Vol. XXXV No. 1 Spring/Summer 2016
THE HOW SERVING
ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME
FOR A WEEK, A MONTH, OR A YEAR TRANSFORMS LIVES
Also In This Issue WorkFest 2016 • Volunteer Class of 2011 Preparing for Disaster • Appalachian Bits & Pieces A Publication of Christian Appalachian Project
Editor’s Letter
Spirit
“I knew when I met you an adventure was going to happen.”
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & CREATIVE DIRECTOR Clay Lester
– Winnie the Pooh (A.A. Milne)
Volunteers called to the mountains of Eastern Kentucky expect to make good on the promise of Christian Appalachian Project’s (CAP’s) mission to “transform lives.” They have been compelled by the deep needs of the region and offer their own lives, for a time, to the work of building hope for people living in poverty. Whether they spend their time of service on a rooftop in our Home Repair Program, in a classroom with our Child Development Program, or in any of our other human service programs, CAP volunteers make a momentous impact. Profoundly, the greatest impact and most significant transformation is almost always within the volunteers themselves. By opening themselves to others through service, volunteers experience an intense depth of relationship with one another, the participants they serve, their CAP coworkers, and the community. Volunteers embrace the adventure of a life lived together. In this issue of The Mountain Spirit, we will celebrate and share this adventurous spirit of volunteerism. Volunteers are essential to CAP’s work, allowing us to leverage donations and resources to maximum effect (pg. 6). Volunteers drive CAP’s mission as they adopt it as their own, sometimes far beyond their time of service (pg. 12). Volunteers ensure that we are able to give even more children and their families, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities housing repairs that keep them safe, warm, and dry (pg. 26). It is my hope that these stories of faith, service, and compassion will awaken and inspire your own sense of adventure. Whether you or someone you know feels called to volunteer with CAP or not, we are all part of this adventure the moment we open ourselves to one another in love and service. May lives be transformed as you boldly embrace your adventure – and ours.
Blessings,
Clay Lester Editor-in-Chief & Creative Director
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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Carlo Castillo, Clay Lester, Amy Schill, Taylor Webster CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Elizabeth James, Clay Lester, Tamara Spano, Laura Truman
CONTACT US By phone: 859.269.0635 Toll-free: 866.270.4227 Email: capinfo@chrisapp.org Website: christianapp.org Mail: Christian Appalachian Project P.O. Box 55911 Lexington, KY 40555
SUBSCRIPTIONS The Mountain Spirit is published twice a year. The suggested donation is $20.00. Subscription requests and other correspondence should be sent to : The Mountain Spirit Christian Appalachian Project P.O. Box 55911 Lexington, KY 40555
CONTENTS
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
Building hope, transforming lives, and sharing Christ’s love through service in Appalachia.
Copyright, 2016, Christian Appalachian Project, Inc. All rights reserved. Christian Appalachian Project is a non-profit Christian service organization operating throughout Appalachia. Christian Appalachian Project is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and is qualified to receive tax deductible contributions.
Financial and other information about Christian Appalachian Project, Inc.’s (CAP) purpose, programs and activities can be obtained by contacting Guy Adams at 485 Ponderosa Drive, PO Box 1768, Paintsville, KY 41240, 1-859-269-0635, or for residents of the following states, as stated below. Florida: SC No. CH98 A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE, WITHIN THE STATE, 1-800-435-7352 (or go to www.800helpfla.com).Maryland: For the cost of copies and postage, documents and information submitted in compliance with the Maryland Solicitations Act are available from the Secretary of State, Statehouse, Annapolis, MD 21401, 1-800-825-4510. Michigan: MICS No. 9993. Mississippi: The official registration and financial information of Christian Appalachian Project, Inc. may be obtained from the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office by calling 1-888-2366167. New Jersey: INFORMATION FILED WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CONCERNING THIS CHARITABLE SOLICITATION AND THE PERCENTAGE OF CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED BY THE CHARITY DURING THE LAST REPORTING PERIOD THAT WERE DEDICATED TO THE CHARITABLE PURPOSE MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY BY CALLING (973) 504-6215 AND IS AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT http://www.state.nj.us/lps/ca2/charities/.
New York: You may obtain copies of our annual report by writing to us at the address above or to the Office of the Attorney General, Charities Bureau, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271. North Carolina: Financial
FAITH The Volunteer Life
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Love in Abundance
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By Carlo Castillo
SERVICE Class of 2011
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For This Child
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Before the Storm
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COMPASSION On the Scene: WorkFest 2016
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information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 1-888-830-4989 (within North Carolina) or (919) 807-2214 (outside of North Carolina).
Pennsylvania: The official registration and financial information of Christian Appalachian Project, Inc. may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Virginia: A financial statement is available by writing to the State Ofc. of Consumer Affairs in the Dept. of Ag. and Consumer Svcs, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA 23218, (804) 786-2373. Washington: The required notice of solicitation is on file in the Office of the Secretary of State. Additional financial and other information is available from the Secretary of State by calling 1-800-332-4483. West Virginia: West Virginia residents may obtain a summary of the registration and financial documents from the Secretary of State, State Capitol, Charleston, WV 25305. CONTRIBUTIONS ARE DEDUCTIBLE FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW. REGISTRATION IN A STATE DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION OF CHRISTIAN APPALACHIAN PROJECT, INC. BY THE STATE. Funds received in excess of what is needed to support this ministry will be distributed to other CAP missions. From time to time CAP rents or exchanges its list of supporters with other trusted organizations to benefit CAP’s programs and activities. If you do not wish to participate in CAP’s list rental or exchange activities, or if you wish to modify the frequency of future communications from CAP, please write to us or give us a call at 1-866-270-4227.
ARTS + CULTURE Leroy’s Day 31
By Taylor Webster
On Our Shelf: 34 Bits & Pieces
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Direct service and intentional community in Eastern Kentucky. Christian Appalachian Project volunteers serve people in need in Appalachia through educational programming, home repair projects, elderly services, hunger and poverty relief, and much more. Join us to transform lives—including your own.
