Give and Take

By Kim Kobersmith

On the third week of August, new and returning Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) volunteers gathered at Camp AJ for a volunteer commissioning and retreat. It was a time to prepare mentally, emotionally, and spiritually for their time of service, with activities that were both fun and serious. There was laughter when they played games, camaraderie as they prepared meals, and reverence at the commissioning service held at a local church.

Perhaps they didn’t realize it, but this was a crucial time for building a key component of volunteer service at CAP: community. Volunteers reside in one of the five volunteer houses as a family. Creating community with strangers can be one of the most transformational aspects of the volunteer experience. Living in intentional community develops life-long relationship-building skills and sets CAP apart from other volunteer programs.

“Community living was an important factor in my decision to volunteer with CAP,” said new volunteer Kathryn Branham, from Floyd County, Kentucky. “I just graduated from college and I am leaving my family for this. I look forward to the community becoming like family.”

But forging a community is not easy or simple. Current and previous volunteers share important communitybuilding practices from their CAP experience.

BE INTENTIONAL

It takes intentionality and time to build relationships. Volunteers share a meal and devotions four nights a week, a time which is a cornerstone of life in community. Everyone is expected to participate. “Some of my best times here have been sitting down together for supper and devotional time in the evenings,” said Kathleen Krause, a retiree who has lived in Johnson House since last fall. “We are all so different, yet come together as one.”

Another way volunteers connect is through group activities. Volunteers list hiking and exploring nearby communities as favorite bonding outings. “I have enjoyed this new adventure and doing things I wouldn’t have thought of doing by myself,” said Carolyn Klaesges, a young adult volunteer who has lived in Johnson House since January. She is particularly looking forward to a planned zip line outing with housemates.

APPRECIATE DIVERSITY

CAP intentionally fosters a culture of accepting and even embracing differences. There is a communal understanding that while volunteers might not all think alike, they can all love alike. During orientation, personality assessments and communication exercises lay a foundation for understanding and valuing differences which are crucial for the development of community.

Volunteers come from a variety of backgrounds and are in different places on their spiritual journeys. The ecumenical experience is frequently mentioned by volunteers as life changing. “I appreciated the spiritual exposure at a transitional time,” said Jenny King, a former volunteer and current volunteer life manager. “People practiced their faith in very different ways.”

The houses often have a valuable intergenerational mix, with almost 50 percent who are recent college graduates, 25 percent retired people, and 25 percent in between. “I appreciated the older adults in my volunteer community,” said Jimmy Owsley, a former volunteer and current volunteer life manager. “They had a lifetime of experience and wisdom, and a knowledge of how to build relationships.”

RESOLVE CONFLICT

Weekly house meetings are a time to bring up potential conflicts and address them together. “Sometimes it is hard to even acknowledge there is a problem,” Klaesges admitted.

The work of the volunteer life managers is to support and nurture volunteers. They teach conflict resolution skills during retreats, including tips for having difficult conversations, and they serve as mediators when situations require an outside perspective. As former volunteers themselves, they can pull from their personal experience living in community.

Krause shared a time in the Johnson House when a compromise solution created a beloved house tradition. One young man spent much of his time on the communal couch playing video games, which was a concern for some other house residents. One result of a problem-solving session was the establishment of Wednesday game night, where housemates take turns choosing a video or board game they want to play together.

“Living with other volunteers involves give and take,” Krause said. Benny Mattis is returning for his second volunteer year with CAP to live in the Mount Vernon House. He added, “Communication is huge. It’s a balance between being respectful of others while standing up for yourself.”

SERVE TOGETHER

Besides rotating meal preparation and devotional leadership, housemates serve each other by dividing up housekeeping roles, including hosting guests, grocery shopping, house business, and maintenance requests. Just like in a family, this kind of service demonstrates care and affection.

The service continues as volunteers reach into the community through their CAP work. Finding common cause in service and faith is formational when it comes to community. “Living together for that length of time, with intentionality and the common bond of service and spirituality, can really lead to deep friendships,” King added. “I remain close friends with some of my fellow volunteers even nine years later.”

Communal living helps CAP volunteers practice living, serving, and problem-solving with a motley group of others forged in the real-life immersion of intentional community. It can be both joyful and challenging as they learn skills in getting along with others that they will use for a lifetime. It is not for everyone, but for these and many more CAP volunteers it is a vital part of the experience. •

Volunteers take a moment to laugh together during their first gathering at Camp AJ. Though the experience is often solemn, there is always time for laughter.