NeighborLink Now

Are You Someone's Hope?

2011-09-28T11:18:00.008-05:00

So far this year, NeighborLink volunteers have completed 19 projects. That number is a far cry from the 80 projects that were completed in 2009. Now, I still have some amazing stories that I could share with you about those 19 projects (and I will), but my point is, there is much work to be done.

I am changing names to protect privacy, but could you.......

*Take Nick's window air conditioner out and put it in the basement?

*Help Mary who is a single mom of four girls repair or replace her roof?

*Help Kate repair a wheelchair ramp for her 18 year old handicapped daughter?

*Replace a water heater for a family of four living on a very tight budget?

*Repair a water pipe and faucet for Missy who is disabled?

*Pick up Kim's daughter from daycare two days this month because she doesn't drive and has no one else to ask?

*Replace some flooring in a trailer for Bob who is disabled?

All of these projects and more are posted on the NeighborLink Porter County website. It takes a lot for some of these people to swallow their pride and call someone for help. I hear the desperation in their voices when they have no where else to turn. I pray with them that the Lord will provide for their needs. NEEDS not wants.

Can you be someone's hope today? If you are unsure of where to start or would like information on how to complete a project, visit our website or call me anytime.

In Him,
Judy Alders
NeighborLinkPC.org
219-617-2077

Introducing Our New & Improved Website!

2010-11-30T12:09:00.003-06:00

The NeighborLink Network has been working hard for the past several months redeveloping the entire NeighborLink website in order to improve the overall experience of our members.

This is the first major transformation to the NeighborLink website since the website was first launched in 2008. For the past 2 years, the old website has served us well in connecting hundreds of people each year to serve and be blessed by one another. Here are just a few of the new and improved features:

Easier Project Posting for First-time Users
Improved Project Posting Navigation
The Ability to Select and Deselect Projects As a Coach
More Project Types & Recipient Status Options
Coaches Can Invite Volunteers From The Website to Join Their Project
Churches & Groups Can Organize Service Events
You Can Leave Comments or Ask Questions About Specific Projects
You Can Now Join Communities That Allow you to Connect With Others On The Site

Plus....more...

I encourage you to visit the new website, login using your existing profile information and follow the steps outlined.

We need you to update your profile information in order for the website to work most effectively. Your ability to use the website to it's fullest potential will be dictated by how much information you provide.

There are going to be some bugs to work out and some things that may not work. If you come across any of these, please email us using the Contact Us page on the website.

We hope you like it!

Judy Alders
NeighborLink Porter County
Practical Neighbor-To-Neighbor Expressions of God's Love
219.617.2077
www.neighborlinkpc.org
www.nlnow.blogspot.com

Miracles Do Happen, Even Today!

2010-11-17T11:16:00.007-06:00

If you have ever doubted that God is still performing miracles today, then come work with me for a day! He performed a miracle yesterday and I had a front row seat! Let me explain...

On Monday night at about 8:00pm I received a call from one of our partnering agencies. They told me that they had been working with a single mom with four kids and that she had done everything they had asked of her, including getting a job at a fast food restaurant in order to help support her family in these difficult financial times. Well, on Monday night her car's transmission went out and they had to tow the car to a safer location. They wanted to know if there was anything NLPC could do. I immediately posted something on our NeighborLink Facebook Page.

The next morning I went to a Duneland Chamber Meeting and spoke about this woman and her children. I was directed to go across the street to Tire Experts and ask them if they would be willing to look at the car and tell us what was wrong with it. They were happy to help out, and were so friendly and accommodating! The car was in Valparaiso so I needed to get it up here to Chesterton some how. I drove straight to Joe's Towing Inc. and they volunteered with cheerful hearts to go and bring the car to Chesterton. Wow! Things were coming together nicely. I was praying throughout the day that the problem would be an easy fix.

I soon received a call and the news was not good. The car needed a new transmission and it was going to cost $1150.00 and that was with a discount from our friends over at Tire Experts.

I had been keeping everyone on our Facebook Page up to date on the situation. Our website is currently down because of technical issues related to launching a new website. I had requested that if anyone could contribute ANYTHING to this project, to please contact me.

