Thomas the Truck

You're probably wondering who Thomas is. Block by Block has a big box truck and we recently named him Thomas. Thomas is very big and not a lot of fun to drive, but you learn quickly to use the mirrors and make extra wide turns, or you find out that the curb is still there, even under the snow (ask Bob). Speaking of Bob, you're probably wondering who he is, too. Bob started working with us at the end of November. He is drawing floor layouts for our houses, so we know what walls to take down and where to put new walls, it makes things go a lot smoother. Bob is also helping with the volunteer teams and helping us get supplies. Which brings me back to Thomas. Bob, Roy and I have the pleasure of driving Thomas to Menards and Cedar Rapids Lumber on a pretty regular bases. We uses Thomas primarily for buying large quantities of supplies and big things that don't fit in a normal pickup truck. Thomas' box is 16 feet long, so we can fit just about anything in there. Thomas' favorite things to pick up are doors, lumber, and insulation. You could say we are regulars at Menards. Honk and wave if you see Thomas on the road!

Cedar Six on the Block!

It's been so long since this blog has been updated! Good news though: the flood recovery blog is back with some fresh writers. Until mid-December, Cedar 6, an Americorps NCCC team will be working with the flood recovery office through Block by Block. That means that I, Kate, a member of that team, will be updating until then. I'll write about my team's experiences doing flood recovery work in Cedar Rapids. My teammates will also write some blogs too!

So... I'll introduce myself! Like I already said, I'm Kate. I'm 22 years old, and I just graduated college in June with a B.A. in Economics. I hail from Cleveland, Ohio, but I attended college in Athens, Ohio, which is a small town in Appalachian Ohio. It's really awesome there; you should go sometime.

We've already been working with Block by Block for a week and a half. In that time, we've learned a lot about gutting houses, spraying bleach on mold, and painting trim. It's been very fun so far, and Melisa and Shelby assure us that the fun won't stop anytime soon. My whole team continues to eagerly anticipate each day.

What is Americorps NCCC you ask? NCCC is a national service program for 18-24 year olds. We commit to 10 months and we work in 5 service areas: disaster recovery, education, unmet human needs, public safety, and environment. We do five rounds of service. Each round is about 6-8 weeks. This is our first round. Other teams are working in Milwaukee, Mobile, New Orleans, et al.

Here's some of my team after a hard day of working with Block by Block (I'm not in this photo because I took it):


Look forward to more pictures soon.

Until next time,

Kate

God Is With Us Always.. Even Those Stressful Days

Colossians 1:29 "To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me."

Have you ever woken up knowing it's going to be a stressful day?

Well, I recently had a day just like that. My day started off with a volunteer's phone call waking me up asking for instruction. This got me out of bed and I quickly got on the road to start taking tools around to the sites. That day I had a team coming in around noon so I tried to settle my other teams before then. All morning I checked on the other teams and ran tools around to make sure they were good to go so I could dedicate all my time to this large team coming in. I thought I had succeeded and even had time to grab lunch, but when I checked my phone after the orientation I had 4 missed calls from my other team. As I ran my new team around and got my other team supplies I anxiously glanced at my watch making sure I wouldn't miss my 4:30 appointment with a homeowner. The day was hectic and stressful, but as I carried tools to a site I prayed that God give me the patience and strength to keep going. I prayed that he refocus my eyes on his will and not to get frustrated with all the tasks that seemed to overwhelm me that day. God rewarded my efforts when I got to hear a homeowner's story. As, I listened to her proclaim God's love and grace in her life I thanked God for allowing me to witness how much he had worked in her life. He showed me that even during the most stressful days he is there giving us the strength to go on. He is there to give us the patience we need. He is there to open our eyes to see his greater plan and not to focus on the plan we have created. He is there to reassure us and allow us to give up our trials and worries for him to carry. God is always there to be the support we need. He is the only one who can give us the strength to get through anything.

High on God

Have you ever done something or been somewhere when you felt totally surrounded by God's presence. That's what I felt this last week when I was able to be a counselor at Summer Games University. I came back from that camp feeling loved and ready to keep worshiping. The atmosphere was amazing!! For those of you who don't know Summer Games is a church camp that for the past couple of years has taken place on a college campus. It centers around teaching youth about Jesus and His sacrifice while at the same time having fun playing sports in a christian environment. Being surrounded in a loving Christian environment helps people to feel like they can be who they are and don't have to hide their true self. Sometimes in life I think that we, especially Christians, hide who we are. It may not be on purpose but sometimes it is as if we are ashamed to speak out about our faith. I have always had a problem with being vocal about what I've believed in and instead chose to show my faith by my actions. Now it's not like that isn't a good method but sometimes it just doesn't get the point across. People in the real world might just think you are a good person and doing good works because that's who you are. They don't realize that the reason you are doing good works is to improve the kingdom of God and to show other's the love you've found in the Lord. This last week of being a counselor has really helped me to open up about my faith and to be able to talk about what I believe and I hope I can continue to keep talking through out the rest of the summer and my life after being a flood intern.

