- Excerpts from Appalachia Reflection Journal 2009

“After the talk by Sister, I was a little saddened. Not saddened with being here or for the people here but for myself. Just hearing her talk about how the people have so little at times but have the biggest hearts made me reflect on myself. I realized sometimes that I don’t have a big heart and it isn’t for people I don’t know so well; it is for my family. Being here will help me learn from the people here. I want to learn how to open my heart.”

“I have been having a great time thus far. Every day I am amazed at how kind the people in this town are (unlike the city!). The people who I’ve been working with have so much trust in me, and they don’t let me give up which is great, because when I don’t have faith in myself, God puts people in my way to help me become stronger. This town reminds me so much of my own hometown. It is amazing and I love it! Sincerely, Ms. Flower Power”

“This trip has been insightful. It is a truly grassroots experience offering much more than a mere glimpse into the Appalachian lifestyle. I feel the work that we do offers both a chance to experience Kentucky’s culture but to grow in our Christian faith. Moreover, everyone has been wonderful and spirited. This has been very inspirational to me! I pray that everyone learns and enjoys as much as I have and that we can become enlightened as to the wonders our efforts can do. I hope I can experience something like this again with the same wonderful, caring Christians. With love, Arthur Tru.”

“End of day 2 of construction, and it’s such fun watching everyone changing! We all came in our own separate groups, all huddled and shy, but just a couple of days later, people are dancing and talking and laughing and praying together. And working! Our crew is working so hard and so well…there’s no weak link in our group. But even when we’re working hard, our group leaders keep things fun and enjoyable for us.

I’ve noticed a lot of generosity with each other this week. When someone makes a mistake, there’s no judgment, just an affirmation for trying something new. Our leaders have modeled this behavior for us, and it’s totally caught on among all the participants. People share responsibilities, encourage and compliment each other, and reach out to people they don’t know well.

“This trip has been more than AMAZING. The families we are working with have given us more that we could have ever dreamed that we would give them. Beyond that, I think we have grown tremendously as a group. I came in barely knowing a handful of people and had no idea what to expect. What I found was a wonderful mix of personalities that mesh spectacularly well together. The environment of Camp AJ is so open and inviting to being yourself. Personally, I had never been on any sort of mission trip or to a retreat. I had this stigma in my mind and it had stopped me from going previously. I wasn’t completely comfortable with my faith in a social environment with my peers outsides of church. This trip has been a huge step for me and I have grown more than I could have ever imagined. I’m so HAPPY I came. Workfest 09 and everyone involved will always rank in my top spring breaks. T.”

“I could not help but notice what all the people we have worked with this week, have! Rather than focus on what these families may not have, I did the opposite. Specifically for the family I worked with…there are two parents and two daughters and a son. Having a large family is a wonderful gift and quite a blessing. Also they have a home that is fully covered and has four walls! Many people do not have a home. The three kids have bikes to ride out front. Also, there is a kitchen table with a plant in the middle. Also, there are candles in the window. This family has great relationships, a roof to live under, and most importantly, they have faith in God! What more does a family need??

The best phrase I heard this week: ‘people need so little, to live so well.’ Love, Sammi.”