Current News from Mountain Hope
By Rachel Parsons
The phrase “build up hope” is often used to describe the work that the Mountain Hope Initiative does in McCreary County. However, when I first began work as the KBF/Mountain Hope intern last summer, I didn’t realize just how literally these words could be taken. Thanks to partnerships with organizations like the McCreary County Community Housing Development Corporation (McCHDO) and Hills and Hollers, as well as high-profile events like Extreme Build, Mountain Hope really is building hope and showing what a difference having a place to call home can make in the lives of an entire family
Working out of the McCHDO office during both of my summer internships, I have had the opportunity to see a lot of building firsthand, and even get in on the action at times. For me, these tangible expressions of caring and support have been the most meaningful experiences I have had with KBF. Having the chance to help my fellow community members has meant more to me than I ever thought that it would. I come from a family that has been living on the same road in southern McCreary County for the past six generations, so I have always felt very connected to my home county. However, working with KBF and its partners has made me more aware of some of the problems poverty has created in my hometown but, more than that, I now feel more empowered to do something about it, which has been, hands down, the best part of my experience. Mountain Hope has shown me what can be accomplished when concerned groups and individuals work together and it seems that the future for McCreary County, and even Appalachia as a whole, is looking nothing less than hopeful.
By Emilee Causey
Kentucky Baptist Fellowship Intern
Nada, KY
On Sunday, July 8, ten kids from Nada, ten kids from Owsley County and four chaperones boarded a bus and a van to attend Crossings Christian Youth Camp at Jonathon Creek in western Kentucky. It was a quiet ride to the camp, as the two groups did not know each other; a fact which changed quickly after the first night, but living with people for a week helps with that.
The four full days of camp were filled with activities from 8:30am until it was time to be in our rooms at 11:00pm. Breakfast, Time Alone With God, morning celebration, Points of Interest (areas of interest that the campers chose, such as water sports, climbing and sign language), lunch, Bible study groups, team building groups, free time, dinner, evening worship and fellowship/free time. All of which encouraged the kids to get to know other church groups in a Christian atmosphere. Day one proved a little difficult in keeping up with everyone’s itinerary but by day four the kids impressed me by telling me where they went next.
Like most kids at the camp, being away from the everyday environment allowed our group to really look at who they are and what kind of person God wants them to be. Many had never considered God’s will before and were affected by the statement that “a Christian life looks like something.” Two of our group made professions of faith in Jesus that week because they recognized a different way to live.
I cannot express enough thanks for those who work at the camp. Their patience and extra time spent with the campers, even if they were just eating lunch, helped make the experience meaningful for all of us. The kids made friends with the staff, campers from other churches and with each other. The theme of Crossings this year was “One: One Truth, One Lord, One Hope, One Call.” The theme also applied to us on the way home, as one group.
I definitely want to thank those churches who contributed to our trip:
Hardin Baptist Church and First Missionary Baptist in Benton, KY for the camper fees; Zion’s Cause (bus) and First Baptist Church Frankfort (van) for getting us there; Central Baptist Church Bearden, Knoxville, TN for toiletries, towels, lunches to and from camp and some clothing; Providence Baptist Church, Charlotte, NC for luggage; thank you to Jerry and Rita Newsome for providing a chaperone, being a chaperone and for the little extras that helped make the camp special; and a special thank you to Paula Settle for organizing the entire trip. Thank you all for this opportunity to build relationships with God.
To see more pictures of Crossings go to www.flickr.com/photos/emileeinnada/
A few final things:
More pictures have been added to Flickr. You can find the link in a previous post.
Also, here is the link to another Extreme Build article, this one from the McCreary County Record: http://www.mccrearyrecord.com/local/local_story_199092155.html
Thanks again to everyone who participated for making Extreme Build 2007 such a success. I’m looking forward to next year!
By Rachel Parsons
Kentucky Baptist Fellowship/Mountain Hope Intern
After a week full of hard work, fellowship, and, yes, a little chaos, the second annual McCreary County Extreme Build has come to an end. A dedication ceremony was held today and Richard, Ricky, Bradley, Courtney, Skye, and Matthew Garland became the official residents of 20 Godby Trail. Lead team members Charlie Gatton, Rhonda Abbott Blevins, Conway Stone, John Lepper, and Donna Thrush each had a few moments to share what Extreme Build has meant to them and welcome the Garlands to their new home. Holly Hopkins, a represetative from Senator Jim Bunning’s office was also present and shared a few words on the senator’s behalf.