"Go and make disciples of every nation baptisizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey all I've commanded and I'll be with you until the end of the age."
Matthew 28:19-20 (The Great Commission)

How time fly--

1 Peter 5:8-9
"Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like aroaring lion, looking fo someone to devour. Stand firm agains him , and be strong in you faith. Remeber that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are."
How has the devil been attacking you this summer? Have you had any paradigm switch? I'm not a patient person. But over the past couple years the Lord has been teaching me great patience. And the devil has been testing me in that. When you take a moment to look at the choice you have....whether to be patient or not, or whatever it may be in your case. Do you look at the pro's and con's. Do you take a step back and think how is this choice going to be benefiting me. This was my most recent paradigm switch. It has been a crazy summer working here at the flood office, and I can't believe it's almost over. I've had so many amazing teams. I hear both ends of the spectrum everyday with flood relief. Some people can't believe how much has been done. Some people can't believe how much hasn't been done. We've had over 7,000 people come to Cedar Rapids and help out with the flood. And let me tell you those volunteers have gotten plenty done. Please continue to pray that more volunteers come to Cedar Rapids, because although we have acomplished much...there is still much more to acomplish.
Sarah

Life isn't All About Me

Sometimes it takes a difficult situation to make you grateful for what you have in life. While working in this job I have seen a lot of people struggling with many hardships. Many homeowners have lost their homes to the flood and don't know what do next and now we are hearing of those struggling people facing layoffs because of the economy. Children have lost their toys and many other priceless memories kept in keepsakes are gone. And yet these people are still living and trying to face life one day at a time, making new memories. It is hard to even imagine some of these things in the little bubble I live in. I have learned to live my life in my own world and not really see what is going on around me. When things do happen it doesn't seem real because I wasn't affected by it. This time the disaster has hit my community and although my home was not personally affected I still see the difference the flood made to attitudes and people's daily lives. This job has helped me to remember that life isn't all about what you have, it's about facing life after struggles and surviving. I've seen so much strength in the homeowners that I've had the privilege to work with this summer. They've been such an inspiration to me. This summer has helped to remind me that life isn't all about me. My time is much better suited helping others which is why I'm so glad to be doing what I do!

:) Abby

Accept insturction

As I reflect on the past few weeks with volunteers and working on multiple houses I realize that I have learned WAY more than I thought I would ever know about rebuilding a home. Early in the summer I realized I had to put my pride aside and simply ask when I didn't know how to do something or what to get at the hardware store. Proverbs 19:20 says, "Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise." By putting my pride to the side, acknowledging that I don't have all of the answers and listening to advice and accepting instruction I have learned leaps and bounds more than I thought possible.



One thing I didn't expect coming into the summer was how much I would bond with each new group. I have been blessed by a lot of the the volunteer groups I've been working with. Anything from making me a lunch and inviting me to sit down for awhile and eat with them, to joking around while they are working, or just thanking me for all the work I've done for them; it is truly a blessing to work with so many wonderful people each week.

Flexibility and love

This summer our motto has been flexibility and love. Sometimes it isn't easy to be patient and flexible with all the unexpected twists this job brings. Loving can be hard too when a team has hit your last nerve and all you want to do is yell. We need to realize not only in the workplace but in daily life that God has a plan for our lives. It may not go the way we want. We may have to change. BUT God loves us and has only the best plans for our lives. We just have to give Him our trust and put our lives in His hands. Last Thursday we had one of our weekly meetings and every week we do a little devotional. This last week the passage we read repeated many times "things happen." This seemed like a perfect fit for what had been happening lately in our lives. Things do happen and we can't always control them. We have had to learn to be patient and ask our teams to be patient with us in return. God has a plan!!

The Many Talents We Have

Every Thursday for our staff meeting we have a devotion to reflect upon our work that week. Two weeks ago we reflected on 1 Corinthians 12:4-13 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.

This bible verse has stuck with me because I observe this verse in action everyday as I continue to serve God. We all work together to spread God's love to those in need but we all bring something different to the table. Each team has a different personality and character that God uses to spread his love to those who need it. Each team has a different skill set that God uses to help repair the physical burdens of those in need. And each team has their own calling and purpose that God unfolds for them throughout the week. This shows that God will use everyone that wants to serve in his name. Everyone is valued and everyone has a purpose which God will unfold.