Serve for a month, a summer, or a year. Contact us today for more information or to receive an application!
christianapp.org volunteer@chrisapp.org 800.755.5322
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THE VOLUNTEER LIFE
HOW VOLUNTEERISM HAS SHAPED AN ORGANIZATION, BUILT UP A REGION, AND TRANSFORMED LIVES ACROSS THE COUNTRY
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olunteers are central to the history and culture of Christian Appalachian Project (CAP). More than 50 years ago, Rev. Ralph Beiting began CAP’s mission as a volunteer. He built the foundation of CAP with volunteers from his family and his parishes. Even as the necessity to establish a permanent workforce of local employees emerged, volunteers remained an essential part of the organization’s operations and impact. CAP would not exist without the service of volunteers. This spirit of volunteerism invigorates, informs, and intensifies every aspect of the organization’s work in Eastern Kentucky. CAP volunteers are bound by a discernable culture and commitment that uniquely enables them to make a lasting impression on the region and the organization. This volunteer culture also facilitates a transformative experience for the individuals who serve. The immersive nature of serving and living in intentional community affords opportunities for personal and communal exploration, introspection, and growth. For college students, recent college graduates, and even retirees, volunteer service with CAP holds the potential to be a life-changing and deeply fulfilling endeavor. The life of a CAP volunteer can be a challenging one, however. Whether committing to short-term or long-term service, there is an inherent sacrifice in leaving the familiarity of home, friends, and family for an alien mission field. For individuals who feel a strong calling to serve CAP’s mission and are willing to embrace potential discomfort, adventure awaits. Amy
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Schill, assistant director of CAP’s Volunteer Program, explains, “The commitment of volunteers doesn’t stop at simply serving 40 or more hours per week in one of CAP’s human service programs; it is also a commitment to a lifestyle of intentional community and spirituality that encompasses nearly every waking moment. People don’t come to CAP and merely volunteer – they become a CAP volunteer. And that identity sticks with them when they leave.” SERVICE, COMMUNITY, & SPIRITUALITY The CAP Volunteer Program is built on three pillars: service, community, and spirituality. CAP volunteers are commissioned to embrace each of these pillars, realized to various degrees and in multiple capacities depending on the nature of their service. The pillar of service is likely most apparent and easily comprehendible. The majority of volunteers commit to at least 40 hours of service per week in one particular program. Their time and attention are focused in one area, allowing them to gain an intimate knowledge of that program or service. The skills and experience acquired and honed in programs like Housing and Family Advocacy are invaluable tools that all volunteers take with them when they leave. Relationships are built with both participants and full-time staff during this period of concentrated service, enabling a transformative experience for all parties involved. The pillar of community refers to the intentional communities in which many of our volunteers live, and extends to the local communities in which they
FAITH serve. Although CAP volunteers typically share a lot of similarities, the realities of living with a diverse mix of relative strangers exposes some of the minor differences. With volunteers coming from all regions of the country and representing an array of ages and backgrounds, there are often differences in cleaning habits, sleep schedules, concepts of stewardship, worldviews, and personalities. For the vast majority of volunteers, the growth that comes from intentionally sharing a communal life with a group of people united in service far outweighs the challenge of living with one another’s quirks and idiosyncrasies. When bound by the mission to help people meet basic needs like food, shelter, and clothing, the discomforts of living with different people tend to fall away as minutiae.
"It is our hope that every volunteer walks away from CAP having undergone substantive spiritual growth." The pillar of spirituality in CAP volunteer life is at the heart of the experience for most. Volunteers who live in community take turns preparing a meal and a devotion for one another four nights each week, and volunteers who choose to live on their own are encouraged to join in the breaking of bread and devotion with these communities often. Contemplations of scripture or some other spiritual reading, conversations of faith and spirituality, or even personal reflections and testimonies are typical of these regularly-scheduled times of devotion. According to Schill, “Because CAP is an interdenominational organization, volunteers come from varied Christian backgrounds – and some do not have a specific faith tradition or are simply attracted to the Christian principles espoused by CAP. These differences could potentially result in conflict, but ultimately this diversity adds richness and depth to volunteer life. It is our hope that every volunteer walks away from CAP having undergone substantive spiritual growth."
service programs, CAP volunteers will immediately understand the weight of their work. For many, service with CAP is their first exposure to rural poverty and the unique needs of people in the Appalachian region. It is a powerful realization when one witnesses the ways a volunteer can forever transform the lives of children and their families, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities by simply hammering away at a leaky roof or assembling a box of donated food. The hope that builds within participants when they understand that a volunteer has cared enough to devote time, energy, and skills to meet their basic needs is reciprocated in the life of the volunteer. It becomes a shared hope that blossoms and flourishes as relationships develop between the volunteers and the people they serve. Although the basic needs of participants are easily identifiable and volunteers seek to meet these needs, it is the deep need within themselves that is most satisfied in the process. This spiritual need to offer one’s life in service of another is central to the calling of a volunteer, whether consciously acknowledged by the volunteer or not. In Christian theology, this concept is referred to as kenosis – the emptying of oneself in service and sacrifice, only to be paradoxically and mysteriously filled with divine grace. The life of a CAP volunteer is one of service, community, spirituality, and an ever-filled soul. n
SATISFYING A DEEP NEED In whatever capacity one serves, whether by giving up a spring break to repair homes during WorkFest and YouthFest, giving up a summer to counsel children at camp, or giving a year to invest in long-term human
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ARE YOU CALLED TO THE VOLUNTEER LIFE?
