Volunteer Voices

Curing Homesickness – Follow Steps One Through Six

As classes pick up and my plate is filled with stress and responsibilities, I find myself reminiscing on happier days.

The sun is setting, the “Bazooka Bubble Gum” song is stuck in my head, and I’m covered in face paint, I have unbrushable lake hair and I’m exhausted. It’s all okay though, because I’m at camp.

Spring was peering around the trunks of the trees as the college vans pulled up the driveway at Camp AJ. The vans were rentals mostly, built for many passengers – and for the sense of community that can only be found in places like these. When they rolled up and planted themselves in the back parking lot next to the fire pit, it was official: WorkFest had begun.

WorkFest and YouthFest, Christian Appalachian Project’s college and high school alternative spring break programs are underway. This March and April students from more than 40 colleges, universities and high schools will spend their spring break serving on home repair projects in Eastern Kentucky.

I headed out of the volunteer house, intending to enjoy the winter day as best I could by wandering at my will about the trails at neighboring Camp AJ. I had donned my slippery black rain pants and all of my winter gear: a green ‘boggan emblazoned with the logo of the farm co-op at home, a coat be-speckled with caulk from a housing project a year gone, and a puffy gray vest sent in the mail on my last birthday.

It’s 4 p.m. The sun is just about to descend over the hills and guess where I am? You’ll probably never guess. I’m stuck at the end of Pattie’s driveway, my front right truck tire deep in a ditch that was camouflaged by wet leaves fallen in this late autumn season. Pump the gas, there’s no going forward. Put the truck in reverse, no going back. I’m stuck. Great, now what do I do? Call a wrecker? Call my supervisor Lisa? Do I even get cell service out here?

 A few times this year our current volunteers will be asked to reflect on their experience thus far. How are the three pillars of volunteer life (service, community and spirituality) impacting their personal journey?  We'll be sharing some of these reflections here and hope you enjoy learning more about volunteer life at CAP.

When asked, "What has been your favorite night in community so far?" Debbie (Elderly Services, Jackson County) shared the following poem:

Stargazing

In just a couple months of service at Christian Appalachian Project I grew a closer connection to God. To see the people who selflessly gave up their spring break or their summer to volunteer was breathtaking. I was born and raised in Kentucky, so I believe it has a greater effect on me to see how people will come from far and wide just to lend a hand. My experience with CAP goes back to 2011 when I was fresh out of high school and spent the summer as a counselor at Camp Andrew Jackson. I’ll be honest, at first I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to go.

I saw God at Camp Shawnee.