Church Buzz

This is the second part of a 2 part series.

Monday morning in Clendinin, WV brought us rain – a lot at one time.

Our team was to start building a handicap accessible sidewalk at the little league field.

After the flood of 2016 many families moved away until their homes, businesses and churches could be restored.

Our project will give them something to enjoy.

We zipped up our rain gear and went to work.

“Rain ain’t gonna stop us,” we said in unison.

We couldn’t pour concrete but there was plenty of digging and forms to build for the sidewalk.

In 25-30 minutes the rain stopped.

We mixed and poured concrete into the first form. As we began pouring, the rain returned, even heavier.

Thanks to a huge plastic tarp, we finished pouring, covered the fresh concrete and finished on Thursday.

The best thing about the mission was those we met.

The Next Step staff were in their early 20s or younger. Charlie Strange was a great coordinator and Anna Scheel, the Master of Ceremonies at our nightly church time, was really inspirational, like a younger Beth Moore, the well-known women’s evangelist from Texas.

Our dedicated team worked hard.

I interviewed Scott Hotaling, the youth minister from Lombard UMC in Illinois, and Kaitlyn Riley, from his church for their perspective on the mission.

Scott admitted he was a bit out of his comfort zone. But seeing the kids work gave him hope for their generation.

Kaitlyn is a 2nd timer to WV. She came again to build a closer relationship with God and to help his children there. She said she will continue mission trips.

All in all, it was a great experience for my grandson Cole Stilwell and me.

Have a church or ministry you want me to write about? Send me an email at chuck1946@hotmail.com