Friday, July 3, 2009

10 Extreme Lessons

This was the most wonderful ministry experience I've ever been a part of. I learned a lot, and I want to get these thoughts down before I forget them.

  1. Email, Twitter and FaceBook are the best forms of communication for a quick project turnaround.
  2. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition t-shirts are, apparently, worth more than gold. 
  3. Teach your children how to listen to directions, or they will grow up to be annoying adults who don't understand anything you tell them. Please: do society a favor and get it done.
  4. When people constantly tell you, "You're doing an awesome job, GET SOME SLEEP," you know that you must be on top of your game.
  5. Anne Maleno had the most difficult job on that site...and she rocked it. She has the awesome ability to be firm and direct while staying positive and thankful toward each individual. I was impressed to say the least.
  6. True colors and motivations come out in times like these. Everyone has struggles and needs, so it's important not to let those things cloud how you view a person on a regular basis. Deal with it, make it right, and then move on.
  7. Teaching your church how to love and serve people is the best way to spend your marketing dollars.
  8. Don't do something because you want to impress someone, do it because you're serving God. You'll never make it if you try to please people. You'll be constantly disappointed.
  9. Don't underestimate the power of momentum and influence. This was just the beginning. If in one year, all we have to show for this is nice flowers on East 21st Street, we missed it big time.
  10. Every human being longs for true community. Jesus can unite people more powerfully than I can explain or comprehend. Get to know your neighbors: it will probably change all of your lives.
Here's a link to some photos on flickr.
And here are some media links.

1 comment:

Kathy Schriefer said...

Danielle, you did a fantastic job. Thanks so much for all your work in organizing the scads of volunteers who came. There was only one thing about the whole project I regret. On Sunday at registration a woman from the neighborhood we were serving walked up to the Maleno project line to volunteer without being registered and was turned away. I wish I'd stepped up and invited her to work alongside us. It makes me sad to think she wanted to help her own neighborhood and may have been discouraged by being turned away. God, make me more sensitive and quick next time.