Thank You Notes

2008-10-14T12:12:00.000-07:00

"What a blessing! Our socks were blessed off! The church body of Lincoln, united! It was not only powerful but also humbling. Our organization is small and to have 22 women came help us lovingly make items to give to lost and hurting women in Lincoln's sex industry was just precious and powerful! Thank you church of Lincoln!"
- Angela Paolini, Mary Magdalene Ministries

"What a welcome suprise to show up for a repair at our school to find over 50 people on campus doing outside work. I am the property manager at Trinity Lutheran Church and School. Your help is amazing! Two months ago I had knee surgery and had an arm load of projects yet to be completed. Just last week I asked to hire more help or volunteers to help us catch up with the tasks at hand. God truly works in many great and mysterious ways. Thank you so much for all of the work you have done for us! God bless you!"
- Todd Chase, Trinity Lutheran Church & School Property Manager

"Thank you super women for coming out on Saturday during your free time to help make the Friendship Home shelter more clean and organized for the women and children staying within our walls. It is looking great inside the shelter! We are grateful that you chose Friendship Home and hope to see you again."
- Julie Reager, Friendship Home Volunteer Coordinator

Comments & Stories

2008-10-14T11:22:00.000-07:00

We have received a variety of comments and stories after the Project Serve weekend. Here are just a few:

"This weekend was absolutely incredible!...and I'm thankful for those who had the vision and drive to get it started and organized. I volunteered Saturday and enjoyed it so much that on Sunday when I heard extras were needed, I knew I wanted to help. All it takes...is one person...to make a difference, big or small. Thank the Lord that ONE PERSON saved us!"

"When I went into a local hardware store to buy work gloves I had my Project Serve shirt on. The manager asked what I was going to do - I said yard work. He asked if we had bags - I didn't know. He gave me the package of gloves and bags for free."

"Our group served an elderly lady. She hadn't been able to do yard work in years. It was awesome to show her Jesus in this way. After meeting her physical needs we prayed with her. What a sweet, sweet experience to be the hands and feet of Jesus."

"This was such a great experience! We had 18 people from our singles group join another 50 or so people to fill bags with instant meals for Kids Against Hunger. We prayed for those who would receive them, that they would be filled spiritually as well as physically. We also challenged each other to fill faster to feed one more mouth in the time that we had there. I have to say, this was a wonderful way to serve the Lord. And what a witness when we all went out for ice cream afterward...all in our Project Serve shirts...being asked what does that mean? We responded, "We're serving the Lord in our community." Praise the Lord for this opportunity."

"My sister and I went door to door collecting items for the Food Bank of Lincoln. We signed up on the last day and weren't able to choose our assignment, and ended up out of our comfort zone. Several people thanked us for what we were doing and we only had one door shut on us. We weren't able to see the immediate fruits of our labor, but I know someday someone in need will go to the food bank and use the items we collected. It was a great experience!"

" We had a fantastic experience! Our project was to help an elderly woman with her yard. It was so good to work one on one with a person. She is 80 years old and lives on her own. She was so grateful for our help. We trimmed trees, cleaned up leaves, debris and volunteer trees from her yard. She offered us a snack and drink that her daughter had made for us. I asked if she would if we prayed before our snack. She was very open to it. Later she invited me inside to see some pictures. I think she needed someone to talk to and listen to here. I'm so glad God used me to serve her in this way. We also had a great time with the others we worked from other churches. We felt the common bond of Jesus' love, fellowship and service. Can't wait to do it again!"

"We served the elderly in north Lincoln and loved it! The kids enjoyed working in the yard. We even met a man in his 80's who came up to us and was so taken by our group and wanted to know about it. Then he asked if we might come to his yard and cut back his peonies. When we wen there it was A LOT more than peonies. His whole yard needed work. His wife of 60 years passed away last spring and he has no children. He was so touched that we came. We sent a 2nd team back on Sunday. We were so blessed to help this precious and joyful widower."

"I worked at a hospice with my daughter and three others. We scrubbed their lawn furniture, did trimming and pruning of rose bushes and shrubs, and straightened up the play room they keep for children who come. When we finished, the hospice staff talked and hugged and got teary-eyed. Were hugged and invited to come back and sing Christmas carols or whatever. So, we'll be back."

"My 4-year old said, "He helped clean the garabage because God loves him." My 6 year old said that "he wanted to make our city beautiful." My husband and I are so thankful for what God has done in our lives. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve in our community!"

"I loved meeting people from my church and others throughout the weekend. It was amazing to work so well with two groups of people. I also became aware of the number of areas to serve and many more ideas for future projects. It was be neat to see fall and spring Project Serve. Thank you for providing us this opportunity for the Lord to use us for His glory and His body."

"Being a part of Project Serve was 3 hours of connecting and working with people of the same heart and mind. When we began we were strangers. When we went home we could sat that serving also become a way to new friendships. It was profitable, helpful and a whole lot of fun to serve Jesus Christ in this way."

"As I was raking leaves at an elderly ladies house I realized it had been years since I raked my own lawn. We generally pay someone to rake our lawn because our time is "more valuable". But raking her yard was the best use of our time and there could be nothing more valuable."

"Being a seasoned public school teacher I was thrilled to get assigned with 2 young public school teachers. I was encouraged to learn of more Christian teachers in LPS. As we picked up litter in the Pershing Elementary neighborhood, many people greeted us with smiles, waves and thanks. What a great opportunity to come together as the body of Christ united to serve the city of Lincoln. The celebration service was awesome. Thanks to all who had a part in it and for all the planning for this weekend."

"I am a woman with wife and mother duties, works full-time, serves many hours in children's ministry at my church, also serves in an organization outside the church, and just put her father-in-law in a rest home. I truly believed others would do Project Serve. I got involved anyway and picked up trash at Branched Oak. God DID want ME to do this. I will be there where you need me next year too. Thanks to all who coordinated Project Serve."

"I collected food for the drive. One house I went to I was greeted by a man who said he had nothing to give. He looked down at the ground with a cold look on his face and then shut the door. I left feeling disappointed and a little frsutrated. I said out loud to God, "Why are people like this? How hard is it to give one can of food?" Then I turned toward the house and prayed that God would speak to their hearts and that He would bless them. I walked across the street and got food from another person. When I turned around to go to the next house I saw a woman with a lot of food in her arms. She ran to catch up with me. She said, "I am so sorry about that! I should have answered the door!" Yes - this was the same house that said they had no food. That is a prime example of how powerful prayer really is!"

Over 3100 Signed Up to Serve

2008-10-12T14:44:00.000-07:00

What an incredible response for Project Serve! We don't have a final count yet of how many people actually served, but we had over 3100 sign up to serve at over 150 project sites spread all over the city of Lincoln and surrounding areas.

Driving around town on Saturday and Sunday blue Project Serve t-shirts could be seen all over - from parks to schools to residential lawns and beyond.

Together we were able to love our city and impact the lives of so many people in Lincoln.

We'd love to hear what you thought about the weekend. Leave a comment!

Check out photos...

Project Serve Lincoln

Thank You Notes

Comments & Stories

Over 3100 Signed Up to Serve