Hope Force Welcomes New Staffers

Davey is a California boy;
Jess is a Jersey girl.
Davey loves cheesecake;
Jess is still trying to make a good cheesecake for Davey.
Jess is an early bird;
Davey is a night owl.
Jess likes when the dishes are done before going to bed;
Davey says, 'We'll do them tomorrow', but then does them for her anyway.
April 6, 2012: As the newest members of the HFI staff, Davey and Jess Anderson brought their unique dynamic to the Hope Force team just in time to respond to the tornado outbreak that that swept through the Midwest and Southeast in early March. The Andersons recently finished a Discipleship Training School at Youth With A Mission's University of the Nations in Kona, Hawaii. The Crossroads DTS they participated in involves 12 weeks of classroom teaching, followed by an 8-12 week outreach.

The Andersons heard about YWAM through Hope Force co-founders Jack and Cherie Minton, who Davey referred to as a mentor couple for him and Jess. "One day when Jess and I were talking with Jack and Cherie, I told them about my interest in finding a Bible school with a worship program," Davey said. "They said that they attended YWAM when they were newly married, and it was a wonderful time of Bible training that had been foundational for their marriage and ministry. Our initial response was of disinterest, figuring we were no longer 'youth', but God had other plans for us." After completing their Crossroads DTS, Davey and Jess decided to join Hope Force because of their shared interest in disaster relief.
"September 11th first inspired me to become an emergency room nurse, with the eventual goal of doing medical missions overseas and helping with disaster relief work," Jess said. "When the earthquake hit Haiti I wanted to go, as there was immense need for medical professionals. Unfortunately, it didn't work out for me to go at that time, but as a result of our desire to serve, we decided to join Hope Force. We immediately knew that this was something God wanted us to be involved in."

The couple was in the process of moving from California to the Hope Force headquarters in Tennessee earlier this month when an outbreak of severe tornadoes hit the Midwest and Southeast. The day after their arrival in Nashville, the Andersons headed for Harvest, Alabama, where Hope Force provided disaster relief to those affected by the tornadoes. Along with other HFI Reservists, they tarped roofs, cleaned up debris and provided the "ministry of presence" for those whose homes had been destroyed.

Davey and Jess immediately followed their deployment to Harvest with a trip to Marysville, Indiana -- a town that was literally wiped off the map because of the tornadic storms. According to Jess, "The people who live there are resilient and love each other and their community. It was so sweet to see them helping each other amidst their own tragedy and loss. Most of the week, we ran the food tent for the Salvation Army. Not the most glamorous job, but you'd be surprised how far a good hot meal can go. I also made tuna noodle casserole for the first time... for over 200 people and more banana pudding than you can imagine. Everyone went nuts over the banana pudding."

Davey and Jess met Helen, one of many whose homes were rendered virtually uninhabitable by the destruction. "Helen's husband is about to finish his 100th day in a rehab facility," explains Jess. "He also recently stopped eating. She said she doesn't think it will be much longer and she doesn't know what to do. We prayed with her and just listened to her talk. It's a helpless feeling when someone has so much need and you can't do anything tangible to help. However, at the Hope Force Reservist Training we went to a few years ago, we learned about the "ministry of presence." Just being there with someone, offering a hug or listening to their story is so important. Helen's daughters were there to help and they are determined to rebuild."

"Tornados, or any disaster for that matter, are really devastating," Jess said. "But people are resilient, strong and courageous. It was amazing to hear their stories and to be there for them during this time. We know that we are in the right place for such a time as this. We love working with Hope Force and can't wait to see what God has in store!"