United Methodist Church of Geneva went a little bit country Sunday, July 21.
A half-dozen congregants sang and played “Rocky Top” and “Take Me Home, Country Roads” to accompany reflections from a recently-completed mission trip to Charleston, W. Va. and the tunes accompanied speeches from leaders and videotapes of volunteer testimonies and projects.
Thirty youth and adults from GUMC Geneva United Methodist Church, put faith into action with their 42nd annual Appalachian Service Project (ASP) June 15-22.
Geneva UMC members, Mike and Julie Popplewell, co-coordinated the Church’s participation in ASP. Team members carpooled in five 15-passenger vans to Kanawha County in Charleson, W.V. for a week of repairing four rural homes.
ASP, a Johnson City, Tenn.-based nonprofit, serves Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Mike Popplewell said, “We worked daily, Monday through Friday from about 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Work included weatherizing homes and mobile homes with insulation and underpinning, applying vinyl siding, and installing interior flooring and a bathroom replacement.”
A main project involved gutting a formerly vacant house and preparing it to be completely rehabbed into a new home to be given to a deserving applicant through a partnership with the city and ASP. Julie Popplewell, Katy Howell, and their crew were given the task of removing all walls and ceilings down to the studs.
“We came back each day covered in dust and soot and worked each day wearing masks and eye protection, so when we took off our goggles and gloves there were lines where the dirt stopped and our skin began!” Julie Popplewell said.
Mike Popplewell added, “Group evening activities included reflecting on what it means to live and work in an economically-depressed area lsuch as the Appalachian mountains. Each night we circled up at 10 p.m. and shared our thoughts from the day. It helps us all process what we are seeing and doing, especially for the youth.”
“Midweek activities included a picnic with local homeowners and their families, with food and fellowship and delicious ice cream desserts at a local dairy bar.”
The team gathered at the Church June 14 for a potluck dinner.
Geneva UMC Pastor Rob Hamilton led a send-off ceremony for the team during the previous Sunday’s worship service.
—Al Benson