*Packing Assistance Project - Pella

September 30th from 6-8 pm

We have been contacted by an elderly/disabled woman. She and her mother need assistance packing up their apartment in Pella. The woman explains she needs extra hands to pack up her and her mother's belongings in their apartment at Vriendschap Village in Pella. This project is scheduled for Tuesday, September 30th from 6-8 pm. The woman and her mother needed assistance moving their belongings to their new home in Sully on Saturday, October 4th from 9 am-12pm. But this portion of the project is canceled. They decided to hire a moving company. 

Sign up for either project at this link: Packing Assistance Project - Pella

*U-Haul Unload Assistance - Pella: 

September 26th 10am - 12pm.

We have been contacted by a single mother.  She is moving to Pella from Ottumwa.  She needs help unloading her U-Haul at her new home in Pella. The woman explains she needs extra hands to unload her household belongings in her new home. She is moving from Ottumwa to Pella at the end of September. We are working to locate a crew of volunteers in Ottumwa to help her pack up the U-Haul. This project request is to help her unload in Pella. If you are available on Friday, September 26th from 10 am - 12 pm. Sign up for this project at this link: U-Haul Unload Assistance - Pella

September 29th from 6-8 pm

We have been contacted by the family of an elderly woman.  The family needs assistance moving their mother from one apartment in Pella to another in Pella. The family explains that they are in need of extra hands to help move their elderly mother. She currently lives in Pella in an apartment and plans to move to another apartment in Pella. She does not have any appliances to move. The bigger items include a dresser, coffee table and bedroom set. The project is scheduled for Monday, September 29th from 6-8 pm. We are looking for 4 volunteers and one volunteer whom can pull the ACTS 20' enclosed trailer. Sign up for this project at this link: Household Move - Pella

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING FOR ANY OF THESE PROJECTS, PLEASE SIGN UP BY CLICKING ON THE LINK OR CONTACT US AT BPATEL@ACTSOFIOWA.ORG 

Joe Vos - President

For the next few months in this monthly newsletter we will have comments from ACTS' board members. This month Joe Vos answered the following questions:What excites you the most about the organization's work? What do you want to accomplish by serving on the board? 

Q: What excites you the most about the organization's work?

A: That we can provide opportunities to be the hands and feet of Christ in a real and tangible way to our neighbors.  I've been on countless mission trips to distant locations, but serving locally we are able to involve and motivate others to serve who likely wouldn't have considered it.  Working with and seeing the excitement of a first time volunteer that has finally decided to join a service project as well as the pure 'thank you' from the new friend we are serving never gets old.

Q: What do you want to accomplish by serving on the board?

A:I desire as part of the board to motivate others to make the step to serve for their first time or multiple times.  To do this we need to match the right skill set with the right project, seamless communication, and then ensure we provide the appropriate equipment to accomplish the task. 

I want to maintain that we exist to "give the ministry away."  I hesitate to use the terms ACTS project or ACTS surge.  We are a resource.  It is not about ACTS and our organization growing or being able to report big numbers.  It's about neighbors having their eyes opened to the needs in their community and  providing a resource if needed to do something about it.  If you need a trailer... ask.  If you need a nail gun... ask.  If you need extra people... ask.  If you need advice... ask.  We are there to help. 

Q: Any stories or testimonies to share?

A: I'm notorious at surges for coming back late at lunch or having to go back after lunch to finish.  I'd like to point out that it is because I take on projects that seemingly can't be done in a day, but that's beside the point.  One particular surge I had convinced a friend to come along for his first service project with ACTS.  We were roofing... on a fairly steep roof... and the roof was a little wet (yes, you can roof in the rain.)  We came back at lunch and I asked for volunteers to go back and finish after lunch.  His participation wasn't volunteer.  I had assured him when we left Pella he could ride with me.  I think there was a point in that day that he turned from volunteer to slave.  We still laugh about it today several years later.