The Mountain Spirit - July/Aug. 1986

November-Deeember

Utian JB&alachian Project

The Mountain Spirit The Magazine of the Christian Appalachian Project

u ly -A u g u st

T h e M o u n t a in S p ir it: The Magazine of the Christian Appalachian Project July-A ugust 1986

V ol. V , N o. 4

Contents Features 4

A V isit w ith Father B eitin g by G io v an n a B urks G odby and M a rg a re t G abriel F ath e r B eiting shares som e o f his m em ories and im pressions o f the thirty-five years th at he spent w ith the m o u n ta in people.

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A Spirit R enew ed

Ja c k M o rris, p. 11

by G io v an n a B urks G odby O n A pril 22, 1986, the C A P fam ily g ath ered to celebrate the investiture of M ike M cL au g h lin as the P resid en t of the C h ristian A p p alach ian P roject.

11

Parables o f a D ream by Ja c k M o rris Ja c k b ro u g h t back som e very d ea r m em ories as he rem ark ed on the days w hen folks w ould shake in th e ir shoes w hen “ F ath e r had an id e a !’’

23

Jim b ob and A rn old ’s Coal M ine and W ater C om pany, Inc. by Ike A dam s O u r last issue in tro d u c ed Ike A dam s, a local w riter. Ike tells a story o f two local boys w ho en ter the business w orld.

Departments 3 14 16 20 21 22

From O u r P resident T h e C A P C loseup A round the Project News of O u r N eighbors Letters A T h o u g h t from the E ditor

F ath e r B eiting, p. 4

A S p irit R e n ew ed , p. 9

T h e J u ly -A u g u st T h em e I guess I ’ve alw ays know n th at this day m u st co m e— the day I ’d no longer be P resid en t o f the C h ristian A p p alach ian P roject. W hen I was a y o u n g m a n , I th o u g h t the sep aratio n w ould com e by d e a th — you alw ays th in k y o u ’ll live fo rev er— an d yet I ’ve alw ays been convinced th at I w ould n ev er die o f old age. W h en I was o lder, I th o u g h t m ay b e the sep aratio n w ould com e before d eath . In the fantasies of p rid e, I im ag in ed th at th ere w ould be som e sp ectacu lar event com in g along th at w ould call for the ch an g e. W ho know s, m aybe the Pope w an ted m e to be C ard in al! A nd yet, I can say I n ev er d rea m ed the change w ould com e this y ear, o f all years, an d in so o rd in ary a m a n n e r. P erh ap s th at is w hy I believe the change is the will o f G od, the plan o f the all-wise O n e. See, I ’ve com e to know for a long tim e th at the ways an d th o u g h ts o f m en are n ot alw ays the w ay an d m in d o f G od. F ath er R alph B e itin g A pril 2 2 , 1986

Published by the C h ristian A ppalachian P roject; E ditor, M a rg aret G abriel; A ssociate E ditor, G iovanna Burks G odby; A d visory Board, F ath er R alph W . Beiting, M ike M cL au ghlin, Leslie B. L arsen, Ja c k M orris, Bill Begley, Doyle F ortney, R andolph Jo rd a n ; G raphics C oordinator, D ebbie Fraley W ilson; C irculation M anager, T h eresa Richey The Mountain Spirit is published six tim es a year. T h e an n u al subscription price is $5.00. Subscriptions and o ther correspondance should be sent to The Moun­ tain Spirit, C h ristian A ppalachian Project, 322 C rab O rch ard R oad, L ancaster, K entucky 40446. C opyright 1986. T h e C hristian A ppalachian Project, Inc. All rights reserved. M em ber, C atholic Press Association. T h e C h ristian A ppalachian Project is a non-profit C hristian service organization operating th roughout E astern K entucky. T h e project operates on the philosophy th at “ helping people help them selves” is the best approach to A ppalachian poverty.

From Our President I first met Father Beiting nearly twelve years ago, in the fall of 1974 on a gray-cold and dismal October afternoon. I was disappointed with my employment as an industrial relations director for a mid-sized corporation, which was feeling the financial pinch of the oil embargo. Firing people, leveling criticism and assessing blame seemed to be the order of the day. I wanted no part of a corporation in which people were not number one. Father was looking for a personnel man and I hoped I might fit the bill. I found my way to the rectory behind St. William Church, climbed the porch and rang the bell. No answer. It began to rain, and thunder clapped close at hand. The front door was ajar, so 1 entered the living room. I called out rather sheepishly, “Hello. Anyone here?” Still no answer. Had I gotten the time con­ fused? Spying a hallway off the liv­ ing room, I looked down its length, hoping to hear voices or see life at the other end. What was I doing here? I had entered unasked; I was wandering around. Just then a door off the hallway opened abruptly and the principals 1 was there to see ap­ peared. 1 felt like I had been caught naked. Tongue-tied for me, they surmised my plight and rather goodnaturedly asked me in. What a beginning —how not to begin a job interview! Father Beiting’s office was cold with only a single desk lamp to spread the light. The chair I sat in looked like it came from a gaudy speakeasy and its legs were so short that I was nearly sitting on the floor. Father towered over me from behind his desk and padded chair. I was quizzed on my background. My credentials were examined, my reasons for wanting to work in Ken­ tucky questioned, my opinion sought on various personnel policies. We discussed my family life, financial needs and desires and on and on . . . and on. Time went quickly, and soon I was ushered out Ju ly -A u g u st 1986

Mike McLaughlin the front door, feeling only that I had survived. As winner or loser? I had no idea. And what did I know of Father Beiting? Not much. There was seriousness, a single-mindedness of purpose and direction, an obvious unconcern with creature comforts and small talk. “Stern” some would say, but I think “distant” is more ac­ curate. There was a little bit of the “General” about him. As the light reflected off his face, I could sense perceptiveness, keen intelligence, an awareness of the world and a strength of command. Empathy was not present. Such a feeling was eliminated out of hand, but there was a cautious neutrality in the ex­ pression of deep human feelings. Perhaps he was a man who acted rather than felt, made his deeds speak for him in another sort of elo­ quence. Such was my first encounter with Father Beiting, my boss for these twelve years, my mentor of sorts, my compassionate friend. Fm not sure that he was really as distant as he seemed to me that day, or whether I lacked the understanding of just what he was about. I think he had his mind on other things —on fields to be cleared, valleys to be traversed, miles to go and people to help. Perhaps he was tired. I did not know then that he is the hardest working, the most energetic, vital, and tireless advocate of the poor that I have ever known. At 62, Father is not quite the same man I met when he was 50. I think adversity and age have changed him. He was directed to leave his parish of 30 years and begin again. His parents grew older; his mother died. He contracted diabetes; his circulation has suffered, particular­ ly in his legs. His arthritic knees cause substantial pain. He has lost ninety percent of the sight in one eye. After beginning again, five years ago, he is again asked to start over, this time on a new mission for

the Church and the people he loves. In forty-odd years of giving hope to untold thousands, he has seen good friends come and go, and many a promising idea fail. He has been disappointed by prejudice, narrow­ mindedness, bigotry, and has seen more clearly than ever how much is still undone. He has changed, but what is dif­ ferent about him? He is certainly more mellow. He is patient in listen­ ing. Before, his mind raced years ahead of you. He now waits, listens to see where you are. His day is as long as ever, but he seems to take it better; it sits well for him. He knows he cannot do all things, and there is some wisdom and relief in that. He sheds tears more easily and unashamedly and draws people even more closely to this new depth in his personality. There is a graceful and noble humility about him. As the seasons change, he has changed, and he is making a golden October of it. He is an inspiration to many of us in late youth or mid-age who fear it is downhill from here on in. Finally, I think he dwells more on the life and love of Christ. He has always had heroes —the saints, young America’s frontiersmen, a president or two. Yet it is Christ that he mentions most often. To live as He lived, as He would have us live today, that seems more his goal, or at least his general direction. He has left one plane, and is reaching for a new level, new authenticity, a new genuineness of being. He has given me hope to bring out my old dreams, to sing a little bit more, to cherish others with greater zest, and in the language of sportsmen “to go for it.” I hope, in my greater years, to be able to pass the dream along half as well as he. As with thespians, “Act well your part; there in all honor lies.” Truly Father Beiting has lived his role to its fullest, and while the music of Camelot is still faint and far away from the Ap­ palachian hills, this one man has done well and still he does not stop. 3

A Visit With Father Beiting

L eft, F ath er B e itin g as a sem in a ria n in the ’4 0s. A b o v e, he v isits an E astern K en tu c k y fa m ily .

The Mountain Spirit: Father Beiting, as we look at the origins o f your work in Eastern Kentucky, your methods seem quite plausible for a man in his forties or fifties. A lot o f wisdom is evident in the observations and decisions you made back then. We forget, sometimes, that you were only 27 years old when you first came here. How do you ac­ count for such wisdom at an early age? Father Beiting: I think my family had a great deal to do with it. One of the things I learned after I came here was that, on the day they were mar­ ried, my parents prayed for a large family—ten kids. To me, that said more than “ I want children.” It said, “I am willing to do without. I’m willing to work awfully hard in order to make this 4

contribution.” They wanted to be a part of God’s kingdom and felt that life was God’s greatest gift. I saw, somehow, that they were not afraid of a challenge; they were not afraid of a conflict. They were not afraid of sacrifice. And I grew up feeling maybe that’s the ordinary way to be. I got a great love of the Church from them, too. The Church was not something that I had to do. It was something I was privileged to do. I think the Church itself is responsible for a lot of that wisdom, if that’s what you want to call it. I like to read, and I’ve always liked history, so naturally I began to read the history of the Church and the lives of the saints—their lives and the things they had done. They were my pals, you know, they The Mountain Spirit

were somebody I grew up with. They were as familiar to me, maybe more so, than the people I was sitting with in class or that I met on the street. Those people that I studied and read about came years and centuries before me. So, I’m not sure I was all that smart; I was just remembering.

b y G iovan n a Burks G odby and M ar irate t G abriel °

What about the idea o f using volunteers? That has been a very siSniJ'kant Part ° f CAP over the years.

