Kingsport Work Team

Kingsport Tennessee College Workteam Gives Part of Their Holidays to Missions

First Broad Street United Methodist Church from Kingsport, Tennessee has been coming annually to the Rural Mission for 26 years. They will be back in June [2008] for their 27th year. What they have meant to many, many poor families on the Sea Islands over these years is a true blessing that can not be quantified. Countless homes have been brought up to safe, healthy and suitable condition for living due to their caring and experience. All of this has been done freely for these impoverished families. The Rural Mission has always been delighted to see them drive up to our Mission headquarters every year, usually in June. First Broad Street UMC normally comes with a group of around 100 youth and adults, prepared to stay a week, and with the experience and know-how to really make a difference.

This past holiday season they answered the call in a special way. For the first time, First Broad Street organized a large group of college students, home for Christmas break, to come to the Rural Mission. They stayed from December 29 through January 5. They could have remained home and enjoyed their school break with more selfish pursuits. However, they happily jumped into this opportunity to serve and travel to the Sea Islands! Most have been here before. Missions and outreach have been a meaningful part of their lives. Although Kingsport is certainly not any warmer, they have experienced a very cold week of hard week and service. Having visited with the group they obviously have had fun and really enjoyed each others company and the work they have undertaken. That is what being young and enthusiastic is like, regardless of the weather and the hardships! Anderson Mack, Jr. of the Rural Mission who has worked with these young people each day has also found this to be true. They know how to make work fun and they have found joy in helping others in need!

The Kingsport group included 8 adults and 23 college students from a number of schools. They worked hard to split and deliver firewood to needy families who depend upon this firewood for winter heating. This is hearty outdoors work that appeals to this age group, boys and girls alike. Others in the group worked hard to complete electrical wiring and interior repairs, including flooring replacement for a low income family in the Red Top area. Still others did some much needed and much appreciated work in repairs on some of the buildings for the Rural Mission at its headquarters on Johns Island. This was a week that each of these young persons will remember. Each will benefit personally in faith, maturity and leadership as they challenge themselves in service and missions. Those who they have helped and shown compassion will also remember these young people, their caring and their enthusiasm to serve! Christmas is a time of giving and these college students have given of themselves. This is the true meaning of Christmas!