Save the Date for our annual Leadership Training Event (LTE)! The date is Monday, September 16, 2013. For more information, please click Here
On Thursday, March 28, the day before their Spring Break started, 130 seniors from Grand Rapids Christian High School spent the morning making a difference during the annual John Zoerhoff Memorial Service Day. The seniors spent the morning cleaning, playing wii with residents, painting, making corsages, playing kickball and more as a way of being Christ's examples in the community. To read more click Here.
Through VIS, a GEMS (Girls Everywhere Meeting the Savior) Club from First Cutlerville Christian Reformed Church put feet on their foundational verse: Micah 6:8 “What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God.” Twice this season girls, grades 3-8, brought love and joy to the people who live at Breton Village Greens, a subsidized community serving seniors. The goal was to visit with the residents and have fun! The first time was during the holidays where girls invited the residents to sing Christmas carols together. The night was full of joyful singing, laughter and a spirit of love and friendship. Over and over folks commented that there was more excitement and joy that night than had been felt for a very long time. As the excitement and volume grew, a care giver approached the girls and asked them to sing with “Willie,” in his room. Having just been released from the hospital, “Willie” wasn’t able to leave his bed. “Willie” is a diabetic and has many health challenges including two amputated legs. Although this environment was uncomfortable for many of the girls, they accepted the invitation and sang. “Willie’s” face lit up as the girls sang and soon he joined in with “Joy to the Word the Lord has come.”
February came and the girls returned; this time to play games together. On the way many of the girls talked about which residents they would see again. A game of “Get to know you Bingo” was a huge success along with Pictionary! Through this, the girls were now able to call people by name and the whole experience became less of service and more of friendship and love. It was amazing to see how the formerly noticed disabilities and challenges associated with poverty became unseen and were replaced with feelings of friendship and love.
VIS has heard an overwhelming amount of positive comments from the staff and residents at Breton Village Greens. They are begging the girls to come back again and, the girls are begging to return so they can see all their friends, residents who now have names. To see more pictures of the evening, click on the Photo Gallery and then GEMS Group above, or click Here
Volunteers In Service, PO Box 8215, Grand Rapids, MI 49518
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