Anne Misner participated in the Weekend of Service by joining with Team LSA and running a half-marathon.  She raised money and awareness with 38 other runners and volunteers by running in the Indianapolis Marathon.  Here is a re-cap of her experience in her own words.  You can still give to Anne by visiting this page.

Race Details!

Anne at the finish line!

Weather: The temperature at the start was a mere 34 degrees, yet despite two straight days of cold rain there was no precipitation on race day, and runners were greeted with many moments of sunshine peeking through the autumn folliage surrounding the beautiful race course.

The Starting Line: It turned out to be quite a challenge for thousands of runners to make it to the starting line due to some traffic problems on one of the exit ramps leading to the race location. Fortunately for me, one of the 68 amazing LSA volunteers who arrived before the crack of dawn to set-up water stations volunteered to park my car so that I could make it to the starting line. Thank you, Doug!!  In addition, the race start time was delayed by 15 minutes due to the traffic situation, allowing just enough time for some of the team members who were running together to find each other with despite the hectic start. It was an incredible experience to take off with 6,400 other runners down the narrow streets at Fort Benjamin Harrison, a former military base turned state park.

Along the 13.1 Mile Way: Along the course we met many wonderful people, including a man with a shirt that read “Pray For Linda” who was running 4 half marathons on behalf of his co-worker who had just been diagnosed with cancer.

One of the most challenging stretches of the race was mile 8, when I knew I still had 5 miles to go yet was developing an side stitch.   Fortunately, my wonderful friend and teammate Julie lent me her sweatshirt to tie around my waist (see finish line photo!) to put slight pressure on the cramp, a strategy that is definitely not in the running textbooks but has helped me in the past. Mile 10 was a new challenge, when my side stitch had subsided but mentally it was difficult to convince myself (and my legs) that I could keep running for 30 more minutes particularly given the two very long hills which I could see looming on the horizon.

In addition, this was an emotional run for me in light of the cause we are supporting and out of intense feelings of gratitude for the overwhelming amount of  love and encouragement I have received from friends and family from the very beginning stages of my training. There was one point on the course when we rounded the corner upon a serene lakefront and I literally started choking up with tears.  I quickly learned in that moment that crying did not make for a safe combination with cold air temperature and my increased breathing pattern, and I fortunately was able to pull myself together and save the tears for the finish line.

What helped me the most during these difficult stages was knowing that so many cared for and were praying for me and my team, and the incredibly vivid picture of each and every one of my supporters surrounding me and pushing me towards the finish line.

Crossing the Finish Line: It was an especially heartfelt moment when my team crossed the finish to be greeted on the sidelines by our fellow team member, Steve, and his wife and children.  Steve had been told just two weeks prior that he had colon cancer, and he joined us at the finish line to share in our Team LSA celebration as well as to rejoice as a team family in the moment we had all been praying for – due to early detection and the grace of God, our friend and teammate is now completely cancer free.

Thank you again for all the ways you have come alongside in sharing in this amazing experience with me.  I am forever grateful for your involvement in my life.

With love,

Anne

We are hearing amazing feedback from friends in ministry where we did projects through the Weekend of Service.  Here is a video thank-you we received from Paul Mumaw, the pastor over at Genesis Church. Thank you to EVERYONE who participated in some way.

Last week I received a newsletter from one of our Frontline Ministries, Agape Families.  They are playing host to one of our family friendly projects this weekend for our Weekend of Service.  Here is a GREAT story about one 9 year old who is making a real difference.

This year Madison turned 9 and was going to have a party with about 20 guests (pictured below.)  Two years ago, Madison had another big party and received so many gifts that it was overwhelming.  Madison and her mother sat down and talked about how they could have the girls bring something that would benefit others instead of personal gifts for Madison.   Madison chose that the $375.00 in donations received go toward Agape Families.  In June, Madison and her mother visited the home, gave the check to Krista, and met the children.  When asked about the party and asking for donations, Madison said, “I liked the experience and it felt good to help other kids instead of getting loads of presents.  My party got my friends interested in donating and I want to do it again next year.”  We would like to thank Madison, and all the Schwarz families for their generosity and continuous support of our organization!

Madison and the girls from her party

Way to go Madison!  We are praying for more people like Madison who will do things differently as a result of this Weekend of Service.

This is what God promises for us:

This is what the Lord says – he who created the heavens and stretched them out,
Who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it,
Who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it:
I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles,
To open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison
And to release from the dungion those who sit in darkness.”
Isaiah 42:5-7

What are you expecting God to do during our Weekend of Service, 2009?  I must confess I’ve been thinking of it lately as a big, monstrous project that is spinning off people who are complaining about this or that.  I’m begging God that he will change my mind and help me realize the weekend will be 3,000 divine encounters.  That in and of itself will be a miracle (not the changing of my mind, but the encounters!).

Over the weekend, we saw a fantastic final push for people to sign up to serve during the Weekend of Service next weekend! We are now up to just over 2,500 people registered to serve, which means that about 300 people signed up since Friday…that is great news!

Can you believe that it’s here already?

Here are some ways you can pray specifically for the weekend. Thank you for keeping Weekend of Service at the top of your prayer list this week.

We thank God in advance for the amazing ways He is going to work in and through our volunteers, and how our volunteers’ lives will be changed as well. Please pray for safety for all of our volunteers, while serving at their project sites and traveling to and from their project sites.

