Hello welcome back readers! I hope everyone has been blessed so far this week and I am eager to share how the journey of ASP has evolved yet again!
For some of our counties, last week was their first official week for volunteer arrival, and assigned projects are now underway. As everyone entered week one, there was no telling how things were going to play out. Of course, there was tons of preparation done to be as ready as possible, but there’s always the unknown factors. Through this first week’s knowns and unknowns, I took away something very valuable from it all, and I believe the entire world can learn a little something from it too.
If this week has shown me anything about ASP, it’s that no matter what goes on, through the highs and lows of everyday, everyone is always going to have each other’s backs. Working together as a team and being a personable individual goes a long way. It’s the little things that can have a positive impact on someone’s day and even improve your own day. ASP works and operates as a collective. From the staff to the volunteers and even the homeowners. The sense of community and belonging is a real thing. There are tons of peaks and valleys that occur with each group of volunteers, but no one goes through these challenges alone at ASP. It is a true team effort, and I believe in the moments of adversity, struggle or challenge is when you need that feeling of family the most. ASP is all about working together to achieve a common goal and being a living walking ministry to those we help and beyond.
Last week, we witnessed plenty of instances where ASP’s light shone brightly. Volunteers were willing to step in for each other when their teammates needed it. We saw other volunteers going out of their way to make a dad and his little five-year-old’s day by spending time with them in between rebuilding their floor (there were tons of fun bible verse and construction themed fake tattoos done that day). We spoke to a volunteer named Tony who has had 6 years of great experiences with ASP and brought his youth students along to make new memories. We spoke to a wonderful homeowner named Lecia who couldn’t be more grateful that ASP is getting her roof repaired. She’s so happy just to have someone to talk with and show her beautiful angel garden to. All these moments came from just last week! ASP has been on a very impactful and rewarding journey thus far, and I have enjoyed every second of it, and feel even better that I get to share it with you guys.
The theme of family is such an integral part of the job here at ASP, and it was evident this week. One of our center’s volunteer groups included four separate groups of families that came together. One of those families brought three generations with them. There was Mr. John and Mrs. Franny, then their daughter Charlotte who also brought her sweet daughter Ellie. The aspect of this family being a multi-generational crew was absolutely amazing to see. We got to speak to them and how their experience with ASP has been, and they raved about how special it was to be serving together as a family while uplifting homeowners and their families too. They expressed how fulfilling it was and how it helped them grow in so many ways. John mentioned how he’s done these ASP trips numerous times. He came into this week with his main focus on making sure the project gets completed, but the day one morning devotion on the porch reminded him that it’s all about sharing even the small moments with the family as well.
This past Friday, staff and volunteers got together for one last activity before the week’s work concluded called Share Circle. Essentially, this is a time where everyone gets to share their thoughts on how the week went and highlight some of their biggest takeaways mentally and spiritually. My take on the week I felt was unique as a first-year participant. I shared just how real everything has become to me about ASP. In getting to experience all the things I read about and saw videos about; everything seems so surreal. I honestly came into this role thinking it would be more of a rigid work environment with not as much opportunity to personally connect with those you work alongside. What I found is just the opposite. I’ve continued to be welcomed in as a part of the ASP family with open arms and surrounded by encouragement from the moment I arrived. I have been blessed to see the impact of ASP and how true they are to working through everything as a family firsthand. All I can say is the journey has been very insightful thus far and these experiences have made me more reflective and grateful in so many ways.
During Share Circle, another volunteer mentioned how being here at ASP has given him a new perspective on success, and I really liked what he said. Obviously, making progress and accomplishing the construction checkpoints on each project are important, but it’s also equally as important that these crews of people are doing ASP together. Working alongside each other, building closer bonds, sharing new connections with homeowners and being the light to all those who we encounter should also be celebrated successes. We can spend so much effort sometimes worrying ourselves and stressing over the big picture of a situation that we forget to highlight the little victories of the day and remember to take things one day at a time. During this summer’s week one, everything wasn’t perfect, but it wasn’t the end of the world. With faith and helping hands at every turn, this week was ultimately a success.
As we look ahead to this week, Haley and I are visiting two new counties, ready to hear and see more of the great things happening in ASP land, and we can’t wait to take you all along the journey! Check in with ASP’s social media pages to keep up with our journey on a day-to-day basis. I hope you all have a blessed week!
Until next time readers,
Josh Adams
Story Gathering Intern
