A Hand Up, not a Hand Out
Ten members of the Roanoke District representing four churches (Fairview, Grace, Andrew Chapel and Northview) traveled 4 hours north the week of July 23-29 to Keyser, West Virginia. We went to lend a hand to the Helping Hands of the Potomac Highlands organization. The request was discovered by looking at the needs on the United Methodist Volunteers in Mission website (www.umvim.org)
Director, Debbie Price explained that Helping Hands is a bridge that connects local churches with low income people in Mineral County, an area of 26,000 persons in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. Helping Hands began a full time ministry in August 1996 with the assignment of a Church and Community worker as Director. They receive no federal or state funding for operating expenses, but depend on donation from individuals and groups, denominational sources, local church offerings and gifts, the Keyser Area Ministerial Association and community fund raisers. A group of 12 churches of various denominations support the ministry that includes disaster response, housing repairs, church referrals, emergency assistance, life skills guidance, and mission education to local churches.
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Director, Debbie Price explained that Helping Hands is a bridge that connects local churches with low income people in Mineral County, an area of 26,000 persons in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. Helping Hands began a full time ministry in August 1996 with the assignment of a Church and Community worker as Director. They receive no federal or state funding for operating expenses, but depend on donation from individuals and groups, denominational sources, local church offerings and gifts, the Keyser Area Ministerial Association and community fund raisers. A group of 12 churches of various denominations support the ministry that includes disaster response, housing repairs, church referrals, emergency assistance, life skills guidance, and mission education to local churches.
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posted by UMVIM at 9:53 AM
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The Volunteers in Mission group was house in the Fellowship Hall of the Keyser Presbyterian Church. Their kitchen was made available to us for the week to prepare breakfast and lunch. Delicious evening meals were graciously prepared by area churches that we visited, Rees Chapel United Methodist, Trinity Lutheran Church, Keyser Presbyterian, and Burlington Union Church. We enjoyed a time of fellowship as we ate supper with those who prepared the food. Showers were available at Potomac State College of WVU just two blocks from the church.
The group enjoyed morning and evening devotions led by team members. As we fellowshipped, prayed, and worked together our understanding of serving Christ grew as we witnessed acts of love in everyday life. Our assignments led us to meet four families in need. As the first home, a wheel chair ramp was built and back door stairs repaired for a couple in their 70s. The wife came out on the porch in her wheelchair to visit with us as the ramp was being built. Her husband told us he was not able to handle the wheelchair up and down the existing stairs. They thanked us repeatedly for the hope and new life that the ramp would allow them to have. It is a humbling experience to know that you were able to take part in answering someone’s prayer for help.
At the second home we met a delightful couple in their mid 80s. They asked for help in painting their front and back porches, where they spend many hours relaxing in the cool shade. When we finished the front and back porches, where they spend many hours relaxing in the cool shade. When we finished the front, the lady of the house commented that she didn’t want to move the porch furniture back because it hadn’t looked that good in a long time.
The third home, requested help with repairing guttering that wasn’t properly draining the water away from the door. We were able to redirect the water to a new downspout and reattach sagging gutters. This job was accomplished with the help of a local teen who joined our group on Tuesday morning and stayed with us the remained of the week. Our fourth project was to scrape and paint the exterior of a home for a family of three. The father had died a few years back and the mother was raising two teens while babysitting and sitting with elderly folks. With tears in her eyes, the mother told us how difficult it was for her to ask for help. When she pulled up to the house the second day, she said, “Is this my house?” She repeatedly thanked us for coming, helping and making a difference in their lives. The teens helped out by trimming the bushes away from the house and making lemonade for us to drink. One of our team members brought New Testament Bibles to give to the family. The last day, we asked them to join us for a circle prayer time, as we dedicated the work to God.
At times in mission work you wonder what difference your small efforts might make. This thought came up in our evening devotions and we were reminded that Jesus often ministered to individuals one on one. One evening we drove to Deep Creek Lake State Park in western Maryland. Following devotions and a prayer time, team members were asked to find a stone to cast into the water, and watch the ripples as they gently continued back toward the shore or on our into the lake. It is our hope that we started some ripples of faith. Only God knows where the ripples may lead in our lives and those lives that we touched.
The team would like to thank the Roanoke District from sponsoring us and the local churches who supported us with prayers and financial contributions. To God be the glory, great things He he done!!
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