This week we are saying a bittersweet goodbye to a staff member who has given her time and abundant talents to Compassion Connect’s mission for over five years. Our staff is going to deeply miss Lisa but we know God has amazing things ahead of her on this new stage of her journey. Thank you Lisa for being a wonderful co-worker and co-laborer over these past five years!
God provides the right people at the right time and in the right way. Many times, it’s not how you expect and sometimes we push ahead before listening to God. Lisa was a Godsend. I will never forget the interview at Starbucks in Clackamas Town Center. It is still the only time I’ve ever offered a job on the spot. I was struggling to figure out how do we actually grow up and stop doing our bookkeeping in Excel and how do we plan a banquet in the next few months, and I never thought God would bring someone who could help with both those issues.
Lisa stepped in and didn’t look back. It has been such a sweet 5 years and we have all matured, grown children, celebrated, and cried together. There is nobody I know who exudes “together” better than Lisa. She shares her home, her time, her energy with so many. If I wasn’t feeling convicted about how giving her and the To family are I was feeling protective and asking “are you sure you guys are getting enough of your own time.”
Lisa has brought 5 years of laughter, donuts, and birthday cakes, and amazing banquet evenings. I will personally miss having such a strong Timbers comrade in the office and I think the rest of the team will be bummed that I have to talk Timbers with them instead.
Finally, the one thing I appreciate most is that Lisa sacrificially served the mission of unity and compassion for 5 years in ways that didn’t quite fit her passion/gifting area. The financial administration needed a lot of help and shepherding and she stuck with it to keep us healthy. She loves event planning and any of you who attended a banquet in the last 5 years knows just how wonderful those evenings were, but she also gave countless hours in frustrating administrative quagmires in order that the mission of spreading the love and compassion of Jesus far and wide could continue on. I will be forever thankful for Lisa, her friendship, and her service with Compassion Connect.
—Milan
Lisa,
Everyone is fully aware that we would be under fraud charges from the IRS had it not been for your faithful diligence. From your extended grace on overdue receipts to office birthday celebrations, you have loved well. You are a dyed in the wool, Jesus socialite. Especially you exemplify Jesus’ request to his Father that they love one another. You are so deeply loved. I will miss you terribly.
—Gary
Lisa,
THANK YOU! It’s the thing that comes to mind instantly when I think about you. You have been so patient, loving and helpful. Your help and friendship has been appreciated so much more than you can know. I’ve enjoyed working with you and will miss you very much, but I am excited for your new adventures. I hope that our paths with cross again in a context that doesn’t involve you having to fix my messes!
—Jennelle
Lisa,
You are not only a hard-worker and organizer extraordinaire but also your contagious joy brightens the office every week! We will miss your smile, hard work, and gentle reminders to keep everyone in line (and the donuts of course), but I am so excited to see where this next phase in the journey of life leads! It has been an absolute joy to work with you over this past year!
—Dana
As a volunteer and then as a staff team member, I have had the privilege of working with Lisa for over 5 years. Her diligence and attention to detail are awe-inspiring to say the least! I especially love how Lisa doesn’t forget a birthday or the fact that a co-worker prefers #2 lead pencils. She remained a committed servant and faithful friend even in the midst of chaos and confusion, helping to bring structure, consistency and donuts wherever and whenever needed. Lisa will be greatly missed!
—Linda
Lisa,
We will miss your positive and cheerful presence in the office! You have a servant’s heart and work hard to make events special for others. You are patient and always willing to help when I have questions. I know that you will bring all these attributes to your next job and that they will love you as much as we do! I pray for God’s blessings as you start your new position and that you feel his presence with you there. Thank you so much for all your years of service to Compassion Connect and helping it to grow into the ministry it is today.
Love,
Rachel
Lisa,
I have so enjoyed getting to work alongside you over these last few years. When you and Joel took me in for a few weeks when I first moved to Portland it was confirmation my family was in the right place and, in a small way, therapeutic after the long winding journey we had been on before arriving in PDX. God has given you the gift of hospitality, and it is so valuable to us all who get to serve alongside you. It’s not just that you care for people yourself, but that its a trait that is contagious to others you rub shoulders with. Around the office you’ll be missed a whole lot, but I’m so ever grateful to know you and call you and Joel a friend. Best wishes to you on your new adventures!
—Ray
Lisa has been always a light in Compassion Connect with a big smile and fun talks. Even when the subject of a conversation was deep, whether in a meeting setting or in a private talk, she brought a laughter at the end of the talk. She was the ice breaker of Compassion Connect. Lisa also was a superior event coordinator that Compassion Connect owes a lot. It was Lisa who is to be credited for all the joy we had at annual banquets. Thank you, Lisa!
God Bless,
Shinji
Lisa,
You have been a constant positive presence during my time at Compassion Connect and it is going to be strange not sitting next to you every Monday anymore! I am very sad that you are leaving but I love that you are pursuing new opportunities that are more in line with your passion. Watching you wrestle the books into submission and calmly pulling off the banquet each year has me convinced that you can do absolutely anything. 🙂 You are such a gifted organizer, servant leader, and relational includer and I know your new coworkers are going to love you just as much as we do.
Thank you for bringing to much joy to the office over these past years. You definitely leave behind a legacy that won’t be forgotten.
Love and hugs,
Anna
