Originally published May 16, 2010
By Nicholas C. Stern
News-Post Staff
Members of the Calvary United Methodist Church in Mount Airy will soon be taking a mission trip to the Dominican Republic to help build a church. Planning their trip at the church recently are, from left, Kaitlin Murphy, Chad Byrd, Jeff Taylor, Taylor Byrd, Terri King, Debra Taylor, Ed Koch and Pat Murphy. Not shown are Michelle Taylor and Jessica King.
Mount Airy -- Above her bed, Jessica King keeps a picture of the verdant landscape surrounding Yaguate, in south-central Dominican Republic, to remind her of a place that has grown dear to her heart.
The image of the region's lush green mountains, taken by her mother, Terri King, helps connect her to a village of people she has grown to love as she's helped them rebuild their Pentecostal church step by step. It's drawn her closer to the spiritual side of her life.
"It brings so much joy to my heart," Jessica King said.
Since 2005, the Kings and others from Mount Airy 's Calvary United Methodist Church have visited Yaguate as missionaries.
They've dug ditches to a water table 6 feet down, pounded nails and hauled buckets of cement to rebuild a church torn down during the construction of a highway. At night, they've gathered in the street for spontaneous worship services, sung their hearts out, danced, jumped in ecstasy and prayed with the faithful they visit.
In June, Jessica and Terri King, Ed Koch and seven others will return again to Yaguate to help finish what they've started.
The trip begins with two packed bags; one filled with personal effects, the other with supplies for the villagers, including food, eyeglasses and coloring books for the children.
Terri King, a graphic designer, takes her camera along. She has snapped award-winning pictures and sent the proceeds back to the village.
"It really has changed my life," she said. "Spiritually, I'm happier and more satisfied."
Koch, a retired firefighter, has experience in construction. When he and others with similar experience prepared to travel to the Dominican Republic, the idea was impart the wisdom of their experience, to lead the villagers through the project.
"We turned out to be their helpers," he said. "You do what everyone else does."
The building materials were mostly cinder block, concrete and steel rebar, he said. Nothing was wasted. Builders used wood pieces recycled from older buildings for concrete forms. They collected rusty, bent nails and then hammered them straight to be used again. Everyone pitched in, including the children.
"They're very happy people, even though they have very little," he said.
The missionaries stay with the pastor in Yaguate, and locals feed them and do their laundry every day.
Jessica King, a substitute teacher in Frederick and Washington county schools, said since she has visited Yaguate, she's noticed a lot of changes for the good.
More people have work, so the living conditions have improved, she said. Schools are being built, the lights stay on for longer periods of time, people are dressing better, local elections seem to be rooting out corrupt officials.
Still, many of the modern conveniences and gadgets that Americans take for granted are absent from the villagers' day-to-day existence, King said. Instead, people gather together, and they talk.
King remembered helping prepare dinner one evening with some of the children when they all began to dance together in the kitchen.
"It makes you realize that time you spend with people is such a blessing," she said.
By Nicholas C. Stern
News-Post Staff
Members of the Calvary United Methodist Church in Mount Airy will soon be taking a mission trip to the Dominican Republic to help build a church. Planning their trip at the church recently are, from left, Kaitlin Murphy, Chad Byrd, Jeff Taylor, Taylor Byrd, Terri King, Debra Taylor, Ed Koch and Pat Murphy. Not shown are Michelle Taylor and Jessica King.
Mount Airy -- Above her bed, Jessica King keeps a picture of the verdant landscape surrounding Yaguate, in south-central Dominican Republic, to remind her of a place that has grown dear to her heart.
The image of the region's lush green mountains, taken by her mother, Terri King, helps connect her to a village of people she has grown to love as she's helped them rebuild their Pentecostal church step by step. It's drawn her closer to the spiritual side of her life.
"It brings so much joy to my heart," Jessica King said.
Since 2005, the Kings and others from Mount Airy 's Calvary United Methodist Church have visited Yaguate as missionaries.
They've dug ditches to a water table 6 feet down, pounded nails and hauled buckets of cement to rebuild a church torn down during the construction of a highway. At night, they've gathered in the street for spontaneous worship services, sung their hearts out, danced, jumped in ecstasy and prayed with the faithful they visit.
In June, Jessica and Terri King, Ed Koch and seven others will return again to Yaguate to help finish what they've started.
The trip begins with two packed bags; one filled with personal effects, the other with supplies for the villagers, including food, eyeglasses and coloring books for the children.
Terri King, a graphic designer, takes her camera along. She has snapped award-winning pictures and sent the proceeds back to the village.
"It really has changed my life," she said. "Spiritually, I'm happier and more satisfied."
Koch, a retired firefighter, has experience in construction. When he and others with similar experience prepared to travel to the Dominican Republic, the idea was impart the wisdom of their experience, to lead the villagers through the project.
"We turned out to be their helpers," he said. "You do what everyone else does."
The building materials were mostly cinder block, concrete and steel rebar, he said. Nothing was wasted. Builders used wood pieces recycled from older buildings for concrete forms. They collected rusty, bent nails and then hammered them straight to be used again. Everyone pitched in, including the children.
"They're very happy people, even though they have very little," he said.
The missionaries stay with the pastor in Yaguate, and locals feed them and do their laundry every day.
Jessica King, a substitute teacher in Frederick and Washington county schools, said since she has visited Yaguate, she's noticed a lot of changes for the good.
More people have work, so the living conditions have improved, she said. Schools are being built, the lights stay on for longer periods of time, people are dressing better, local elections seem to be rooting out corrupt officials.
Still, many of the modern conveniences and gadgets that Americans take for granted are absent from the villagers' day-to-day existence, King said. Instead, people gather together, and they talk.
King remembered helping prepare dinner one evening with some of the children when they all began to dance together in the kitchen.
"It makes you realize that time you spend with people is such a blessing," she said.
No comments:
Post a Comment