M S':

Father Beiting: I guess I’ve always been in favor of volunteers because I’m basically very lazy. I figured if I could get someone else to do my work that was good. I taught one year in high school before I came to the mountains. I passed a number of those guys, and I thought they owed me something. Then there was my family. Since I’m the oldest, I can always put the screws on some of my brothers and sisters. My mother and father wanted to keep me from getting too far mixed up, so they would come and help. I don’t know if it was great wisdom; I was just lazy, so I’d grab anybody I could. If laziness is wisdom, I guess I have a lot of it. MS: Flow did the people o f these communities react to you when you arrived in 1950?

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¿ # 3 J lH H H H H C am pers en jo y b reak fast at C liffv iew in the early 1960s Ju ly -A u g u st 1986

Father Beiting: There was practically no Catholicism in this area in the late ’40’s and early ’50’s. There were Catholic churches in Fdchmond, Nicholasville and Danville. Garrard County had seen a little Catholicism because it’s close to those places, and because 20 years before, a priest came in every once in a while. When I came in, I was a novelty, a rarity. People said, “ We have one of those panda bears, now.” So, the first several months were a real honeymoon period. They thought, “ Gee, it’s nice to have one of those guys. We’ve never seen one, and now we have one living here.” They were accepting until I began to do something. Basically I began to help the poor because they were the ones who came. They were scared; they were frightened because they had heard all kinds of crazy stuff about Catholics, too. But, they came—the blacks were just as welcome as the whites—and they began to spread the word, “ He’s not a bad guy.” They felt comfortable at the church, not necessarily the services, but at other things that were going on. So, the first thing you know, people began to say, “ That guy isn’t trustworthy. If we’re not careful he’s going to have everybody liking him, and then they’ll want to join the Catholic Church and then what would we do? What would happen to our congregations? And now he’s even let Negroes come in.” It wasn’t long before people began to say, “ Let’s not forget how bad the Pope is. Let’s not forget all the stories that we’ve heard about how the priests and the nuns are always hav-

MS: Did you ever envision CAP the way it is today?

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F ather B e itin g su rv ey in g in 1970.

ing babies in the tunnels.” But I was under no pressure to leave. I didn’t have to worry about a family. I didn’t have to worry about a higher paying job with some bigger church. I could spend my whole life here. I didn’t have to make converts; nobody was going to throw me out if I didn’t have any converts. I didn’t have to do a lot of the things that most churches expect their ministers to do. MS: What do you consider to be your biggest success since coming to the mountains? Father Beiting: I think our biggest success is that we’ve been able to to get people of all faiths to work together with such great loyalty. St. Peter, in his second letter, wrote, ‘‘Once you were not a people at all, and now you are the people of God.” I think that is what CAP has made possi­ ble. In the sixties, people looked upon us as kind of nuts because we didn’t go for the government money; we tried to pay our own way. A while back—maybe a couple of years ago—one of the people who’s been working in Eastern Kentucky since that time said to me, “ We all thought you were mighty peculiar back then, and we’re amazed at how you’ve smartened up since then.” We’ve created a family here that truly wants to keep going, that’s willing to work and grow up. In a sense, I’m not vital anymore. CAP can go on whether I’m here or not because we’ve created in people now that vision or dream.

Father Beiting: If anybody’d told me in 1951 or ’52, when we were beginning to get seriously in­ volved, I’d have said, “ You’re out of your mind.” We probably wouldn’t have known anything about drugs, but we sure would have thought they were hitting the bottle. I really had no idea what it would become. I just looked at the needs, whether it was for a Bible School or a volunteer or clothes or a job or to hold someone’s hand who was old and sick and out in the hills. Those were very pressing needs, and my idea was that you respond to a real need. Sometimes my associates in the priesthood, especially the associate pastors in Lancaster, would say to me, “ We can’t do it; there are no resources for it. There’s no way that we can do it.” And I kept saying, “ There’s no way we shouldn’t do it, and we have no excuse for not try­ ing. We can’t guarantee a success, but not everything that I have tried has succeeded.” Back in the late sixties, we needed to go far beyond where we were, and to do that, I needed money. I’d started getting money by sending out letters, and I knew that with my limited help, we’d sent out as many letters as we could and it wasn’t bringing in nearly enough money. So some people convinced me that what we were doing could be sold. Sold to anybody—Catholics and Pro­ testants, anybody. My friends told me that I was jeopardizing everything, that I’d go bankrupt. “ You’re jumping too far,” they said. I said, “ Well, you’re probably right, as far as wisdom is concerned, but I’m sure gonna try it.” So, you see, I didn’t have any grandiose ideas back then; I was just doing what needed to be done. MS: What do you consider to be your most significant contribution to this area? Father Beiting: I think that the most important thing that we’ve done is how we’ve helped change attitudes. The Appalachian counties were so isolated, or maybe insulated is a better word, that the outside world didn’t make that much dif­ ference to people. But people have been coming into the area in the last 30 years or so—not just with CAP, but other projects and organizations, too. So I think that we’re finding that people are not afraid of outsiders as much. There’s still a lot of that, of course. But, I think we’ve helped broaden minds and have made people realize that we are all part of a whole, that we need to work together and cooperate. I had a world vision in a sense that everybody was my responsibility, and therefore, it came to me that I had to involve everybody, not by changing their religion, but by simply giving them a vision of what we could do together. The Mountain Spirit

MS: Over the last thirty plus years, what do you consider your biggest disappointment? Father Beiting: I guess in a very real sense, I don’t have any. What makes something a disap­ pointment? You wanted it to happen today, and it didn’t? Is that a disappointment? I don’t look upon it as disappointment or failure when you try to do something and it doesn’t work out. Failure means that it didn’t exactly achieve the immediate desire you had for it. But, did it do something that was really good? Did it make something else possi­ ble? Did it change people? The only real disap­ pointment I feel is when I commit a sin. I am disappointed then because I didn’t do what God wanted me to do. Sure, there are some things that I might have done differently, but I haven’t been disappointed. The things that happened that I wished hadn’t happened became a new horizon that opened up.

F ath er B e itin g w atches as a h om e repair team w orks on the ro o f o f a h ouse in A p p alach ia.

Once, a man promised to sell me some property, and when I went to complete the transaction, he backed out. I got aggravated as the dickens at that guy. And so, when that deal fell through, we developed everything in Berea—the Appalachian Village and so on. I thought, “ Gee whiz, if I had gotten what was fair, we wouldn’t have started all our other various and sundry works with the com­ munity.” So, I wasn’t disapointed that we never got the property. MS: Maybe frustration is a better word? Did you ever feel frustrated? Father Beiting: There’s no question about frustration. You get mad, but that’s an immediate thing. It’s here today, and maybe tomorrow, but it isn’t forever. The litter in Eastern Kentucky frustrates the liv­ ing daylights out of me. Why do we have to see this filth? Why don’t parents love their children? Why don’t children care for their parents when they get old and sick? Those are frustrations, but they’re not disappointments because you have to recognize the world as it is. MS: What is your hope fo r CAP during the next thirty years? Father Beiting: I hope that we keep our spirit—the ecumenical vision—this string of trying to do whatever is good, no matter how much time it’s going to take to do it. That willingness to take the path less traveled, the willingness to dream and to say, “ Look, it can be done; all we have to do is try.” That we have to keep. Everyone has a responsibility to try and preserve that. If we can keep that spirit, we’re going to be so contagious that people are going to say, “ Gee whiz, I want to be a part of that. I want to do what they have done.” And I think we will see a lot more people Ju ly -A u g u st 1986

F ather B e itin g takes a break from p rea ch in g to v isit w ith a little b o y .

street

joining us. So in the next thirty years, if we keep that kind of spirit, I think it will truly be remarkable what can and will happen. I think that in the coming years, CAP’S major function will be to shoot out a light, sending peo­ ple to all parts of the country who have been here. The needs will come, and we will respond to them. There will probably be new dimensions to the poor, and we have to be sensitve to those trends. We have to be people that sense the time of change and do not hold on to what we’ve done for the last thirty years and think that’s the way it has to be for the next thirty years. We may put aside some of the things that we started that once were ex­ tremely important to us and respond instead to new needs. MS: What will you be doing fo r the Diocesan Mission Office? 7

As he has for the last th ir ty p lus years, F ath er B e itin g co n tin u es to v isit the p eo p le o f the m o u n ta in s.

