can’t start until the cleanup is done.”
These people, even if they had evacuated, have lost everything. Some houses are still standing, but the water reached such a high level that most of them are ruined inside. It is unbelievable that after almost three whole months it still looked completely ravaged. Being there was such an impacting experience because we were able to make a noticeable difference in these people’s lives and it actually affected us as well.
“Marty, Gary, and I helped a guy by the name of Ed clean out his downstairs,” said Bob Walker, a member of our group.
“It was time to leave and we hadn't gotten to his tipped over, full and rotting freezer yet. I said we wouldn't leave without getting it to the street. So after much hard work, we got it out of the house and to an empty lot. Ed broke down in tears, hugged and thanked us because that freezer had been such a huge pressure to him. He said it was so hard for him to ask for help, but he felt like we were brothers because of our efforts. Giving one person a helping hand does more for the soul than writing a hundred checks could ever do.”
The people needed any kind of help they could get and when we helped from our hearts, it really did make a difference.
“I realized how rewarding it is to help others and that others really do appreciate the help,” said Lisa Haley, who went to Waveland with her husband and 13 year-old daughter. “I always thought it would be a wonderful experience to help those in need but never imagined just how amazing and fulfilling it would be.”
Many of the people did not come to the place we were volunteering because they needed only the material goods; they needed the encouragement of smiling faces just as much. Many of them just needed a hug and would reach across the table to whisper, "thank you" in your ear. It means the world to them that there are people that care and want to help them regain their lives.
“People can receive with gratitude,” said Gary Geiselhofer who did a lot of physical labor while on the trip. “The people I spoke with at the compound and homes we cleaned out were just grateful to have someone there. The stories they shared helped me understand why they didn't leave and why they want to rebuild.”
Being in Waveland gave me so much perspective and coming back made me realize I not only want to maintain what I have discovered, I also want to spread that valuable perception to others.
So many of us get caught up in our own lives and material things that we do not see the people around us. We are so inwardly focused that we cannot help those that truly need it. We are so blessed in our situation, we allow ourselves to be blind to others’ needs; we do not even realize how much they really require. People in need will be touched by any form of service if it is given by a compassionate heart and with the right outlook.
“After going to Waveland it's very clear that there are so many people in the world who need someone to help make a difference in their lives,” said Eileen Tolley. “It makes me want to strive even harder to help make a difference for all our brothers and sisters in God's family. Our trip ignited a fire in me to do more everyday for others.”

I know that it's nowhere near Christmas, but this is all I have right now and I have to post SOMETHING, so here goes:

Okay, so Phoenix does not exactly host a typical Christmas season compared to the rest of the country. It is time to get over that fact. Although playing in blankets of fluffy white snow and going on sleigh rides can be enjoyable, numbingly cold weather is only a fraction of the season’s perks. So instead of whining and complaining at the loss, focus on the festivities and traditions Arizona does provide for, such as the options in buying a Christmas tree.
Keep selecting the perfect tree simple by buying a fake one. It can be such a hassle to get a live tree for several reasons, especially due to the fact that there are very few pine trees growing nearby. If one wanted to hop on the tree-chopping bandwagon with Christmas celebrators from centuries past, they would have to take a two-hour drive north to a grueling selection process, difficult physical labor, and overall exhaustion. That option is out of the question.
So, why not just go to the local tree farm where they have already done half the task for you? Well, that is an option, but it still means the family has to find a good two or three hours in their schedules to choose the tree and lug it home. Not to mention those annoying pine needles that are found throughout the house all of next year that the cat thinks is fun to pick up and leave in a completely different form.
Then again, even if one decides to purchase a fake tree, there is still a rather extensive selection process. There are so many choices ranging from very basic to already lit and decorated, complete with rotating platform, it can be time consuming. But the good thing is, most people have their own traditions as far as decorating, and these choices can easily be made according to individual preferences and schedules. Not to mention the fact that a quality fake tree will survive for a good ten years, meaning selecting a specific type only has to be done once every ten years.
The hardest part about getting a Christmas tree is the selection and setting it up. With a fake tree, you do not have to wrestle it into your living room and try to make it fit, you can simply assemble it exactly where and how you want it without having to worry about it year after year. With a fake tree, most of the frustration of setting up a Christmas tree is eliminated, leaving more room for fun and time for relaxation. You still get your tradition of decorating the tree, but in an improved atmosphere. Efficiency in decorating is also maximized with a fake tree because the branches are bendable; any ornament can go on any branch you want. No more of those delicate glass bulbs crashing to the floor…unless of course the kids are decorating and then that event is inevitable. Best of all, you are in control of the tree: it will remain looking its best until you are ready to pack it up, not the other way around.
In the end, buying a fake tree as opposed to a real tree can be a very rewarding experience that may end up improving your overall enjoyment of the holidays. Though this may seem untraditional, by adapting to modern techniques, you can establish your own traditions that will make you unique.