To my shock and disbelief, a very generous person soon contacted me to let me know that she had a vehicle that she would be willing to donate to this single mom! I couldn't believe what I was reading and the tears began to flow. In case you don't know it, I am a very emotional person! Our GOD who supplies the birds of the air with all they need to survive was now supplying the NEEDS of this single mother! I can't tell you the emotional roller coaster I was on yesterday. But it ended on a HUGE high. I had trouble falling asleep last night because I just kept praising and thanking Jesus for his faithfulness!

I have said it before and I will say it again, " I have the best job in the whole world!" Don't get me wrong, there are difficult days. Especially the calls I receive from those who are desperate and have no where else to turn. They are out of work, they have no money, no food, no shelter, no clothes, no heat, no appliances, no shoes, and the list goes on. But yesterday makes it all worth while.

If you would like to get more involved with NeighborLink and make a difference in someones life right here in Porter County then I invite you to visit our website, or call me to see where you might fit in. I can promise you, you won't be disappointed!

Thank you to all of people who helped us out yesterday!

In Him,
Judy Alders
219-617-2077

New Website!

2010-11-15T09:13:00.007-06:00

There are some great changes coming to our NeighborLink Porter County website. We anticipate that the change will happen mid-week. With that said, it has been my experience that things sometimes don't always go as planned, but we wanted to give you all a heads up. If you experience problems or have questions, please feel free to call me.

The new site is designed to be more socially friendly, meaning that you will be given the opportunity to connect with others who share like experiences with you or like skill levels. This is one reason we are asking that when the new site launches, that you take a minute to re-register on the website. You WILL be able to use your current username and password. However, it is nearly impossible to transfer all of the data and this will allow us to be sure that the data we have is current.

The new site is a work in progress and new changes will be added in the coming months. Again, if you have questions or comments, don't hesitate to contact me. We hope to have a video up soon that can walk you through the website.

One other thing we wanted to make you aware of. We are doing a fundraiser to help support the financial needs of NeighborLink. Our board members have been hard at work building Corn Hole Sets to sell just in time for the Holidays. The price per set is $100 for any three colors and $125 for two colors and the logo of your choice. Here is some of their handywork.

Now, I understand that this photo may not represent your team of choice. Of course I can't understand why you wouldn't want Ohio State, but you do have many other choices to choose from. For example, NFL, MLB, College teams, Christian, Entertainment and the list goes on. Just let us know what you would like on your boards and will will have them ready in time for Christmas! Watch for future information about a possible tournament as well! This is great family fun!

As always, thank you for your support of NeighborLink Porter County! None of this would be possible without your support!

In Him,
Judy Alders

Serving Our Neighbors This Month

2010-08-16T16:51:00.014-05:00

This months project was a lot of fun to do with a lot of people and even a few new ones! A family owns this rental property in Valparaiso. There are about 4 units here that could be rented, however there is currently only one tenant. The owner had a stroke a few years ago and he has been unable to maintain the property. NeighborLink was asked to step in to see if we could offer them any assistance. We were afforded a warm day with a shower or two to keep us cool. The project took about 4 hours with some very hard workers! We are grateful to you all! Thank you for your hard work!

If you, your church or youth group would like to give back to the community, we would love the chance to be able to share with you about NeighborLink. Feel free to contact us anytime!

Before

After

Before

After

The Motley Crew!

In Him,
Larry & Judy Alders
219-617-2077
www.neighborlinkpc.org

Here Is Our Calvary Radio Network Interview

2010-08-15T17:13:00.007-05:00

NeighborLink recently had the opportunity to do a radio interview with the Calvary Radio Network here in Northwest Indiana on 89.9. Judy Puente with the Friends and Neighbors program contacted me and wanted to know a little more about NeighborLink. It was a a lot of fun and took me a little out of my comfort zone!

If you would like to hear the interview and find out a little bit more about NeighborLink and all that it has going on, click on the arrow below. The interview is about 16 minutes long.

In Him,
Larry & Judy

Amazing Volunteers!

2010-07-22T10:29:00.006-05:00

This job never ceases to amaze me! It has been a fun summer of helping people get things done! On July 10th, 21 people including kids, descended upon a small garage in Valparaiso. I received a call from the Code Enforcer (I would not want his job) that there was a family in need. They were facing hefty fines if the necessary repairs were not completed by early July. Thankfully, there was a donation made to cover the cost of the repairs and the garage is now complete!