Christian Appalachian Project invites individuals and groups to join our mission in Eastern Kentucky. Over the past 50 years, tens of thousands of volunteers have served with CAP from home or come to Kentucky to serve for a week, a summer, or a year. Who volunteers for CAP? Our volunteers are youth, recent graduates, retirees, and everyone in between. Whatever your desired commitment, there is a way for you to make an impact. God continues to call committed individuals to serve Appalachia and we hope you will answer that call. There are a number of ways you can serve with us: “I want to volunteer, but I can’t come to Kentucky…” At-Home Volunteer Projects You can make an impact in Appalachia without ever leaving your hometown through our at-home volunteer projects. Collect food, clothing, school supplies, hygiene items, Christmas gifts, or gardening items and we’ll distribute them to people in need. “I want to volunteer occasionally and I have flexible schedule…” Disaster Relief CAP responds to disasters in Kentucky and the surrounding Appalachian states. Join our on-call email list to be alerted when we’re forming a response team. “I want to volunteer for a week…” Mission Trips We welcome church, school, business, civic, and family groups of all sizes to complete home repair projects for families in need. Group season is March – October and participants must be age 14 or older. Ask 8
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us about our alternative spring break trips for college and high school students! “I have a few weeks/months available…” Short-Term If you have between 3 weeks and 10 months to give, we need you as a short-term volunteer. Volunteers welcome nearly year-round. Carpenters and cooks especially needed in March and April. Summer Camp You can make a difference in the lives of children in need by volunteering as a camp counselor, lifeguard, nurse, cook, or office aide. Volunteers needed to serve three or more weeks in June and July. One-week opportunities available for medical personnel. “I am ready to make a year-long commitment to CAP…” Long-Term Long-term volunteers are the backbone of CAP’s Volunteer Program, making a commitment of one year to CAP’s mission. These volunteers serve across several CAP programs, making an impact in the areas of hunger and poverty relief, education, and substandard housing. AmeriCorps VISTA AmeriCorps VISTAs serve for one year in CAP’s Philanthropy Department, helping CAP to increase its capacity through social media, digital marketing, and foundation research. To learn more about these opportunities, please visit christianapp.org.
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1,273
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THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO VOLUNTEERED WITH CAP IN 2015
1,045
THE NUMBER OF LONG-TERM VOLUNTEERS IN 2015
THE NUMBER OF GROUP VOLUNTEERS IN 2015
THE VOLUNTEER EFFECT CAP LEVERAGES THE POWER OF VOLUNTEERS TO MAXIMIZE THE IMPACT OF DONOR GIFTS
154
THE NUMBER OF SHORT-TERM VOLUNTEERS IN 2015
119,747.25 THE NUMBER OF
$1,332,323 THE GIFT-IN-KIND VALUE OF
VOLUNTEER SERVICE HOURS IN 2015
VOLUNTEER SERVICE IN 2015
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Love in Abundance by Carlo Castillo
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s a college student or young adult, you hear about how important your summers are. With time off of school, it’s the perfect time to work, get an internship, gain new skills, network, build your resumé, make progress! After all, you want to have a job lined up after graduation, don’t you? Being a camp counselor doesn’t necessarily align neatly with these goals. The hours are long. The pay is nonexistent. Your supervisor is a man with a large nerf gun, cut-off jeans, and a wolf t-shirt. Your ability to belt sing-along songs at the top of your lungs isn’t helpful for your resumé. You don’t necessarily learn the same new job skills you would at an internship, but you do indeed learn things. Most importantly, you learn about love. Love can be tender; like the sight of a counselor comforting a homesick child, assuring them that even though their family may be far away, they are still cared for. Love can be messy; like smearing peanut butter all over your face and dancing around purely for the intent of making children laugh. Love can be loud; like a group cheer screamed at the top of your lungs until your voice is raw, or a group of 30 children singing that they love you a-deep-down-intheir-hearts. Love can be soft; like a quiet conversation between a camper and counselor while a friendship bracelet is being made, or a small camper unexpectedly taking your hand as you walk through the night. Love can be tough; like telling a dorm full of rowdy adolescent boys that if they don’t go to sleep right now you swear that they will be scrubbing toilets at 6 a.m. tomorrow.
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Love can be heartbreaking; like learning that there are 14-year-olds who go through more pain and heartache than anyone deserves, and that there’s little more you can do for them other than listen to their story and pray for them long after they leave. Love can be heroic; like the sight of a fellow counselor cradling a boy who had just received eight hornet stings in his arms and then running down a mountain and halfway across camp to the nurse’s station – all while being stung himself. Love can save you; like learning that despite all your mistakes, imperfections, and regrets, you can still find it within your heart to make a child happy. Your fellow counselors are no different, all have flaws and carry their own scars. You sometimes bicker, misunderstand, and argue, but everyone around you is willing to give everything they have and more for a group of children they’ve only just met. It’s the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen. Love is when someone else’s happiness becomes more important to you than your own. It is not marketable. It is not a resumé-builder. It is not one of Fortune 500’s most desirable skills. But it is deeply, deeply important. If nothing else, summer camp is a place where love resides in abundance. “We must know that we have been created for greater things, not just to be a number in the world, not just for diplomas and degrees, this work and that work. We have been created in order to love and to be loved.” – Mother Teresa n Carlo served at Camp AJ for the 2014 and 2015 summers. He is currently a student at The Ohio State University.
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Volunteer Class of 2011 Sarah Smith
Elderly Services & Volunteer Groups
Kelsey Owsley Housing Program
Jimmy Owsley Elderly Housing
Julianna O’Brien Family Advocacy & Camp AJ
Erin Cusick Camp AJ
It is not unusual for long-term volunteers to find a permanent home at CAP as employees after their time of service has ended. The organization has always been strengthened by the significant number of volunteer alumni within CAP’s permanent workforce. Five graduates of the Volunteer Program’s 2011 class currently work for CAP full-time. These former volunteers offered to share reflections on their service experience, the Volunteer Program, the transition to permanent staff positions, and more. What led you to become a volunteer at CAP? Erin: I graduated from college with degrees in English and Psychology – not degrees you can do a lot with unless you go to grad school. I decided to do a year of service because I wasn’t ready to go back to school, and I wanted to do something meaningful while I figured out my next step. I ultimately decided on CAP because I had been to Appalachia on a college service trip and I loved the people here and the feel of the place. I wanted to work with kids, and CAP’s summer camp and in-school program sounded like a great fit. When I came down for my interview, I felt such a sense of calm and peace that I knew I had found the right volunteer program. Kelsey: I’ve been involved with mission work and service my whole life – I grew up in a very service-oriented church in New Jersey. When I was a senior in college in 2011, I went on a service/mission trip to Nicaragua. Something just clicked with me on that trip and I felt called to devote a year to service after I graduated. 12
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At the time had no idea what that would look like. As graduation approached, I did some research into different organizations that offered long-term positions for volunteers. I found CAP in the annual RESPONSE book that is published by Catholic Volunteer Network. From the moment I started the interview process with Kathy Kluesener, I felt at home and knew that CAP was the right fit for me. Sarah: Throughout college, studying Psychology and Sociocultural Studies, all I wanted was to be able to serve and actually help people. After college, I was brainstorming with a friend about what to do next. Niether of us were quite ready to enter into the “real world”. She found CAP online, and I took interest in it. I already had a love for the region through the two summer mission trips to Beattyville, Ky., with my church’s youth group. After learning that at CAP I could serve with the Elderly Program, I knew this was my next step.