Widespread cases of flu and other illnesses are being reported; pray that God will protect our 2,500 volunteers from catching any of these bugs and viruses that are being spread, so that we can all serve God with everything we’ve got.

Please continue to pray for beautiful weather. I’ve been watching Weather.com’s extended forecast over the past few days and have seen the prediction for October 17-18 go from chilly and a 60% chance of rain to highs in the low 50’s and sunny. Let’s continue to pray that God will give us a beautiful weekend to serve His Kingdom.

Pray for the food collection projects; approximately 10,000 grocery bags with fliers were placed on doors in neighborhoods around Grace this weekend. Pray that we will be overwhelmed by the generosity of our neighbors and will fill the shelves of Third Phase and Good Samaritan Network with food.

I’m looking forward to the amazing things God is going to do through this weekend. I can’t wait to hear your stories of how God showed up at your project.

As the 2009 Weekend of Service draws closer and closer, I wanted to give an update and suggest some ways to get involved above and beyond signing up to serve. First, the update:

Currently we have 1,700 people registered to serve on October 17-18, which is fantastic. We have been receiving encouraging from people who have been waiting since last year’s W.O.S. for the weekend to come again this year. I got an e-mail from a woman whose family is getting involved with church again largely as a result of some of the specific projects we are offering.

We’re excited to launch 4,000+ people out into God’s kingdom revolution! Here are three ways you can help:

• We still need approximately 2,300 people to sign up. Help us get the word out. Talk to people in your small group and that guy who sits in front of you in church. Ask them if they’ve signed up yet. Send them to www.gracecc.org/weekend to make sure they don’t miss out.
• Pray. Pray that God will prepare the hearts of all of the leaders, volunteers, and organizations involved. Also pray that God will give us great weather like last year.
• We still need leaders for a few projects. The projects include neighborhood food collections, landscaping at IPS schools, and a few others. Do you know a leader who hasn’t stepped up yet? Have them send me an e-mail at curtish(at)gracecc.org for more info about leading.

That’s all for now. Thank you for keeping the Weekend of Service at the top of your prayer list. There is absolutely no way we could pull off an event like this without God’s help. We thank him in advance for the amazing stories of life change that will result from serving our brothers and sisters in need.

This post was written by Jerry Ogle. Jerry is active in many Outreach activities, and today he shares his story of how during last year’s Weekend of Service he got involved with a ministry whose name none of us can quite pronounce…Felege Hiywot Center.

Last year I took a “Pot Luck” chance during the Weekend of Service and checked off “Put Me Where You Need Me”. I just love how God works! I ended up serving at a place called Felege Hiywot Center.

The groups on Saturday and Sunday were introduced to a small community center in the heart of Indianapolis in the area of 16th Street and College Ave. run by a wonderful woman named Aster Bekele. God definitely has His hand in this center, on the people who serve there, on the kids that come from all over the Indianapolis area to get their hands dirty digging in the garden and the many wonderful people who give their time, materials, and funds. All this goes towards refurbishing and restoring the two old Shotgun Houses that make up the center and to maintain the grounds and garden. People from all over have pitched in: Major Tool and Machine, Inc. Randal Hopp Drywall, Lilly Endowment, Disciples of Christ, Greater Northwest Baptist Church, Indy-Go, etc….if there is a need, God moves people who are listening for Him!

One of the groups who served at Felege Hiywot during Weekend of Service 2008

Our service began by going out into the local community and cleaning up some yards, cleaning up the Monon Walk Way in the area, and what ever else we could find to do. It was evident that we were meant to be there, how else does one try to explain the kind of good weather we had that day in NOVEMBER! It was a nice introduction and I’ve been going back there ever since. It’s an amazing story about Aster and the center, God has provided what is needed, when it’s needed and He uses anyone and everyone to fulfill His will. This I have personally witnessed, God keeps blessing the center! As Aster says: “God won’t let me quit, He has too much for me to do and He loves the center!” You have really got to meet this woman, she’s awesome!

It’s coming up on a year since Grace started their Weekend of Service and I’m looking forward to see how God will move more people to get up, sign up and go out (especially for Felege Hiywot) Over this period, one of the center’s buildings has been gutted and restored, re-sided, new windows installed, re-wires, re-plumbed & dry walled. You can see and follow along with all the changes & updates at the FHC website. I have been able to witness the effect this place has on the kids who go there during the summer. It’s all smile, giggles and laughter…It doesn’t get any better then that! I look forward to meeting some new faces from Grace along with those that I got to serve with last November down at the Felege Hiywot Center!

P.S…Felege Hiywot is Ethiopian for “Looking for Purpose” (I think?)

We’ve created a monster.

Not a bad monster…more like an awesome monster. As of right now, we have 4,000 volunteer slots lined up for the 2009 Weekend of Service on October 17-18. That’s an increase of 800 from last year. Last year we partnered with 35 organizations…this year we have 70.

The bottom line is, we’re going to be able to serve tons of people this year. Lives will be changed. We will get to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

I’ve probably said too much already. To see the official announcement about Weekend of Service, make sure to be at Grace on the weekend of August 22/23.

And just because you’re a loyal reader of Get Compelled, I’ll let you in on the “branding”, if you will, for Weekend of Service 2009…click on the image to view it full size.

That’s it! That’s all I’m going to share right now…get ready. It’s coming.