Father Beiting: As I understand it, they look upon me as someone who has the greatest amount of experience with the mission church of the Diocese of Covington, and certainly, that’s true. I think that they wanted to choose a person who could best convey the extremes and needs of Ap­ palachia—someone who has been there for a long time. So when the bishop made the decision to remove me from parish life, it was with the idea that I would continue the work that I started with the mountains and the missions by trying to con­ vey that need, that challenge and opportunity to a wider audience. This audience would be all over the United States. I imagine that before the year is over, I will be going to twenty major areas in the United States and talking to, perhaps, thousands of Catholics and Protestants. I will tell them what we’re up to in the mountains and about our dream. So that’s my mission. I personally don’t conceive of it as fund raising because I really don’t like raising funds. I know that you only get money when you can motivate people. You can’t take it away from them. You really need to be able to sell this to people. So, I look upon my job as selling the excitement of God—selling the excitement of God’s church in a place where it’s small and fragile and yet where there are so many demands made on it. I look at my task as trying to be a herald for that kind of challenge throughout the country and throughout our own diocese as well. MS: Do you have anything that you'd like to say directly to your readers? 8

Father Beiting: I want them to know that I think they are the opposite of St. Thomas. As you know, when Christ came back from the dead, he appeared to the women first and then to Peter. Then finally, on Easter night, to all of the apostles except Thomas. They all believed. They told Thomas, and Thomas wouldn’t believe. He had to put his finger in the nail scars and his hands in Christ’s side, and until he did that, he would not believe. He would not go along. Finally, the next weekend, Jesus came to Thomas, and Thomas finally fell on his knees and said, “My Lord and my God.” And Jesus said, “Thomas, you believe because you have seen. Blessed are those who have never seen and yet believe.” I think the readers of The Mountain Spirit are like that. They haven’t seen all the things that go on here. They haven’t seen the terrible sadness that we try to address, and they haven’t seen the little success stories that come forth from what we’ve done. They haven’t seen the wonderful people who make up CAP. They haven’t seen any of that, and yet they believe. And they give, and they pray and wish us well. I want them to know that I look upon them as that blessed people that Jesus talked about. “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” And in their belief, they have contributed by prayers, money, materials and by thier own selves. I think that they’re a part of us as much as anybody is, and without them, we’d be just as dead as we’d be if we didn’t have any of the workers. They’re a part of the family. The Mountain Spirit

A Spirit R en ew ed b y G iovanna Burks G odby

However untimely, uneventful and unexpected, the change in the life of Father Beiting stirs a change in the Christian Appalachian Project. April 22, 1986, marked the beginning of that change with the formal investiture of Michael C. McLaughlin as President of CAP. According to Daniel Webster, the word in­ vestiture means “ the act of establishing in office or ratifying—confirmation.” Webster further defines ratify as “ the act of approving and sanc­ tioning formally” and confirmation as “ the act of making firm or firmer, to give approval to.” Ju ly -A u g u st 1986

“I believe the change is the will o f God, the plan o f the all-wise One. See, I ’ve come to know fo r a long time that the ways and thoughts o f men are not always the way and mind o f God. ” Father Ralph Beiting

The investiture of Mike as president established his new position positively and formally. The evening was truly an act of approval on the parts of Father Beiting, CAP employees and volunteers. It made more firm, and perhaps renewed, the goals of CAP. For these reasons, it was of utmost importance that CAP celebrate this historical event with a formal ceremony. The theme of the evening was “ The Dream Begins, the Dream Continues.” Doyle Fortney, Director of Spiritual Programs and Planning, began the evening with comments about dreams in 9

V olu n teers b estow a b lessin g in song on M ik e and A llis. T h e b lessin g is on e that the v o lu n teers often sin g for v isito rs b efore th ey lea v e the v o lu n tee r h o u se and co n tin u e th eir jo u r n e y s.

general. Jack Morris, Coordinator of Church Relations and Grants, spoke about “ the beginning of the dream” (see p. 10), specifically about Father Beiting’s dream of helping those in need and anec­ dotes about those early days. But truly, Father Beiting’s comments captivated the audience and capsulized the essence of the evening as he spoke about the continuation of the dream. His brothers, sisters and in-laws joined with his CAP family as he drew the image of a CAP, no longer an infant, but rather a mature adult, ready to leave her father. He compared Mike to her groom as the speech became one of advice, encouragement and confidence in a happy “ marriage.” With true conviction, Father Beiting said, “ I can honestly say to you tonight that I know of no one I would rather hand my child over to than Michael . . . I am proud to turn the child of my dreams, the child of my youth, to you, Michael.” Father Beiting presented several gifts of the heart along with the wish that Mike would “ remember this day and know of my love and my support.” First, he offered a crucifix, one made of rosewood and silver, that he had bought in Mexico to lift his spirit on a day when his heart was heavy. As he handed it to Mike, Father Beiting told him, “ I hope it will remind you that it is only with Christ that you can do all things. It was for this reason that Christ’s name came first in our title . . . I thought I would keep it [the crucifix] always, but as I looked at it last night, I thought,‘You should give it to Michael, for it is something you wanted to keep and would be better given away.’ ” Father Beiting’s second gift to Mike was a tree planted in a pot of Appalachian soil. He explained that he had nurtured it since it was a sapling and said, “ I hope it reminds you of our land and the beauty it deserves—Appalachia is the second word in our title.” The third gift was a pair of his own workshoes. With the gift of the shoes came Father Beiting’s wish that they would remind Mike “ to never 10

forget the valleys and hills of our Appalachia.” Father Beiting continued, “ To remind you of the people who make Appalachia their home. Go out and visit them often and help them always.” Father Beiting explained that he had worked in those same shoes for several years and that he hoped they would “ assure [Mike] of the happiness that comes from that kind of work. Project, which is work in action, completes our title.” Finally, the volunteers presented to Mike and his wife, Allis, a blessing in song. Imagine the speaker’s table surrounded by volunteers with arms stretched out and over Mike’s head, singing a prayer of blessing for him—an appropriate im­ age since volunteerism is the legacy of CAP. The melody and words, “ May the blessing of the Lord be upon you, we bless you in the name of the Lord” rang through the auditorium. Father Beiting ended his speech with a special thank you to all those present for their prayers and support. . . and especially for their love. In typical Father Beiting fashion, he said, “ I am grateful for and humbled by your love. I thank you in the only way love wants—I love you in return.” Mike McLauglin’s brief comments drew the evening to a close. After talking about the new course on which CAP is launching, Mike unveiled a portrait of Father Beiting, which will hang in the conference room at headquarters. As he presented the portrait, Mike said, “ That’s how we see him. We see him as a man of God and as a lover of humankind.” Hope for CAP’s future was best summed up by Father Beiting as he spoke, “ CAP can only reach its full potential when its leadership is shared and entrusted to men and women of many and varied faiths. I believe that this day, here, will mark a new Spring, a new beginning, for a better and more fruitful CAP.” April 22, 1986, was one of warmth, fellowship, laughter, reflection and hope. It was a renewal of the spirit—a renewal of the dream. The Mountain Spirit

still have food, clothing and shelter after their hus­ band’s and father’s words about the Chairman of the Board at this significant event. They may be shaking, too.

P arab les of a D ream by J a c k M orris

T h e CAP dream was born, and continues to live, through very real people and commonplace situations. When the “CAP fam ily” o f employees, volunteers and friends gathered to install Mike McLaughlin as the new president o f the Christian Appalachian Project, it was a time to remember the people and the stories that have created the dream. It was a time to remember the “early days” with Father Beiting and each other. The following installation address, delivered by Rev. Jack Morris, CAP’S Coordinator o f Church Relations and Grants, captured the meaning o f CAP’S dream fo r all present that evening.

But you know, I stopped shaking a little bit when it hit me that the CAP dream we are talking about this evening is a very personal thing. It is a very personal thing about you and me. You and I and all those that have gone before us are the em­ bodiment of the CAP dream. The CAP dream is not something that can really be captured in the listing of historical facts or in flowery oratory. So I’m not going to give you much of either of those things tonight. We know that the CAP dream began over 30 years ago when a young priest came to Eastern Kentucky and fell in love with the people and the mountains. But the dream comes alive for us when we met him and caught his vision. We know how that young priest, and those that joined him, built CAP from one person’s dream to an organization that now serves over 40,000 peo­ ple. But the dream comes alive for many of you out there when you remember the CAP Bible School or camp you attended. You see, the dream is only truly understandable as we recall the down-to-earth, commonplace stories of our personal times with Father Beiting and each other. These stories (embellished a little to make them good) become parables. And these parables teach us the meaning of the dream. So, tonight I’ll share some of the stories I know, and you remember some of the stories you know, and we will indeed see how the CAP dream began.

I consider this installation of Mike McLaughlin as the new president of the Christian Appalachian Project to be one of the most significant events in CAP’S history. What happens as a result of this day will have a great effect on all our lives as CAP workers and on the lives of the people we serve. So when I was asked to say a few words about Father Beiting and how this whole crazy, impossi­ ble, wrenching, dream we call CAP got started, it scared me to death. I’m still shaking. I may be shaking when I get through. I may be through when I get through saying some of the things I’m going to say about this man and CAP’s dream. I notice my wife is here, my daughter is here, and my son is here. Now that, in itself, is a near miracle for two busy teenagers and a tired school teacher. But they’re probably here to see if they’ll Ju ly -A u g u st 1986

Ja ck M orris.

11

In a job interview with Father Beiting and Mike eight years ago, it didn’t take me 30 minutes to decide that I personally wanted to be a part of the CAP dream. I wanted to work with the Christian Appalachian Project so bad I could taste it. And apparently Father saw something worth­ while in me, as he saw things worthwhile in a lot of you out there, and I knew I was going to be able to work with him. So Father said, “Now you go home and you talk to Nancy and you come back and tell me what salary you are going to need to live.” Hey, this was sounding good already. Name your price!

