The Many Hands Thrift Market Impact Team is made up of staff, volunteers, and friends of the Many Hands Thrift Markets located in Iowa. Melissa Nelson writes about the way God uses the gifts of the team to make an impact for His kingdom.
Peter wrote to encourage Christians to live a life that honors God. 1 Peter 4:10 “God has given gifts to each of you from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God’s generosity can flow through you.” Our team is uniquely gifted by God. Of course, He knew this and prepared for us the unique opportunities to serve that would highlight these gifts.
Many Hands Abaco is walking alongside Murphytown Community Center to offer after-school tutoring to students. This space includes a computer lab and library. Our team is blessed with educators and book lovers to help with this project. Esther, Darla, Sheila, and Danae assisted Missionary, Lisa Berg, in sorting and cataloging hundreds of donated books to establish a library for the community center tutor space. Many hands were needed to box, load, and transport the books from the camp to their new home.
Simultaneously back at camp, one of the dorms received some love from a team of painters transforming the faded, discolored building into a happy purple home away from home. Iowa team member Guy, gifted with professional knowledge and project management skills, led a team of determined and enthusiastic painters. Fran, Lois, Sheryl, Marcena, Jerry, Doug, and Curt made up this team of merry souls. Their task was no easy feat, the building first needed to be prepped for paint, which meant that it first needed to be cleaned, free of whitewash, salt, and sand the day before. It was hard work, but they stepped up to the challenge and even finished with a beautiful second coat to ensure it would remain so in the salty climate.
A hard day’s work for Team Iowa, but the day wasn’t over yet! 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 “Now there are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but it is the same Holy Spirit who is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service in the church, but it is the same Lord we are serving.”
Ministry is serving the Lord by recognizing our spiritual gifts and investing in them to further the Kingdom. Spiritual gifts on our team include; healing, knowledge, faith, wisdom, discernment, loving kindness, leadership, giving, teaching, mercy, exhortation, administration, and shepherding. I have been blessed to witness each one of these poured out in blessing on our brothers and sisters. Kirk of the Pines Church hosted a Family Fun Night at the church and invited our team for a chance to spend time with new friends we had made in the community with conversations and games. The Lord called Esther, Curt, Lois, Sheryl, Guy, Sheila, and Fran to shine His light. Conversations of hope encouraged our team and created memories of Abaco we will take home with us.
Meanwhile, back at the farm, Many Hands partnered with Driftwood Farms, a hydroponic farm on the island, in search of a new sustainable food source for the community. This is an alternative to the importation of all food from the US. This system is expensive and is as unreliable as the weather. A Farm to Table event was held on Saturday night at the farm. Guests were invited to experience the fresh produce and even harvest some veggies for their salads. Many Hands CEO Tim Brand shared the exciting news of a new program coming to the community that would support pregnant mothers. The program aims to provide education on the importance of nutrition for the development in the first thousand days of the life of a child. Doug, Danae, Darla, Jerry, Marcena and myself were blessed to be called to serve alongside the operators of the farm, Glen and Tracy Kelly.
The evening began as most Abaco nights do, with a beautiful sky and perfect temperatures. As guests arrived, they were given a tour and refreshments. The team waited for the moment when the Island Celebrity Chef Brock would arrive with the island-raised smoked cornish hens from Abaco Big Bird Poultry Farm, then it would be time to serve our guests a delicious meal. Then it started to rain, just a sprinkle at first, then in true Bahamian fashion, it stopped, and God blessed us with a rainbow. As the meat arrived and it was time to serve, the sky opened up, and it began to pour. Raining down on guests, their dining table, and yes, the team! The guests stayed in their seats, with joyful conversation and laughter! So we served the meals, in the rain, in the dark, and in faith that God would give us the strength to continue even soaking wet.
What a day! At first glance, looking back on it, I would say I am not really sure how we managed to pull it all off. Then I remember what Peter said. 1 Peter 4:11 “Are you a speaker? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Are you called to help others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then God will be given glory in everything through Jesus Christ. All glory and power belong to him forever and ever. Amen.”
Read the previous blog from the Many Hands Thrift Market Team here
