If you didn't know, this summer for part of the summer I have the privilege to watch and learn from the wonderful Godly women at Mobile Meals. Goodness there is so much that I have learned in two weeks that I just can't wait to write it all down. Like most of my posts this will be a little scattered but it's everything that I've learned and noticed in the past three weeks. And as usual let me apologize I'm so very sorry it's been forever since I've posted!
Week 1: I worked with Edna. Now Edna is a sweet older lady who is the "Director of Outreach." She has her way of doing things and let me tell you things get done! So my first day I did paper work for 6 hours (filing, alphabetizing, organizing,etc.), I came home after that and said I refuse to be a secretary. The next day and for the rest of the week I came in and I got to go out with her to "screen people" (basically see if the people who call in are eligible for mobile meals). Now this made things much better because Mrs. Edna and I got to chat on our long journeys to the ends of Spartanburg county -which is a lot bigger than I thought! But I loved it because I learned a lot about her family and it was evident how much she loved them and especially her husband. Anyways so we went out and screened people and I learned two things. One- it breaks my heart how sweet people can be and much in need people really are (we are oblivious to people around us and how much need they are in) and Two- some people just like to take advantage of the system. Now let me throw a few statistics your way. Mobile Meals is currently serving about 2,000 people every day and Edna and I screened about 4-5 people every day. Now for a month if Edna screened 4-5 people that's about 100 new people a month that need help. So that was week one- started off a little rough but ended up being wonderful.
Week 2: This week started off a little rough as well. I was suppose to work with the Route Coordinator but there really wasn't much for me to do. When I got there I went in and talked to Jayne McQueen the president and visionary of Mobile Meals (she is an absolutely amazing woman who loves the lord and people with all her heart). So then she sent me in to talk with Clint about how routes are coordinated. Lo and behold he is Edna's husband and let me just tell you he absolutely ADORES Edna he said "She is the closest thing to angel on earth." Let's just say learning about the routes wasn't difficult to catch on to and was a little boring so Clint shared stories with me and let me just tell you about a story he shared. He told me that he was in the Korean war and wasn't sure the Lord's plan for him there and why he was there but he trusted the Lord had a plan. While he was there he took many many pictures of the little Korean children. Well when he returned he met Edna then they had two daughters. Their oldest daughter is married and instead of having children she adopted 3 Korean boys. She told Clint that when she was younger she would stay awake after her parents went to bed and flip through the slide shows of the Korean children and she just fell in love and that is why she decided to adopt. With tears in his eyes Clint said that even though he didn't know why he was in Korea at the time obviously the Lord had a plan for those 3 boys to be rescued. ----I'm telling you the people at Mobile Meals are absolutely amazing.
Since I learned pretty much all about the Routes in less than 3 hours, on Tuesday I was able to attend the board meeting as well as go out a screen a lady by myself (apparently this was a BIG accomplishment that Edna would let me do it alone). Then on Wednesday coming in to work knowing I didn't really have much to do I came in and organized spoons, did paper work, went out to lunch with Jayne and Tony -the Mobile Meal chef who is absolutely wonderful (we had wonderful conversations about marriage and life), then sat in on a meeting about recycling. Knowing I wouldn't really have anything to do on Thursday I was a little worried but Jayne sent me in to see Vivian. I absolutely ADORE Vivian- she is the Volunteer Coordinator. She took me under her wing and on Thursday morning I came in at 7:30 and helped on the line- basically scooped food into containers for 2,000 people. Then I came out of the kitchen about 9 and volunteers were already filing in to grab their routes and deliver food. I went up to talk to Vivian to see what she needed me to do and I called a few people for her and when I came back there were these wonderful older gentlemen: Gentry, Johnny, Billy and Robert. Gentry graduated from Clemson in '56 and Johnny wasn't much of a Tiger fan but we joked about it, Billy picks up bread every day at local grocery stores and he treats me just like an old friend, Robert is a retired city sheriff (I believe). Let me tell you I fell in LOVE with these men! They were so sweet and kind and joked around with me. I also learned if anyone ever needs an ego boost just go find some sweet old men and they'll constantly tell you how pretty you are and how they are sure boys are lining up (haha it just makes my day!). Well anyways Gentry asked me what I wanted to do after I graduate and I was explaining how I want to do missions for a least a year after I graduated and he just LOVED that and was telling me about a girl that goes to his church that is in the Philippines and he felt she should be my mentor so he is getting me her information (if that wasn't God reaffirming then I don't know what is). Later on Gentry made it a point to come up and say "Now Cameron, DON'T you go get a boyfriend before you go on that mission trip because I think the Lord wants you to do this before you find the right one." ---- Since then, I've heard things very similar from people that are volunteering or a sweet older gentleman I delivered meals to. Anyways maybe its a sign and a reassurance from the Lord that He has the right guy for me I just need to be patient and do His work. ---- Now that leaves Friday. I went in early to work the line again and then was put on the task of putting canned ravioli in bags for each route for Monday's meal (since it was Memorial day). I'm sure you can assume by now that I LOVED it and I met some WONDERFUL people but I'm going to tell you about Sam. Now Sam lovingly known as General Sam is known by all and knows all. He is an older gentleman who comes in every morning because "he is bored and has nothing else to do." He watches everyone come in, helps people get their sheets, tells people when they are doing things wrong, and when it gets close to 11 looks at Vivian and me with displeased looks like "these meals need to go out pronto." He is quick as a whip and is a sweet little soul. I didn't think he'd open up and talk to me but Friday he was telling me about his son and about when he use to go to some Clemson games even though he doesn't really like them very much.
Week 3: I'll write about it in my next post:) But I'm working with Volunteers so you know I LOVE IT!
This is what I've learned so far: it is absolutely necessary to surround yourself by people who love the Lord, if you have a passion and the Lord has given you that passion He will make it fruitful as long as you trust in Him, nothing you do is because of you its all because of the Lord, corporate world and nonprofit world are completely different yet kind of the same, its absolutely necessary to have people who are strong in their faith to work for/with you- just about every conversation I've had at Mobile Meals the Lord is in it, having a good board committee is essential, the Lord is giving me signs for my future, and most importantly I HAVE to work with people every day and have tasks I literally cannot do behind the scenes stuff like finance and filing- I just need to be with people.
I hope yall are doing well! Thank you for reading if you did. My little words of wisdom for today are-- just listen to what the Lord is telling you even in the simplest things.
With all my love- Cam
