Volunteer!

Hayley Masters asks Hopal Grant, Murwillumbah Seventh-day Adventist church’s volunteer, about life as a volunteer, good and bad experiences and journeying with God.

"Being born and raised an Adventist in Jamaica, I’ve heard numerous exciting mission reports from all over the world and always wanted to be a part of the action," Hopal says. "This was one of the reasons I decided to volunteer. More so though, because God has placed on my heart a desire to work with Him in sharing the beautiful truth of the gospel to a world in need. I was feeling unsatisfied and restless with just working to earn the almighty dollar and 'serving' only on Sabbaths. I wanted my life to be more meaningful, and what better way to start than by volunteering? So now I am serving at the Murwillumbah SDA Church in New South Wales, Australia."

We asked about her top experience so far....
"...definitely STORM Co Trip to Tabulam. We did kid’s club at the Aboriginal Mission, which included singing, crafts, sports, face painting, ballooning and clowning. For our community project, which was done at the state school, we rebuilt the sand pit, redid their flower gardens and installed irrigators. We also did some minor paint repair to the water tank at the community centre. It was hard manual labour but the thought of the joy it would bring to the kids and community made it all worthwhile."

And a not so top experience?...
"...an experience that I would surely like to erase from memory and history (which even now causes me to blush) was conducting a youth Sabbath school in which nothing went according to plan. Talk about a royal flop! The songs were no music for sore ears, some kids missed the point of the story that was told, the debate went askew, some of the kids were noisy and inattentive and I nearly lost my temper (God have mercy). I didn’t even get into the meat of the matter—the planned bible study, and to top it all off the pastor was present taking it all in. What else could have gone wrong? I don’t think anyone benefited from that lesson except that old serpent. I think I was definitely up for a lesson in humility. Yep!"

Hopal continues, "My journey with God has been affected in a huge way. Wait, journey? I believe the first step on the journey would be more like it, as before I was only standing still. I had only a theoretical knowledge of God. I knew God loved me, that He sent Jesus to die for me, that the Bible is His holy book, the seventh day is the true Sabbath, etc, etc, but I’ve come to realize that knowing these things only with my head avails me nothing. It is nowhere near what the good news is really about. I mean, even the devil knows these things. I’ve come to know Jesus. My Jesus. My personal, intimate, loving Saviour. The Bible came alive for me and gave me life. I’ve come to know not only with my head but with my heart also.

“Journey? I’m on my way, oh yes! Far from the mark, but still pressing on in faith, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith. Scaling new heights of knowledge, jumping over obstacles of fears, falling flat on my face at times, stepping in big slimy, grimy holes of temptation, but getting up and swinging on cords of love and forgiveness back onto the straight and narrow road. That road that leads from the cross (my only confidence) to eternity (my blessed hope) clinging always unto Jesus (my all) for dear life.

“A message I would like to leave with other volunteers is: Not by your might or by your power but only by the Spirit of our God, who loves you with a never-ending, incomparable, mind-blowing love, will you be able to accomplish the task for which He has called you. Do not give up or despair in the face of apparent failure but remember that God can use even a curse as a blessing to others. Nothing, not even the least that you do for others, goes unnoticed and unaided by heaven but God is with you every step of the way. Remember that your relationship with Jesus is top priority, so keep on holding to that never failing hand and grow, grow in grace and wisdom and true godliness. Oh dear! I could go on and on but I’d better stop now."

And are there any prayer requests?
“My prayer requests are that the youths of our church will acquire an appetite for the word of God and spend time in personal communion with our dear Saviour Jesus Christ and be transformed into His likeness. Also, that I will be able to discern the leading of God in my life and make the right decisions concerning my future. “

Hopal loves reading, playing the flute, camping, visual art and hanging out with friends. The first food she wants to devour when she gets home is Ackee and Saltfish with Roasted Breadfruit.

If you're interested in being a volunteer, you can visit www.adventistvolunteers.org to find out more, check out some of the volunteer positions or get in contact with people who can help you with your volunteering dreams.
Or you can write to HMasters@adventist.org.au to find out more about volunteering!