Oh, I did make one more try, though. I said, “ Father, you see there’s a problem. I have this car. Well, sort of a car. It has about 130,000 miles on it, and it won’t get me to work.” Sounded like a pretty good bargaining tool, right? A fellow’s got to get to work, right? Those of you that are shaking your heads “ yes” must be really new around here. I don’t know whether Father remembers this or not, but he thought for awhile and said, “I’ll tell you what. We really can’t give you more salary, but we’ll give you $500.00 one time. You take that $500.00, and you solve that car problem.” So, eight years ago, I took that $500.00 and used it as a down payment on a new car that I’m driving right now. As of this very night, that car has 203,126 miles on it, and it runs like a top. Now, I’m not going to go so far as to say that God’s got anything to do with keeping that car running, although sometimes I wonder what else could keep it running. But it’s kind of interesting, isn’t it, what things happen to help us along when we say “ yes” to a dream. Year after year, person after person has said “ yes” to the CAP dream, and we all know some marvelous and mysterious things that have happened to help them along. I see several of you out there that first said “ yes” to the CAP dream by getting involved in some programs over at St. William Church in the early days—Bible Schools, camps, the Sunshine Center.

Jack addresses the C A P fa m ily d u rin g M ik e ’s in ­ v estitu re as P resid en t o f C A P.

Oh, Nancy and I, we figured every way but sideways how much money we were going to need to live. I’m talking bare bones. I’m talking luxuries like food, clothing and shelter. Very proudly I came back to Father with our figure and said, “ This is it. Rock bottom. This is what we need to live.” And Father kind of shook his head and said, “ Well, you know, I don’t think we can quite af­ ford that.” And he offered me just a few thousand dollars less than what we called bare bones. But you know what I did? I did the very same thing a lot of the rest of you did. I went to work. Crazy thing to do, by rational standards, but the dream was more important than rationality or money. And that’s how the CAP dream has begun with person after person, year after year. 12

You and I—and Father for sure—will never forget the glorious chaos that was St. William’s in the earlier days. It was a place where almost any time of day, or night, you could find almost anything or anyone—rich or poor, good or bad, old or young, black or white, Protestant or Catholic, Garrard Countians or New Yorkers or Bostonians. You could find folks like Kathleen Ford (now Kathleen Leavell) that didn’t even know how to speak Kentucky, talking to confused little kids about getting into a caaarr! Why I remember a time at the Sunshine Center when the teachers spoke three languages — Boston, Alabama and Soul. I often wonder what the kids in that class wound up speaking. But, everyone was welcome. That’s what the beginning of the CAP dream was about. Year after year, person after person, everyone was welcome. Then all of us remember those times in the earlier days when Father got an idea. Oh, a shud­ der would go through the projects. “ Good God, help us! Father Beiting has an idea!” It wasn’t pro77^ Mountain Spirit

very well-rehearsed speech that ended with a triumphant, “ Father, it can’t be done!” You all know the rest of the story. It’s just like the other CAP stories. We did it. We did it in Pulaski County as we have done it year after year in Lincoln County and at the Family Life Center and at Emmaus and more recently at the Moun­ tain Christian Academy. In a year or so, all the ser­ vices were in Somerset, and most are still there—an impossible dream? Apparently not. How could I, and others, in the early days, have been so wrong with our frequent “ it can’t be done” advice? We were not wrong because we were asking questions. We should have been ask­ ing questions. We were wrong because we were asking the wrong questions. Year afteryear, person after person has said “ye s” to the CAP dream, and we all know some marvelous and mysterious things that have happened to help them along.

fanity, folks. It was the most real prayer we’ll ever pray till the day of our deaths. Because we were already working as hard as we could, for as little as we could, and were absolutely sure we couldn’t do any more, and we couldn’t imagine how Father could do any more either. But if he got an idea, we knew we were going to do it. I remember sitting in the office of the rectory at St. William’s one day. Several of you that are here tonight were in that office whether you remember it or not; I sure won’t forget it. You see, Father had an idea . . . He was going to do a few little things down in Pulaski County. No big deal—going to have a sheltered workshop for handicapped adults, a home for deaf young adults, a child development center and Attic store, a free medical clinic—a few little things like that. I think it was March and no big serious thing. We should be able to have them in operation by, say, August. Father called us all together, talked about the dream, and then went around the room (as was his custom) to ask us all what we thought. Well, I had thought about it a lot before the meeting because I knew what was coming—we all knew what was coming. And I had looked at it every way but crossways. I knew how many hours Ellen Burke was already putting in, in Child Develop­ ment and other places. I knew what Doris Anglin was already doing in our other Attics. I knew how much money it would cost. Why, any rational person could see it was impossible. So, when Father got around to me, I was ready. I was so smart. He said, “ Jack, what do you think?” And I rared back, and I laid it all out in a Ju ly -A u g u st 1986

I am thankful now that we had somebody around in the earlier days, like Father Beiting, to ask the right questions. He knew to ask not, “ can we do it?” but, “ should we do it?” Not “ do we have the resources to do it?” but rather, “ is it right?” And the real bottom-line question of them all, not, “ is it my will, or the will of those around me?” but rather, “ is it God’s will?” You see, somehow, Father Beiting learned by the grace of God that God wants us to be smart, but that he’s not nearly as concerned about how smart we are as he is about how faithful we are to his dream. There is indeed a Don Quixote “ impossible dream” aspect of our faith that Father Beiting has captured for us and taught us. He has taught us that there are times for a small band of dreamers, without a lot of human resources, to go out and fight some windmills and dream some impossible dreams. Because, you see, if that young priest had come into the mountains 35 years ago and looked at the problems, and the suffering, and the poverty, and the lack of jobs and the poor education—and then very rationally looked over at his strength, and the people he had behind him and the money he had in the bank, he would have just turned around and left—and we wouldn’t have the Christian Appalachian Project today. We have CAP only because he understood that God did not require that he be super smart or super strong. He didn’t even require that he be successful. All God required was that he seek His will, be faithful, stick with it and leave the rest to Him. Father Beiting, I think we are learning to be faithful! Now we are going out to fight some windmills of our own and dream some impossible dreams of our own. Thanks! 13

The C A P Closeup

Mike McLaughlin A

Most Worthy Groom by the CAP News Service

“For weeks I ’ve been thinking o f the things I could say to the new president. What words could I give? What framework could I use to describe the way I feel? It came to me that CAP, the lovely infant that I caused to be nearly 30 years ago is now a beautiful woman, full o f possibility and promise. She is ready to leave her father’s home. She is to be the bride taken by a younger man. Like every father, I look at the groom and ask ‘Is he the right man? Is he worthy?’A father has only human wisdom; he sees as if in a cloudy mirror. But from the store o f knowledge and wisdom I do have, I believe that Michael McLaughlin is a most worthy groom. ” Father Beiting It seems that the appointment of Mike McLaughlin as the President of CAP has had the perfect mixture of human planning and divine providence. Planning, because Mike has worked closely with Father Beiting for many years and knows well the purpose, mission and workings of the Christian Appalachian Project. Divine pro­ vidence, because like many people who started working for CAP in the “old days,” Mike hap­ pened to be in the right place at the right time in 1974. Mike was Personnel and Industrial Relations Manager for a new plant in Nicholasville, Ken­ tucky. “ I was the second person hired—the plant manager was the first—and we hired over 450 peo­ ple in 14 months. It was a crash-type program and it took lots and lots of energy. I started to work when Kelly [Mike’s oldest child] was four months old, but after about six months, I hadn’t even seen her. I didn’t get home until eight or nine at night, and I worked on Saturday. So the only time I real­ ly got to see Kelly was when I’d wake up in the middle of the night. She was sleeping fine, but I wasn’t. I’d get up and go to her room, and rock her and sing to her. She’d sleep right through it. “ After a year, it became obvious that the job wasn’t going to change, and I decided that my family was more important to me than that par­ ticular job.’’

14

The Mountain Spirit

Mike resigned his position and his wife, Allis, a registered nurse, went to work at Garrard County Memorial Hospital. There Allis met Judy Begley who is married to CAP Director of Development, Bill Begley. Knowing that CAP was searching for a personnel director, Judy suggested that Mike contact Father Beiting. Mike did so and was hired about ten days later. “ All together, I didn’t work for about two weeks, and I swore I’d never do that again. It was awful. One or two days—that was fine. But two weeks was more than I could stand; I felt useless.’’ A newness can be sensed around CAP these days. Even though we’ve known Mike, worked with him and respected him for years, it’s dif­ ferent now. He’s the president, and workers not only respect the office, but the man. “ I’m excited about my new job, and looking forward to starting some new programs. Over the next year, I’ll have to reorganize a little bit, so I can free myself up and get around to a lot of places the way Father did.’’ The inception of new programs is a high priority for Mike. The ’70’s were years of tremendous growth for human development programs, as were the ’60’s for economic development. Along with continued growth in human development pro­ grams, the ’80’s have brought dramatic growth in development, due, in part, to CAP’S experimenta­ tion in television fund raising. Mike is looking for­ ward to piloting CAP through these areas and believes that fund raising will continue to grow in the near future. “ We do need more income, because if you don’t have it, it limits the amount of development you can do in other areas. If we’re successful, I think we’ll grow in all the areas. I hope that in human development, economic development and spiritual development, we’ll get off the ground and really start moving fast.” In the days when Mike and Father Beiting saw each other every day, sometimes for many hours a day, their temperaments seemed to balance perfectly. Father Beiting wanted to make decisions yesterday, and Mike was more methodical and preferred to mull things over for a while before coming to a decision. Quizzed about this seeming­ ly perfect arrangement, Mike laughed. “ It’s not that I’m naturally slow in the decision-making process, but I was appalled at how fast Father was. My own personality didn’t work that way, and it seemed strange to me that anybody’s did. I tried to slow him down, and maybe in my attempt, I had to go even slower, so that the happy medium was where it ought to be. “ It seems to me that in the last five years, Father has become more medatative and Ju ly -A u g u st 1986

