Inside Out

Serving a New Member

Greater Elgin

As a new member of Willow Creek, I was thrilled to learn of the Inside Out projects. I eagerly contacted my local team and began to create a mental list of project ideas. My group, however, had found a local project that totally overwhelmed me--my family.

I am a single mom of two beautiful children ages 4 ½ years and 15 months. I have no family in the area and I am in the midst of a divorce and custody dispute. My generous team volunteered to assist in many of the home repair and maintenance projects for which I have neither the skill nor knowledge.

They offered: fellowship, prayer, compassionate and thoughtful calls of concern, back-up service as sitters as I go back to school and, most importantly, a faith family for me and my children. They have even given me security by changing the locks on my home at their own expense.

At first my pride got in my way, so I embarrassingly rejected the offers and tried to steer the team in a new direction. But my team did not give up until I accepted the blessings of their assistance and friendship. Additionally, they have found other Inside Out projects where I can participate in service.

Many thanks to the Tallgrass team: Ed, Kolleen, Ricardo, Leticia, Greg, Rose, Dave, Kristine, Henry and Rachael.

Lisa Hall

Surprised by Clean Gutters

Greater Elgin

Dave Lovestrand, my son, Patrick and I decided to clean gutters for seven elderly residents at Willow Lake Estates in Elgin. We decided to do this because there was no way these people could climb a ladder and do it themselves.

We really enjoyed working together and the job was fun because we were doing it together. The folks we helped were truly surprised that we were doing this on a volunteer basis and they all tried to pay us for our work. We just told them the blessing we received by helping out was our pay. One sweet lady sent us a Thank You card and included $15, which we donated to the food drive. 

Tom Madura

Removing Gang Graffiti

Greater Elgin Area

A group of neighbors from Cobblers Crossing in Elgin spent a day cleaning up McKinley School Park after the principal requested help.

There was gang graffiti painted all over, so we worked on removing it. The playground was in disrepair and we got that fixed. And we did general cleaning of the park.

Some parents from McKinley School made us a Mexican lunch and we spent time getting to know them a bit. Even Elgin’s Mayor and our State Representative, Ruth Munson, stopped by to see what we were doing. It was a great day! 

Dorothy Henson

Beauty--Inside and Out

I saw true beauty on our Inside Out project. HIM (Hairdressers In the Marketplace) simultaneously hosted ‘Day Of Beauty’ events in each of the four Willow neighborhoods.  We needed to find four Salon/Spas willing to open their doors on a Sunday for six hours and allow volunteers to come in and serve women who have fallen on hard times.  We also needed to find four organizations designed to work with these women on a longer term basis.  We needed to recruit volunteers and community support - and we only had two months to bring it all together.

While I knew the goal was admirable, I also felt the task was overwhelming. I knew that in my own strength it would be impossible to accomplish all that, so with much prayer I leaned on the strength of God with confidence that He would go ahead and provide for our needs. And provide He did, bringing together these four communities to take care of and show His love to 54 women who so desperately needed to know their lives mattered.

At each site the blessings were abundant. Restaurants and bakeries donated complimentary pastries and luncheons. Clients from all four salons donated clothes, jewelry, shoes and handbags for a complimentary boutique. A bank in Crystal Lake gave $50 savings bonds to each lady. Carson’s, Hobby Lobby, and Mary Kay Cosmetics, just to mention a few, gave beautiful gifts. It was a tremendous example of communities coming together to show their support and God’s love to these women.

The women received new hair styles, manicures and make-up applications. Most of these women had never been in a salon before. At the Elgin location, two women were an hour and a half late because  when they drove past the salon and saw how beautiful it was, it was they thought, “That can’t be the place!”  They continued driving until they were no longer in Elgin, only to discover when they called for directions that the big, beautiful salon was in fact where they were invited!

As I drove from salon to salon that day, I was reminded of my prayer. God had truly gone before us and prepared the way. The highlight for me was at the end of the day. I entered the Elgin Salon and noticed the team leader, Naomi Lacheta, off to the side with one of the guests.  I know Naomi; she’s always looking for the one lost sheep! The woman had approached her and started sharing her hardships and her struggle with considering suicide. She was very touched by the Day of Beauty and expressed gratitude at how she was treated that day. It gave her a sense of hope. Naomi prayed with this woman to ask Jesus to become her counselor and hope. Now He will never leave that precious found sheep!   

The Neighborhood Day of Beauty was a tremendous success, thanks to the participation of 85 volunteers, four Salon/Spas, eight restaurants, one bank, clientele from each salon and vendors, all who came together for six hours to become the body of Christ. “WITH GOD, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.”   

Teresa Russo-Cox
Director of HIM (Hairdressers In the Marketplace)
 

Raking is Contagious

(Greater Elgin Area) Through Elgin Senior Services, Steve Stark, our neighborhood team leader, discovered Sandy, a disabled woman, who needed to have yard work done. The day of the serve there were fourteen on our team and for many of us it was the first time we met neighbors who were fellow “Creekers”.

We rolled up our sleeves and raked about 25 bags of leaves, climbed ladders to clean gutters, trimmed her bushes and cleaned all of her windows, inside and out! Sandy was overwhelmingly grateful. It was such a gift to experience her heartfelt gratitude. But, God gave us a bonus. . .

