Appalachian Mountain Ministries Since 1921

St. Paul’s supports the Red Bird Mission in Beverly, Kentucky, through our Global Ministries Committee, an annual Adult Work Trip each October and the generosity of the congregation.

Today, the need remains critical in this isolated, rural and distressed area. Chronic poverty, lack of jobs, poor housing, and rugged mountainous terrain provide obstacles to a fuller life for the residents of this area.

Red Bird Mission and Clinic strives to meet these needs through ministry in five areas:

1. Education
2. Health and Wellness
3. Community Outreach
4. Economic Opportunity
5. Community Housing Improvement

RED BIRD MISSION TRIP
October 23-29, 2011

The Red Bird Mission is part of the United Methodist Church. It provides support for the people in the Appalachian area of eastern Kentucky. The mission includes a K-12 school for 250 students, a medical and dental clinic, and community outreach programs for infants, families, and the elderly. To stimulate economic development, the mission sponsors local crafters and supports a community store.

This year we are celebrating our 12th annual Red Bird Mission Work trip. This provides a unique blend of fellowship and service as we assemble with other church groups to make home repairs and share God’s love. We specialize in rebuilding porches, replacing windows, building wheelchair ramps, roofing and general carpentry. Other activities include assisting in various outreach programs, and helping in the retail and craft stores. Last year we made improvements on the trailers of 2 families to keep them safe, warm, and dry for the winter.

October 26, 2011 (Wednesday)

God is doing some amazing things this week in the lives of the St. Paul's Red Bird Mission work-team.  Our work team members are Bob & Betty Conger, Ruth & Chuck Lingenfelder, Garry & Mary Watson, Stan & Carol Zimny from St. Paul's UMC and Jim Childers, Carol Herman, and Marge Munger from Lake Orion UMC.  Take the time to look at and talk to each of them when they return to see and hear their stories of their work as the hands of God while at Red Bird Mission this week.

Our work was described to be re-roofing the home of an Appalachian resident.  We were provided with pictures and a description of the work involved.  Our team started out the week with some expressions of concern, given the lack of experience in our group for this task. As it turns out, we were in for an amazing week. 

Our residents, Dave & Penny, are shy, but sharing, people.  As they have gotten to know us better (and we have gotten to know them better too!), they have demonstrated a warm, country hospitality to us.  They come out each day to warmly greet us, spend time in 'porch meetings' with us, and share their stories, their feelings, and their meager substance with us.  At the end of the day, they hug us 'good-bye' and express their sadness in our leaving and their excitement and anticipation for our return the following day.  Their generosity has warmed our hearts and provided inspiration to us for completing our roofing and repair tasks.  Looking at David and Penny and seeing their child-like faith is like looking into the eyes of God.  We feel blessed to have had our lives touch.

Our roofing tasks would not have progressed nor been completed without the able assistance of our young, local crew chief, Justin.  His skill and his willingness to pitch in made the difference in completing the work.  As the week and our work progressed, Justin also became more relaxed with us and we with him.  His sense of humor made difficult moments easier to resolve and his creative and imaginative solutions were inspiring.  His efforts were an inspiration to us as he mixed his skills, his humor, and his own brand of cheerleading in a homey blend of Appalachian youthfulness, exuberance, and sharing.  Working with Justin and experiencing his patient resolve was like looking into the eyes of God.  We feel blessed to have had our lives touch.

Trying to describe the impact of a mission trip is very challenging.  One can describe the work.  Yes, it is sometimes challenging, and frequently out of the ordinary for our lives.  One can describe the devotions.  Yes, there are times set aside for devotions, both at the work-site and at our residence.  One can describe the daily routine and the weekly schedule plan.  Yes, there is a routine that has the possibility of becoming mundane.  However, it is much more difficult to describe the life changing experience that a mission trip provides.  Each person involved has the opportunity to touch the face of God and to have their own hearts warmed.  This week, we have shared our God moments - and there are many - and we have allowed God to bring his life, power and love into the connections we have made.  Our roofing tasks are completed and we have experienced the life changing touch of God in our connections.

A peace comes over us.  It is the peace of knowing that God loves us and will not abandon us.  It is the joy of sharing that love with others and having that love returned to us.  It is another Red Bird Mission trip.  Join us and experience the love!