SERVICE Julianna: I first came to CAP for a six-week commitment as a camp counselor at Camp AJ. I was still in college at the time and had lots of plans and goals for my life that did not involve Kentucky. However, at the end of that summer, I was totally hooked on being a part of CAP’s work and the beauty of the mountains. The community of volunteers in which I served that first summer was the truest example of unconditional love I have ever experienced. One of my last days that first summer, Kathy Kluesener told me, “I hope you’ll be back!” I did come back two years later – and I’ve never left! Jimmy: During college, I decided/felt called to do a year of service when I completed my degree. I wanted to put my values into practice by living simply, serving others, and engaging in community. I applied to two volunteer service organizations and CAP was the one that was the right fit.
the sake of helping others grow. What about your time of service inspired you to seek out a career with CAP? Kelsey: Honestly, when I was a volunteer, I never thought I would be coming back to CAP as an employee. After my two years as a volunteer, I was moving out of Kentucky and I didn’t see myself coming back. Nothing bad – I adored my time with CAP as a volunteer and was very sad to be leaving, but I just considered that season of my life over. God had other plans, however, and I feel so incredibly blessed that I was led first to my husband (fellow Class of 2011 alumnus, Jimmy), and now back to CAP as an employee. I couldn’t be happier to be back in the same program in which I served as a volunteer.
What is one thing during your time of service that has stuck with you? Erin: I think the confidence I gained during my years of service has stuck with me the most. In college, I was the student who had to plan out exactly what I was going to say before I raised my hand to contribute to a class discussion and I was always a little hesitant to do something I thought would make me look silly. Through teaching with our in-school program, I had to learn to think on my feet, because you really never know what a child might ask you. As a camp counselor, I had to constantly live outside my comfort zone and trust that when I yelled, “This is a repeat after me song,” someone was going to repeat after me. Now, I lead groups in devotion without having to have every word written out and I get up in front of 80 people during WorkFest and lead goofy morning stretches. Jimmy: I learned that community, service, and spirituality are not just pillars for a year of volunteer life -- they are the pillars for a meaningful Christian life beyond CAP. I also formed some very important relationships at CAP (I met my wife here and found some of the best friends I could ask for); learned carpentry and leadership skills; and found that on a worksite, investing in someone’s life is just as important as (if not more than) the tangible work that gets accomplished. Sarah: When I look back on my volunteer experience, the part that I’m reminded of most is who I became while at CAP. CAP brought me out of my shell and created my best self. I became confident in my goofiness, character, friendships, and my faith. My service placements and volunteer community taught me about the importance of sharing my story, for the sake of sharing and also for
Sarah: While I was volunteering at CAP, short and sweet, I fell in love with it. The people here, all with hearts to serve, are unparalleled. Erin: I was inspired by the people. After leaving my volunteer service, I started working at a school in Ohio, which is where I’m from. On paper, the job sounded exactly like what I was doing at CAP – working with students and helping them in areas where they needed a little extra help. The reality, however, was very different. At CAP, I was a part of a team – I was valued and supported, and everyone worked together to serve our participants. It was not like that at the school. I knew that I wanted to come back to CAP because everyone here cares so much about the work we’re doing. Jimmy: I found that I loved this rural area and CAP’s CHRISTIANAPP.ORG | SPRING/SUMMER 2016
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SERVICE participants. I had my life changed by CAP and wanted to see that continue to happen in the lives of others. Like most two-year volunteers, I left CAP with some angst about injustice and poverty, about nonprofits, and about CAP. And I had some ideas about how CAP could be better – coming back as an employee gives me the opportunity to learn and be challenged and put a few new ideas into practice. How has CAP employment been different than being a volunteer at CAP? Or, does your past volunteerism affect the way you view your new role? Erin: I think that my time as a volunteer impacts my current role because it reminds me of why I’m here. I work in the Volunteer Program, so I’m constantly interacting with people who are volunteers – whether they’re serving for a year or a week. I think all volunteers, no matter their age or background, have a love of service in common, and that core belief in serving others can do a lot to bond you to people that you might not otherwise have any way to relate to.
not only on the impact volunteers have on a program, but also the impact CAP has on its volunteers. One of the greatest unseen results of CAP’s work is its network of volunteer alumni continuing to do incredible work in Appalachia, across the United States, and even internationally – alumni whose lives have been transformed by their time with CAP. Kelsey: In a way it feels totally different, and yet totally the same. There is certainly more responsibility and I see things through a different lens than I did as a volunteer. But I think CAP does a good job of treating volunteers as full members of the staff team, so it mostly has felt like coming home. What did the Volunteer Program pillars of service, community, and spirituality mean to you during your service time? Jimmy: Service meant serving the needs of our participants daily, whatever those needs might be. In my first year, that meant education. In my second, it meant ramps, roofs, windows, and floors. Throughout it all, service meant a listening ear and an affirming/ encouraging word for those who needed it. Community meant dinner and devotions four nights a week. It meant having some of my closest friends right down the hall, and it also meant spending time and investing in people who weren’t always easy to get along with (and from whom I couldn’t get away, because we lived together!). It meant sharing myself and being open, even when that was hard to do. And it meant being there for each other whether I wanted to be or not. It was beautiful, personal, challenging, rewarding, and transforming. I like to say intentional community is kind of like being married to 8 people you didn’t get to choose all at once.
