Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Teens Flood Chehalis with Service
even months later, she’s still piecing together her life. When Seventh-day Adventist volunteers met her recently, Roberta’s birthday was just two days away. After singing “Happy Birthday,” the teenage volunteers helped Roberta clean up her house.
Several months after the Centralia-Chehalis flood, Seventh-day Adventist volunteers continue to help and serve the community.
“Not too many organizations and volunteers stick by for that long, and the community is impressed,” says Colette Newer, a volunteer from Bothell, Wash., who volunteered in the Chehalis area several times. “We made an impression in the community because we’ve been there meeting people in their moment of need.”
Last weekend a group of 60 teenage volunteers including Pathfinders and youth groups from across Western Washington were involved in a weekend mission trip in Chehalis for teens called “Flooded with Grace.”
Friday afternoon, a local resident approached weekend speaker Tony Scarpino, from Mt. Vernon, and asked what was going on. “We said we would be back Sunday,” Scarpino recalls. “And they asked, ‘After church?’ I replied, ‘No, we go to church on Saturday.’ They asked if we were Adventists and when we said, ‘yes,’ they said how much they appreciated our work.”
The teenage volunteers and adult sponsors were able to not only share their faith but more importantly showed their faith by cleaning up debris and giving out free gifts of water bottles, flowers, popcorn, Vacation Bible School invitations, and colorful balloons.
A Shelton member was approached by some picnickers who had received free water bottles already. They asked if the volunteers were Christians, leading into a discussion about God and what they believed.
But it doesn’t end there. On a hot day the youth distributed popsicles to bicyclists on the STP (Seattle to Portland) ride. One man said, “I’ve been thinking of having a popsicle all day,” as a volunteer handed him a refreshing treat.
Impressed by the volunteers’ effort to help, a local organization in Chehalis contributed to the popsicle give-away. They offered to buy more popsicles next time as long as the volunteers promise to come back to lend a helping hand.
“A lot of groups came down at the beginning,” says Doylene Cook, Lewis County Adventist School teacher and trip coordinator, “but Adventists have kept coming. It’s made an impression in the community with our presence.”
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Serving Jesus
Adventist volunteers think that some of the people they helped would eventually show
up at an evangelistic series held at the Centralia Church in the spring.
“We came across people who had completely lost hope,” says Tom James, pastor. “Our church realized that by helping someone with their needs today, we were establishing a relationship with them for the future.”
Throughout the days, weeks, and months since the flood, Adventist volunteers of all ages and from many areas of the conference and beyond came to offer hope and help to the affected communities.
In early January, about 60 local church, conference, and disaster response representatives
met and voted to implement a long-term recovery plan after negotiations with the State of Washington to set up a warehouse fell through. One result of this meeting was hiring Gary Neff and Ross Jones on a contract basis to serve as longterm response coordinators.
“We were finding 100 new jobs a day for six days,” recalls Neff.
With the jobs lining up, volunteers from Chehalis and Centralia Churches, Lewis County Adventist School, Auburn Adventist Academy, Skagit Adventist Academy, North Creek Fellowship, and many individual volunteers showed up to help with cleaning, fencing, delivering, building, and helping and encouraging people.
To conclude the conference-sponsored long term recovery plan, 50 volunteers showed up for “The Big Day” on May 18. Volunteer Colette Newer reports how homeowners off the beaten track were shocked at the willingness of strangers to help others out for free.
“I felt a connection with the people we were serving,” Newer says. “We talked a lot and learned about their lives and who they are.”
Recovery efforts are still in progress. This summer, youth groups, Pathfinders, and volunteers over the age of 13 will participate in a weekend mission trip to Chehalis on July 10-13.
“Flood recovery won’t be over for a long time,” says Doylene Cook, trip organizer and teacher at Lewis County Adventist School. “We invite you to come down to Chehalis for ‘Flooded with Grace’ this July for a mission trip and spiritual retreat.”
Monday, February 25, 2008
NPUC Service Recognized by Washington State Senate
Upon discovering that Owen was out of his office presiding over a Senate session, Patzer intended to simply leave a business card with a quick greeting. But when Owen’s personal aide found out they both represented Walla Walla University and the Adventist Church, she revealed that she was a graduate of Pacific Union College. Exclaiming that Owen would want to see them, she invited them to accompany her into the wings of the Senate chamber.
When Owen was informed that his friend was in the Capitol, he insisted that both Patzer and McVay sit near him at the rostrum and observe the Senate proceedings for a few minutes. At one point, between regular business, Owen formally introduced Patzer and McVay and led the full room of senators in an ovation.
As they were leaving the senate chamber several senators came out to individually greet the men. Several expressed specific thanks for the relief efforts Adventist churches and members provided during recent floods in their districts.
“It’s clear to me that the Adventist Church is making a positive impact in communities around Washington and the Northwest,” Patzer said. “We are known as a group that is committed to excellence in service and education. The recognition John and I felt there at the Capitol is simply a testament to how the Lord blesses when we reach out to be a positive part of our communities.”
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
UCA Students Help with Lewis County Flood Relief
Charlee Kolma, a former student of Lewis Coounty Adventist School, a member of the Centralia Adventist Church, and now a sophmore at Upper Columbia Academy along with her friend Clarissa Reed from Nevada, also a sophmore at UCA, took their home leave to help flood victims in Lewis County.
While working on February 8 they were able to visit with Washington Governor Christine Gregoire. Many of the people including the owners of the Curtis Store which was destroyed by the flooding were impressed with the amount of work the girls accomplished.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Volunteers Appreciated at Lewis County Adventist School
Volunteers (of all ages) are the glue of the Lewis County Adventist School’s community service program.
LCAS is blessed with many adult volunteers helping the school kids help others. The school appreciates the volunteers very much and could not do community service projects without them. Volunteers through LCAS baked bread and cookies, found work sites, supervised kids, sloshed through the mud, shoveled mud, tore out drywall, and washed down dirty kids and muddy boots. The list goes on and on.
The school would particularly like to thank Pastors Chester Schurch and Tom James for adjusting their schedules to help with ninth through eleventh grade worship and Bible class. Their willingness to step in on short notice to teach and help with community service has been greatly appreciated (especially after Principal Dan Baker’s heart attack and recovery).
Making daily adjustments to accommodate the school’s busy community service schedule has become the norm. No two days have looked a like since the flood—particularly for the upper grades. “Flexible” truly is the school’s middle name.
Even with disrupted schedules, students have still maintained willing and cheerful attitudes while helping with community service. Every student was able to help in some way—and that was a good feeling among the student body.
As of last weekend, students have been able to help four families, a farm on Twin Oaks, the Veteran’s Museum, the Salvation Army and the United Way. What mud the kids have not been able to shovel or sweep they have brought back to school on their clothing! The mud is beautiful, however, because it is a mark of service. One day, the first through third graders baked cookies and bread and made cards to distribute to those helping with the flood disaster.
Two students lost their homes in the flooding. They are brave and strong, but their faces tell the story of bewilderment and disbelief. At least one school family’s business was severely damaged, and they are in the arduous mode of recovery.
Prayers on behalf of LCAS, the churches, and the community are greatly appreciated. The Bible says to “…give thanks in all circumstances,” and through service to the community, that’s what Lewis County Adventist School—and others—are trying to do.
Need information or want to donate to flood victims? Visit www.lewiscountyuw.com.
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Based on LCAS Chatter information, a newsletter written by Earlene Wohlers, LCAS office manager