His plan, our hands

Hi everyone,
So this first month has been very busy with hundreds volunteers! We are starting to get into a routine that we follow week by week, but sometimes life is unpredictable and throws a curve in your plans. Unfortunately I'm a list person and like to know exactly what I'm doing before it happens. This job has helped me to realize that that is not always going to happen. God has a plan and sometimes His plan might not match with yours, but those changes are always for a reason. Usually you can't see that reason until you look back and think about your life. For example last week for me was a very rough week. I had some communication difficulties with one of my teams that left me upset and confused. I didn't understand why people working for God did not want to help a very deserving organization. Now that I look back I realize that God had different work that He need this group to do. They helped out all week at the camp that they were staying at and did a great job out there. They also helped paint almost a whole parking garage and mowed in the rain!!! God had a different plan for this group that suited them and took them out of a place where they felt uncomfortable. God works in ways that we may not always see, but we have to learn to rely on him because he has a plan for our lives and will lead us away from harm.

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. John 4:16

:) Abby

About Me

Hello all! My name is Sarah, and this summer I will be an intern at the Flood Recovery Office. I graduated from high school last May. And since then I have been working at Pictured Rocks camp, and went to Nicaragua for nine months. This past year has pretty much been amazing and life changing. Next fall I will be attending Simpson College.

The Difference Between Worrying and Preparedness

Today I learned first hand the difference between worrying and being prepared. I failed at being prepared which lead me to succeed at worrying, but this was not the combination I wanted. I am usually a very punctual and organized person; therefore, I am usually prepared and have what is needed. Last night, I forgot to call a new homeowner to make sure she would be there for my team to paint her house. I realized my mistake this morning when I had the team following me to the house 20 minutes away and she wasn't answering her phone. That is when the worrying set in. I had people relying on me and I was going to let them down. After getting the confirmation that she wasn't at her house I shamefully had to tell my team we must turn around and scrambled to find a job that we could do instead. With a lot of other teams and a thunderstorm rolling in the pickings were slim. But God prevailed and helped me by finding a great job for us to work at. My worrying started to diminish as God revealed a new plan for our day. But then, I took my team on another detour to SW instead of SE and got stuck waiting for a train after I corrected my mistake. As I watched the train roll by, I worried about the team's perception of my competence. I had taken them half way to a house that no one was at. They had to wait as I found us a backup plan. Then, I took them to the wrong side of the river. But after worrying about all these things the day turned out great. My teams were completely understanding and served with joyful hearts. The homeowners were appreciative and provided the team with a free lunch to show their thanks. In the end, I learned to be prepared but not to worry if the plan you spent all your time preparing no longer works out. God will prevail and jobs will be found to satisfy the volunteer's serving hearts. Whenever I am worrying I think of Matthew 6:34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." and try to refocus and allow God's will to be done.

This also lead me to compare the difference between worry about disasters happening and being prepared. Disaster preparedness is very important. Having a plan to make sure people are helped as effectively and efficiently as possible is very important, but worrying about what could happen gets us no where. Be prepared, but above all allow God to provide and stop worrying about tomorrow.

Look Around.. God is everywhere

To reflect upon my first week in the field I was asked to answer the question, how did you see God at work this week?

I thought about it for a while and knew the answer most people would think of right away: the homeowners' appreciation and volunteers' hard work. And, yes I saw the Lord at work in the serving hands and selfless hearts of the volunteers. I also saw the Lord's joy in the homeowners eyes and heard his delight in their thank yous. But as I pondered the question a little more, I started thinking of all the little acts of love the staff showed each other this week. Abby sending me a thank you text after a long day of delivering and picking up stuff in the truck. It was a simple act that took her ten seconds but meant a lot to me and eased my stress of running around to get stuff. Sarah going with me to get the lawnmowers because I knew I wouldn't be able to find the shed without her help. She knew from experience the shed was hard to find so she suggested that she come to show me exactly where it was. Shelby helping me find a house when I couldn't find it to drop off drywall sheets. Carma always smiling when she sees you first thing in the morning and sincerely asking how our day is going. Melisa getting chocolates for Trina to ease the stress of her piles of paperwork. Curt always being willing to come explain a job to me and never getting annoyed by the endless questions I ask.

Simple acts like these show God's love exists in actions we take everyday. Never underestimate the power of a simple gesture of love. It may take you only ten seconds, but could impact the person's life forever. God's love even in small actions can work wonders in another's life.

The volunteers are here!