Yours truly, on the roof!

Where was this awesome guy last summer when we painted a house?

This is one project among many that are still on the website. Currently, there are 13 projects posted, 13 completed and 15 expired. However, the expired projects can still be completed and accessed after you log into the website. We would love it if you and a friend, you and a youth group, you and your men's group, you and your church or you and your family could get on the site and see if there is a project that could be completed by you! None of this is possible without your help! Are you nervous or unsure about how to go about helping someone in need, then please call me (219-617-2077) and I will walk you through the process, it's really easy and rewarding! I am so proud of this organization and the volunteers who serve!

In Him,
Larry & Judy Alders
www.neighborlinkpc.org

Waiting!

2010-06-21T16:20:00.003-05:00

It occurred to me today that NLPC has turned into the recipient while we wait to hear about grants that we have recently submitted. Normally, NeighborLink Coaches are the ones who are determining who's projects get completed on the site based on the Coaches skill level. But now NeighborLink is on the receiving end of that waiting game and I have to tell you it stinks!

I now know what it feels like to be one of those waiting for help on our site. It is so hard waiting, when there are people you want to help and things you want to accomplish, but you can't.

Those requesting help on the NeighborLink site are seniors, disabled, single moms, widowed, unemployed and a host of others. These people need you, because they aren't phyically able, they don't have the funding available or they don't have the level of skill necessary to do the work. They simply can't help themselves right now and there aren't a lot of other places they can turn.

Jesus was the one who chose to help these people. And today, you have the opportunity to be His hands and His feet. Right now there are 21 families waiting for help on the NeighborLink site. Do you have the gift of plumbing, painting, yard work, cleaning, roofing, home improvement or construction? Check out our website NeighborLink Porter County and lift a burden for a neighbor in need. If you need help or funding for a project, please contact me and we can talk more about it.

In Him,
Larry & Judy Alders
219-617-2077

AMAZING Things!

2010-05-21T10:42:00.007-05:00

Just a quick post here. I was looking back over our first full year as NeighborLink Porter County again! I am AMAZED! My heart is truly touched by the wonderful people who accomplished so much last year on a budget of less than $5000. Among all of the little projects that were completed last year like grass mowing, taking people to appointments, and shoveling of snow, you also:

* Put a roof on a house for a single mom

* Put plumbing in a trailer for a family that had been without water for 6 MONTHS!

* Painted a house for a gentleman who was in code violation

* Accomplished an enormous amount of tree clean up from the Chesterton tornado

* Built at least two wheel chair ramps

* Did some major parks clean up in Valparaiso

* Completed several moving projects

* Put a brand new furnace and water heater in for a civil servant

Over 80 projects completed in our first full year! Thank you all for your AMAZING generosity! This year is looking to be equally AMAZING with all of the wonderful things you have accomplished already!

In Him,
Larry & Judy Alders

A New Roof And A Miracle Or Two

2010-04-21T10:23:00.018-05:00

God never ceases to amaze me! Sometimes when we plan our Go Days, we end up with three or four people who are "maybe's" These are in addition to our board members. When we got to the project on Saturday, we had 17 people show up! "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Philipians 4:19 And HE DID!

We started roofing this garage at 8:00am and finished around 6:30, but not before some end of the day fun when the keys accidentally got locked in the van. UGH! The Porter Police Department was quick to respond and while they were unsuccessful, we appreciate their timeliness after a long day. It really was an awesome day of fun, fellowship and worship!

About the time we were breaking for lunch (which was graciously provided by Little Caesar's Pizza in Chesterton) we realized that we needed some additional wood. Not just any wood, but 10, 16 foot long boards. There was one truck that could handle that wood and it was generously offered to us. Eric and I (Judy) headed to Home Depot in Valparaiso to pick it up. We returned without incident. However, a short time later, a couple of our teen age volunteers needed to get home. They were taken in the truck that we had just returned in. Just as they were getting home, the break line went out in the truck. And thankfully, they were not traveling at a high rate of speed as the house was just up the way from the work site! We are grateful that the Wright family was not injured and that God protected them! With the wood in the back of the truck on the way back to the job site from Home Depot, there was a traffic light that gave me little time to stop and I chose to go. I fear that if I had tried to hit the brakes hard at that light, traveling at a high rate of speed, the brake line could have gone then! We are so thankful for those volunteers who can't be with us physically, but are praying us through the day! There were so many rusty nails that could have been stepped on, but we were protected!