Julianna: Employment at CAP is more of a long-term investment. You’re more aware of struggles, problems, and imperfections that exist. But you get the benefit of feeling “all in.” When you’re committed to the mission, it gets underneath your skin and in your heart and you can’t get rid of it. I don’t want to get rid of it. It’s something that’s incredibly challenging but you can’t help wanting to devote your whole life to it. Jimmy: As a Volunteer Life Manager, I am constantly referring back to my experience as a long-term volunteer. Having that experience helps me make decisions based 14
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Spirituality meant allowing the Holy Spirit to weave through everything else I experienced – whether that was talking to a participant, listening to a fellow Floyd House member as they talked about their faith, having fun with other volunteers at retreat, or sitting around the dinner table talking about it all. It meant being open to the Holy Spirit in all those new experiences. Julianna: I’ll just pick one, because it would take a book for me to write about all three. For me, community has always been the most impactful. The volunteer community is so diverse and I love the challenge of getting to know so many new and different people. There’s also something incredibly soul-fulfilling about being a part of a team of people who have all committed to selflessness and giving to others.
SERVICE Beyond the volunteer community, there’s the greater CAP community and the community we share with our participants. I teared up the other day watching a volunteer who is a recent high school grad working with her much older crew leader to carry something into the barn. They’ve worked together for a year now and she’s renewed for a second year. Where else are these deep intergenerational relationships being formed? We have so much to learn and share with each other. CAP facilitates these relationships through our shared purpose. spirituality added so much depth and beauty to the volunteer experience. Erin: Service was the reason I came to CAP – it meant showing love and patience to the kids with whom I was working and believing that I was impacting their lives even if I didn’t get to see it. Community meant the crazy, wonderful, beautiful people with whom I was living. It was people who loved me unconditionally for being myself, who were able to make everything into an adventure, and who supported me when difficult things happened in my life. Spirituality was what tied it all together. I learned about what others believed and how they prayed, and, as a result, I grew in my relationship with God. What words of wisdom or advice would you offer to someone considering long-term volunteerism with CAP?
Kelsey: From the beginning, these three pillars showed me that CAP genuinely cared about its long-term volunteers. Not only did they want us to focus on our service (our everyday jobs), but they wanted us to put just as much time and effort into our intentional communities and our individual spiritualties. Sarah: Evenings at the volunteer house are a good image of what the pillars meant to me. We all came home exhausted after a day of service, yet we cooked for each other. As we sat around the table enjoying a delicious dish made by one of our own, we discussed our days of service. Many of us worked in different positions, so the housing folks would talk about what they built; the caseworkers, a story of their elderly participants; camp volunteers, something they taught the kids, etc. During devotion, we would share the different ways in which we sought God and would bear each other’s burdens through prayer. The pillars of service, community, and
Julianna: Do it! No seriously, if it feels right in your gut you should take the leap. You will not regret serving others. There is nothing more rewarding. And after a brief time at CAP you will have no doubt that the people here are truly in need and that the work of CAP volunteers is transformative for many lives (including their own)! Sarah: Pray about it and then come serve with us! It is an amazing experience that’ll positively change your life forever! Kelsey: Just. Do. It. If you’re on the fence about it, God is already whispering in your ear that this opportunity is probably for you. Listen. It’s going to be hard work and it will challenge you – but I promise you that it is so, so worth it. Jimmy: Do it. That’s all. Because you won’t regret it. And you’ll never be the same. n CHRISTIANAPP.ORG | SPRING/SUMMER 2016
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MISSION TRIPS
Christian Appalachian Project offers week-long (Sunday-Friday) mission trip opportunities for church, school, and corporate groups, ages 14 and up. We need your help to make homes safe, warm, and dry for people in need. Your group will transform lives, including your own! To learn more about any of our mission trip opportunities, contact us at
groups@chrisapp.org
SERVICE
For This Child A Community of Care Answers A Mother’s Prayers
“CAP is just a part of the community,” explains Danielle about how she and her daughter, Paige, came to know about the early childhood development service that has become such a fundamental part of their lives. In fact, Paige’s current caseworker, Sharon Patrick, even visited her in the hospital soon after she was born and suggested that Danielle enroll her in CAP’s Child Development Program. For Danielle and Paige, the community of care that has been created by CAP’s work in Parker’s Lake, Ky. has been nothing short of an answered prayer.
when she did she was diagnosed with preeclampsia. She was rushed from the local hospital to Lexington, where they intended to deliver Paige. She was in Lexington for four days before Paige arrived.
“CAP is just a part of the community.”
A CHILD ARRIVES Paige was born at 24-weeks and spent 98 days in the hospital. She’s been in hospital four times since. She was recently diagnosed with “sensory processing disorder.” For her, everything has to be in order – everything needs to be in its place, hands need to be clean – it’s a learning disorder. “The world is a big puzzle and she has to be able to put it together in her own way,” according to Danielle. Danielle went to the ER at 23-weeks-pregnant and was told she had kidney stones. She was sent home. She remained in bed for a week – not eating, not sleeping, not moving, not able to do anything. Her husband finally convinced her to go back to the hospital and
Paige’s heart rate dropped rapidly after birth and Danielle was told that Paige would not survive – she was much smaller than expected. They laid her on the table and attempted a number of procedures and finally, when it seemed hopeless, she began kicking and the doctors were able to get the tubes into her. Danielle says that Paige “fought the rest of the way, and that’s why she’s here today.” Paige has had extended stays in the hospital since her birth, returning for numerous bouts of pneumonia, flu, and RSV. She has chronic lung disease and asthma. CHRISTIANAPP.ORG | SPRING/SUMMER 2016
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SERVICE
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SERVICE One aspect of sensory processing disorder that affects Paige is an inability to feel pain. This means that she can never be left alone and must be taught in other ways that certain actions are dangerous or could cause her harm. Her tolerance to pain is exceptionally high. A CHILD LEARNS & GROWS
CAP has been a constant in the lives of Danielle and Paige and was prepared and equipped to assist them the moment Paige was born. It will mean that Paige is as prepared as possible to face school, and then the world, when the time comes.
Paige has had one-on-one care and instruction from Sharon since the day she came home. Sharon has even made toys specifically for Paige – toys that enhance Paige’s ability to communicate with her senses. These toys are handmade, tactile objects and Paige spends most of her time during Sharon’s visits squeezing, touching, and playing with these toys.
