A report from Tom Faulkner on 3 November 2008...
HOPE - The expectation of what's to come.
Along comes an organization that brings the love of Christ and combines it with thousands of workers and injects that hope into a hurting community for eight straight days. 8 Days of Hope comes to Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
This city was feeling hopeless and now with this injection of help it has a vision to get back on its feet.
I witnessed first hand, people's lives being changed. I am telling everyone that will listen that the love of Christ was the hope seen in Cedar Rapids this past week. I saw men and women coming to know Christ. I saw prayer not hidden or whispered behind church walls but out for everyone to see the power of the Lord. The city saw up to 1,400 volunteers from at least 35 states and 4 Canadian providence's. All were given tee shirts to identify them as volunteer workers. The tees were bright yellow/lime with "GOT HOPE" in large letters across the chest.
The media dubbed the flood of volunteers "Neon Missionaries." Finally the media gets it right. The city, "GOT HOPE." Prayer in the streets, prayer in the convenience stores, in schools, in city hall, in homes, on debris piles, yes prayer over the city. Real prayer with everyday real people.
Our LCC team worked very long hours and gave our own homeowners hope. We were involved in 6 homes. Our first home was a small block home that had water to the ceiling. When we arrived there was nothing in the home except a stud frame inside the block walls. Electric boxes and wires run and a new furnace that was operating on the third day. We completely installed drywall on both ceilings and walls. The entire building was taped and mudded. We finished the sanding, hung the doors, finished the bathroom and painted the house. Still missing the kitchen cabinets and counters. The owner Joanna had two little kids and her mom also lived with her. We loved on her every day, Prayed every day with her, took her to our evening dinner.
We had opportunity to help two houses down unloading drywall for some folks (unauthorized job). We had a spare moment so two guys, Kyle and Doug, started hanging ceiling. The guys could not believe people from New York could be so nice.
Across the street we met a man trying to fix his house by himself. He had no skill at all and the house was nearly a disaster. We lobbied on his behalf at the headquarters of 8 Days. We have gotten some help for him.
A high for the team and me was the fact that on Wednesday at lunchtime we were able to have all these homeowners come join us. We all sat on the lawn on a wonderful 70-degree day and talked and laughed. It was so healing for these people that have cried buckets and have been homeless for 4 months.
We hung drywall in two other houses and sent two of our guys to train another team at another job. Lots of work. On one job the family wrote a note to us and others that had been doing work at the house. She wrote it on a piece of drywall.
"Got Hope"
You brought us hope and left us with faith!
You came with smiles and left us with laughter.
We can't put into words how you've impacted our lives.
"Angels" that's the only word that we can come up with
that even comes close to what you are!
God has blessed you and that's our miracle!
Thank you!
The Schmitz family
Our team did not have a dry eye. We were just regular guys (along with two gals and one of the guy's young daughter) doing work and having a great time. We were feeling like we were doing important healing work in Jesus name. A great road trip that brought us all closer together. This is what happens when guys get together to do big things for God.
The following people made up the Cedar Rapids team:
Doug Baker
Ruel Langston
Gerry Hill
Ken Harting
Heather Mulldowney
Shannon Younkin
Tim Embry
David Price
Leighanna Embry
Jeff Dugrenier
Kiel Wilcox
Tom Faulkner
Volker Paedelt
Dick Tyrrell