'99 RED BIRD MISSON WORK CAMP JOURNAL
- June 20th through 25th, 1999 -
(by Annie Nichols)

Sunday:

Clara and I picked up Pastor Henry at his house at 6:00 a.m. and arrived here at 4:30, Kentucky time; only a nine hour drive--not the 12 hours they had told us.
The dorm houses are very nice, air conditioned, showers, and meals are served right across the driveway! I am looking forward to learning what this place is all about, and looking forward to supper!

Seek ye first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.? (Matthew 6:33)

We had worship service at 7:30. It is held in the chapel which is above the dining hall. We sang contemporary songs. We still don't know what job we have lined up for us, because four of the work groups aren't there yet.

Monday:

At 6:00 a.m. we all started moving around. I say all because the group expanded, as expected, last night around 10:30. A group from Illinois moved in to fill all the bunks in our cabin. It's been 20 years since I have heard so much giggling!

Father,
If I am not afraid of today, then I am appreciative by default.
I am not at all afraid, so I'll praise you for life, new friends, joy of youth, and
the adventure you are holding for all of us today.
Bless our hands that our work might bring prosperity to those we help.
Amen.

You are the light of the world. A city set on the side of a hill cannot be hid. (Matthew 5:14)

We went to Martha Bowling's house, about 10 or 12 miles away. She lives alone, has for years since her husband died. We tore off old pressboard siding and replaced it on the north and west sides of the house. I ran a circular saw (once!), used a pinch bar, cut insulation, and painted. I even climbed up high on an extension ladder, high enough to see the mountain on the other side of the house. Marie took a picture of me up there, as my family wouldn't believe it other-wise!

There are many things to see here, one the mountains all around, with green hardwood trees a solid mass all the way to the very top. The world of Clay County is a green, lush world. There are many things to see here, and some of them are quite wonderful: the quiet pride of a mountain woman, a tenor voice singing "How Great Thou Art," the staff here, many of them wearing cross necklaces made out of nails.

Tonight we saw a slide show about Red Bird Mission. It really struck me, the number of poor people here. 65% of the people are at or below poverty level, 80% of the students at the Red Bird School are also poor. The school days start with devotions, and this private Christian school made affordable to any family that wants to send their child there, by the United Method-ist Church.

Tuesday:

resting on my bunk after lunch, I read some more in Mat-thew. Work-wise, we finished painting the north and west sides of Martha Bowling's house. This afternoon, we move to the front of the house, and we'll paint to porch. The way it is going, we will finish our work there on Thursday.

Tonight is ice cream night, spon-sored by the volunteer fire depart-ment, and the craft store is open until 9:00!

Well, I bought a beautiful dulcimer tonight. It is made out of box elder wood, and has red color running through its grain. Many people are happy for me, and I'll never forget Eileen and Marie's faces when I came

back to camp. Such loving sup-port!

A group of people at another picnic table asked me if I could play something, so I played Simple Gifts and Amazing Grace, the two songs I had learned while picking out a dulcimer. Marie even went around and collected dimes, pennies and quarters in a coffee cup while I was playing. Very funny!

And you know, that would have been plenty, but Matthew 6:33 is inscribed inside my dulcimer, which is the verse I copied into this book on Sunday night, after we had arrived here!

Wednesday:

It's our day to be tour-ists--a chance to venture beyond the road we now know quite well. The decision is made to head to Berea. We had oatmeal for break-fast, and it was our group's turn to do the morning devotions. Pastor John selected a Bible verse, Luke 6:38. It was about giving, and how God will bless you over and above what you have given.
Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, it will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back.
Before these verses, the passage first talks about praying for those who persecute you. Pray for your enemies. Give, when your instincts and training would have you gos-sip, malign, fume, and feed a grudge.

Catch yourself, and instead, give. A simple prayer for the blessing of the offender, a turn of kindness in return. Then, it this situation, Jesus said we will receive...as we have given.

I read a story out of Chicken Soup for the Christian Soul, which Pastor John had also picked out. It was the story of a nine year old girl who gave her savings to the Salvation Army volunteer at Christmas time, and inspired her own parents to give, really give of something they valued.
Harry drove us the 90 or so miles to Berea, where we ate lunch and did some shopping. Three men take four women shopping. Well, we didn't last too long!

We ate supper back here, at the Red Bird Mission Restaurant. The service was slow and the food was marginal, Even so, there was a big matter of fresh strawberry short-cake which made up for anything else. It was delicious!

After supper, Harry took us over to Beverly, and we went through the church there. 50- some people at-tended church there last week, a number many of us could imagine. It was so beautiful in there, wood walls and ceilings, simple paned windows along the side of the church with a lovely stained glass window over the altar.

Thursday:

I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Be not like a horse or mule, without understanding which must be curbed with bit and bridle, else it will not keep with you. Many are the pangs of the wicked; but stead-fast love surrounds him who trusts the Lord. Psalm 32:8-10

It is starting to rain, and no doubt the Kentucky soil could use a gen-tle and long-lasting rain.

Morrow Parish ended up above the kitchen cutting soup labels this morning. I did not cut a single one, but played the dulcimer for 2 hours, thumbing through the 1966 Meth-odist Hymnal for any song in the key of D. Amazing Grace is with-out a doubt the song that captures everyone's voice, calls it out.

I am a dulcimer addict, two days into a binge.

I miss my home. I miss the way I love my family. It's fun to be on your own, expands your focus, but

I would never choose it over the
wonderful connection I have with “Honey, and the kids.
None of us know if we will get back to Martha Bowling's house today or not.

The afternoon, we spent scraping wallpaper off a wall in the medical center, plus helping dismantle and move shelving. We were all disap-pointed, I believe, not to be able to finish our job today. Working on Martha's house, those first two beautiful days, was so enjoyable. The forecast, the rumor has it, is for rain for the next few days.

In an hour, there is a talent show. I am thinking about playing some-thing. Can you have a 2 day old talent?

Friday:

I played Oh, How I Love Jesus, Simple Gifts and Amazing Grace at the talent show last night. There was a big variety of perform-ers, and our friend Marie read a cool story about a woman, her last wish and a fork. The story meant that the woman was assured she was a child of God, and knew in a few short days she would be going to heaven. "The best is yet to come" Marie read.

After the show, the Morrow parish members sat around the six-sided picnic table and reflected on God's provision for us this week. It was the seven of us, sharing our insights, our lessons, blessings and joys; yes, even some deep sorrows.

We closed our time together with prayer, each of us sharing with the others. Everyone has her own voice; everyone has his own story. Our life is a blessing.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart
and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:29

Today (Friday), we washed down the wall we striped of wallpaper yesterday. We gave that office room a first coat of paint. So this was our last work for the week here at Red Bird. In a little while we will head out to Martha Bowl-ing's to pick up the old siding and junk we left lying around. We will get a chance to say goodbye, take pictures and admire her home and flowers again.

Tonight we have a worship service and communion, after which Pastor Henry, Pastor John, Marie and Ei-leen leave for home. Harry, Clara and I leave first thing in the morn-ing.