I plopped hot dogs, buns, and strawberries in a bag on my passenger seat, plugged an address into my phone, whizzed down a windy road in Athens, and arrived at my destination: a house with people swarming on the driveway and lawn. I had arrived at Ekklesia’s Backyard VBS and knew only one person who was going to be there. I was a stranger to the masses – an outsider who wanted to come help.

Children were running around donned with tie-dye shirts and sticky fingers. Parents were talking in groups and beginning to play music. I walked past the crowd seeking out the one person I knew. Her name is Rhonda, and she is my mentor.

How did I end up in the backyard of a strangers house with kids pulling me in a million different directions? Rhonda. And a calling deep within my soul to step out of my comfort zone into situations where my hands can help.

At the turn of this year, I was challenged to get a mentor – someone to do life with, to learn from, and to speak truth into my life. To me, a mentor is not someone who silently listens and then fills my head with “to-do’s,” but a mentor is someone who is a partner as we both walk through different stages of life. One day I simply walked up to Rhonda at the gym and asked a simple, yet bold question:

“Would you like to be my mentor?”

Me, I just graduated college in 2012 and have a job. No husband. No children. No pets. I’m still a child at heart trying to navigate the seas of adulthood and trying to figure out what life looks like as an active participant.

Rhonda has a beautiful family and has a full time job (of loving the Athens community). A husband. Two wonderful children (and many many more “adopted” ones). And a grandchild. She is a wise adult living a radical life of service.

She has arrived at parenthood and aims to live the rest of her life loving others.

So, I jumped at the opportunity to submerge myself in her community and to help where I could. Quickly after arriving at VBS, Rhonda had escorted me around and introduced me to everyone. Dean. Jonathan. Heather. Three out of forty names I can remember! But everyone welcomed me with a smile and open arms.

The most memorable part of the day was jumping in to a new situation and having the opportunity to really use my gifts to help out. I arranged food on tables, helped pour drinks for everyone, and washed dishes at cleanup. Simple. Easy. Why have I always looked for difficult ways to serve others?

Helping out doesn’t have to be extravagant.

Just be practical. Next time you have the opportunity to be practical and to lend a helping hand, I challenge you to take a step out of comfort. Step out of the boat of normality and ask how you can help. I’m positive you will be a blessing in someone’s life.