To Appalachia with Love, by Vaughan (Bubba) Wagoner

On October 9, 12 of us from St. Michael's set out for a couple days of mission work with Appalachian Service Project (ASP) in the hills of West Virginia. This trip came about after the Missions' Committee decided to try something different. Previous trips had been a week or so in duration, and we realized that many folks at the church simply could not commit to a week away from job, family, etc. So, this trip was designed for a long weekend that might work better for some, and might also allow family participation. We had never partnered with ASP before, but several folks were familiar with the organization and had worked with them in previous years, and their mission of improving the housing facilities in an impovishered area is certainly consistent with what we're trying to do thru St. Michael's mission work.

Several things struck me as the trip unfolded. First was the region - coal mining country, where mining still goes on but jobs are scarce because of automation in the the mining industry. What used to take 20 workers to do, is now done by 2 workers with machinery. And the isolation - it was a 40 minute drive to get to a lumber store or a hardware store. Same thing for health care services. A lot of money is used up just getting around. Makes one think about the real definition of "need."

Second is the amazing willingness of people to stretch themselves WAY beyond what they may perceive as the limits of their capabilities, when answering the call to be the hands and feet of Christ. If we had asked the group of 12 volunteers that went on this trip if they could install carpet, or hang crown moulding, or erect roof supports, I'd guess that most would have said, "No," but, that's exactly what we did on the two dwellings we worked on. And that feeling of accomplishment that you get when you stretch yourself, and achieve something greater, is hard to describe.

And finally, the opportunity to get to know fellow members of St. Michaels is always a treat. Folks from all sorts of backgrounds, with some GREAT stories of their life's journeys, assembled for a common cause to serve God thru working to improve the lives of others. Seeing folks as they are when they get up in the morning, when they work hard and do it right as well as make a few mistakes, and when they relax and talk about themselves and the world around them, is a recipe for building bonds that just cannot happen in more formal settings.

Thanks to each of the folks that participated - John and Susan and Nikki Eick, Scott Reid, Nanci Atkenson, John Dempster, John McHenry, Phil Lambe, McKenzie Smith, Kathy Smith, and Roxanne Gwyn. "Christ has no hands but yours, no feet but yours."