Penny Lee
Make A Difference The World Can See
[A Member's Reflection On The Stevenson Project]
by Penny Lee
"... let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
Matthew 5:15-17
Last spring, when learned about the Stevenson Project during a church service led by Pastor Scott Dudley, I was inspired. He said that volunteers were needed to donate their time to help renovate a local school that had run out of funds. I wanted to be a part of this hands-on project that would help the community so I signed up to help with the landscaping. When the day arrived, I packed up my shovel, trowels, weeders, my sun hat and garden gloves, and even a large broom and small hand brush and dust pan, which turned out to be invaluable.
I arrived at the school and was assigned to a group that was diligently removing the grating from the drainage trough, scrubbing it off and scooping out the dirt that had accumulated over the 30 or so years of the school's exixtence. Since the lawn adjacent to it was on a slope, I could see why the dirt had gradually filtered down through the small drainage holes, filling up the whole drain trough that ran the whole length of the building. We were told that every time there was a hard rain, the sidewalk leading to all the classrooms would be flooded.
Afternoon group gets assignment instructions
I think we all felt energized by each other's presence and were motivated knowing that we were making a difference for the school children who would now be walking on dry sidewalks to get to their classroom on rainy days. The dirtiest part of the job was not scooping out the dirt and putting it in large bags, but being in the dusty drift from sweepers who eagerly cleaned up.
... a few weeks after the project while shopping at QFC, I was delighted to see one of the ladies I had worked and talked with on that hot day at Stevenson. We both had a good feeling about our day there. FPC Bellevue truly nurtures the feeling of a close-knit community.
I made acquaintances and friendships as I worked alongside others who were also there to give of their time and energy to benefit the community. And a few weeks later at QFC, I was delighted to see one of the ladies I had worked and talked with on that hot day at Stevenson. We both had a good feeling about our day there. Our church truly nurtures the feel of a close-knit community.
New Court Yard
After working through the morning, those of us who decided to work both shifts were provided a really nice boxed lunch and juice. All through the day we were given plenty of water and encouraged to stay hydrated. As I sat outdoors eating. I found out I was sitting next to a Bellevue Public school official. She told me why everything was so well organized. The project had been in the planning stages for over a year. The artistic wall paintings in the lunch room and library, the major concrete pouring surrounding the pavers that created the new entry patio, the work done to improve the playground, the classroom paper projects to supplement the teaching aids, all these diverse projects were planned ahead and accomplished for the most part in just one day.
Library Mural at Stevenson
The materials, including paint, pavers and cement were provided by our chruch. Even the children were included; they painted flower pots and filled them with flowers for each of the returning teachers. Over 1,00 members participated, each of us doing part of this mamoth undertaking; many had been involved from the beginning of the plan.
I'm so proud to be a member of an active, giving church that stretches itself to get involved, helping the community. I was glad to be a part of letting my own light shine along with the many others who were doing the same.
As people were leaving to go to the 5:00 p.m. dinner provided by the chruch, I was determined not to waste the daylight when I saw the enormous weeds in the lawn at the school, especially the ones right next to the walkways. So I was sorry to miss dinner and the worship service. But in the end, I did put my weeding tools to good use; and in another small was, I worked to improve the looks of the grounds.