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Hello Lisa,
On a cold early December Saturday morning I make way quietly into the dark woods for my annual deer hunting expedition. I find my deer stand and settle in. My heart is racing with joy. I made it. As I sit and wait as the first light appears over the horizon, I take stock in the events of the past year. As the cold settles in, I reach for my thermos of coffee and nurture another steaming cup. Grateful. Prayers. Memories. I nod off to sleep. Suddenly, I awake to the snap of a branch in the distance…” Stay alert!” I chide myself. For maybe, just maybe, an eight-point buck might be around the bend.
Stay alert. I am reminded that Eugene Peterson writes about the kind of hope described in Romans 5:4, hope as being “alert for whatever God will do next.”
I am grateful and marvel for all that God has done through MDS this past year. Despite this being one of the most destructive hurricane seasons in U.S. history (18 named storms, five major hurricanes), thousands of MDS volunteers answered the call and responded. Donors opened their hearts and gave, and others left me know that prayers were spoken on behalf of our witness and work. In addition to over 18 national projects and many local unit responses, we’ve launched a major initiative to repair and rebuild bridges in North Carolina in response to Hurricane Helene. The program is called “Bridging Together” in partnership with Lutheran Disaster Response and many other partners. The numbers are staggering – over 5,000 we are told.
This past week I am grateful that over 50 volunteers participated in leadership training including office management, cooking and construction. This also included two new staff members, Rosa Perez (Human Resources Manager) and David Kanagy (Region 1 Regional Operations Coordinator).
I am grateful. I call all of us to be alert for whatever God will do next. That gives me hope.
May you all have a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year.
P.S. For those of you who are wondering, I did not get the deer. But I walked away with a full heart of hope and a resolve to stay alert for God’s many blessings in 2025.
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