We want to thank all of the volunteers who showed up Saturday along with New Life Wesleyan Church in Chesterton for the cash donation toward the project. We also wish to thank Home Depot in Valparaiso and Gary/Hobart Roofing for the discount on materials. Without the generosity of these folks, NeighborLink Porter County would not be possible.

In Him,
Larry & Judy Alders

What A Year!

2010-01-08T11:11:00.002-06:00

First of all, we want to thank all of you for a wonderful first year. We thank you for getting out of your comfort zone and your cozy pews and being the hands and feet of Christ. NONE of this would be possible without you! We hear from many who say they just haven't had the time or opportunity to serve yet and we really look forward to working with you in all that God has planned for NeighborLink Porter County in 2010!

There are many stories like the one I am about to share with you, and it is incredible to be part of it all, we are very humbled. The week of Christmas, we received a call from some friends who are helping out with Neighborhood Ministry. They had taken a Christmas basket to a trailer in Portage. Upon their arrival, the family shared that they had no water, no heat and a large hole in the roof of their trailer that could see outside. Through their difficulties, they were still able to offer dessert to the family who had brought the basket! I received a call later that day, asking that these projects be posted to the NeighborLink Porter County website. I immediately obliged and then we all added this request to our Facebook pages. To our delight, we received a response within hours that there was a contractor in Illinois who would come out and take a look at the projects. On Christmas day, the contractor came out and took a look at things. Later that week, they got them water, set them up with some heaters and were looking into fixing the roof! Not only that, but they were going to supply them with a new furnace!

Again, this is just one of the many stories of how God has been working in Porter County this year. You can read more of our stories in earlier posts. Never in our wildest dreams of starting this organization did we imagine the enourmous things that God had planned. Present day miracles do happen, just keep reading!

With all of that said, there is still much work to be done. In 2009, NeighborLink volunteers completed over 80 projects! However, there were 80 projects that expired. This is where we need your help. We need you to help us spread the word about all that NeighborLink does. We need additional churches and volunteers to come on board with us to help fulfill the needs of those in our community and share the love of Christ. We need people who are passionate just like you!

We are looking forward to the coming year and working with those we have partnered with this past year. We are looking forward to Earth Day, ShareFest, Neighborhood Ministry and all of the opportunities that God presents us with this year. We hope to serve right along with you and as always, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us!

In Him,
Larry & Judy Alders

A Saturday To Remember!

2009-11-19T11:55:00.014-06:00

On Saturday, November 7th, over 30 people descended on this home from various churches and organizations. It belongs to a single Mom and her two great kids. We will call her Suzy. Suzy contacted NeighborLink Porter County because her roof was leaking rain water into her bedroom and onto her bed. These calls break my heart. I usually explain to callers that while I will be happy to post their project for them, this is a rather large project for NeighborLink to handle, and that I will be praying for their situation. Some of the calls sound so desperate and folks have no one else to turn too. It truly is heartbreaking and one of the tougher parts of my job.

Well, not this time! I made a few calls as I normally do and this time, this situation tugged on a few heart strings. We had some people who really wanted to take this project on, but we just weren't sure how we were going to pay for it. Larry and I had a speaking engagement at a church in Chesterton a week or so later and we shared all that God has been doing with NeighborLink. We talked about having some folks who really wanted to work on this project, but that we weren't sure if it was something that NeighborLink should take on or not. And we certainly didn't know where the money was going to come from. (NeighborLink's application for non-profit status is currently in the hands of the IRS. We are waiting to hear from them.) Would you believe that after we spoke at two services, we had several people come up to us who wanted to make a donation?!?! This came as a complete surprise to us! We were very humbled.

Later that week, we got word that two different anonymous donors had come forward! Can you believe it? So we started putting the word out to all of our volunteers. The folks that we had helped the weekend before with the garage tear down wanted to come and pay it forward!! We are in awe of just how awesome our God is!

There were so many people praying for this project. Praying for safety and for good weather. Would you believe that on November 7th, we almost broke a record and had a 70 degree day? It was gorgeous! And we accomplished so much! The volunteers tore two layers of shingles off and re-roofed this house in 7.5 hours. The men were incredible and determined. Not only was the roof completed, but the yard was cleaned up in the front and the back and part of the outside of the house was painted.

