New Haven School Project

During a sleepless night leading up to Weekend of Service, I was contemplating how to get 20 pieces of 12 foot 2x6 concrete form material and 125 pieces of 20-foot long steel reinforcement bar to a pre-scheduled crew that would be waiting for me at the New Haven School Project the next day. I said a prayer for guidance since I do not own a vehicle that could carry this material. I was immediately overcome with a sense of calm and the notion that “he” would be there to help. I wasn’t sure who “he” was, but I was able to get some rest that night.

The next day after work, I drove to Home Depot off College and 78 to pick up the material. When the sales person asked what I was driving I told her a Honda Accord. She asked if I was going to drag the material to the job site. I said no I was waiting for my “God” friend that I had never met, didn’t yet know, and didn’t know when he was going to show up. I told her that I had prayed for him the night before and he should be there any minute. She told me she thought I was crazy when I ordered all of the material to be pulled from the shelf and prepared for loading. I then stood by the door and waited, she waited with me. Less than five minutes later, a man I later learned was Tony, showed up with his concrete company truck and racks. A bit stand-offish at first, Tony was more than willing to help once he heard about our weekend of service. We had his truck loaded and we were driving toward the waiting crew at New Haven in less than 30 minutes from the time I pulled into the Home Depot parking lot. The sales person said she was totally amazed witnessing what had just happened.

Tony shared with me that he was not going to stop at that Home Depot until he felt an overwhelming sense that he needed to exit the freeway and check on some pricing for his crews. I told him that God had sent him to me. He responded with a smile. Tony offered to help with the concrete pour, provide equipment, tools and material if we needed it. He also came out on Mother’s Day morning after the pour to cut the slab on his time with his equipment. One last thing, Tony thanks God for his success in his business. He said he also grew up in a school very similar to New Haven when he was young. He has a very special soft spot for this type of effort for these kids.

It is amazing how this whole event unfolded. Praise to Him. In His glory. 

Craig Connelly
Project Manager for New Haven School Project