We Need More Reservists like Glenda Alexander!

When large disasters strike, the Hope Force International headquarters in Brentwood, Tennessee becomes a wild scene of papers flying, phones ringing off the hook, strategy meetings, prayer and ?organized chaos.? In the midst of it all, there is one Reservist who consistently jumps in to join the craziness, both on the field and in the office: Glenda Alexander. With an amazing gift mix of energy, creativity, compassion and servant?s heart, we rejoice when she shows up on the scene!

Glenda first met HFI Founders Jack and Cherie Minton over three decades ago. Little did she know all those years later that she?d be sitting in the first-ever Hope Force Reservist Training class in Atlanta, Georgia in 2005. Though Glenda attended largely to encourage her friends, she recognized that her own life story theme was consistently jumping in to help those in crisis. Disaster response seemed to be just one more expression of that calling.

Glenda landed her first deployment after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast. From then on, there was no stopping her! Whether bandaging wounds in a ?mash unit? hospital in Haiti after the earthquake, coordinating logistics for supplies post-Cedar Rapids floods, orchestrating feeding hundreds of meals on a food canteen, sitting quietly to listen to hundreds of survivor stories or running errands for a frenzied home office staff, Glenda?s presence leaves an impact.

With over 1800 hours served, Glenda still exclaims, ?Whatever hat I wear is fabulous!?  Her first trip to Haiti after the earthquake changed the course of her life. She felt a challenge from God to take her serving to a new level. Returning home, she charged ahead with EMT certification courses, graduating with accolades.

Glenda?s heart is drawn to the ?invisible ones? ? those on the periphery of the chaos, easily overlooked. Each deployment she prays, ?Lord, give me eyes to see the ones hidden.? Every time, God?s faithfulness knits at least three individuals to her heart. For each of those, she carries the burden home with her, praying often for the ones she?s grown to love.

Each deployment brings a new level of learning and understanding about those in crisis. Most recently, Glenda served as a Chaplain in Hazlet, New Jersey, months after Super Storm Sandy struck the coast. Residents came to an assistance center and Glenda listened. Most were angry, discouraged, waiting for insurance help and generally emotionally battered. Reality had hit full force and all recognized their lives would never be as before. Glenda?s infectious warmth and compassion provided an oasis of hope in the midst.

Glenda and her husband, Steve, work as a team in serving with Hope Force. While Glenda normally responds on the field, Steve provides technical support to the office, keeps her ?balanced? and covered in prayer and works with his employer, Chevron, to take advantage of matching grants from the company. (Chevron even gives HFI grants for their hours of service!) One day soon, they dream of being full-time Hope Force staff. As Glenda exclaimed, ?When you go to serve those who are hurting, God shows up in a mighty way!?