The Lowe-down: September 11th, A Day of Service

Just over two months ago, The Big Guy Lowe was asked to be in charge of setting up a large service project for the 10 congregations of our church in this area to participate in. In addition, he was asked to involve other denominations so that it would be a community service project. He was given a few other parameters to work within and then space with which to work. In addition, this service project was to take place on September 11th, a day that holds heartache in many.

I am so impressed with my dedicated husband. He started working, coming up with ideas, contacting other churches, creating and going to meetings and taking phone calls at all hours. He prayed for guidance and inspiration in the preprations of this big assignment...I know because we pray together morning, night, over meals and whenever else we are able. I was touched by his dedication to this assignment, even as he still had his professional work and other church responsibilites to complete. I don't think he'll mind me sharing that he was pretty nervous the night before the big event...who wouldn't be?

September 11th; A Day of Service turned out to be a huge success. Officially, 460 people turned out and harvested over 4 tons of carrots that will benefit the Clark County Food Bank as well as Loaves and Fishes. I was impressed with how well organized everything was. It went so well, and everything was accomplished that had been desired.

The Big Guy Lowe asked if I could put some words together to help begin the project with. The words he read are as follows:

Nine years ago today, our country experienced one of our greatest tragedies. Thousands of lives were lost, hearts were broken, and countless lives were changed forever. We would like to observe a moment of silence in memory of those who lost their lives in the attacks of September 11, 2001.

While we are unable to change the events of that dark day, we are able to choose how we respond. Life is fraught with challenges, great and small. When we choose to reach out to those around us with a kind word, with helping hands or listening ears; when our actions are motivated out of concern for others rather than concern for ourselves; when our desire is to serve those around us; it is then, little by little, that hearts are healed.

Today, we are each doing our part, however great or small, to heal hearts. Today, we are each doing our part to follow the powerful words “Love one another.” Today, through our hearts and hands, we are showing that “by small and simple things are great things brought to pass.” Listen to your hearts today. Pay close attention to how you feel while serving. Hearts will be healed as we help…starting with our own.

I was grateful for the opportunity to do my part in the preparations of this great event. I was even more grateful for the opportunity to support my wonderful husband who follows through on hard assignments.

I love The Big Guy Lowe completely. Thank you babe, for being everything you are.

While there was an "official" photographer there to document the event, I had my little phone and took a few pictures of the boys and me as we did our part in the harvest. We couldn't see The Big Guy Lowe from where we were standing--too many people!! (Not that we're complaining!!)

We received our assingments and headed out to the fields! See the excitement on those boys faces? ;)

It did get more exciting once we reached the fields and began pulling the carrots out of the ground. The Boys did a great job

...for a while.

It was pretty clear when the boys were finished! We had been there for about 1 1/2 hours total!

As we were leaving we said good-bye to Uncle Michael and picked up our thank you cookies that had been home made by the women's organization within our church called the Relief Society. Those cookies made the world a better place as far as my kids were concerned!

It was wonderful knowing we were all able to participate in a wonderful opportunity to serve others. It felt good to dig in the dirt and know that the literal "fruits of our labors" would benefit so many.

In The Book of Mormon, a loving king who was also a prophet taught the people the following: "...when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." I know this is true.

What a wonderful time to share as a family. Thanks babe, for seeking and then following inspiration to help this Day of Service turn out so wonderfully and thank you to all the many other people that volunteered and then followed through to help everything run so smoothly.

Here are a few more pictures of SO MANY people that came out to help harvest carrots.