This is long, but heartfelt. Read this, for me.
So, some of you might have caught something in a previous blog of mine about volunteering in New Orleans. Yeah, it's amazing how interesting life can be. As everybody probably knows New Orleans was devestated by hurricane Katrina last year. Some of you might be sick of hearing about it. Some of you probably don't want to hear about it because it's so upsetting to think about. Well, my life may be wrapped up in that hurricane's aftermath for awhile.
Here's a look into my future asperations, my heart, my passions, calling.....my life.
When I was young I needed a change in my life or a was probably going to take it b/c I thought it wasn't worth the trouble anymore. Well, God interveened. He changed Joe Dingwall's life. God used him to get to me. I was afraid of going to youth group because Joe was there. This was when I was 13 and very very very shy. And my Dwaynish tendencies were yet to be revealed. Joe was my worst bully. I prayed for a change in the situation with Joe. And He answered my prayer. God changed Joe's life and Joe apologized to me and became my friend. This allowed me to go to youth group and find God in a very real way. I realized God cared for me and was really there for me. At that point I realized he was real. I decided to live for Him since He gave me my life back. I wouldn't have one if it weren't for God's hand on it anyway.
Ok, so from there I seeked my place in life. I wanted to be used by God. I got really involved in youth group, church, and seeking God. I realized I had gifts in Math, Drawing, Computers, and I was fascinated by buildings. As I looked for colleges as a senior I wondered how God could use these gifts for His Kingdom. Then I went to a conference (CC/Apex) with the youth group. I can't remember which time it was but I remember the multimedia presentation. Not the words, but the images. Burning buildings, bombed buildings, boarded up buildings. Devastation, Destruction, Decay. Inner-cities, Third-World Countries, War Torn Nations. God spoke to me then. It seemed audible. I was crying uncontrollably. I remember it perfectly. He said that He wanted to use me. To restore those places. He's in the business of making things whole again. He showed me the need for Architects and Engineers and people with my talents and abilities. He wants to restore hope and life to places and people that have lost everything. He showed me he had a purpose for my life.
From there I went on to college. I studied Civil Engineering. I was in the top 4% of my class. I got a Job at a Architectural firm through Joe's dad. From there I went on to an engineering firm. I gained experience in surveying there too. I was on my way to gaining the knowledge and ability I needed to use my talents for God. But I didn't like something. It seemed too normal. Work, work, work. Where was the ministry, the helping the needy, the worthwhile part of what I was doing? I decided to shift my focus. I went to Mission Year.
So, I volunteered in Altanta, GA for a year, last year. I lived in the inner-city, I lived and experienced poorness. I learned about social injustice, racism, poverty. There were parodym shifts. My thinking was changed about how to love and serve people in need. How to do so without taking away their dignity. I learned about being a good neighbor and living in community.
Then I went home. It didn't feel the same. Life was too normal, too comfortable, to sheltered from the issues that our world faces. I moved back to Atlanta. I have been planning on going to school and learning more about Engineering, gaining more experience and someday finding a way to use my abilities in a ministry setting. Well, God may have changed my plans for me. Leroy, VP or Mission Year, called a meeting with the alumni of Atlanta. He shared Mission Years interest in expanding their ministry into New Orleans. There's alot of need there and people seem hopeless to find the help and answers they need. I have an opportunity to apply what I've learned. I can be used by God to rebuild this devastated area. Is it coincience that I went to Mission Year and moved back to Atlanta. I haven't fealt complete here. I thought maybe I needed to go back to Albany for awhile. Maybe I made the wrong choice. But then that meeting happened. I talked to Leroys wife a few nights ago about this stuff. She said that perhaps God had me in Atlanta for that meeting. Perhaps my discomfort with life here is because my place is in New Orleans. And it's ironic, too. I remember saying to myself I could nver go to New Orleans. I detested Marti Gras. It seemed like such a wretched place to. I even thought the hurricane was God's wrath due to their sin. Who know's maybe there's something to that. But I know God doesn't just let people stay down, even if He knocks them down. He always lifts you back up. He loves them. He is sending them help. Answering their prayers. And He's going to use people with my abilities and talents to rebuild and restore hope and faith and love to their broken city.
This is my heart. This is what I was created for. Here am I God, use me.
