Blitz Build

There is Still More to Come . . .

We are half way through the Blitz and there is still a lot more to come!  Several updates are in the queue but they will have to wait until tomorrow. Until them, check out the photo album updates.

Elgin: NEW ALBUM

Chicago: NEW ALBUM

St. Charles/Riverwoods: NEW ALBUM

Grand Rapids: New Photos Added

Carpentersville: New Photos Added

We'll see you on the worksite on Wednesday.

Mississippi: Tuesday Report

Our Mississippi correspondent today is Alison Bustamante, a volunteer from Chicago and Blitz Build veteran.

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Tuesday. Sometimes even the word makes you feel kind of crummy, doesn't it? Especially on a serving experience like Blitz Build, when it seems like progress comes slowly.

 But here in Mississippi, progress is being made. Both the Willow Creek houses have been sheathed and wrapped, and wait for drywall installation. We're thrilled at what's been happening, both onsite and off. Not only are the houses coming together, but the relationships among team members and with the homeowners have been coming together, forming into lasting bonds. It's incredibly gratifying to see both things happening simultaneously, and watching the process is keeping  us pushing forward, beyond Tuesday.

Sometimes, though, it seems like our "Tuesdays" aren't just days on the calendar. They can seem like a metaphor for the times when we don't feel like we're making any progress. As I reflect on the impact of those times, a familiar Scripture comes to mind: Isaiah 40:28-31. As I read it, I realize that we can rest in the strength of our Father, who tenderly carries us when our strength is gone. We can know His love and His inspiration as they compel us forward, especially when we feel like the "Tuesdays" of our lives are lasting longer than we'd want them to. We can know, even when we don't see it, that things do come together, and we will see them, as He carries us on eagle's wings, past our "Tuesdays".

Blitz Build Devotional (Day 3)

One of the most effective ways we have in reaching people with the good news is through acts of service that are real – that come from a true desire to serve - and acts of service that are relevant and meet a real need. The apostle Paul implored the church of Ephesus to “serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men” (Ephesians 6:7).

As St. Francis of Assisi once said, “Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words.”

“When the Communists took over Russia in 1917, they vigorously persecuted the church but did not make Christianity illegal. The Constitution of 1918, in fact, guaranteed a freedom of religion. But the Communists did make it illegal for the church to do any good works. No longer could the church fulfill its historic role of feeding the hungry, educating the young, housing the orphan, or caring for the sick. After seventy years, the church in Russia was largely irrelevant to the communities in which it dwelt. Take away service, and you take away the church’s power, influence and evangelistic effectiveness” (pg. 118 – The Externally Focused Church).

We can (and should) speak the truth of our faith. There is more to communicate what we say. The world does not have to search far to find examples of those who were speaking the truth, but living a lie. Right now in this act of service, you have the opportunity to show the truth. Today, do your best to be an honest and compassionate servant. Take time to get some water or snacks for your fellow volunteers rather than just getting something for your you are working with today, rather than merely focusing on the task at hand.

Respond:

Take a few minutes to think about how your own journey of faith has led you to Blitz Build 2009.

Prayerfully ask God to increase your openness to see and respond to needs in the world around you, even if they arise in unexpected places.