M ike; h is w ife , A llis; and C A P Board M em b er, P ete C assid y v isit at the sp ea k ers’ tab le at M ik e’s investiture as President of CAP on April 22.

thoughtful. He doesn’t rush into decisions the way he used to. Since his personality changed a little bit, mine was able to be the way it always was. “ I have a lot of dreams and visions, but I think you ought to have a dream for a while to make sure it’s the right dream. When I have an idea, before I voice it to many people, I prefer to keep it to myself. If I feel the same way after three or four weeks, then I know it’s a solid and important part of me, and I voice it.” We don’t often think of Father Beiting learning from others, maybe because so many have learned from him, but he’s a person who knows how to benefit from the experiences of those around him. “ He has told me, from time to time, that he really values my counsel and has learned a lot from me. First time I heard that, my jaw dropped wide open. But I guess it’s true. Two different people have different life experiences. Maybe there were things that I learned that he could observe from my day-to-day actions. He means a great deal to me, and for him to say that he learned from me was surprising, and it really made me feel good.” Over the last several weeks, the administrative transition period has been a lot like Mike—steady, methodical and ever moving forward in a low key and creative sort of way. CAP and the people CAP serves are lucky to have such a man to con­ tinue the dream. CAP. 15

A round the Project

by the CAP News Service

U pdate: T he P ilo t H o llo w P roject The Pilot Hollow Project (see The Mountain Spirit, May-June 1986) is underway in Arkansas Creek in Floyd County, Kentucky. Accord­ ing to Sue McDuffie, a preventive health care volunteer, “ The purpose of the project is to identify in­ dividual and community health needs with particular attention to environmental health and personal health needs. We will develop plans for improving conditions, imple­ ment those plans, and evaluate the short-term and long-term results.” Door-to-door interviews were conducted at each of the nearly 300 homes in Arkansas Creek. CAP preventive health care volunteers gathered histories of both chronic and immediate illnesses. They were interested in gathering information about chronic illness such as cancer, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Immediate illness, such as diarrhea, indicates the possibility of water and environmental contamination and was examined during the interviews also. Corresponding information was also gathered in regard to the condition of water and sewage systems. For instance, are individual wells protected or unprotected? Is the sewage system septic or directed and emptied into creeks? The preliminary survey indicates that nine out of 148 (6.1%) adults and nine out of 79 (11.4%) children have gastro-intestinal illness. Sue explains, “This is an incredibly high rate when compared with national statistics. We know that there is a direct relationship between this type of illness and environmental pro­ blems such as poor drinking water or poor sewage disposal.” En­ vironmental conditions can be cor­ rected. Sue continues, “ If cor­ rected, we can reduce the rate of gastro-intestinal illness.” Now that the statistics are com­ plete, water sampling will be in16

Sue M c D u ffie, J ea n K o w a lsk i, D r. O ris B la ck w ell and P au l W ilk erson re v ie w in fo rm a tio n gathered from A rkansas C reek.

itiated, and Dr. Oris Blackwell, Chairman of the Environmental Health Department at Eastern Ken­ tucky University, and engineers will recommend new water and sewage systems for Arkansas Creek. Then, it will be up to the community to determine the next step in the Pilot Hollow Project. Sue explains, “ We cannot impose our views on these people. Rather, we want to work with them at their point-of-view. We’ll sit down with them, go over our findings and make our recom­ mendations. But, the people of Arkansas Creek will make their own decisions and tell us what they want.” This philosophy is much in keep­ ing with the overall philosophy of the Preventive Health Care Pro­ gram. Namely, the volunteers are facilitators; they will start the ball rolling, but it is up to the people themselves to pick it up and run with it. Sue says, “ We want to em­ power people to use the resources in and around them.” Should the com­ munity decide it wants new water and sewage systems, Dr. Blackwell

and his team are ready to begin work. Volunteers have also taken the opportunity, during the household interviews, to inform families about CAP’s Preventive Health Care Pro­ gram and the Floyd County Healthline, a radio talk show that airs on station WDOC. Sue ex­ plains, “ We introduce ourselves and tell them [the families] that we are interested in preventing diseases and disabilities.” As an educational tool, the volunteers compiled a list of health services available in Floyd County. According to Sue, “ Floyd County has an abundance of ser­ vices available, but we’ve found that very few people know about them.” The Pilot Hollow Project (now the Arkansas Creek Project) has the potential to change the lives of Arkansas Creek inhabitants in a big way, and in the process, is serving as an educational tool. The direct im­ pact of the project, however, will be d eterm in ed by the people themselves—people empowered to use the resources in and around them. The Mountain Spirit

around the project . . . continued

W hat Y ou D o n ’t K n o w A bout W ills C an H urt Your H eirs . . . Find Out W hy. Request Your Free Copy Of:

A few o f the m illio n s and m illio n s o f p eop le w ho jo in e d togeth er to form “ H an d s A cross A m erica ” on M ay 25 w ere C A P v o lu n teers w ho w ere jo in e d b y the M orris fam ily; J a ck , N a n c y , A n d y and J u lia n n e .

I t ’s B ib le School T im e in A ppalachia For the past twenty-five summers, CAP has sponsored Bible School for young people ranging in age from pre-school to high school. “ Bible School is an ecumenical ac­ tivity where children begin new friendships and learn about the Bi­ ble, God and love,” explains Lynne Blankenship, CAP Coordinator of Volunteers. “ Kids from all different backgrounds take part, and we have volunteers who come to Kentucky during the summer to specifically conduct Bible School.” The program is staffed solely by volunteers and is conducted in three counties. A group called CON­ CERN, based in Rhode Island and headed by Sr. Sue Bourret, has led Bible School for CAP for the past eight summers. Last year, in Floyd County, the group held a “ clown­ ing” Bible School. All age groups learned the art of clowning, from make-up to performance technique, and performed parables and Bible Ju ly -A u g u st 1986

stories at the program that conclud­ ed Bible School Week. According to Lynne, “ Sr. Sue Bourret will be the Director of Bible School in Floyd County again this year, and the pro­ gram theme will be “ Jesus Loves Me,” based on the Gospel of John. Bible School will also be held in Garrard and Rockcastle counties. Even though most of the children who attend will be from families familiar with CAP and its pro­ grams, Bible School offers the op­ portunity to meet and become ac­ quainted with new families. When volunteers visit CAP families and enroll the children in the program, oftentimes other families are referred who may be interested in their children attending Bible School but are not part of any CAP program. All children are welcome, thus the program is offered for two sessions in order to accomodate the numbers. At least 180 kids are ex­ pected to attend Bible School this year. This summer, the first session will be July 14-18, and the second session will be Ju ly 21-25.

Much of what you know about wills may be misinformation that has been floating around for years. If you think, for example, that wills are primarily for rich people, or the elderly, you may be the victim of a common misconception. The helpful booklet offered below will ex­ plain how your will can save your heirs from costly delays and con­ fusion. Send for your copy today. CLIP AND MAIL Christian Appalachian Project 322 Crab Orchard Road Lancaster, Kentucky 40446 Please send without obligation, your booklet, “ 37 Things People ‘Know’ About Wills That Aren’t Really So.” Name ___________________ Address __________________ City______________________ S tate_________ Z ip ________

17

around the project . . . continued

C A P ’S N ew Sum m er A d ven ture

Liz says, “ I hope that, as the session continues, parents will become in­ volved as volunteers also.”

MT. VERNON—The Family Life Center (FLC), in Mt. Vernon, took on a new adventure this summer. For the first time, the Family Life Center is holding a day camp for children between the ages of 6 and 12. The four two week sessions, which began June 2nd, are free and were coordinated by Liz Phelps, FLC Manager of Community Recreation, and co-sponsored by Rockcastle County Extension and 4-H offices. Liz explains, “ Day camp is a resident camp held during the day.”

At the end of each session, the children and their parents get together for a cookout which also involves the parents in the camp program. Some of the families know about CAP and have been in­ volved in some of CAP’s programs, but for others, day camp is their first CAP experience. Day camp has made a difference this summer for some Rockcastle County children and has allowed CAP to touch the lives of still more families in Ap­ palachia.

The children participate in recrea­ tional and educational activities. Recreational activities include sports, games, arts and crafts. A Berea college student, paid by the college, is in charge of arts and crafts. Liz and CAP volunteers are in charge of the educational ac­ tivities such as nature studies, sur­ vival and outdoor skills. Guest speakers also talk with the children about nature during each two week session. Liz says, “ I drive through town and see a lot of kids on a beautiful summer day just standing around doing nothing. Day camp allows kids like that to do something valuable with their time.” The day camp is open for all Rockcastle County children and is not restricted to any income level, although most of the applicants live in public hous­ ing. According to Liz, “Kids from different backgrounds interact with each other, and that is good for them.”

C h ild ren en jo y v o lle y b a ll at the F a m ily L ife C en ter.

In addition to Liz, the Berea Col­ lege student, and CAP volunteers, the day camp staff includes clients from the Emergency Assistance Program. They prepare the lunches for the four sessions which helps them to repay the loans that CAP has made them. The food for the lunches is provided by USDA com­ modities and God’s Food Pantry.