Richard was also given an opportunity to share his feelings about the whole experience, which has been overwhelming for him and the children. Humbly, and a little tearfully, he thanked the volunteers for donating their time to the project and for their willingness to help the family. Although it sounds cliche, it really re-emphasized something that most of the volunteers already knew; all the hard work and long hours were well worth it because of how much this house will mean for the family. Donna Thrush, Executive Director of the McCreary County Community Housing Development Corporation, has often pointed out the power that housing has to change lives and bring healing. While owning a house will certainly not make life perfect for the Garlands or keep them from facing difficulties and challenges in life, it will give them a sense of security that comes from being able to call some place home. Extreme Build marks a new beginning for the Garland family and, hopefully, life at 20 Godby Trail will be full of blessings and God’s love.
By Rachel Parsons
Kentucky Baptist Fellowship/Mountain Hope Intern
Day four and the momentum continues at Extreme Build. Some of the major highlights include a finished roof, drywall, and siding. Crews have been working nearly round the clock (As of 9 p.m., volunteers were still hard at work trying to get all of the trim installed) to make sure that the project is completed on time. Tomorrow’s major task will be getting the entire house painted. The painting crew suffered a slight setback this morning when they discovered that some doors that had been left to dry overnight had somehow gotten stacked on top of one another. Luckily, a little sanding and some touch up paint did the trick and they are ready to get started in the house. Although everyone is getting tired from such a busy week momentum hasn’t really slowed down. The mood at the job site today would best be described as focused. Everyone can tell the end is in site and we can’t wait to get there! The build has been awesome, but getting the Garlands into their new home will be the most rewarding part of all.
For more Extreme Build info and more info about the CORE unit, check out this article from today’s Lexington Herald-Leader: http://www.kentucky.com/181/story/128302.html
By Carla Wynn Davis
CBF Communications
ATLANTA – Church members and other workers are building hope for a family in rural McCreary County, Ky., where a new house is being constructed by volunteers within a week.
In the second annual “Extreme Build,” approximately 125 workers have convened July 15-21 to help the Garland family, which includes Richard and his six children. The family lives in a two-bedroom apartment.
“This is all my dad can afford with five kids,” said Courtney Garland, 14. “He’s doing a good job, but we need a bigger house.”
Kentucky Baptist Fellowship’s Mountain Hope rural poverty initiative has partnered with the McCreary County Community Housing Development Corporation to build the house.
“The build is just a small part of addressing poverty in Eastern Kentucky, specifically through improving the quality of housing in McCreary County one house at a time,” said Rhonda Blevins, Kentucky Baptist Fellowship’s associate coordinator for missions.
“Housing is one our most basic human needs, but more than that, when a child can be proud of his or her home, it increases self esteem and sets that child on a path toward a brighter future. That’s our ultimate goal: a brighter future for these kids and others in our focal counties.”
Mountain Hope also works in Owsley County and the community of Nada in Powell County.
Most Extreme Build participants are from McCreary County or areas in Kentucky. They are Fellowship Baptists, local residents or Habitat for Humanity volunteers. Some will work up to 12 hours each day in order to complete the house within a week. To speed along construction, workers used a pre-built kitchen, bathroom and laundry room provided by the Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation.
“There’s a lot of teamwork going around,” said Sharon Davis, an Extreme Build partner and member of Broadway Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky. “Rain showers stop us here and there, but it hasn’t been a problem.”
Even with brief rain showers slowing work, the house is still scheduled for completion July 21.
Mountain Hope is part of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s rural poverty initiative, Together for Hope, which ministers in 20 of the poorest counties in the United States. For more on Mountain Hope, visit www.mountainhopeky.org. To become involved in Together for Hope, visit www.ruralpoverty.net.
CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.
By Rachel Parsons
Kentucky Baptist Fellowship/Mountain Hope Intern
I continue to be impressed by the amount of work being done on the Extreme Build house and how much everyone is able to accomplish. I’m certainly learning a lot. Just this morning I worked with baffles and a rasp. For those of you not familiar with construction (many of us Extreme Build crew members are in that same boat), a rasp is a tool used to smooth down the edge of a piece of drywall and baffles are cardboard squares used to hold insulation in place when it’s blown in. It’s also been a lot of fun to see people from different churches and towns working together and getting to know one another. While the majority of the volunteers are from Louisville, there are also volunteers from Lexington, Shepherdsville, Georgetown, and McCreary County. I have also encountered volunteers who are originally from as far afoot as Panama and New Zealand.
