October 25th, 2012

Elizabeth Morris came as a volunteer with her church (First Baptist Raleigh) young adults group this past May. She felt the Lord's leading in assisting at Next Step STORM in Birmingham, AL and has been an intern with us since June. The following is a view from her eyes....

Let me begin by saying the past five months have been the most tiring, rewarding, amazing months of my life. When I decided to join Next Step Storm I had no idea I was signing up for all that’s gone on. I knew I would get to renovate homes and put on new roofs, but I’ve been blessed to be a part of so much more than that.

Tommy, a homeowner we’ve come to know very well, just had surgery. We had the opportunity to see him and pray with him before he went to the hospital. It’s such a blessing to be able to share that kind of relationship with someone. Tommy’s surgery went very well. We are praying for a quick recovery.

Teri Snow, a volunteer who came from California, brought a lot of joy and excitement to our week when she and the rest of her group from Inland Hills Church were here. She made a lasting impression on me. We still keep in contact, and she’s been very supportive. That's just an example of one volunteer's affect.Volunteers really are such a blessing! 

A majority of the time things are very positive and we have a great time. However, it’s not always smiles and fun. When I came down to Alabama I knew there were going to be things I didn’t know. I knew I would need assistance with carrying plywood or buckets full of drywall mud. There have been days that I have wanted to quit and go home. The devil was trying his hardest to get me on a plane back to North Carolina because he didn’t want me doing things for the Lord. I persevered because I know the Lord has big plans for me!

As you can see, working here in Alabama has had its tough times, but more importantly it’s provided new friendships and more love for people than I could ever imagine. This is only the beginning. I can’t wait to see what God has in store next!

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