Last week we had a slow week with just over 100 volunteers. The group of volunteers I worked with almost completed the house they were working on. They were here for three days and worked hard to get old siding removed and new siding hung. They also did some painting and made the "house look like a home," as the homeowner commented. The homeowner was very appreciative of the groups' work and grilled hamburgers and hotdogs for them on Saturday as a thank you.

This week is a bit more active in downtown. We have around 375 volunteers here this week. It is really neat to drive around and see groups of youth serving God and working on homes. The first day working with a group is always a little hectic getting everyone where they need to be and getting them all of the supplies and tools they will need. Being this busy doesn't allow for much planning ahead and has taught me to fully rely on God that everything will fall into place as He has planned; Matthew 6:34 says, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

My Second Day in the "Field"

My second day in the "field" as we lovingly call the flood houses was a busy day. Just like yesterday, I was constantly on the move getting tools for my teams or checking up on their progress. In these two shorts days I have learned how to drywall and other useful information such as putting weed killer on the top of a tree stump to kill the root system. I have also witnessed the appreciation homeowners express when talking to the volunteers. One of the homeowners exclaimed that the team was "a heaven sent blessing". The homeowners who lost so much truly appreciate the work the teams are doing to help them recover faster. One of the homeowners told us they had just finished the basement and then the flood destroyed all their hard work. But our team is finishing his basement for him so he can focus on his job and newborn baby. Every homeowner regardless of what task you are helping them with is extremely grateful. The work is truly appreciated and every hour spent helping them recover is an hour spent serving God.

5 Things I Learned in My First Week

1. Be flexible. God's work doesn't always go exactly how you were planning or hoping. You have to be flexible and willing to work around stuff that comes up and changes your plans.
2. Let God steer. Because everything doesn't go exactly how you were planning, you need to remember that God is in charge not you. You need to remember that even if something doesn't turn out how you imagined, it turned out how God had planed it to.
3. Be optimistic in everything you do. Remember that God has a plan for you and everything he made. As Jeremiah 29:11 states "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." God knows what is best so be optimistic and know he is taking care of you. He has a plan for you.
4. Give freely. As I was helping Curt, our project manager, store extra drywall that a citizen was donating to our cause, a gentleman asked if we had any extra bleach. Curt instantly gave the bleach to the man and later explained to me that we should give any materials to people who ask for them. At the same time we were being blessed by receiving drywall we helped a neighbor by giving him bleach. It reminded me of Luke 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you." As Christians, we are to give freely to others whether it is through material possessions or our time.
5. Never forget to take time for God. Even though this first week at the Flood Recovery Office was extremely busy we still took time for devotions. We always kept God as the focus and never forgot to halt our busy lives to praise him.

My first week as a flood intern

Tuesday started my first day of work after college graduation. All of the interns met at the Flood Recovery Office to get acquainted with the work we will be doing all summer. We learned some basics about the flood and where we are now in the recovery process. After lunch Melisa sent us on a great scavenger hunt to find places we will be frequenting throughout the summer. This was excellent for me since I'm not from Cedar Rapids and have no idea where any roads are or where they go. I was able to get a basic idea of the layout of the city on our adventures. Amanda and I are the two PR interns for the summer. This week we mostly worked on putting together a video about the disasters that hit Iowa last summer. The video will be showed at the Iowa Annual Conference next Friday. We got our house assignments for our volunteer groups next week on Thursday, so Friday morning I drove by my three houses. It's a good thing I have a GPS because I never would have found one of my houses without it. It was a great first week; I am really looking forward to working with the other interns and the rest of the flood recovery staff all summer. I can't wait to see God work in the city this summer through all of our generous volunteers. Thank you all in advance for your hard work, I look forward to meeting you and working with you. 

My First Day As An Intern

Arriving bright and early at 7:30, we were greeted by an always cheerful Melisa. We spent about two hours going through all the basic information we needed to know about our jobs and learning the names of the handful of people we would be working with daily. We learned who would be in charge of what tasks and which tasks we would work as a team to accomplish. The second half of the morning we all jumped right into the tasks that we will be doing for the summer. Shelby, a fellow PR intern, and I worked on writing the script for a video that will be shown to the Iowa Annual Conference in less than two weeks. I also called two individuals to schedule interviews to record their testimonies of the flood for the video. We ate as a group for lunch consuming the majority of three pizzas and a few breadsticks. This was our fuel for the scavenger hunt Melisa concocted for our benefit. We spent two hours driving around finding various places we will visit frequently this summer. Even though we made multiple U-turns, we all felt much more comfortable navigating the crazy, confusing Cedar Rapids roads afterward. Even though the day was tiring and packed with a plethora of new information, I left the Flood Recovery Office with a sense of excitement for what this summer has in store for me.