The film Braveheart (1995) is one my all-time favorites and my fav scene is when the English cavalry is bearing down on William Wallace (Mel Gibson) and his fellow Scots. The cavalry approaches in slow motion as the hooves slam into the ground with increasing tempo. The Scot’s tension rapidly increases, along with the tension of the film’s viewers as the horses draw nearer while William Wallace shouts, “HOLD… HOLD… HOLD.” Wallace didn’t want his men to raise their spears too soon for doing so would alert the cavalry of the trap and they would likely retreat to avoid being impaled on the spears.

Using this scene as an analogy for our volunteer mobilization efforts, the approaching cavalry is the fear of missed opportunity to serve. Robust mobilization of volunteers during the ‘safer-in-place’ mandate is not allowed and likely will not be allowed for some time to come. Our stance for now continues to be, “HOLD… HOLD… HOLD!” Above all, we don’t have the capacity to thwart God’s providence in the current events unfolding around us. We do continue to register volunteers who are chomping at the bit, as they say, to re-engage at worksites. But we don’t want to re-engage too soon!

One day MNA Disaster Response, including Sheds of Hope, will be cleared to again mobilize volunteers. Meanwhile, our team of staff and volunteers have been investing massive amounts of time and effort preparing for that day, so that when it comes we may do so safely. Our network of relief providers have been innovative in finding ways to cautiously take steps during this time that will allow our teams to rapidly restart operations when it is safe. Take a look at the following pictures of a recent Shed of Hope build by Lake Oconee Presbyterian Church. They have been cautiously holding the line, complying with social distancing mandate, but staying busy staying on mission.

Building Sheds of Hope kits is construction, light construction, but construction just the same. Undertaking any type of construction during this time is a challenge. The team leaders put much thought and efforts perfecting a procedure that allows them to continue ministry. New protocols include less team members working at any one time, wearing masks, using hand sanitizer, maintaining distances, etc. They are looking forward to the day when the entire team can be together serving again. For now it is, “HOLD… HOLD… HOLD!“

Love will find a way! Lake Oconee PCA is not the only church Sheds of Hope team being innovative and finding a way to be fruitful during this time. Plains PCA-Zachary LA, Covenant PCA-Auburn AL, and Memorial PCA-Elizabethton TN, are also grappling with how best to build Sheds of Hope kits during this time. ‘Our Daily Bread’, the well known monthly devotional, recently published a devotional about a cartoon that depicted a sour, disgruntled, elderly gentleman standing in rumpled pajamas and robe at his apartment door. He had just secured the door for the night with four locks, two deadbolts, and a chain latch. Later he noticed a small white envelope stuck beneath the door. On the envelope was a large sticker in the shape of a heart. It was a valentine. Love had found a way! The Sheds of Hope teams are finding a way!

MNA Disaster Response has 31 Sheds of Hope kits ready to go, but many more are needed. Please let us know if you would like to develop a Sheds of Hope kit building team as we would love for you to join the movement. Please keep praying that our teams will continue to ‘Hold’, be innovative in the meanwhile, and when the time is right to again, ‘GO’!!