So Your Toe Is In the Water. Now What?

Texas Hill Country Bluebonnets

I'm looking at a beautiful cross in my bookcase that a dear friend gave me.  It has scripture on it, but key words are highlighted.

In the center Journey is in large letters.  Surrounding it are the phrases For You....Lord Plans Good....Give Future Hope....You Pray, Listen, Look....Find, Seek....Lord Guide....Best Pathway; Advise. (punctuation added)

How do these words apply to your life?  How do they apply to someone seeking ways to serve?

So here are more ideas:

Natural Disasters Abound.  In Texas we have had record-breaking rain in most of the state and it has caused millions of dollars in damage.  Many have lost everything.

So you're sitting on the couch watching the news or reading articles about the most recent flood, hurricane, tornado, fire, on and on.  And you think to yourself "I really should do something, but I don't know what's needed.  Won't someone else take care of it?"   And then you turn the page and move on.  Here's how you can get involved.

Training.  For example, the United Methodist Church, the Baptist church and I'm sure most other organized groups - denomination does not matter; it could be the Red Cross or Salvation Army- have training to prepare potential volunteers to help following these disasters.  My husband and I are going to a training session in a couple of weeks.  You may be asking "Why do I need training?  How hard is it to go to Walmart and load my truck up with water and drive to the area and pass it out?"  Good point.

http://www.namb.net/disaster-relief/
http://www.umcor.org/UMCOR/Programs
http://www.redcross.org/ux/take-a-class
http://www.volunteermatch.org

The best way to help is to be able to match your skills and interests where they are most needed, know how and when to stay out of the way and know when to show up.  Seriously.  Of course there are immediate needs.  But you could actually cause more harm than good by just driving to a site and offering to help.

There are even more needs weeks and months down the road.  Having your name on a list of possible volunteers when someone is needed to clear debris or when more sandwiches and drinks need to prepared for those with no homes can be the best way to help.  Unfortunately as time passes the impact of the disaster on those not involved fades to "old news" status.  Being trained and part of an organized effort can be very impactful for those that suffer for years from the tragedy.  And if you don't want to go to training, contact the organization and ask what they need.  More on that......