What Have You Volunteered to Do Lately? (Besides Taking Out The Trash...)

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seoulsearch

seoulsearch

OutWrite Trouble
May 23, 2009
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Hey Everyone,

Error's great thread about what it really means to live for God had me wondering what kinds of volunteer work you all have enjoyed doing in the past or are currently doing now, and what charities do you support, and why? What kind of work truly makes you happiest? For some time, I have been thinking about the passage that says, "Whoever holds on to his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will find it."

One thing I've learned about myself over time is that I work best as a support person (assistant) to a leader. People sometimes want me to make me a leader because I'm responsible, but I really do my best work as the person who does the kinds of "non-important" tasks others are too busy to do.

A few years ago I went with a group led by some good friends who wanted to volunteer at soup kitchens. When I prayed about it each morning before we left, I knew God was telling me that my real work was as the support person to the leaders (making sure they were ok, providing supplies, cleaning, helping them to realize their dream, etc.) I always feel I'm in the middle of my calling when I'm doing the mundane but necessary tasks. I also enjoy talking to people who have been through extreme life situations--I am hoping to join another ministry soon that cares for those who are in prison and/or people who have come home from the military. While at one point I wanted to make a career out of this, I'm thankful now that I can do such things on my own time rather than be told whom I can and can't speak to and for how long via insurance companies. For now, I'm happy to listen, write letters of support, and make visits on my own time and resources, God willing.

My ultimate dream would be to take several months off work to volunteer at my old orphanage, seeing as for obvious reasons, my former adoption agency who placed me with my family is my number one charity of choice.

What about the rest of you? What tasks and organizations are close to your heart and why? What kind of volunteer work have you done, and what has been your favorite or not so favorite? (What kinds of learning experiences have you had that taught you what is, and what is not, your calling to serve God?)
 
I don't want to brag about things that I do to help others. But I can say that I have a passion for sick and poor ppl (esp. kids and old ppl). I also have a passion for animals.

My heroes are ppl like Mother Teresa and Rob Stewart.
 
Just this morning, I volunteered, under pressure, to go shopping with my wife. :(
 
I really enjoyed the volunteer projects at the last church I attended. Helping others with my brothers and sisters in Christ by my side is very satisfying. But only when people's hearts are truly into the mission.

It's disappointing to start a project and have people leave after only participating for a few minutes. Sometimes it's quite obvious that some people are volunteering more for show than actually wanting to be helpful.
 
seoulsearch said:
Hey Everyone,

Error's great thread about what it really means to live for God had me wondering what kinds of volunteer work you all have enjoyed doing in the past or are currently doing now, and what charities do you support, and why? What kind of work truly makes you happiest? For some time, I have been thinking about the passage that says, "Whoever holds on to his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will find it."

One thing I've learned about myself over time is that I work best as a support person (assistant) to a leader. People sometimes want me to make me a leader because I'm responsible, but I really do my best work as the person who does the kinds of "non-important" tasks others are too busy to do.

A few years ago I went with a group led by some good friends who wanted to volunteer at soup kitchens. When I prayed about it each morning before we left, I knew God was telling me that my real work was as the support person to the leaders (making sure they were ok, providing supplies, cleaning, helping them to realize their dream, etc.) I always feel I'm in the middle of my calling when I'm doing the mundane but necessary tasks. I also enjoy talking to people who have been through extreme life situations--I am hoping to join another ministry soon that cares for those who are in prison and/or people who have come home from the military. While at one point I wanted to make a career out of this, I'm thankful now that I can do such things on my own time rather than be told whom I can and can't speak to and for how long via insurance companies. For now, I'm happy to listen, write letters of support, and make visits on my own time and resources, God willing.

My ultimate dream would be to take several months off work to volunteer at my old orphanage, seeing as for obvious reasons, my former adoption agency who placed me with my family is my number one charity of choice.

