It Takes a Village

Last semester, I once again enrolled in an Honors Biology class. A requirement for the course was to do a thesis on anything related to Botany or Natural Selection.

In light of the devastating beetle kill to both Colorado and Canadian forests, I decided to study the Lodgepole Pine infestation.

Aside from the research, I was also required to perform 30 hours of community service related to the project. I fulfilled this requirement by setting up collection cans throughout the community to raise money to purchase fire resistant trees that would begin a reforestation program for Colorado. In truth, I was overwhelmed by the workload and knew that this was bigger than one person; it was going to take somnething bigger than me!

The eight little collection cans raised a humble $99.45; not bad for loose change over a few weeks time! But the miracle began to occur like it did with the story of the "fishes and loaves" and before I knew it, Whitley's school was involved, the YMCA of the Rockies and then the US Forest Service!

The catalyst that started exponential change is when I learned that Whitley's school was taking a trip to the YMCA of the Rockies the second week of school. I heard that their science teacher, Mr. Bryant, wanted to do something related to the Lodgepole pine beetle. So, I got with him, explained that I had just done some research on this and could I help?

"Could I help!", he exclaimed. The school trip had been put together in a matter of days as a trip normally taken later in the year, had been changed. He had been trying to get resources pulled together, but knew they would not arrive in time. My work was an answered prayer!

In turn, Mr. Bryant was my answered prayer as I was in need of utilizing this money and completing my community service hours. Mr. Bryant had a lead on wholesale trees and estimated he would be able to purchase not a hundred, but one thousand trees with our humble change!!! WOW!!! I could hardly believe it! So, I wrote a check to the YMCA of the Rockies, which coincidentally sits right next to the US Reforestation Grid in Granby, CO!!!! Mr. Bryant and the school plan to pass on the funds, where the trees will then be purchased and 1,000 new trees will then be replanted at this beautiful facility that has provided healthy activities, both physically and spiritually, for almost a century!

In a day and age where the value of the dollar is shrinking, who would think that a bunch of pennies could make a difference? In truth, it probably wouldn't, but with God NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE!!!! Truly, it takes Him and a village!