Messages from the Red Bird Mission 2010 Worktrip Group

Monday, October 18, 2010

Our team arrived safely and settled into our bunks.  As we get settled, our thoughts are with Garry and Mary Watson as they will join us tomorrow so Garry can compete in the Detroit Marathon.  A new adventure this year is to live in a co-ed facility and we are blessed to have a group from Bethelview UMC from Cumming, GA (near Atlanta) share our bunk-house.     Once we got slightly settled, we had supper and met groups from other locations serving here this week.  Besides St. Paul's Rochester and Lake Orion UMC,  there are people here at Red Bird from Lakeside OH, Frankton IN, Charleston SC, Ocean Springs MS, and Altoona PA.  It is interesting to hear the different accents and to meet with the 98 people who have come here to serve the Lord and share their faith this week.  Our group started their traditional jig-saw puzzle marathon.  This activity has been an epic friend builder as we attract other people to join in contributing to the jig-saw solutions.  Many a late night has occurred as we get close to finishing another puzzle.  Orientation, led by Dennis and staff,  included singing, devotions, and general orientation.  The words of "I'll Fly Away" could be heard throughout the fellowship room and served to inspire us all.

Each team is assigned a day for devotions and clean-up after meals.  Our team was responsible Monday morning for leading devotions and also for cleaning up after breakfast.  Muriel Lenz led devotions that focused on God's provision by  giving us talents and calling us to his service.  Teams left for various sites to do their work and share their spiritual life with the residents.  Our group started their activities by delivering donated items from the rummage sale (UMW), from individuals, from the Lake Orion church-wide baby shower, diapers & wipes from VBS, and other assorted items.  Finally (!), a part of our group of our team left for Helen Simpson's house.  This was about a 45 minute trip through the colorful hills and vales of the Kentucky mountains.  About half way through the trip to Helen's, we passed the home of Eunice &  Cecil, who are still enjoying the new roof we installed several years ago.  We only had time to wave howdy-do until later this week when we hope to have time for a real visit.  We dropped a crew off at Helen's to replace the bathroom floor and fixtures and the remainder of the crew traveled to Roxanne's to work on bedroom floor and walls and bathroom floor and fixtures.  Aaron is our  crew leader for these projects.  It has been great to get to know him and also to realize that  Aaron was an answered prayer to our anxiety and reminded us of Phil 4: 6 "...do not be anxious."  Bob Conger says he feels we now have enough talent that we can succeed at these projects.  Truthfully, we all count on God to help us through projects that we feel lacking in talents to complete.

This evening, following dinner we had an opportunity to tour the craft store.  The store is filled with beautiful crafts that are made by the locals here as a means of sharing their talents and making some income.

My favorite part of the evening is the sharing with other churches on what they are doing to serve the Lord.  Truly this is an opportunity to meet face to face with the Lord at work through his servants.  God's beauty and blessings surround us.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Perhaps you are wondering who is on the St. Paul's Red Bird team this year?  We have our group from St. Paul's - including from St. Paul's UMC -  Betty and Bob Conger, Ruth and Chuck Lingenfelter, Garry and Mary Watson, Muriel and Miriam Lenz, then from Lake Orion UMC - Jim Childers, Sara Hauxwell, Carol Hermann, Judy and Bob Muir, and June Rupert, and two adopted folks from New Hampshire - Virginia and Harald LaPiaer.  Alan and Margurite Jacobs may remember Ginny and Harald who send their blessings to former Red Bird team members.  Here is a visual of our group this year.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Today was our 'free day' at Red Bird Mission.  This day is an opportunity to learn more about the mission and its outreach, the community at large, the culture of the area, and the coal mining industry and its impact on the economy of Kentucky and the people of the Red Bird Mission Conference.  For these activities our team split into several smaller groups to take advantage of the variety of opportunities available.

Some stayed near the campus and attended the morning chapel service at the school.  This activity is always enjoyable, as the visitors get an opportunity to hear the school choir perform, which is a real treat.  Some of you may remember Mark Smallwood, the choir director, when he and the choir visited St. Paul's several years ago.  He continues to inspire the children of the area with his ability to nurture musical talents.  The 'Glee' performers have no advantage over the Red Bird School choir!

Later in the morning, the 'local' tourists visited the Senior Center and were impressed by all that is offered for seniors of the area.  The seniors are transported by bus to the center where a number of activities are available.  The best is that it gives them an opportunity to socialize and share their faith with others in the area.

The non-local group traveled to a coal mining 'company-town' located in Sterns, KY.  Traveling on the curving mountainous roads gave some travelers' tummies a bit of a stability test, but the trip was worth any minor discomfort.  The scenery was beautiful, the camaraderie delightful and the trip was informative and fun.  The high-light was a train ride on a Sterns company train that was initially used to transport coal from the Sterns coal mines and lumber from the timber cutting areas.  Today, since these industries are in decline, the area has been developed as a national park and the train serves as a tourist attraction allowing local businesses to prosper and provide job opportunities to the surrounding community.  On the train trip we visited a coal mining area, learned more about the coal mining industry and observed the magical qualities of the scenery provided by God's hand.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Friday, October 22, 2010