“The world is a big puzzle and she has to be able to put it together in her own way.” According to Danielle, one of her friend’s children has the same condition as Paige and is now experiencing major problems in school. Paige will be able to enter and participate in school at the same level as the other children. Paige’s condition won’t go away, but her ability to function with her condition will be impacted and improved by Sharon’s work.
In a prominent spot on the wall in Danielle’s home is a gallery of framed images – Paige’s first footprints and handprints, the earliest photos of her in the hospital (surrounded by tubes and other medical equipment), and a photo of a healthy, happy Paige wearing a large yellow bow. Centered above these images is a single piece of scripture, carved into a plank of wood. “That’s my very favorite Bible verse,” acknowledges Danielle, “because it has meant so much to me these past couple years. ‘For this child I have prayed – 1 Samuel 1:27’ and these prayers have always been answered.” n
The symptoms of Paige’s condition would be much worse without Sharon’s constant contact and teaching methods. Danielle and her husband would not have access to the type of direct therapy that Paige is receiving from CAP. Paige receives professional child development and education, which is enabling her to thrive in spite of her various medical conditions. Danielle is given a few hours of respite each day, which allows her to take care of herself. ANSWERED PRAYERS FOR A CHILD Paige is focused, content, and happy. She is particularly engaged when interacting with Sharon. Danielle is calm, measured, and reflective when speaking about Paige. It is immediately evident that Danielle has experienced a lot in the past two years with Paige and is now very grateful for the life they share. CHRISTIANAPP.ORG | SPRING/SUMMER 2016
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The future is in your hands. Charitable Gift Annuity Program Make a gift to Christian Appalachian Project and receive an income for life. This is possible when you fund a CAP charitable gift annuity. A charitable gift annuity is a contract between you and CAP. In exchange for cash or other assets (stocks, bonds, mutual funds, etc.) of $10,000 or more, CAP guarantees to make fixed payments for the rest of your life (and the life of a second beneficiary, if desired). Following your life, the assets remaining are used to fund the work of CAP. Please use the following information to calculate my charitable gift annuity: Name (Mr., Mrs., Ms., Miss)__________________________________________ Address__________________________________________________________ City_________________________________State______ Zip_______________ Telephone (_____)___________________Birthdate: _______/_____/________ Amount of Gift Considered $___________________________ Frequency of Payment Desired: qAnnual qQuarterly qMonthly
Yes, I am interested in a Two-life Charitable Gift Annuity illustration.
q
Name of Second
Beneficiary____________________________Birthdate______/_____/________
• Rates far superior to CDs or Money Market funds. • Fixed payments for life. • A charitable income tax deduction the year the charitable gift annuity is funded and an additional five years, if necessary. • A portion of each lifetime payment considered a taxfree return of principal. • An opportunity to make a significant commitment to Christian Appalachian Project and enable us to help people in need in Appalachia.
Please Complete & Return Form to: Christian Appalachian Project Planned Giving Department P.O. Box 55911 Lexington, KY 40555 or Call: 1-866-270-4CAP (4227) (All information provided is confidential)
SERVICE
BEFORE THE STORM The Disaster Relief Program Rehearses for the Worst
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he dimming of the lights in the front of the house signals the start of the spontaneous natural performance, commanding attention toward the heavy, hanging, black curtain that disappears into the rafters of the atmosphere. The chorus of distant sirens is muffled by the low-frequency rumble of congregating winds; whose reverberations transform every standing object into a makeshift tuning fork. Interrupting an unexpectedly muted moment, the rat-a-tat of rain drops begin to drum against the old tin roof like a rolling snare. A deliberate arrangement of buckets and containers catch the notes as they weep from the ceiling, rippling their own echoed refrain. This would, perhaps, be a soothing symphony, if not for the thunder erratically punctuating the rhythm with clap after arrhythmic clap. These are the dissonant sounds of disaster. Though natural disasters seldom arrive with much advance notice, the Disaster Relief Program of Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) is constantly rehearsing for these “unrehearsed” moments. Areas in Appalachia suffering damage from floods, tornadoes, snow storms, and other major catastrophes require immediate assistance and the Disaster Relief Program is always ready to provide a rapid response. Volunteers and staff arrive at these scenes of devastation with the training, tools, and procedures necessary to make an instant impact.
“...it is the work we do when there is not a disaster that enables us to so effectively assist when we are needed.” Disasters disproportionately affect people living in poverty, particularly in Appalachia. Extreme geographic isolation, lack of adequate response crews and facilities, and hazardous roads increase the difficulty of reacting in any emergency situation. Blocked roadways, downed trees, and flooding can trap individuals in their homes for extended periods of time. These factors are compounded by the high level of substandard housing in the area, elevating even minor natural occurrences to potentially life-threatening events. CAP is uniquely equipped to act in these situations, providing assistance for both the immediate needs and longterm recovery of victims of natural disaster. Robyn Renner, the director of CAP’s Disaster Relief Program, is often asked about how her program operates when not responding to catastrophes. “I think there’s a misconception that the Disaster Relief Program ceases to
exist when there are no recent floods or tornadoes requiring a response – that we only spring into action when we are needed. In fact, it is the work we do when there is not a disaster that enables us to so effectively assist when we are needed.”
In order to ensure that CAP has the capacity to respond rapidly to urgent needs, the Disaster Relief Program engages in year-round trainings and exercises. Classes on chainsaw use and safety and CPR education are critical tools in the wake of disasters. These skills require regular certifications and are made available to staff and volunteers throughout CAP. In a major tragedy that affects a significant portion of the population, like the flooding in Johnson County in 2015, it is essential to have as many trained and certified responders as possible. In addition to these basic credentials, Robyn and her staff provide safety tips and trainings to a number of other CAP programs. Central to the Disaster Relief Program is an educational component, which seeks to minimize the impact of natural disasters by teaching preparedness techniques and tips. Robyn and Jill Stafford, the Disaster Relief Program coordinator, provide routine disaster preparedness instruction to school children throughout CAP’s service area and offer additional training to young people who attend Camps AJ and Shawnee each summer. According to Robyn, “Our role in the community goes beyond simply preparing our program to respond in times of emergency. We also want to make sure children and the families are as equipped as possible to react safely during disasters. If we encourage safe strategies and advance planning, we can minimize the damage caused by any particular storm. We can’t predict or stop tumultuous weather or emergency situations, but we can keep disasters from turning into tragedies.” n CHRISTIANAPP.ORG | SPRING/SUMMER 2016
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Disasters can strike at any moment, with very little notice. Are you prepared? Learn how you can help your friends and family stay ready for emergencies!