On July 4, 1986, the United States is throwing a party! Every citizen in the nation is invited, and the guest of honor is the symbol of freedom and welcome—the Statue of Liber­ ty. In celebration of her 100th birth­ day, the refurbished statue will be unveiled, culminating a year long project made possible by private donations, volunteerism and na­ tional pride of American citizens.

18

M C A Students C elebrate the Statue o f L ib erty

The spirit of the “ birthday party” reached the mountains of Kentucky and the M ountain Christian Academy. Cathy Finn’s third graders created “ Save-the-Lady” posters in conjunction with a social studies unit on New York City. Each of the twenty-two third graders created posters as if he or she were in charge of raising funds. According to Cathy, “The children used themes of liberty and justice. The poster project helped them gain a real understanding of what the statue stands for ” Pam Stumbo’s eighth graders began their work for the “ Save-theLady” fund last year. The students needed to decide how they would fund their eighth grade trip—a tour of Kentucky—in conjunction with their geography unit on their home state. After considering various fund raisers, the kids decided on a project that, according to Pam, would “ help others besides themselves.” They chose to sell solid chocolate, shaped like the Statue of Liberty, with twenty-five percent of the funds going toward the “ Save-the-Lady” foundation. Pam smiles, “ The kids were real thrilled about that and understood, from the beginning, the importance of their project.” The MCA students will not per­ sonally attend the “ birthday party” in New York City, on July 4th. But, the unveiling of America’s symbol of liberty will hold a special mean­ ing for them because, through their class project and energetic fund rais­ ing, they were truly part of this historic celebration.

Nostalgia fo r 70 A vailab le from Press In the May-June issue of The Mountain Spirit we reviewed Nostalgia fo r 70, a new collection of poetry by Jim Wayne Miller. The book is available from Seven Buf­ faloes Press, Box 249, Big Timber, Montana 59011. The Mountain Spirit

around the project . . . continued April 21-25 marked the 24th an­ nual Student Council Week for Uni­ ty High School. A quotation from Dr. Albert Schweitzer sums up the spirit invoked by the week. Just do what you can. It’s not enough merely to exist—seek always to do some good somewhere. Everyone has to seek his own way to make his own self more noble and to realize his own true worth. You must give some time to your fellowman. Even if it’s a little thing, do something fo r those who have need o f help, something for which you get no pay but the privilege o f doing it. For remember, you don’t live in a world all your own. Your brothers and sisters are here, too!

S u n sh in e C enter H old s O pen H ouse LANCASTER—The Sunshine Center, CAP’S child development center in Lancaster, held an open house in April in honor of the new facility which they occupied at the beginning of the school year. Brenda Mullins, who is finishing her first year as program manager was pleased with the attendance of more than 50 parents and CAP employees. The parents and other interested observers participated in games and craft activities with the children and enjoyed cookies, banana bread, sausage balls and punch which the Sunshine kids had prepared earlier in the day. “It was a good day,” Brenda said. “The children loved being in the spotlight and having their mommies come in.” The Sunshine Center has been a part of community life in Garrard County since 1974. During those years, hundreds of children have prepared for a successful entry into elementary school, while learning to interact well with other children and about God’s love for them. The coming school year holds another possibility for the Sunshine C enter —p a rticip a tio n in the Headstart program. “ Headstart has their own point system which is based on several criteria,” Brenda explained. “ We’ll look at the children who have the most needs to see if they can be categorized as Headstart children. It’ll be the same, except those children will have access to speech, dentistry and several other programs that Headstart will pro­ vide the money for. “ We may be adding children, or we may just categorize kids we already have enrolled as Headstart children. We’re very excited about it. We’ll be adding a teacher and a van if we’re approved for the program.” Ju ly -A u g u st 1986

It w as a good d ay at the S u n sh in e C en ter d u rin g O p en H o u se.

In order to continue serving children after they go on to elemen­ tary school, the Sunshine Center plans to offer a tutoring program in the fall, which will work with children in the primary grades. “It may be only for one or two hours a week, but we’ve learned that there’s a need for the service,” Brenda said. It’ll be a busy summer for the Sunshine Center as they prepare for the new activities that the fall will bring them.

T o lo n o , Illin o is Students R aise Funds for CA P L A N C A STE R -C A P Appeal Director, Randy Jordan, recently received a letter from Ann Good­ man, Student Council President of Unity High School in Tolono, Il­ linois, telling him that CAP was selected to be among the recipients of money raised by their student body.

During the week, entitled “ROPE” (Reach Out to People Everywhere) Week, students learn to understand the “needs of others and the importance of helping to meet those needs,” according to school officials. High school students everywhere are known for their innovation and dedication to causes and students at Unity High School are no exception. Activities for the week included “No Shoes Day,” when students were allowed to go to school barefooted so they might remember the many people who are too poor to buy shoes, “School Appreciation Day,” which reminded the students to be grateful for the opportunités which are afforded them through a good education. Each of the activities through the week involved the sale or auction of an item (“School Appreciation Day” saw students bribing teachers into not assigning any homework!). The student body of approximately 500 in the central Illinois community raised $3586.60 which was divided between CAP and several other charitable causes. CAP is grateful to the Unity High School students for the generosity and to Ann, for keep­ ing us informed of the events of the week. 19

N ews of O ur Neighb ors the Kentucky Appalachian region.”

The Diocesan Mission Office: A Call to he Missionary The Mission Office is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cov­ ington. It is for this office that Fr. Beiting will begin work in July. Until two years ago, the Diocesan Mission Office was directed by priests on a part-time basis. Accor­ ding to Bishop William A. Hughes, “ The Church today is to be a ser­ vant Church. It is to minister to the needs of all people . . . . The Church must be a catalyst to self-help and restoration of lost dignity for whatever reason.” With this renewed emphasis on mission work, came Bishop Hughes’ decision that the Mission Office needed a fulltime director. And so, two years ago, Fr. Tom Middendorf assumed the posi­ tion of Diocesan Director of Mis­ sions. The responsibility of the Mis­ sion Office, according to Bishop Hughes, is to “ . . . heighten the awareness of all of us to be ‘mis­ sionary’ in our lives.” The Diocesan Mission Office works with six agencies involved in mission work, and most directly with Kentucky Mountain Missions. This organization aids parishes in Appalachia as well as organizations that address social issues. As a method of raising support for Ken­ tucky Mountain Missions, the Mountain Mission Network of Speakers was formed last year. The Network includes twenty-eight sisters, fifteen priests, and six lay people who travel throughout the 20

United States and talk to various groups about the needs of Ap­ palachia in hopes of raising money, interest and volunteerism. As part of Fr. Beiting’s new responsibilities with the Mission 'Office, he will serve as a member of the Network of Speakers. Fr. Beiting takes a long-term view of this aspect of his job—he seeks long-term funding, visitation, and/or volunteerism from the people he addresses. Fr. Beiting conducted an institute last year for the Network of Speakers at his parish in Watergap. The institute involved “ how to’s” in speaking to large groups and con­ veying the needs of Appalachia. Since Fr. Beiting has thirty plus years of experience in just this capacity, he was definitely most qualified to direct the institute. Ac­ cording to Fr. Middendorf, “ Last year, a quarter of a million dollars in new money was raised for the needy in Appalachia. The major source of this money was made possible through the efforts of the Network of Speakers.” Fr. Beiting will also be contacting other dioceses in an effort to expand the scope of the Mission Office. Presently, twenty-three dioceses in the United States have mission of­ fices actively involved with Ken­ tucky Mountain Missions. Accor­ ding to Fr. Middendorf, “ Fr. Beiting will be educating directors of other diocesan mission offices in the United States about the needs of

The Diocesan Mission Office also works in conjunction with five other agencies. Through work with InnerCity Missions, help is given to those Appalachians who have moved from the mountains to cities in search of jobs. The Campaign for Human Development raises money for self-help projects. Human needs are addressed; no funds go directly to churches. Propagation o f the Faith raises funds to be used in pro­ moting Catholicism worldwide. Six­ ty percent of the funds go to other countries, while forty percent is used in the United States, particularly in rural areas. Holy Childhood Organization is one in which children are involved in helping other children. “ The mission con­ cept of the Church is worldwide; therefore, the Diocesan Mission Of­ fice is concerned with needs not only in Appalachia but throughout the world,” states Fr. Middendorf. Thus, the Mission Office also helps support Catholic Relief with an an­ nual Lenten collection as well as during times of emergency. Fr. Mid­ dendorf explains; “The Diocese sent $200,000 which was used in Ethiopia, $15,000 in Mexico after the earthquake, as well as funds to Colombia after the volcano.” According to Fr. Middendorf, the Mission Office plans to expand par­ ticipation in mission programs in the future. He is very optimistic about the development of the Parish-to-Parish Sharing Plan where affluent parishs will be paired with poorer parishes in Appalachia. He is quick to explain, “ This is not an adoption, but rather a two-way street. What an affluent parish can offer is obvious. A typical mountain parish can offer an affluent parish things that aren’t quite so evident, such as its rich Appalachian culture. “ We are not individuals before God, but rather everyone together before Him.” The Mountain Spirit

Letters I was a summer volunteer two summers ago in Mt. Vernon. I praise God for your magazine that helps keep me in touch with the peo­ ple I came to love so dearly! May the Lord continue to bless CAP’S ministries and outreach, not only by spreading the Gospel of Jesus, but by doing it, for “ faith without works is dead.” James 2:17 Denise Lavoi Lakes Charles, LA