So, some of you might have caught something in a previous blog of mine about volunteering in New Orleans. Yeah, it's amazing how interesting life can be. As everybody probably knows New Orleans was devestated by hurricane Katrina last year. Some of you might be sick of hearing about it. Some of you probably don't want to hear about it because it's so upsetting to think about. Well, my life may be wrapped up in that hurricane's aftermath for awhile.
Here's a look into my future asperations, my heart, my passions, calling.....my life.
When I was young I needed a change in my life or a was probably going to take it b/c I thought it wasn't worth the trouble anymore. Well, God interveened. He changed Joe Dingwall's life. God used him to get to me. I was afraid of going to youth group because Joe was there. This was when I was 13 and very very very shy. And my Dwaynish tendencies were yet to be revealed. Joe was my worst bully. I prayed for a change in the situation with Joe. And He answered my prayer. God changed Joe's life and Joe apologized to me and became my friend. This allowed me to go to youth group and find God in a very real way. I realized God cared for me and was really there for me. At that point I realized he was real. I decided to live for Him since He gave me my life back. I wouldn't have one if it weren't for God's hand on it anyway.
Ok, so from there I seeked my place in life. I wanted to be used by God. I got really involved in youth group, church, and seeking God. I realized I had gifts in Math, Drawing, Computers, and I was fascinated by buildings. As I looked for colleges as a senior I wondered how God could use these gifts for His Kingdom. Then I went to a conference (CC/Apex) with the youth group. I can't remember which time it was but I remember the multimedia presentation. Not the words, but the images. Burning buildings, bombed buildings, boarded up buildings. Devastation, Destruction, Decay. Inner-cities, Third-World Countries, War Torn Nations. God spoke to me then. It seemed audible. I was crying uncontrollably. I remember it perfectly. He said that He wanted to use me. To restore those places. He's in the business of making things whole again. He showed me the need for Architects and Engineers and people with my talents and abilities. He wants to restore hope and life to places and people that have lost everything. He showed me he had a purpose for my life.
From there I went on to college. I studied Civil Engineering. I was in the top 4% of my class. I got a Job at a Architectural firm through Joe's dad. From there I went on to an engineering firm. I gained experience in surveying there too. I was on my way to gaining the knowledge and ability I needed to use my talents for God. But I didn't like something. It seemed too normal. Work, work, work. Where was the ministry, the helping the needy, the worthwhile part of what I was doing? I decided to shift my focus. I went to Mission Year.
So, I volunteered in Altanta, GA for a year, last year. I lived in the inner-city, I lived and experienced poorness. I learned about social injustice, racism, poverty. There were parodym shifts. My thinking was changed about how to love and serve people in need. How to do so without taking away their dignity. I learned about being a good neighbor and living in community.
Then I went home. It didn't feel the same. Life was too normal, too comfortable, to sheltered from the issues that our world faces. I moved back to Atlanta. I have been planning on going to school and learning more about Engineering, gaining more experience and someday finding a way to use my abilities in a ministry setting. Well, God may have changed my plans for me. Leroy, VP or Mission Year, called a meeting with the alumni of Atlanta. He shared Mission Years interest in expanding their ministry into New Orleans. There's alot of need there and people seem hopeless to find the help and answers they need. I have an opportunity to apply what I've learned. I can be used by God to rebuild this devastated area. Is it coincience that I went to Mission Year and moved back to Atlanta. I haven't fealt complete here. I thought maybe I needed to go back to Albany for awhile. Maybe I made the wrong choice. But then that meeting happened. I talked to Leroys wife a few nights ago about this stuff. She said that perhaps God had me in Atlanta for that meeting. Perhaps my discomfort with life here is because my place is in New Orleans. And it's ironic, too. I remember saying to myself I could nver go to New Orleans. I detested Marti Gras. It seemed like such a wretched place to. I even thought the hurricane was God's wrath due to their sin. Who know's maybe there's something to that. But I know God doesn't just let people stay down, even if He knocks them down. He always lifts you back up. He loves them. He is sending them help. Answering their prayers. And He's going to use people with my abilities and talents to rebuild and restore hope and faith and love to their broken city.
This is my heart. This is what I was created for. Here am I God, use me.
posted by bigD at Tuesday, March 28, 2006
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