We and the homeowners are incredibly grateful for the volunteers and donors who made all of this possible. I often say that I have the best job in the world. That's because I get to see God work in miraculous ways all of the time and I am privileged to be a part of it.

In Him,
Larry & Judy Alders
NeighborLink Porter County

One Year Anniversary!

2009-10-15T11:54:00.005-05:00

Dear Friends,

My purpose for writing today is one-dimensional. I need prayer!

Here's why:

Judy and I have begun our second year with NeighborLink Porter County. After years of involvement with ShareFest Porter County, God revealed our passion for service to the community and led us to NeighborLink. Last year was awesome, over 70 projects were completed by 150 volunteers and coaches. This year starts out with another great ShareFest work day (this past Saturday) behind us, where hundreds of volunteers completed dozens of projects all over Porter County (Indiana). I worked (with Jake, Andrew and Sarah) on a tornado clean-up project where 80+ trees were downed on the property. It was great to see forty some strangers (strangers to the homeowner) come together and answer God's call for service. Some of the other projects included winterizing and fix-up at several trailer parks, yard work and painting.

Dustin and Amy Kirby partnered with us to help with the administration of NLPC. We had no idea what it takes to start a non-profit organization or the legal requirements involved. Truth-be-told we still don't but it is a lot easier with them beside us. Dustin and Amy both share our passion for service and are an inspiration to Judy and I as we serve. The world is a better place because of them and their faith in God. Dustin and Amy walk the talk. Not only do they serve locally, but, they have completed several international mission trips. Most recently they went to China and handed out bibles and conducted training. Thanks to them for their leadership and vision. We need more strong leaders with their heart to serve.

This year brings a whole new set of challenges. How do we continue to serve our God and do it better than last year? Prayer.

We have been able to fund the projects through donations of money, materials and labor. One that stands out is a painting project where the paint was provided by Home Depot (Behr paints), several neighbors and the NeighborLink project budget. The painting (I estimate over 300 man-hours) was done by volunteer’s from the Liberty Bible Church's senior high group, 6 people on an "alternative" spring break from Grand Rapids, MI., NPLC volunteers and several neighbors. The house looks great and the code inspectors are happy. Also, a plumbing project was completed for a house of three adults with no running water for the previous six months. Money for the materials was provided through a generous donation and the work was completed by a laid off plumber with a heart of gold.

The mission of NLPC is "Neighbor to Neighbor Expressions of God's Love", these are just a few of the many examples of the Expression of God's Love happening through Christ in our community. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Phil 4:13)

We are considering a roofing project for a single Mom and her two children. Right now when it rains, water comes into the Mom's bedroom and onto her bed. Not something many of us experience in life. Dustin met with her personally the other day and her attitude was great. No matter what she knows that God will provide for her. To the non-Christian that means someone will put a roof on for her. To me it means that God will fill all her needs and care for her whether she gets a new roof or not. This would be the largest project we have taken on so far. It sounds easy, take roof off, put roof on. And for most of us it is that easy. This Mom does not want to sleep on a wet bed, she has to. Without financial or physical means it is impossible. I don't know if NLPC should do this project or not. We don't have the "means" either. God knows the needs of the Mom and her children and will provide accordingly. With salvation comes all the "means" necessary in life. All we need is our salvation and God provides the rest.

We are close to filing the paperwork necessary to establish non-profit status for NeighborLink. Judy has been working tirelessly to get this done and with the help of several gracious volunteers it is close.

Our prayer needs are:

Pray that the love of God and the gift of salvation are the vehicle by which NeighborLink operates.

Pray that God will reveal leaders, volunteers and coaches all over the county with the passion to serve him.

Pray for continued support for the needs of the community to be met with donations.

Pray that the roofing project need is met by God's means.

Pray that the volunteers and coaches and leaders of NLPC represent the body of Christ in all that they do.

Pray for the completion of the necessary paperwork to get NLPC's non-profit status established.

Thanks for your prayers!,

Larry Alders

ShareFest Saturday, October 10th, 2009

2009-09-29T10:58:00.001-05:00

This is just a reminder that ShareFest Day is coming up. If you would like to sign up for a project to help serve a neighbor in need, please visit our website and click on the ShareFest tab in the upper right hand corner. From there you can click on the Valparaiso or Chesterton projects. There are projects being added almost daily, so feel free to check back often.