Yesterday, crews focused on putting up siding, working on the roof, and hanging drywall inside. Seeing the siding go up has been really exciting because it makes it look more like a real, completed home, not just a construction site. It’s hard to belive that there are only 2 days left. The volunteers and team leaders seem confident that the project will be completed on time. I think everyone is looking forward to the house dedication ceremony on Saturday, when the Garlands get the keys to their new home. A lot of people are working extremely hard, but they are all excited about helping the Garland family and some are even planning to come back next summer for a third Extreme Build!
To look at some pictures from the week, go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/10250264@N08/ .
I will be adding new pictures as the week goes on, so check in for updates.
By Rachel Parsons
Kentucky Baptist Fellowship/Mountain Hope Intern
It’s day two at Extreme Build and the morning shift is officially over. I continue to be amazed at just how much is getting accomplished. Despite the heat and a brief shower, construction is still on schedule. I spent the morning helping to caulk around the walls and windows- not the most difficult task, but it did leave me very messy! Yesterday the trusses were lifted into place by a crane (just like with the CORE unit) and crews have been working on the roof. Volunteers are also currently working on getting the insulation put in and an electrical crew has been busy all morning, as well.
I spent some time yesterday talking to Matthew and Skye Garland, who seem to be very excited about their new home, although they tell me they still haven’t decided which kids get their own rooms. They have gotten to know some of their new neighbors and Matthew has discovered that Godby Trail, the road the house is being built on, is a good place to ride his bicycle. Richard has been working alongside the volunteers yesterday and today. It has been great to see the family so involved in the build and having the opportunity to get to know them better.
I am creating an online photo album so people can view some of the best Extreme Build pics. I will post a link tomorrow.
By Rachel Parsons
Kentucky Baptist Fellowship/Mountain Hope Intern
“Build up hope” has become a motto for Extreme Build and, luckily for the Garland family, there is a lot of hope being built up in McCreary County. It has been a busy few days as crews began work on the Garland family’s new home, scheduled to be completed on Saturday. A small crew was on hand Thursday to get a head start on the construction and to assist in the installation of the CORE unit, a pre-built kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room unit provided by the Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation. The unit was brought down to Whitley City via truck and then lifted into the house by a crane. Volunteers are hopeful that this unit will make the work go more quickly and efficiently.
Extreme Build officially kicked off last night with a cookout and concert by local bluegrass band Kentucky Wind at the Sandhill Camp in Whitley City. Most of the volunteers were on hand to meet the Garland family and one another before the start of the big build. The first shift of volunteers began construction at 7 a.m. this morning and work is expected to continue until 7 p.m. this evening. So far, things have gone smoothly and the work is getting done on schedule. Let’s hope the rest of the week continues to go as smoothly!
By Emilee Causey
In the first week of my time in Nada, KY, I focused on the needs of the community and how I could fulfill them as a missions coordinator. As the interns before me, I proceeded to engage the members of the community and sought to determine how the visiting mission teams could best meet those needs. An alternate and more immediate role as intern focused on spending time with the school age kids in Nada (ages 12-17). It seemed that while many groups spent time and made lasting connections with the youth, the youth still lacked day to day leadership among them; I was to serve as that leader as well.
The frustration lies in how to meet an obvious need in the community without perpetuating a “needy” mentality. That is, a mentality where the people expect monetary and labor donations without examining the resources within their own community first. It is a fine line not easily walked. The children, however, have proved to be very encouraging.
Some kids in this community are not in school, some are not the epitome of a “good Christian child,” and many have not had the luxury of great role models in their lives. Yet, they do think and question their environment and have hope. Showing them how to better use the resources, pointing out their God given abilities and then connecting the two are the greatest tools we provide. With this goal in mind, I believe they can take knowledge of themselves and their capabilities with them and thrive in life.
I feel rewarded in this work, and I see the ability of Nada’s youth to take accountability and ownership for their direction. Following God’s call for unconditional love can perpetuate the existing hope in the future and can help begin a new cycle, not only for themselves, but for the community as well.
