3 Points to Ponder
- One person can make a significant impact on a community, especially when they are passionate and committed. As you look at your life, where are you passionate and committed?
- We overestimate what can be done in a day but underestimate what can be done in a year when done with intention and persistence. What do you want to accomplish in one year? Do your daily actions build toward or detract from this goal?
- All seasons have beginnings and endings. Doors that open and close. Looking back, how do you embrace your story – the good and the bad – to live more fully in the present? How have you determined when to open a new door or close an existing one?
2 Quotes to Share
“Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.” – Arthur Ashe
“Plant a tree in the hope that someone will sit in its shade.” – Unknown
1 Story of Impact
The sun beat down on the paved road leading to Central Abaco Primary School. Sam and Lisa Berg, their faces etched with a mix of anticipation and concern, stood beside their 12-passenger van. It was a familiar scene for them now. Every afternoon, they would wait for the school doors to open, eager to welcome a group of excited young students into their lives. A few months before this moment, the Bergs had moved to Abaco, drawn by the island’s beauty and God’s calling to serve the people. But they quickly discovered that beneath the idyllic surface lay a pressing need. Parents were expressing deep worry about their children’s struggles with reading and math. Lisa, a former teacher, felt compelled to act. With the van serving as the gateway to learning, the Bergs started the Academic Recovery for Kids (ARK) program. They picked up twelve students each day and provided them with personalized tutoring and support. The results were astounding. Test scores improved dramatically, and the students’ confidence soared. Inspired by their success, the school administration offered the Bergs a classroom of their own. The ARK program expanded, reaching more students and inspiring the creation of school libraries. A dedicated teacher was hired to assist Lisa, and the program’s impact grew exponentially. Today, over a thousand students in five schools benefit from the reading resources and support provided by ARK. The Bergs’ story is a testament to the power of compassion and the belief that small acts can make a big difference. Their journey, fueled by a desire to live God’s calling to be love in action, has touched countless lives in Abaco. As Sunday approached, the couple made a difficult decision. It was time to return to Missouri to be grandparents. While leaving Abaco was bittersweet, they knew that their work had created a lasting legacy. I am forever grateful to Sam and Lisa, as their invitation to come visit the island was the pathway leading to the creation of Many Hands for Abaco.