GET PREPARED IN
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3 SIMPLE STEPS
GET A KIT: Round up your family and work together to gather
supplies in an easy-to-carry kit. Backpacks or pillowcases work great!
FAMILY KIT CHECKLIST: n WATER 1 gallon per person, per day
h20
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h20
h20
h20
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FOOD*
n n n n n n n n
BLANKET OR SLEEPING BAG
Simple, easy to pack foods that don’t require cooking, like granola bars, dried fruit, peanut butter, tuna, etc. *Remember to pack a can opener, if necessary
FIRST AID KIT FLASHLIGHT & EXTRA BATTERIES BATTERY POWERED WEATHER RADIO PRESCIPTION MEDICATIONS WHISTLE CASH (dollars & coins) IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS
Social security numbers/cards, passports, insurance papers, bank reports, etc.
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SERVICE
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MAKE A PLAN: Fill in the blanks below to create your family’s emergency plan and then practice the plan! Be sure to include a copy of this in your kit.
FAMILY EMERGENCY PLAN: 1. Our emergency meeting place near our home is:______________________________________ 2. Our emergency meeting place outside our neighborhood is:_____________________________ 3. If I have an emergency, these are the family members I would call: Name:________________________ Cell:______________ Email:________________________ Name:________________________ Cell:______________ Email:________________________ 4. Emergency contact if we get separated in an emergency: Name:________________________ Cell:______________ Email:________________________ 5. Local Emergency Contact Numbers: Hospital:_________________ Fire Department:_________________ Police:________________
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BE INFORMED: Being informed and aware prior to and during an emergency or disaster situation can help to ensure the safety of your family and friends.
INFORMATION CHECKLIST:
n n n n
Learn what storm alerts and warnings mean and practice appropriate precautionary procedures Protect yourself during disasters that may occur in areas where you travel or have moved recently Have a family member get trained in CPR and first aid Share your knowledge with family, friends, and neighbors
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Stay connected. You can connect with us and other
Christian Appalachian Project supporters on the social networking sites you’re already using. Use the hashtag #shareCAP to join the conversation and see what others are saying about our mission.
compassion On the Scene: WorkFest 2016 n
COMPASSION
ON THE SCENE
2016
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COMPASSION
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COMPASSION
“Yesterday I was working on the porch and it was cool to see it come together, you know. It was just a frame when we got here and then we added all the supports and began placing the planks. It’s amazing to see the progress – and now it’s almost finished.”
– Laura, The Ohio State University
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COMPASSION
“People are people everywhere. Just because someone is living in poverty doesn’t mean they don’t feel the full range of emotions that we all feel. I like getting to know the families with whom we work – getting to share meals with them, hear their stories, and become a part of their lives.”
– Neesa, University of South Florida
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COMPASSION
“For anyone considering coming to participate in WorkFest, or just considering volunteering with CAP in general, first I’d say ‘do it.’ But I’d also say ‘be careful.’ Because if you fall in love you’ll never be the same again. That’s what happened to me.”
– Carlo, The Ohio State University
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ARTS + CULTURE
Leroy's day by taylor webster
this is my day. may twelfth. this is Leroy’s day. on may twelfth we were delivering furniture, a departure from our usual routine. one of our elderly caseworkers asked us to come along to visit Leroy – a man just past eighty who had been with the program for years. we were there to drive the truck and haul the coffee table and locking metal cabinet up stairs. Leroy is wiry and agile, hunched at the shoulders. soft-spoken and direct, he is in constant conversation with himself. he is bald, meticulous in appearance, and fastidious about dates and times. he opened the door and pointed directly to where the new cabinet would go. i’m not complaining, now, i just didn’t think it would be so big. the apartment was stunningly spare. next to the large window, which provided most of the light, was a dining room chair with a tattered Bible laying open on the seat, acting as the end table for the only armchair. a single sofa anchored the wall opposite the window. there was a small table with a single kitchen chair. all the rest of the floors and walls were bare, absent of any excess or ornamentation. no family photos, treasured knick-knacks, or dollar-store supplies. a cd/ radio boombox was the only concession to entertainment – no television or bookshelf or even a cd collection in sight. back in the days of paper food stamps, he would use only what he needed and return the rest to the office. he’d never accepted offers of furniture before. he isn’t one to take a stitch more than he knows he needs and is able to use. nothing in the room is superfluous. the half-size black locking cabinet overwhelmed the room and, after a bit of back-and-forth, we moved it under his careful direction to the back bedroom. the full-size mattress and box spring sat close to the floor, one corner housed two pairs of cowboy boots and three old-fashioned suitcases. we found a place for the cabinet where the open door wouldn’t hit the wall. the housing inspector, they’re so particular. he told us about the struggle to keep the place maintained to standards, to not scuff the walls or put in the wrong lightbulb. he had also been worried that the workers who were frequently in and out might notice his record collection. the locking cabinet had been a special request.
