Hands On with Allen

We’re all on some sort of a journey. As Christians we are on this journey with Christ. This journey can have great rewards, but be careful for there are some bumps in the road that will cause us to take detours. This will make us ask that question, “How long will you keep us in suspense?” John 10:24. Of course what the Jews were referring to if Jesus was really the Christ. We will ask this question to find direction on this journey.

In November of 2007, I took my third journey to Mississippi with eight other volunteers. It is an area that is still trying to recover from hurricane Katrina that devastated the area 2 1/2 years ago. Yes 30 months ago. As I looked at all the work left to be done I wondered “How long will the people be kept in suspense?” Many still had those blue tarps on their roof to keep the rains out. Others still lived (if that’s what it called) in those small white FEMA trailers. The people seem to be surviving from day to day with not much hope for a future.

On this trip our group went 26 miles north of the coast to an area that was hit by tornadoes that had been by-products of hurricane Katrina. We had the privilege to work for Me-Me. She was a 65 year old lady that was very poor but proud. She has survived by working part-time at a local nursing home as an aide. With the little bit of money she had, she couldn’t afford to make the repairs on the roof where a tree had fallen. She couldn’t even afford to get the tree removed. Finally after two years, the city cut it down for her. The back of her house had been blown off, and she lived in the living room with little security. Fortunately, you, as United Methodists through UMCOR, sent the relief she would need to get the house repaired. Our crew and the group before us would replace the roof, replace all the much needed windows and install vinyl siding. Even though the inside would need more work, Me-Me was bubbling with joy. It showed when on the last day she hugged everyone in the group. Tears ran down her face when we gave her a gift certificate from one of those big box stores. Of course, there wasn’t a dry eye as we prepared to leave at the end of the project.

Life is a journey, and many questions will arise. If we have the courage, we will respond to it, trusting God to lead us on this journey. We will let go of our fears and adventure into this hurting world of missions where we can feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, clothe the naked, and yes, some of us will even visit those in prison. What’s your passion? Follow it and see were it leads you. Your action will be a response to your faith in Christ, and you won’t have to be kept in suspense any longer.

Seek out Jesus and respond today. Hope to see you at your church soon.

In Christ,
Allen