Dear Hope Force International Reservist,
This is an open letter to all of you who successfully completed the Hope Force International (HFI) Disaster Response Training Intensive. You may recall that the purpose of the training is to prepare you to help address the needs of survivors of disaster. You are “officially” an HFI Reservist and eligible for deployment with us into the immediate aftermath of a disaster – for which we are most grateful! (Just a reminder: all returning Reservists may attend the basic training at no charge -- as many times as you'd like! We've added hands-on training segments, covering roof tarping and flood remediation...)
Don’t feel bad if you haven’t been able to deploy! For some, you may only faintly remember your training, and haven’t given it much thought since; of course, we’d like to see that change. For others, it was a meaningful encounter that led to active engagement with HFI on a regular basis. Many of you have deployed with us into the aftermath of a disaster -- but for various reasons, do so rarely. Most of you understand the need for trained disaster responders and believe in the mission and purpose of Hope Force, but have yet to put this into practice. For whatever reason, we want to let you know that we understand – but also know that…
It is not too late! You have an open invitation to get hands-on involved -- regardless of how long it has been since you took your training. We understand that life has many seasons. There are times when getting actively involved in something you believe in just isn’t possible; please don’t let this discourage you! If you have a heart to serve, your day will come; many have joined us 5-7 years after their training!
Could this be your season? Don’t assume that someone else will respond and that you’re not needed. The next time you receive an alert from Hope Force International asking for help, please carefully and prayerfully consider the opportunity being extended to you. The next time may be your time.
WARNING: should you choose to respond, it is likely that your life will change…and you will want to do this again and again. The sense of divine purpose, the satisfaction that comes from selfless service, the people you serve and the people you serve alongside are all transformational factors and produce a sense of camaraderie that runs deep and long. You will not be the same!
We thought you might enjoy this video produced by a group of Reservists and volunteers from a partner church right here in middle-Tennessee. They had just returned from serving survivors of hurricane-related flooding in Lumberton, North Carolina, and here they share honestly about their experience:
