Community at Work

We are all a part of some type of community. The part we play, is entirely up to us.

My daughter just returned from her first mission trip. She went to Eastover, South Carolina with a small group from our church to help repair houses that were in terrible shape. There were so many ways that God had His hand in this trip, from the people who went, to the group she ended up with. I will share that in a later post, because as I’ve said before, when you really look for the hand of God, you will see it almost everywhere.

On her very first evening there, she was playing around on her guitar with a college chaperone, Caitlyn, who went and brought her guitar too. Another chaperone for the camp, just happened to be walking by and insisted that they lead worship every night.

Let me give you a little back story here. My daughter has played guitar  for a little over five years now. She has the most wonderful guitar teacher on the planet. Her name is Vanda. Vanda is a Godly woman who helps lead a praise and worship service at the local chapter of the Salvation Army. She always has a smile on her face. She encourages my daughter to believe in herself. She witnesses to her about her own faith. She has suffered a terrible tragedy in the loss of her son, Jon. She has had ongoing heart problems. Yet, week after week, for over five years, she greets us and all of the other kids who are lucky enough to have discovered her, with a smile. I see the face of Jesus, every Monday afternoon, when I see her. She is a light to all who know her.

Then there’s our youth pastor, Nikki, who has always encouraged my daughter to play her guitar at church. She insisted that she bring her guitar on this trip.

So, now you are caught up.  Whenever my daughter has ever had a performance, she practices for weeks ahead of time. She has never been confident enough to just go with it. That changed last week when she was unwittingly recruited to play. (Which is impossible to have been a coincidence)

She had to get up each evening and play in front of people she didn’t know. She had to play songs she didn’t know. This would never be something she would have normally agreed to. But, with Vanda’s years of encouragement and coaching, along with Nikki’s years of encouragement, and let’s not forget a healthy dose of the Holy Spirit, she played every night, alongside Nikki or Caitlyn.

She got to participate in leading worship of around thirty people. She got to use her talent to praise God. Vanda got to reach people she had never met, in another state, because she shared her gifts. Community came together to make beautiful music.

As the mother of a teenager, I am more thankful everyday for the people who help my children in their faith walk, from Sunday school teachers to school teachers, to church volunteers, to a very special guitar teacher. God has blessed us with so many wonderful mentors and so often they never know what a difference their contribution makes.

To all of you who have ever shared your wisdom, talents, gifts, or love with a child, let me assure you, that God sees your service. Even if you don’t get thanked for it here, on this side of eternity, there is rejoicing in heaven over your willingness to share what you have been given. God is pleased and in the end, isn’t that all that really matters?

When has a mentor made a difference in your life or in the life of your child? I’d love to hear from you.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