Youth Return from Appalachia Service Project With More Than a Toolbox
Eliot Church of Newton Volunteers Experience Grace in Abundance
 A group of volunteers from the Youth Ministry at The Eliot Church in Newton returned from a week of service in Lee County, Virginia, and brought back gifts of grace.
Working as part of Appalachia Service Project -- a Johnson City, Tennessee-based home repair ministry -- the group of ten senior high youth and four adults helped to provide urgently needed fixes free of charge to the houses of two families in that poverty-stricken area.
"Our work included building a deck, completing a bedroom addition from the wallboard out, building underpinning protection, and soffit and siding work at two separate locations," said Cammie Pettingell, adult volunteer. "This year's ASP theme is 'Not by force, nor by strength, but by the spirit' and points directly to experience that each person had on this trip."
According to Associate Pastor the Rev. Karla Jean Miller, the trip took months to plan, in terms of group building and study as well as fundraising. The cost for each person was around $1100, which included airfare, van rentals, room and board, and costs of supplies. Each volunteer was responsible for half the cost, while fundraisers covered the rest. Some of the fundraising ideas were quite unique. The youth sold "stock options" to family and friends, inviting them to invest in this important ministry. After the trip, each shareholder received a photo card and thank you from the group. The team members also offered several days of childcare at the church during the Christmas season, which was a big hit. In addition, they sold a special Appalachian bean soup mix to the church members.
"It was a lot of money to raise, but with thoughtful planning, and because of the amazing support of the congregation and family and friends, it was easier than we thought it would be, and ended up being a lot of fun," Miller said.
Seminarian Intern Kurt Walker explained how some of the kids were transformed not only by having to deal directly with the uncomfortable living conditions in which their host families lived, but by the abundance of grace and hospitality with which the host families opened their homes and their lives to them -- complete strangers. One youth commented on how happy one host family appeared.
"To see how truly joyous this one family was in their condition spoke dramatically to what it truly means to be thankful to God for everything we are given," said volunteer Michael Atkinson.
One parent at one of the homes mentioned to the group: "This is all I have ever known and all I have ever loved. I could never imagine living anywhere else or living any other way. This is who I am and I wouldn't have it any other way."
Walker believes that one of the most important gifts that the youth received during this trip is their ability to better see the face of the divine in others that live a completely different life than the one they lead. "It is important to meet these families where they are in their lives and not try to control where they are or try to get them to change their lives," said Walker. "These youth were given an opportunity to build relationships between themselves and the host families and to see these families as brothers and sisters in Christ."
Rev. Miller can be reached at the church office at (617) 244-3639, or office@eliotchurch.org. (Note: Kurt Walker is now serving as a youth minister at United Parish of Auburndale.)
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