I enjoy The Mountain Spirit very much. I can sympathize with many of you, as I live in an area of California that was badly flooded. Our little town was completely isolated for several weeks due to the flood waters. The people in this part of the country are good people. We had plenty of volunteers that helped to airlift some of the victims and everyone is helping to clean up the damage. Jerry Cave Sebastopob, CA

I enjoy your magazine as it tells about the people and the area in which you live. It must be very beautiful! Have always wished to travel and see all the United States, but have to by reading. To me, the countryside is much more in­ teresting than cities—perhaps because I grew up on a ranch and loved the quietness and peacefulness and will always miss it. The work you are doing is fan­ tastic—helping people by teaching them how to help themselves. Leah Borum Fort Morgan, CO

Ju ly -A u g u st 1986

I really enjoy The Mountain Spirit and thank God for the work you are doing with these good peo­ ple. Especially enjoyed the story “ Big Deal.” There are young people everywhere that, if given a chance, could do a lot to help themselves and their neighbors. It is a real in­ spiration to read something con­ structive. God bless you in this great work. Saltie W. Peele Hamlet, NC

I thoroughly enjoy The Mountain Spirit. The individual “ human in­ terest” stories about your area peo­ ple are our favorite articles. Perhaps you might include some more background items and follow-ups about folks who have succeeded after some assistance from your program. Everyone enjoys a positive result—and we also thank and appreciate all the labor and love and dedication necessary to bring about these results. God bless all of you. Jessie Ritchie Lemon Grove, CA

I have been taking The Mountain Spirit for several years and enjoy reading it very much. I usually read it from cover to cover. I applaud your work and know it must be an uphill battle with very little help from federal funds. I am retired and can’t make big contributions but try to do a little for CAP, Red Cross, Salvation Army, Amvets, March of Dimes and a few others on occasion. So many areas where help is needed I have to spread it quite thin. John C. Hursh Fort Wayne, IN

Both my parents were born in Kentucky, and when traveling, I’m always impressed with the beauty of the state. I love reading The Moun­ tain Spirit and truly love the indominable spirit of the people of Appalachia. Maple Doger Detroit, MI

Reading The Mountain Spirit proves that there are people who have much understanding for those in need. I am particularly interested in the work done for the handicapped. My youngest daughter is a teacher for handicapped infants to three year olds in Florida. This takes love and heaps of patience. Hope you may always be in business helping others. Mrs. Marie C. Walling Hudson, FL

We look forward to receiving The Mountain Spirit every two months. We’ve enjoyed it since receiving our first issue. The stories of real people are so interesting. It is so wonder­ ful—the work that the Christian Appalachian Project is doing to help the people. May God bless your work and all of you. Mr. and Mrs. John Apple Monroeville, PA

Letters to the editor are welcome.

They should not exceed 150 words in length, and we reserve the right to edit them fo r space. Address letters to The Mountain Spirit, Christian Appalachian Project, 322 Crab Orchard Road, Lancaster, Kentucky 40446. 21

A Thought from the E ditor This has been a very difficult column to write, but not for the reasons that you might think. Oh, it’s true that I’ve never actually expressed to Father Beiting how much he means to me and here I am trying to do just that, in this issue of the magazine, in this column, but that’s not the pro­ blem. I’m sure Father Beiting senses how many of us feel. The problem has been trying to organize my thoughts into some readable fashion, that make some logical sense. I guess it comes down to the fact that many people’s feelings about Father Beiting—good or bad—defy description. At Mike’s investiture, Jack Morris said that for each of us, a part of our dream started the first time we met Father Beiting. I met Father Beiting when I was a child, maybe six or seven years old, but I have no recollection of my first encounter with him. So, for the purpose of discussion, I date my first encounter with Father Beiting on the day I traveled to Lancaster from Louisville to speak with him about becoming a CAP volunteer. Today, folks who want to volunteer send a let­ ter of inquiry, which is answered with a descrip­ tion of CAP’s work and an application for the volunteer program. The prospective volunteer visits Lancaster and is interviewed by several peo­ ple. Before beginning work, the volunteer attends a week-long orientation. It’s a long process, maybe two months or more, but one that we’ve discovered works very well for all involved. To say that my entry into volunteer life was not quite that involved would be a classic understate­ ment. My fateful day in October of 1977 dawned to find me excited about my interview with Father Beiting, but nervous about seeing him again and taking such a dramatic step in my life. Our inter­ view lasted well over an hour and consisted of Father Beiting telling me about all of the things that were going on with which I might be involved. Then came the magic question, the only one of my “ interview:” “ How soon can you be here?” Father had me so fired up about the work that was going on that I would have stayed and started work that very day if I hadn’t had to go back to Louisville to renew my drivers’ license. One week later, I returned with my work clothes and a new drivers’ license. You’ve read a lot over the years about how much Father Beiting has done for this area and for the Appalachian people. In this issue of The Mountain Spirit you’ve learned about the work 22

F ath er B e itin g talks w ith a group o f v o lu n teers.

that he will continue and how the Bishop of Cov­ ington hopes that his special talents will touch even more people in the future. You haven’t read a whole lot about the effect that Father Beiting has had on people who worked alongside him, sharing his dream. All the volunteers and former volunteers that I know will tell you that they came to CAP to give of themselves and ended up taking away more than they could ever hope to give. Father Beiting is responsible for much of what people gain. As was true for many volunteers, Father Beiting saw things in me that I didn’t even know existed. If you’d told me, when I came to him in 1977, fresh out of the University of Kentucky with a degree in Theatre Arts, that in 1986, I’d be editing a magazine for the largest service organization in Eastern Kentucky, I’d have been incredulous, to say the least. There’s no way I could have done this job eight years ago. But I couldn’t have managed Emergency Assistance or Christmas Baskets or worked in many of the things I’ve learned to do since I’ve been here, either. Each task I’ve grown into seems to have been a logical progression from the last thing Father Beiting challenged me to do or allowed me to try. And I’m not the only person who has had this experience. Many people will tell you that his ex­ pectations are high, but he never expects something or asks something that a person is not capable of giving or doing. I also feel fairly certain that if you asked Father Beiting about this method of handling people and bringing out the best in them, he’d tell you that you were out of your mind; that he never had time to worry about all that stuff. He just knew that there was work to be done and people willing to do it. —MMG. The Mountain Spirit

illustrations by M a rtin R ollins “Arnold, old son, I don’t know how much more of this belittlin’ I can stand,” drawled Jimbob Swisher to his cousin as they waded side by side through a long line of other miners at the Pike County Unemployment Office. Arnold Swisher shrugged and looked amused. “Jimbob, why don’t you just go on home and starve a month so’s you won’t feel so put out when you come back?” he sarcastically queried. Arnold found no pleasure in filing unemployment claims either, but he was a practical man who seldom complained about his lot in life and had little tolerance for those who did. “Well, I just don’t think it’s right for a man to have to beg for something that he has cornin’ to him by every right in the book,” Jimbob muttered. “You’d think we’s trying to get on welfare. Hell, I’ve paid in three dollars for every one I’ll draw. A man shouldn’t have to stand in this soup line for half a day like a charity case to get what’s already his!” he fumed. Arnold shrugged some more and looked patient. “Jimbob, gettin’ mad ain’t gonna change a thing except your ulcer,” he gently admonished. “You worry too much. We’ll be back to work in three or four weeks and you’ll have something else to gripe about.” Ju ly -A u g u st 1986

“Yeah, Buddy! Shoveling coal for ten dollars a day. I can’t hardly wait.” It was Jimbob’s turn to be sarcastic. “Nothing tickles me any better than knowing I’ve broke my back to keep the payments up on a mine owner’s Cadillac so he can drive to Florida in comfort and fish all winter. Arnold, old son, the only way we’re ever gonna get ahead in this world is to start our own mine.” “Start our own mine!” Arnold guffawed. “Just like we started our own car lot! Just like we started our own farm before we turned that tractor over half a dozen times trying to plow around the side of the hill. We’d both be a lot better off if we weren’t paying over a hundred dollars a month on that thing. Jimbob, do you have any idea how much money it takes to open a mine?” “Well, minin’ is the only thing we know how to do and we’re settin’ on top of a good seam of coal under fifty acres of land that ain’t worth a dime for anything else,” Jimbob murmured more to himself than to Arnold. His brow furrowed and he stared intently at the ceiling for a moment. “Tell you what, old son; I’ll get the money if that’s all that’s stoppin’ us!” he exclaimed. Arnold laughed loudly for nearly a minute until tears were streaking down his jaws. Finally he caught his breath and slapped his cousin on 23

the shoulder. “Jimbob,” he giggled, “if you can raise the cash, I’ll run the mine.” And even though it seemed hilarious at the moment, he knew that Jimbob would come up with some way to at least attempt to start a coal mine. *** Jimbob and Arnold Swisher were double first cousins born on the same day in the head of a long hollow near the Pike and Floyd County line. Early in the spring of 1969 they turned 35 and had spent the last eighteen years working together in several small coal mines. At a gathering of family and neighbors to celebrate the occasion, the cousins announced that they would no longer be working for another man. They had decided to get into the coal mining business for themselves. After selling off a few junked automobiles, a virtually unused Farmall tractor, complete with plows, disks and a hay baler still in the shipping crate, they managed to accumulate just over a thousand dollars in cash. The biggest portion of that capital base was rapidly expended in a road building effort up the side of a mountain to a site adjacent to the family coal bank where they faced up a fifty inch seam of coal for about a hundred yards around the side of the hill. The remaining cash went to the power company to have electricity installed. With that much accomplished and by demonstrating to the bank that they had clear title to the property and the coal, Jimbob & Arnold were able to negotiate a line of credit for lumber to build a tipple, a couple of used electric shuttle buggies that the bank had been stuck with, and a good inventory of mining supplies. At the end of thirty days they were more than forty thousand dollars in debt but they were ready to start running coal. They hired on a couple of miners at ten dollars a day and commenced production by starting two shafts so that they would intersect a couple hundred feet inside the mountain. At the end of a week they had accomplished that objective and had erected a huge fan over one shaft to serve as an “air course” to ventilate the mine. In the process they had shipped seven hundred tons of coal which was selling for eight dollars and change per ton at the rail head. They had enough money to get current on all payments and then it rained for three days. The mine was full of water from bottom to top and the road to it was no longer recognizable as such. Rebuilding it cost twice as much as the original construction. It took ten 24

