There hasn't been time tonight to get team write ups. So let me just tell you a little bit about what the youth accomplished this week.
Site 1 - This job site was a home set up through the Leicester Charge. At this home, there was a deck with a roof over it that was very unsafe. The deck and roof were removed before our group arrived, and work teams 1 and 2 spent the week rebuilding the deck and getting it ready for a roof to be added.
Site 2 - This job site was also a home set up through the Leicester Charge. This home quite literally had a jungle in the back yard. You could not walk between the fence and the back of the home. On the side of the house, a tree had grown through the gutter. The basement had some flooding as well. Monday, James Meacham led group 5 (and parts of group 3) to clear all of the overgrowth between the house and the fence, removed the tree that had grown through the gutters, and removed some other dead trees. Group 2 replaced and added some pickets to a deck and stairs, repaired some flagstone steps, cleaned up and dried the floor of the basement, and began painting the basement with a sealer. Group 7 finished off the site by adding 2 more coats of the sealer and removing a bunch of water damaged items from the basement (they enjoyed having some "break room" moments.
Site 3 - Another Leicester Charge site. Group 4 started off at this site and removed an unsafe deck, sured up some steps for entry into the home, and began putting in some sheet rock. Group 5 came and did a great job with some yard work at the site. Group 6 finished off the week at this site and finished cleaning up the deck, removed the skirting from the trailer, hung sheet rock, sanded sheet rock, and did some mudding/taping of some sheet rock.
Covenant Community - Groups 8, 7, 3, and 4 spent a day at Covenant Community UMC. These groups helped paint some storage containers with primer, preparing them for some murals to be painted. They also took a part a number of pallets and began building some raised beds for The Village Community (30+ RV's that are housing folks displaced from Hurricane Helene).
Deep Time/Safe Shelter/12 Baskets - All 8 groups spent time here. They heard the story of Deep Time and learned how to roast coffee. The groups helped with a variety of projects with Safe Shelter. Everything from spreading mulch to cleaning an apartment to help a family transition from housing at Safe Shelter to an apartment. Most of the groups got to share a meal at 12 Baskets and got some time to mingle with the usual guests at the the cafe.
Hope United - Group 6 went to Hope United Methodist Church to help organize a food pantry, help clean up some different areas of the church, and pulled weeds outside.
Bounty and Soul - Group 5 went to Bounty and soul and helped pack 2000 bags of potatoes that later were at Covenant Communities community feed. They also made a connection at another mission across the street that we have some youth going to serve tomorrow before they do the pilgrimage walk.
Love and Respect - Group 2 spent a day at Love and Respect and helped with things needed for a new respite house that Love and Respect just obtained.
Raw Tools - Group 2 also went to Raw Tools, a ministry that takes guns that are turned in and makes them into gardening tools. They got to help hammer and forge some of the projects Raw Tools are currently working on.
Safelight - Group 1 spent a day at Safelight. Safelight is an agency that provides resources for folks that are survivors of interpersonal violence, abuse, and exploitation. The group helped with some needed cleaning for Safelight.
Yard work with Leicester - James led the yard work efforts all week. Groups 5 and 8 each spent two days with him working at up to 3 homes a day. They mowed, trimmed trees and bushes, cleared brush, and laid mulch. The homeowner of site 2 told a friend about what the group had done, and the group even responded to her friend's request to help with her yard as well.
There is no way this covers all the things the group did. Sometimes it is hard to really put into words impact. Here is just one message we have received this week.
"I'm circling back to see how the meal was received, but really to thank you. I didn't realize what type of mission you were on this week. I, and I'm sure the families you are helping, are so grateful for the mindfulness you applied to your good works. I feel your group has truly walked the path of agape and Christian love with your efforts. You have helped our little store more than you know, and I cannot thank you enough"
Best Regards,
David"
David is one of the caterers we used this week. When he was dropping off food, he was amazed to hear the stories of what these youth were doing. Talking with him that night, he was genuinely moved by the young people on this trip.
We are all proud of the youth and how hard they have worked. It has been really cool seeing the connectional nature of the UMC. Having folks from local churches making bracelets for the youth, cooking for our team, delivering snacks to job sites, and encouraging all of the youth.
Many have expressed that they have felt like they had nothing to give in flood recovery work, but have figured out they can play a role to support the work. Bishop Carter talked to the youth on Sunday about revival happening. Being up here in Asheville and seeing all these local churches at work, it really does feel like revival is happening.
Tomorrow is a pilgrimage with "the Kevins" at Christmount in Black Mountain. They youth will go on a reflective hike/walk and end with worship and sharing of Communion. We will the attend a block party at Covenant Community UMC.
I'm sure I am leaving some out, but here is the connectional body of the UMC at work. This week this is all of the UMC churches that have invested in supporting this trip:
Covenant Community UMC, Abernathy UMC, Trinity UMC, Grace UMC, Bell UMC, Big Sandy UMC, Acton UMC, Francis Asbury UMC, Black Mountain UMC, Reeves Chapel UMC (property), Mt. Tabor UMC, Guilford College, and Williamson's Chapel UMC.
We are better together.
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