Volunteering, So Rewarding

Ok, I'm becoming a volunteer addict now lol! Seriously though I think volunteering is going to be a great use of my time and energy. Even though I work a 9-4 job in social services, I still feel like I can do more and be a blessing to even more people. I don't want my service to end at work. I want to continue to find ways to impact people's lives and share my knowledge and experience. I want to join God where He is working in people's lives and I can't do that if I'm sitting at home watching TV everyday after work. So I'm getting out there and seeing what needs are present and what I can do to help.

Today I met with a lady from Volunteers of America to sign up for a mentor position at a treatment facility for women who have been released from prison for drug convictions. It is a one year commitment where they will match me with a woman and we meet weekly for a couple of hours. During our time together I will provide support and encouragement to help them make choices that will enable them to be successful and not enter back into the criminal justice system. I am soooo excited! It seems like a great ministry opportunity, (yay we can talk about our faiths), and I am ecstatic about being able to sow into someone else's life.

I encourage you to consider volunteering somewhere you feel you could make an impact or with a cause you feel strongly about. Whether it is at a retirement home reading to an elderly person, being a tutor to a student, or helping build homes, it can change lives. And not only will the receiver be blessed, but you will be blessed as well. It's fun, it's rewarding, and it's a great learning experience as you learn with others and share life with them. Remember that we are blessed to be a blessing. So let's shower people with blessings!

Here are some helpful websites to help you on your search:
www.voatx.org
www.volunteermatch.org
Go global! www.globalvolunteernetwork.org