days to pump the mine dry, but production was back to full capacity within two weeks and leveled off at 300 tons a week on average. It would have been nearly double that if not for the fact that the mine filled with water every time the weather even looked like rain. “Arnold, old son, we could be rich men today if water didn’t run down-hill,” Jimbob would mutter in frustration almost daily, referring to the fact that the coal seam ran at a downward slant into the side of the mountain. “We’d be in a helluva worse shape if it didn’t,” Arnold would sing back as he got the pump to finally begin siphoning a powerful stream down the side of the hill. “At least we don’t have to spend a fortune on electricity to dry the mine out,” he would observe in a pleased-with-himself sort of way as he switched the pump off and the water rushed out under it’s own power. But after two years, Jimbob & Arnold had gotten so far underground they couldn’t keep the water out of the mine long enough to mine any coal. After some dickering they were able to sell the shuttle buggies and a few supplies for two thousand dollars which was exactly what they still owed the bank. They had paid themselves exactly the same salaries that they paid the men who worked for The Mountain Spirit

them and not a penny more even though they had spent hundreds of hours on nights and weekends keeping the pump going. All they had to show for their efforts was a huge hole full of water in the side of the mountain, a check ledger showing that they had generated just over a quarter million dollars in cash flow during the course of operation, and two new pick-up trucks.

Arnold’s Coal Co., Inc.” Now it read, “Jimbob and Arnold’s Coal Mine and Water Co., Inc.” stenciled in bright red letters on a soft blue back-ground. Jimbob had spent the better part of two days working on the sign and it was, in fact, so impressive that he was already trying to convince Arnold that there was a fortune to be made in the sign painting business.

The mine was shut down without any fanfare and all the equipment disposed of except for about a mile of one-inch, black plastic pipe, and the pick-ups, which they gave to themselves. The tipple was torn down for firewood. Wire and old pieces of metal were sold at the scrap yard. But nobody had any interest in the pipe.

The pipe was pulled along the main road to a point just past the last house and for nominal, one-time, hook-up fee, the neighbors were invited to tap onto Jimbob and Arnold’s Water Service Company. A further stipulation asked that everybody pitch in and help cover the pipe. Hook-up fees would be refunded in the event of dissatisfaction.

After a few months of neglect, the access road was a giant gully down the side of the mountain and the mine was completely filled with water from face to drift mouth. One afternoon Jimbob and Arnold asked to borrow a neighbor’s big Perchin work horse after deciding to pull the pipe out of the mine. Several people went along to watch, figuring that the pipe would break at the first place it was coupled, but after considerable lunging and tugging the big horse managed to start the pipe sliding out of the mine and down the former access road. The old road was about half a mile long and very steep. The actual drop in elevation from the mine to the foot of the mountain was somewhere around seven hundred feet. Jimbob and Arnold, along with over half a dozen other families, lived in a small neighborhood with houses fairly close together around the base of the mountain. It was mid-summer and all the wells were dry. Jimbob had taken a sample of the mine water and the health department had pronounced it safe to drink. Folks had already begun packing it off the mountain in pails and Clorox jugs. “Yessirree, old son. This is going to be just like living in town without having to pay taxes or buy a sticker!!!” Jimbob yelled to Arnold as the work proceeded. “Running water, pure and sweet and plenty of it!” he sang and slapped his thigh with a loud whack. “Let’s wait till we see if it works before we start puttin’ up signs that says we’re local heroes;” Arnold dryly replied. As usual, the water line had been Jimbob’s idea and Arnold had been stuck with performing most of the manual labor. Jimbob’s major contribution had been in selling the idea to the neighbors and repainting a sign at the foot of the hill that had formerly read, “Jimbob and Ju ly -A u g u st 1986

Naturally everyone signed up. At the top of the hill the pipe was cut and the remaining portion pulled out of the mine. Then a section was fitted with two big pieces of cork and pushed back inside the mine for several hundred feet. The cork would keep the pipe up against the sandstone roof of the mine instead of on the muddy bottom. The remaining portion of pipe was made available for individual plumbing needs and there was more than enough to go around. Jimbob and Arnold required that all taps onto the main line be made before the water was turned on. Nobody had any kind of indoor plumbing, so most of them simply rigged up a spigot in their front lawns. Jimbob, though, was so sure of himself that he purchased a new kitchen sink and a water heater. The project took three days of working around the clock. At the foot of the hill a post hole was sunk in the ground and filled with cement into which the end of the pipe was stuck so that it was both plugged and well-anchored. Ditches were dug and connections were made. More than a hundred people were involved in the final preparations because word had spread for miles around and spectators were flocking in just to see if the new water system was going to work. Jimbob’s kitchen was packed like a sardine can and those that couldn’t fit inside were peering through the windows. Meanwhile, at the top of the hill, several teenagers were filling the down hill section of pipe with water by pouring it from jugs, a gallon at a time. After an hour of effort and a couple hundred gallons of water, the section of pipe submerged in the mine was joined to the one that ran to the houses. One of the kids ran off the hill and yelled, “Turn her on!!!” 25

“Friends and neighbors, are you ready?” Jimbob yelled above the crowd. “Yeah!!!” they replied in a single voice. “Here she goes!!” he yelled again as he made an exaggerated flourish and opened the tap. The faucet had already begun to drip a little before it was even opened, when the knob was turned water spewed forth with so much force that it splashed onto close observers. The crowd went wild and neighbors rushed to try their own spigots. Less than three minutes later the water went off and was replaced by a mighty hiss of air from Jimbob’s faucet that grew louder by the second until it was literally screaming. The house trembled noticeably, the faucet blew off and a mighty spurt of water hit the ceiling with thunderous force. Women screamed and babies shrieked in terror. Jimbob’s mouth dropped open and his eyes bulged out and he just stood and stared as folks nearly trampled each other to escape the kitchen. In two of the neighbors yards, geysers had erupted and sprayed for a hundred feet into the air. Children ran to get wet in the showering water as their parents screamed for them to get away. Finally Arnold, cursing under his breath,

grabbed an ax and ran back up the mountain. A few minutes later the water went off again when he severed the pipe. But it was an angry and frightened crowd that Jimbob and Arnold had to pacify. Everyone in the crowd had some understanding of the principle of siphoning. In fact the cousins had come up with the idea for the water line because they had learned to siphon the mine out to save on electricity. But since nobody in the crowd was well versed in physics, the laws of gravity had not been taken into consideration. They had hoped for a reasonable flow of water and some were even skeptical about that. But when that pipe filled with water for an unobstructed drop of more than seven hundred feet, the pressure was probably close to a thousand pounds. After consulting with someone more learned in such matters, the cousins dug back into the pipeline and installed valves every hundred feet or so up the mountain and adjusted them so that the flow was cut down considerably. The siphon was reconnected, but when Jimbob turned the water on in his kitchen the second time, he was the only person in it. And as soon as the water started running he vacated the premises. Jimbob and Arnold’s Water Service Company went out of business in the mid-seventies when a surface mining operation caused the mine to drain. The coal company that caused the damage paid to have another rural water company extend its line into the community and then paid for all the hook up fees. Since Jimbob and Arnold’s water was pretty high on the iron and sulfur side, the new arrangement was more than satisfactory. “Arnold, old son, it’s a crying shame to let all that good water just sit up there and go to waste,” Jimbob said to his cousin as they watched a backhoe operator preparing the ditch for the new line. “We could alius start a whiskey still,” Arnold sarcastically replied. “By golly you have finally come up with a good idea!!!” Jimbob exclaimed. “I know a man who builds them and we could get the corn and sugar wholesale and . . . ” Arnold didn’t stay to hear the rest as he walked away laughing and shaking his head. “At least I don’t know anything about running a still,” he thought to himself. Then he stopped laughing and muttered seriously under his breath, “But I guess I dang well better start learning.”

26

The Mountain Spirit

Isn ’t It Early To T alk A bout C hristm as? W ell, it m ight be a little early to start stuffing the turkey, b u t it’s not too early for us to start w orking on C h ristm as Baskets! As you know , C h ristm as Baskets have been p art of the C A P holiday season for m any years. Fam ilies and elderly people receive food, toys or gifts and certificates for free clothing from o u r A ttic stores in celebration of the b irth of C hrist. Each year, as we visit, we ask families if they have any special needs th at we m ight help m eet. In recent years w e’ve started to help families obtain towels and blankets. T his year w e’ve added m ore families to our list and w ould like to be able to add towels and blankets to as m any baskets as possible. W o n ’t you help us m ake the celebration of the b irth of C hrist a little m errier for our friends in the m ountains? Please send towels or blankets to: K eith G ilbertson C h ristian A ppalachian Project 322 C rab O rch ard R oad L ancaster, KY 40446 (U n w rap p ed is O K —w e’ll add the ribbons!)