You can also serve by giving blood at one of the Blood Mobile's in Chesterton, Valparaiso, Portage and Kouts. We are collecting toilet paper, diapers and laundry detergent for the local food pantry's as well.

Please contact us if you have any questions!

In Him,
Larry & Judy
219-617-2077
NeighborLink Porter County

The House Is Complete!

2009-09-09T15:43:00.012-05:00

We wanted to take a few minutes and thank the MANY volunteers who came out to paint this house in Valparaiso for a gentleman who needed us. We started around the end of July and finished up at the beginning of September. It was worked on mainly on Saturdays. However, we couldn't have completed it without the help of two of the recipients neighbors. They worked throughout the weeks that we weren't able to be there. All together there were around 30 people who helped with prep by scrapping the house and the actual painting of the house.

We want to thank H ome De pot in Valparaiso and Behr who made donations and gave us discounts on paint. Not only that, but one of the neighbors came by and saw what was happening and she and her husband made a donation toward paint. We also received donations of paint supplies and ladders by various people.

The home owner is incredibly grateful for the help of the many volunteers who came to help him. We feel blessed and honored to be part of such an incredible organization!

Thank you,
Larry & Judy

Social Justice and NeighborLink

2009-09-04T11:12:00.004-05:00

Here are some powerful words from Andrew who is the Executive Director Of NeighborLink Fort Wayne......

Micah 6:8
8 He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

On Sunday, I had the opportunity to represent NeighborLink and share about social justice in a local context at Level 13, which is a church on the NE side of town. I wish you could have been there with me because it was such beautiful experience. Church was outside in a tent and the format was different than a traditional Sunday morning service because they were launching Mission68. It was broken down into three sections in order to highlight three missional priorities as a church as they align with this scripture in Micah. Both Michelle and I felt like family as we connected with the smaller congregation throughout the whole morning. If you're looking for a new church and live on the NE side of Fort Wayne, I encourage you to connect with them.

I had the privilege of sharing with that congregation the concept behind NeighborLink and the situations of our recipients. I also got to tell about the stories of what our volunteers are stepping into and how it goes far beyond just completing projects. I told them about volunteers helping with routine chores for people with disabilities and I was able to tell them about volunteers pooling their resources together to do what no one else would do or expect of them. I was so honored to tell them about a group of volunteers who would show up on a regular basis to take the trash out for a recipient and help them fold their laundry.

There was so much I wanted to tell Level 13 and to tell the "Church" of Fort Wayne about all the wonderful ways people are stepping into the gaps. I wanted to tell them that it's only the surface of what needs to be done.

God is being faithful to expose me to concepts of Social Justice. To me, Social Justice is when people go beyond the project and into figuring out the very structures/issues leading to need for help. Social Justice is when we go beyond just helping by mowing the yard and we offer to be the property caretakers for those who can no longer do it themselves. Social Justice calls us to take jobs in the social services sectors and work to change the very structures that are letting people in need fall through them. Social Justice is when we pack up our families and move them to an under-resourced area of town so we can make the schools and the neighborhoods better places to live and to be influences on the fatherless children. Social Justice may very well be the internal transformation of our hearts and actions because of the experiences we gain from serving.

I feel a great responsibility to be engaged with Social Justice issues. God has called me to share the good news with people who need it most. I know through experiences that it requires movement on my part and that the journey is going to be difficult. I have to go places I don't want go, do things I'd rather not, and interact with people and situations that are uncomfortable.

The greatest thing about the concept of Social Justice is that it can mean something totally different to you as you interact with the margins of our city. NeighborLink is an entry point for you to begin interacting with the concept of Social Justice that will lead you to other things you will see and require your attention.

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

~ James 2:14-17

ShareFest Saturday, October 10th, 2009

2009-09-01T16:44:00.003-05:00

Our annual ShareFest Day is coming up on Saturday, October 10th, 2009. Since 2004, ShareFest has been a day of service for Christians from all over Porter County to share their faith through deeds and actions. Four cities in Porter County will be participating: Chesterton, Valparaiso, Portage and Kouts.