Sandy's neighbor’s yard was also covered with leaves. Shortly after we started our project, we noticed someone had come out to mulch and mow that yard. We started a conversation and found out that the person doing the other yard was not the owner, but another neighbor named Carol.

She said, “I saw all of you over there helping Sandy, and this neighbor just had foot surgery, so I figured I could help her out.”

Going inside out really is contagious and we experienced it. To God be the Glory.

Bonnie Bennington

Spa Day for the Needy

(Greater Elgin Area) Our neighborhood small group worked with the Hair Ministry to offer a Day of Beauty. The recipients for this special spa event were referred to us through various shelters and agencies. They were women who daily live with hardship.

We were assigned to supply some outfits for each woman. We collected clothing, shoes, coats, jewelry, makeup, perfume and much more from our closets and other donations.

The Hair Ministry gave the women new hair styles, waxed eyebrows, did manicures and applied makeup. One woman from our small group gave chair massages.

We shared a meal with the women, listened to their stories and tried to offer encouragement.

One woman in particular was special to me. When I asked her what type of clothing she needed, outfits for interviews or casual clothes, her reply was, "I am homeless, I have nothing." That humbled me to the floor. Here I am taking the excess from my personal items and this woman doesn't even have a coat. When I asked how she was planning to move forward with her life, she responded "God always finds a way." What an attitude adjustment for me!

Almost universally, the women stated they had never experienced a day like this. Most had never had a professional haircut, manicure or nice clothes--things I take for granted.

This day was rewarding, inspiring and humbling. We hope to be able to do this again.

Janell Adamczyk

Helping a Foster Mom

(Greater Elgin Area) Four years ago I met a young women studying to become a youth worker. Jill was wise beyond her years and clearly loved kids. We got to know Jill very well over the years and learned that she had a 19-year-old cousin who was a herion addict with two small children. This summer Jill’s cousin was found dead from an overdose. The children’s father, also a herion addict, was in jail.

Jill, who now lives in Rockford, stepped up to become a foster mom to these little ones. She is only 26 years old. She works part time and gets a small amount of money from the state for caring for the children, but not enough to make ends meet.

When my husband, Jim, and I heard about the Thirty Days of Service, the first person who popped into our minds was Jill. My sister and brother-in-law wanted to help her as well. So we bought groceries, collected clothing and toys for the kids, took them out to eat and filled her tank with gas.

Jill cried when she saw all the things we had brought. Her one and three-year-old foster children were bursting with excitement as they unpacked the toys. Jim enjoyed playing with the toys as much as the kids. Jill’s example of Christ’s love, selflessness and compassion made it a privilege to give to her.

Our extended family has decided that we are going to continue to help Jill with whatever we can. We talk regularly with Jill and get the additional items she needs. And we pray for Jill and her new family continually. She hopes to adopt the children, but their jailed father is making it difficult.

We also found out that when the kids' clothes get too small, she is passing them on to a friend who is also a single mom. God's calling to us to serve is already being multiplied. We are humbled and blessed.

Candy Egan and family

Excited in the Greater Elgin Area

                  (Greater Elgin Area) - I am a serious, somber, business-like type of guy. Sometimes I feel like I should be excited, but I’m not. However, to my surprise, watching Inside Out take shape for the Greater Elgin Area has me excited--honestly, deeply excited, without any effort on my part.

Thirty neighborhood project groups have caught the vision of uniting our communities one neighbor at a time and are already reaching out to the needs of people on their streets. By intentionally reaching out, these simple acts of kindness are softening hearts to God.

A Willow member was casually talking to his elderly neighbor and discovered he was afraid of not being able to pay his heating bills this winter. The need was brought to the neighborhood project group and they decided to insulate his attic. This loving act will hopefully move an aging man toward God.

I’m excited that the neighborhood groups get to decide what acts of service God is leading them into. Inside Out is designed to be a grass roots type of serving where ministry is put into the hands of Willow members who are living near where the needs are.

Elgin is a unique town. It’s one of the oldest communities in the area and has long standing boundary lines between ethnic and socioeconomic groups. We have amazing opportunities to build cross-cultural bridges with the hope that God can make this diverse area a true community, where His kingdom can be seen on Earth.

Other unique features about the Greater Elgin Area are the two state-run youth correctional facilities where 600 kids (ages 13 – 18) are incarcerated for the darkest of crimes. The common thinking is that these centers house the monsters of society. The reality is that these are humbled, submitted teen-agers locked down in a double razor wire vault. Most never get a card, call or visit from family. Many prefer jail to their own homes.

The Elgin Blitz (Nov. 12 & 13) is focusing on these broken kids. If we can be God’s hand of love to them, think of the transformation that could occur. There are enough Willow people who live near these facilities that each one of those kids could be “adopted” during their time of incarceration. With God’s help we will make a noticeable difference and get the attention of the world. I am excited.

I’m depending on God and his people to lead the charge for Inside Out. I’m enjoying not being the take-charge field general. My hope is that one day we’ll wake up and notice our communities are better, more united and we will celebrate what God has done.

By the way, this is fun…and did I mention I’m very excited?

Tom Jensen
Greater Elgin Area Leader