Celebrating a 43rd annual Appalachia Service Project (ASP), United Methodist Church of Geneva (UMCG) dedicated its Sunday, Aug. 9, worship service to the project.
Some 27 UMCG volunteers, 17 youth and 10 adults, spent July 11-18 rehabbing homes in Hyden, rural eastern Kentucky. The week-long trip was aimed at making homes warmer, safer, and drier for low-income families in the southern Appalachian mountain states.
Volunteers carpooled in four 15-passenger vans. After an overnight in Lexington, the group continued to Hyden. Participants contributed for transportation, gasoline, and tolls. Need-based scholarships were available to students who qualified.
Volunteers were housed at a local former nurses’ dormitory. ASP staff lined up local volunteers to cook meals Sunday evening through Friday evening.
Mike Popplewell, GUMC liturgist and mission team co-leader with Al Dias, opened Sunday’s service by leading congregational singing of “I’ll Fly Away” and “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”
Youth sharing reflections included Maria Isely, Scott Yoder, Hunter Knoepke and Gia Dias. Elise Erhart, and Maddie Catich were ASP staffers who spoke.
Popplewell said volunteers spent the first Saturday night getting to know each other and team building. “During the next week,” he said, “we built roofs, repaired ceilings and installed siding.”
Three crews focused on a single home. A fourth crew was assigned to a tin roofing project. “Some of us were veterans at roofing and some learned on the job,” Popplewell said. “We had a hot week, solving problems that included fitting straight tin sheets around an oval roof vent.”
He added, “We are proud to have represented Geneva UMC for the church’s 43rd summer since 1982.”
Pastor Heather Connor closed the worship service with the benediction.
ASP serves residents of Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. A Johnson City, Tenn.-based nonprofit, mobilizes volunteer groups who repair roofs, walls, floors, foundations, and bathrooms while making homes accessible.
— Al Benson