Serving Heartily
January 01, 2020
Before I came to Ouachita, I received a little booklet in the mail. It showed many
different ways to be involved with the community through the Elrod Center at Ouachita.
Little did I know that I would fall in love with these different projects.
Each of these projects sounded like so much fun, but I knew I couldn’t do it all.
I have trouble with overcommitting myself, so seeing all these opportunities was very
difficult for me. I want to do it all, and do it well. Since being at Ouachita, I
have learned that I cannot do everything. What I decide to do needs to be done with all my heart and that might mean saying no to some things on the list. I knew I would have to pick
and choose.
Philippians 2:4 says, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also
to the interests of others.” With this verse in mind, I realized that it is not about
me but about others.
I decided to see what Ouachita had to offer. So far, I have gotten the opportunity
to be involved in Big Brother/Big Sister, Tiger Serve Day, and delivering Thanksgiving
baskets.
I was blessed through these events with some great opportunities. I’d like to talk,
specifically, about my involvement with delivering Thanksgiving baskets.
Being able to deliver Thanksgiving baskets brought so much joy to my life, as well
as the families. Seeing their smiles and tears, brought the same to me. I am so thankful
to help others in need in this small way. Seeing the face of the single mom of two
kids (with one on the way) glisten with joy, the couples’ shocked faces with grateful
hearts, and the mom, with the three-year-old son, cry with excitement, has given me
a love for helping others in this way. Participating in this project has opened my eyes to see that even people right here
in Arkadelphia are struggling to put food on the table, and we have the blessing of
being able to help provide. Also, I have been reminded that God answers prayers. As we sat there praying in
the living room with the mom of the three-year-old son, I knew that God would bring
her a job to provide some income. Soon after, she was, in fact, provided a job. God
is so good!
I am so thankful for the Elrod Center and the many ways it helps reach the community.
I definitely plan to deliver Thanksgiving baskets again next year, and hopefully I
will be able to become even more involved with the other opportunities that are offered.
This experience has truly reminded me of my love for reaching out to those in need.
Lauren Archer, freshman Speech Pathology major
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