And we don't just make peanut butter sandwiches! I am responsible for providing one meal for the 7 days that Angel Chefs will be serving at Fisher House. I chose a lasagna dinner, and will be providing fourteen 9 x 13 pans of lasagna, along with the requisite garlic bread and Italian salad. Now, before you give me more credit than I deserve, you need to understand that I have been blessed with an incredible support system in my little town.
I enlisted the help of a local church, who enthusiastically offered their assistance in providing multiple sources of comfort and aid for this project. Ladies signed up to make pans of lasagna; people donated Walmart gift cards for the families; and I have boxes of shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap and other personal items. Friends and family generously donated cash that can be used for additional gift cards as well as supplementing our menus throughout the week. And what a meal plan! I talked to the Angel Chef administrator and we will have barbecued brisket, spaghetti, a shrimp boil; a Mexican food extravaganza; along with home-made desserts galore: cookies, brownies, bundt cakes, cheesecake. There goes my diet!
Perhaps the most touching offering I will be taking with me, are the dozens of cards that were arranged by my mother-in-law at her church, and made by young children in their Sunday School classes. "You are our heroes" is the template for each card, and the individual hearts, American flags, crosses and "I love you's" are testimony that these young children know the meaning of service and appreciate the sacrifice on their behalf.
So I wanted you to know what I will be doing for the next few days, and I want to give you a running commentary of my experience. So every day I will post some photos along with my thoughts from that day. I warn you ---- I have to be up and preparing breakfast every morning at 5:30 and don't return to my hotel room until around 8 at night, so I will be exhausted! I'll try to make sense when I report back to you. But I want you to get a first-hand view of these heroes and my personal, spontaneous thoughts. I want you to feel what I feel, see what I see, and then perhaps find a Fisher House close to you to volunteer. I promise you that you will be changed forever!
Philippians 2:3-4 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."
Thanks and God bless you!!
ReplyDeleteI don't deserve any thanks. I am being SO blessed by serving these heroes. I wish I could take every one of you with me!
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