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ARTS + CULTURE now i’ve got a place to keep my records. and these snap-front shirts, they’re just so handy, they’ll go in there too. when you go to the bank, you can keep your things right there. a few, these very few treasured possessions. his record collection – what a luxury to preserve. especially when he told us he’d given his record player away more than a decade ago, to a pastor who’d needed one to listen to old praise and teaching records. a life of measured, patient, faithfulness. oh, i’ve got to sit down…my ticker can’t take any more. it’s getting too hot, i’ve got to go change my shirt. the excitement of the new coffee table and the locking cabinet (both donations from our warehouse) prompted Leroy to change from a snap-front shirt and jacket into a sweater vest which hung loosely on his spindly frame. as he eased into the recliner, he noticed the box on the sofa. what have you got there? oh my, oh no, oh my. am i allowed to ask how much it cost? (no, no you’re not.) jensen. that’s the best brand, that’s always been the best brand, oh, i didn’t know they still made these. it was christmas morning, twenty-five years of christmas mornings, as he retrieved his penknife and delicately unboxed the record player. the new coffee table was the perfect place of honor for this treasure. Leroy was transfixed by the radio dial, the volume knob, the arm and needle and turntable. the return of familiarity in a world that was growing so foreign. i’ve never listened to this one before. oh, that’s a good one. that’s a good one. he retrieved a record from the bedroom – one of several that he’d gathered after he’d given away his record player. it was an old family gospel record and we joined him in hearing it for the first time. as the needle crackled across the surface, his toes began tapping and he smiled in spite of himself. you’re so fine, you’re so fine // you’re mine, you’re mine // i walk, and i talk, about you every time his caseworker took him on errands, he asked her to use her phone to play “you’re so fine” by the falcons. that was his very favorite song. he didn’t have it on record, so he only got to hear it when she visited twice a month. one of our coworkers heard about the song and tracked down the cd as one more gift for Leroy today. i didn’t know they had recordings this old. oh, merry christmas, happy birthday, and tell her i hope she never gets a visit from the tooth fairy like me. he was incredulous. he just kept repeating a litany of holidays. Leroy deftly navigated to track seventeen, and played it over, and over, and over. dancing, singing along, snapping fingers and tapping toes, recalling a place and time that were all of a sudden resurrected. she took a video of him dancing, unselfconscious in his sweater vest. you’re going to have to go to the store by yourself today. we could have left him there for a month or two or twelve, content to immerse himself in the music. this was peace, and joy, all at once.
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ARTS + CULTURE you know, the fonzie, he said heaven is going to be 1957 forever. that’s just fine by me, that’s just fine. he changed back into his snap-front shirt and walked us to the door. heaven was here today too, you know. something too beautiful to name, which had us all on the brink of tears. holiness, an outpouring of honor, and a grand dash of 1959. this is my day, may twelfth. this is leroy’s day. Leroy glanced at the calendar on the way out, marking a day that could easily have faded into obscurity. may twelfth. this is my day, he said. this is Leroy’s day. thank you ever so much. You’re my first cup of coffee ( my last cup of tea) You’re so fine, you’re so fine You’re mine, you’re mine I walk, and I talk, about you
Taylor is a 2nd-year volunteer serving in the Elderly Housing Program and living in the Floyd community. She is a Colorado native and lover of carpentry, liturgy, and local music – especially when played on the banjo.
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ARTS + CULTURE
Bits & Pieces
On Sh Our elf !
New Book From a Long-Time CAP Volunteer Offers a Glimpse Into Appalachian Life
T
he uniquely Appalachian characters, places, and events one encounters in Eastern Kentucky have a tendency to blur the lines between fact and fiction. The gift of storytelling is democratically bestowed upon all Appalachians and poetic turns of phrase are standard in the rhythms of day-to-day linguistics. Colloquialisms roll off of Appalachian tongues thick like gravy, with the weight of complex familial ties and community loyalties informing a shared vocabulary. Words seldom represent their corresponding definitions, except when they absolutely do. This is the splendor reflected in Phyllis Tilly Skocypiec’s book, Appalachian Bits & Pieces – a blurring of the literal with the figurative in the pursuit of describing mountain life to the uninitiated.
Skocypiec’s Bits & Pieces weaves together the stories of disparate characters, real and imagined, to paint a tapestry of Appalachian life. These poignant vignettes piece together to form a mosaic that illuminates not only the realities of those growing up in the mountains, but also the lingering psyche that transcends the particulars of any specific story. From the tale of young love that spans a lifetime to the account of a boy trying to provide for his mother and sisters, the “pieces” of Skocypiec’s book utilize fiction to point to truths deeper than their surface narratives. The majority of the book’s stories are set in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. That these anecdotes exist in a past so far removed is a testament to the abiding nature of Appalachian culture, because without the few minor cues speckled throughout the stories, one could assume these characters and scenarios are contemporaneous. Skocypiec’s gift for creating fully34
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formed characters within just a few lines draws the reader into their distinctly Appalachian existences in a disarmingly universal manner.
The “pieces” of Skocypiec’s book utilize fiction to point to truths deeper than their surface narratives. There is a gothic tilt to these tales. These characters are very aware of their Appalachian setting and feel deep down in their bones the claustrophobic limitations of what is and is not possible. This matter-of-fact attitude toward the realities of life in the mountains never strips these characters of the longings and desires that drive their thoughts and underscore their interactions. When one character meditates on the death of a sibling, he does so in a manner that at once gleefully and humorously dances around mortality and also soberly walks straight through the center of the topic. The last section of the book is devoted to the true stories of Skocypiec’s experiences as a volunteer and donor of Christian Appalachian Project. The nonfiction foundation of these tales doesn’t diminish the enchanting style that galvanizes the whole book; it simply grounds these stories in a definitive time and place. One particularly tender narrative describes, in dogs-eye-view, the introduction to Phyllis and her
ARTS + CULTURE husband’s dog during a fateful encounter at WorkFest. The final pages of the book are devoted to the studentfavorite recipes of WorkFest, from Irish Raisin Bread to Pizza Casserole.
The final pages of the book are devoted to the student-favorite recipes of WorkFest, from Irish Raisin Bread to Pizza Casserole.
begins. n IIf you would like more information on how to purchase a copy of “Appalachian Bits & Pieces,” please contact us at publications@ chrisapp.org.
Phyllis’ time as a volunteer, which spans more than 20 years and continues to this day, has profoundly impacted her life – so much so that she has chosen to give Appalachia her time, her energy, her passion, and now, her imagination. Phyllis is using the gift of her imagination to give voice to the people and places she loves and she is donating all of the profits of Appalachian Bits & Pieces to Christian Appalachian Project. Community is built on this kind of storytelling and compassion; the kind that blurs the lines between where one person’s life story ends and the next person’s
Christian Appalachian Project
Join the Story
These stories of faith, service, and compassion in The Mountain Spirit are made possible by the generosity and support of individuals like you. To learn more about ways you can support the mission of Christian Appalachian Project, please visit christianapp.org.
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Christian Appalachian Project
P.O. Box 55911 Lexington, KY 40555-5911 The Mountain Spirit
christianapp.org
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID Christian Appalachian Project
