The
Knot2Us
Community

As some of you know GrX is responsible for putting on a BBQ at the San Jose City Ministries on the 4th Saturday of every even month (i.e. February, April, June, and so on). Sometimes we have to scramble to get enough people to come out to help with the BBQ and this time was another one of those times. =) There were so many things going on that Saturday, so it's not too surprising that we had a bit of a struggle to get enough people. That's part of the blessing I experienced. Thanh, from the UBU small group, helped me a lot in getting enough people for the BBQ. She was so enthusiastic about getting people in her small group to help out. I felt encouraged and blessed by her enthusiasm and willingness to serve.

I was also blessed from some responses from people who weren't able to help out for some reason. One in particular came from someone who is doing missionary work in Thailand. She gave me some words of encouragement and that's just what it did! =D

Now on the day of the BBQ....In the morning, I went to GrX to pickup some of the supplies and help with prepping the food. When I got to the church, I got a big and unpleasant surprise....one of the doors I needed to pass thru was locked! Yikes! I called Bobby Lee, the worship pastor, to see if he could help me by opening the door. Unfortunately, he was at a wedding and on top of that the other people with a key to the door were also at that wedding. So, what it came down to was that we had to hurry and make another Costco run and pickup the supplies that were locked up in the church. Heather, from the Knot2Us small group, went home to get her BBQ utensils. Here's another blessing I received.... Andrew and Judy (also from UBU) were just arriving at GrX to help with the BBQ when I was just heading out to Costco. When I explained to Andrew what had happened (being locked out), he just asked how he could help me. I was blessed by his response of being willing to help out in any way, especially since that was the first time we met each other. At Costco, I received another blessing. While Andrew, Judy and I were frantically gathering supplies for the BBQ, Judy said something to the effect that this was so exciting (at that time, I was thinking that this was so stressful!...hahaha). That encouraged me again. I was thinking that they wouldn't be enjoying this time because nothing was turning out as planned..., but I was wrong. Thank you Jesus!

When we finally arrived at City Team, we still had to prep the food, setup the serving table, and start up the grill. At that point we still had only 5 people, including myself, to help with the BBQ. I knew that we needed at least 6 people to do the BBQ without anyone being overburdened. We were expecting at least one other person, but they hadn't shown up yet....so I was a little worried about that, but then Teresa (UBU small group) arrived....whew! =) We ended up splitting the group up and had some people prepping the food, some setting up the serving table, and I helped by starting up the grill. It was hectic, but everyone was so willing to help in any way. I remember seeing Heather helping with cleaning the lettuce and helping with setting up the table. It was nice to see her serving quietly and diligently in the background...I appreciate humble servanthood…the whole group seemed to be like that. We were scrambling to get things prepared till just before we started the BBQ. We asked City Team for some supplies (I had forgotten that we also had the plates, napkins, and condiments in the church) and they were so happy to help and were so appreciative that we came to serve lunch. That was another blessing.

We started the BBQ a bit later than normal, but the surprising thing is that we ended a lot earlier than I expected. Praise God! We were working like a "well-oiled machine". It was a great team effort! Afterwards, we had lunch together. It seemed like a small group lunch to me. Even though a lot of us had just met for the first time that day, we were spending time together like friends. It turned out to be an AWESOME day!!! I considered it a small miracle that the BBQ turned out as well as it did since so many things went wrong that day. I think God had the right people there that day for what transpired during the day. To God be the glory!

I was even blessed after that day as Teresa explained that she enjoyed serving the community and the people there that day. I think that expressed how all of us in the group feel. I don't think I've ever been this blessed at the City Team BBQ before. In retrospect, I think the things that went wrong that day helped to show what was so awesome about God and His people. To show the love of God that flows through His people and their beautiful servant hearts.

I was so full of joy after the BBQ that I couldn't sit still. I went to a track near my apartment and went jogging for a while and then I went walking around the neighborhood to try to settle down all the joyful energy that felt like it was going to burst out of my body. Sorry if this sounds kind of weird, but that's the best I can describe what I felt like at that time.

Thank you Lord for transforming me to serve others and to be able to see You in the lives of others. I am so thankful for Your provision and the love you’ve shown to us.