What about the rest of you? What tasks and organizations are close to your heart and why? What kind of volunteer work have you done, and what has been your favorite or not so favorite? (What kinds of learning experiences have you had that taught you what is, and what is not, your calling to serve God?)
Click to expand...

It's nice that you have a good understanding about what you enjoy doing and how you feel called to do it. I consider myself a good partner. I don't particularly care to lead or follow. But I'm probably less inclined to follow.:)

I prefer volunteer services that cater to children, the elderly or the physically ill.
 
Shoot, there's been a bunch. Mostly Love INC and World Relief.

Love INC is a charity that helps poor families and single mothers find clothing appliances and services.

World Relief is an organization that helps relocate refugees from other countries.


But in the last two to three months I haven't done anything. Where I am living now seems to have little to no infrastructure for volunteers and Politics rules the day.
 
I've never been real big on volunteering my time. Which is kind of stupid, because I used to have excessive amounts of free time, and lived in an area where there were all sorts of places I could have put myself to work.

Now that I'm a little older, with a lot less spare time to burn (although you wouldn't know it from the amount of time I spend on here...hmm...)

Wow, I just derailed my own excuse.


 
error said:
I don't want to brag about things that I do to help others. But I can say that I have a passion for sick and poor ppl (esp. kids and old ppl). I also have a passion for animals.

My heroes are ppl like Mother Teresa and Rob Stewart.
Click to expand...

I sure hope this thread won't be seen as an "Aren't I a Good Person" Proclamation...

One of the reasons I wrote it was to get to know more about people here (as you said, Error, we talk about living for God, but what does our actual walk look like? How do we actually walk the walk?) and also to maybe connect people with common interests.

I wrote a thread similar to this years ago and another CC user read it and sent me a message about her work with the homeless. We were comparing notes about working with the homeless vs. working with prison inmates and she told me something I will NEVER forget: "You go into it thinking you're going to change THEM, but what actually happens is that God uses THEM to change YOU."

She changed my perspective (and made me realize how needlessly I'd been worrying) about everything forever in that one single sentence.

P.S. MissCris, I totally understand about being stingy with time... This may be one of my faults but sometime I find it easier to offer prayers or an offering, but not one of my precious days off!! I guess God has to work with me on my greed issues.
 
seoulsearch said:
I sure hope this thread won't be seen as an "Aren't I a Good Person" Proclamation...

One of the reasons I wrote it was to get to know more about people here (as you said, Error, we talk about living for God, but what does our actual walk look like? How do we actually walk the walk?) and also to maybe connect people with common interests.

I wrote a thread similar to this years ago and another CC user read it and sent me a message about her work with the homeless. We were comparing notes about working with the homeless vs. working with prison inmates and she told me something I will NEVER forget: "You go into it thinking you're going to change THEM, but what actually happens is that God uses THEM to change YOU."

She changed my perspective (and made me realize how needlessly I'd been worrying) about everything forever in that one single sentence.

P.S. MissCris, I totally understand about being stingy with time... This may be one of my faults but sometime I find it easier to offer prayers or an offering, but not one of my precious days off!! I guess God has to work with me on my greed issues.
Click to expand...

I understand you, Seoul. :) But this verse speaks to me ->Matthew 6:2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full." That's why I don't want to get into details-and talk about how I help other ppl. But as I said before - I have a passion for kids and old ppl. Oh yeah-and animals. So (mostly) my helping hand works for kids and old ppl. And yes-animals. And (sometimes) homeless ppl.
 
I saw this kid who is in my grade walk 3 miles to school each day, thinking I don't know him and would drive past. For some reason one day I got this feeling as if I was very disappointed that I passed him. So I pulled over to the side of the road and went "Hey man you need a ride, Don't worry I go to your school". His face was speechless LOL kinda the face like OH NOES! IM BEING KIDNAPPED! But the Yonathan is very cool I pick him up every day and we switch off buying each other coffee. Wish I could have that strength from God to do what is right the first time...

(Took me forever to make this sound as little as conceded as possible and more to the Glory of God...)
 
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