This year ShareFest and NeighborLink Porter County will be joining forces. The projects that will be completed on the day of ShareFest in Chesterton and Valparaiso will be pulled from the NeighborLink Porter County website at NeighborLinkpc.org

Residents of Porter County can get involved by donating liquid laundry detergent, diapers, toilet paper and food items for the local food pantries.

Volunteers can serve by signing up for a work project at the website and by signing up to give blood at one of the local blood drives.

We hope that you can be a part of ShareFest this year!

In Him,
Larry & Judy Alders

On My Heart

2009-08-31T11:07:00.017-05:00

Our family has seen it's share of death. In the last three years, our children have lost a precious Grandma (my Mom), a beloved Uncle, a dear Grandfather (Larry's Dad) and most recently they lost a teacher. They have also seen every spectrum of dying. One died in a freak accident, one had been sick with cancer, one lived to be 88 years old and one's life was taken from them. I wonder how our little one's are dealing with all of this grief. It has been hard for me as an adult, so I can't imagine what must be going through our precious children' s minds.

For me, I can manage it all because my hope is not in this world, my hope is in Jesus Christ. I know that this fallen world is not all there is. Lately, we have had to continually remind the kids of this, but you just don't know how much they can grasp at each of their ages. This is part of why we started NeighborLink. We want to share with others who don't know Jesus personally. We choose to do that by being the hands and feet of Christ in the community. We want to be missionaries in our own back yards. We want YOU to have the HOPE that we have. Do you know that if you died today, that you would be in Heaven? WE DO. Life on earth can be great, but it can also be really tough and mean sometimes.

I was thinking about of a friend who got married last weekend. She and her new hubby are basking in the sun somewhere tropical right now. Do you know that feeling when your on vacation and you say to whomever your with, "lets just stay here and not go home." It feels so awesome to just relax and take in all the beauty that God has created. That is how I picture Heaven someday. It's going to be perfect, beautiful and amazing. I want you to have that hope too! THIS WORLD IS NOT ALL THERE IS!! This world is beautiful, but Heaven is going to be so much better.

So how do I get there you ask? Well, it's really very simple. John 3:16 says, For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. And Romans 3:23 says, For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. All you really need to do is recognize that you are a sinner, (we all are) ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins (that's why He died on the cross) and then ask Him to take control of your life. If you want to talk more about this, please call me.

I have been on vacation and thought, "I wish my whole family could be here to enjoy this, this place is so beautiful, I wish they could all be here to share this with me." I wish that for YOU today. I hope to see you in Paradise someday.

In Him,
Judy

Chesterton Tornado Clean Up

2009-08-24T16:18:00.012-05:00

As most of you know, on Wednesday, August 19th, at 7:35 pm Chesterton, Indiana was hit with an Ef2 tornado. While there were watches posted, there was no advance warning of the storm because there was a hardware failure on the sirens. The Chesterton Middle School roof was damaged as well as the Duneland Resale Shop. Several other businesses and homes have been damaged as well.

One of the garage's

The devastation is hard to believe, but what's more incredible is that fact that no one was seriously hurt when you look at these pictures. The tornado was Wednesday night, but it was Friday before we found out about the first family that we have been blessed to help. This family moved here two years ago from California. They moved into this home last year. There are well over 50 trees down on the property of four acres. These pictures don't do the devastation justice. The family has been overwhelmed with the generosity of those in our small town. There were several volunteers from the community on Saturday and over 20 on Sunday from the community and local churches.

This is the view from their front door.

Popolano's restaurant in Chesterton was kind enough to donate lunch for the volunteers who showed up on Sunday. We want to thank them for their generosity.

Their swimming pool

The garage attached to the house

This is just one family in Chesterton. We know that there are dozens more that will need help in the coming weeks and months. We hope that you will take this opportunity to reach out and help a neighbor in need. Please keep in mind, that if you know of someone who needs help, they can post their project on our NeighborLink Porter County website. If they don't have the Internet, they can call me and I will post the project for them. We will do our very best to help them.

In Him,
Larry & Judy Alders

Just Neighbors Helping Neighbors

2009-08-20T10:43:00.017-05:00

While this is not one of our traditional NeighborLink projects, it is the epitome of what NeighborLink is all about. Neighbors helping neighbors. On Saturday, August 15th, a group of us headed over to help a family from our church. They are in the middle of a re-model and it's crunch time as the home they are currently living in has recently sold. We had a great day. Lots of hard work, laughing and lunch! We really wished we could have finished the siding, but there is some work to be done yet.

Before

After

You can see the rest of the pictures on our Flickr page at the top of the blog on the left.

In Him,
Larry & Judy Alders

Go Day 8-1-09

2009-08-03T12:22:00.004-05:00

We had a great morning painting the house for our recipient on Saturday, August 1st. We got a lot done and had a couple of more volunteers join us. We were focusing on the front of the house. There is still much work to be done, but he is so grateful that work has begun. This will be the focus of our next few Go Days. We hope you can join us on an upcoming Saturday.

In Him,
Larry & Judy Alders

Alternative Spring Break Saturday

2009-07-27T12:04:00.011-05:00

NeighborLink had an awesome day on Saturday when a group of college kids came down from Kalamazoo to serve a neighbor in need. They came down to help paint this house for a gentleman who is in code violation in Valparaiso. Let me explain a code violation. Each town has standards that home owners must abide by. When your home isn't up to "code," the town will send you a notice that you must make the necessary repairs. If you do not, they can then begin to fine you until the work is done. As a worse case scenario, the amount of fines could be so much that they then place a lien on your home. We had the privilege of helping this gentleman out.

This is Allison, she and some of her friends from the Learning Center in Chesterton came down to help as well.

Larry is teaching the boys a thing or two about painting. There are quite a few other pictures of just how much fun our kids had painting here at Flickr page.

This is part of the finished product and all of the dedicated volunteers we had to help us get this project off the ground. As you can see, there is much work to be done. We will again be painting this Saturday August 1st if you would like to come out and serve for a few hours.

Thanks to the Kalamazoo Crew for all of their hard work!

In Him,
Larry & Judy Alders

Great NeighborLink Project and Volunteers

2009-07-15T08:55:00.007-05:00

On June 13^th, a group of helping hands answered a call for help that was posted to the NeighborLink Porter County website. They gathered in Wheeler to help a family in need. A wheelchair ramp to the back of their home was constructed too steep. So caring carpenters tore it out and built a better more useful ramp. Under the leadership of George Rieger, the Missions Committee of Ogden Dunes Community Church, organized the project and on a drizzly and cloudy Saturday morning, no less than 10 ODCC people descended on Wheeler to hammer out their faith and help out this needy family. Afterwards the team gathered at Quiznos for a celebration lunch. After a few blisters, bumps and bruises, the project was complete. Come join us for our next project!

Join Us For Our Next Go Day

2009-06-29T14:40:00.002-05:00

We will be having our next Go Day on Saturday, July 11th. We will be meeting in the cafe at Liberty Bible Church at 8:00am for a short time of fellowship and prayer and then we will head out for a few hours of service. I know for a fact that we will be painting a house for a gentleman who has received a notice from the City Of Valparaiso that his house is in code violation and needs to be repainted or they will start fining him. We had a wonderful group of youth group kids from Liberty Bible Church that went and scraped his house for him in just a few short hours. This man was so grateful. And I know he will be that much happier if we can also get it painted for him! Please let us know if you can help!

Also, we found out about a family in Portage who have been living without indoor plumbing since Christmas when the pipes in their mobile home burst. If you have any plumbing experience or know someone who does, we really want to help this family out.

Since NeighborLink started in October of last year, we have completed over 45 projects! We are so grateful for those of you who have literally been the hands and feet of Christ and who are reaching out to your neighbors! This organization could not exist without you! So thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

In Him,
Larry & Judy

New Website and Logo

2009-06-11T10:52:00.002-05:00

We just wanted to let you know, that we have been working on updating some functions and content on the website and you can now view the changes here. We are very excited about the look of the website and our new Logo. The functions that you are used to have remained, but the look is different. We want to thank our web guy, Bill over at Midwest Web Works for a job well done. Bill is always great to work with and does a great job! We would love to know what you think of the new design.

We are humbled and grateful to our wonderful volunteers who have completed over 40 projects since our launch of NeighborLink in October. None of this would be possible without you. We hope that you will be inspired to get out and serve some of your neighbors this summer. It is a very rewarding job!

In Him,
Larry & Judy Alders