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T h e M o u n t a in S p ir it: The Magazine o f the Christian Appalachian Project N ovem b er-D ecem b er 1986

V ol. V , N o. 6

Contents Features 4

Special Gifts for Special People by G iovanna Burks G odby and Students at the M ountain C hristian Academy G iovanna asked the children what they would like to give special people in their lives.

T he C reative Process— A ppalachian Style

Sandy and Je rry T ucker, p. 22.

by G iovanna Burks Godby Rocky B urkhardt is artist-inresidence for the Estill C ounty school system.

A nd the Greatest o f T hese Is L ove by Jen n ifer Sprague Pentecostal churches in A ppalachia work at being the “ arm of C hrist, extended to h e lp .”

F aith, H op e, and R oom for O ne M ore

M C A students, p. 4.

Rocky B urkhardt, p. 11.

by Debbie Fraley W ilson M eet Sandy and Je rry T ucker, of Casey C ounty, and learn how they continue to m ultiply their love.

Departments 3 9 10 11 14 19

From O u r P resident Letters R an d o m T h o u g h ts A rts and C u ltu re T h e C A P C loseup A round the Project

The November-December Theme The Mountain Spirit closes out 1986 by looking at spirituality in Appalachia. This year we exam ine how eastern K entuckians help each other deal with problem s. T he children of the M ountain C hristian Academy are helping us to celebrate the birth of C hrist, and we thank the teachers who helped the children with this assignment: C arla Castle, second grade; M artha Lee, third grade; M aureen Hensley, fourth grade; Shelba Phillips, fifth grade; Pam Stum bo, sixth grade. O n the C O V E R , a draw ing by G inger H all, an M C A second grader. O n the BACK C O V E R , a photograph by Rocky B urkhardt (see page 11).

P ublished by the C h ristian A ppalachian P roject; E d itor, M a rg aret G abriel; A ssociate E ditor, G iovanna Burks G odby; A d visory B oard, F ath er R alph W . B eiting, M ike M cL aughlin, Leslie B. L arsen, Ja c k M orris, Bill Begley, R an d o lp h Jo rd a n ; G raphics C oordinator, D ebbie Fraley W ilson; C irculation M anager, T h eresa R ichey. The Mountain Spirit is published six tim es a year. T h e an n u al subscription price is $5.00. S ubscriptions and o th er correspondence should be sent to The Moun tain Spirit, C h ristian A ppalachian P roject, 322 C rab O rch ard R o a d , L ancaster, K entucky 40446. C o p yright 1986. T h e C h ristian A ppalachian Project, Inc. All rights reserved. M em b er, C atholic Press A ssociation. T h e C h ristian A ppalachian Project is a non-profit C hristian service organization operating th ro u g h o u t 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

. . . we would be closer to God i f we were closer to nature. Jordan

Spirituality is such a natural part of our lives that it seems we should all be quite comfortable with it. We should feel it everywhere around us, in every aspect of our lives, and it should bring us closer to each other and to God. Isn’t it strange and tragic that this is often not the case? Spirituality is totally absent from the lives o f many of us, and for many, the religion they espouse is not a vehicle to bring them closer to people, but serves to take them farther away. I have often heard Father Beiting say that he thinks that religion in Appalachia is one o f the greatest obstacles facing those of us who serve here, that religious squabbles, dogmatism, intolerance and mutual disrespect have been some o f the most divisive influences in modern mountain life. How strange and sad that people can twist the very essence o f life, of good, o f unity, of peace into something, at times, not far short of warfare. I believe that we would be closer to God if we were closer to nature. We have all had spiritual moments when confronted with the beauty of nature —snowcapped mountains in the distance, a beautiful valley, the majesty of the ocean, the farmer’s love o f his growing and ripening fields. We look back wistfully at the life o f Robinson Crusoe, or o f Henry David Thoreau and Walden Pond, o f the early settlers and pioneers. In my mind’s eye I can see Daniel Boone coming to Cumberland Gap and looking to the west, at the expanse of what would be Kentucky. I marvel at what a bountiful and abundant land it was, with clear flowing streams and rivers, wooded moun tains, lush green valleys, and wild game everywhere for the hunter. Surely God made Ap palachia as one of the most beautiful of places, as though He knew our spirits needed such breathtaking scenes to make us realize the splen dor o f life and our eternal place in His infinite kingdom. But just as we have vandalized and raped the land, as we have made Appalachia a land of destitute hope rather than a creation of beauty, as we have strip mined uncaringly, deforested the mountain sides, polluted the rivers, parched the soil, and destroyed the game . . . just as we have done all these things, so have we perverted true religion for our own selfish ends as well. N ovem ber-D ecem ber 1986

M ik e M cL a u g h lin .

The religion o f the early settlers was simple but no less proud for that fact. Today, religion seems more complex, more definite, more sure, but it is no more effective for all o f that sophistication and culture. We are coming late to see our mistakes. We see our misfortune as caused by us and not some brutal fate. We see this, and slowly, surely, there are voices o f sanity, and we seek to restore the beauty o f this land and the beauty of the people. Let us not stop with the land but restore true spirituality as well. There is still goodness in the mountains, in each of us, in our certain longing for God’s truth and love. In religion we need to see our commonality, our mutual quest o f the eternal good, and less of our separateness, our distinctness, our stangeness from each other. If I listen with my heart, I will find that every person is my friend rather than my enemy. The problems of Appalachia are many, but one at a time, steadily, courageously, they can begin to be solved. If we return to God, if we listen to the essence of ourselves, we can make our lives and loves as rich and luxurious as we hope to, once again, make our land, our Appalachia. 3

Special Gifts fo r Special People

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A s I look out my window and watch the snow fa ll, I can hear the popping o f the fire logs an d the wrapping o f presents. The outside looks beautiful as the sun sets. The snow sparkles. I t looks like g litter in the sunset. The sunset is a dark red and orange fir e ball. I ca n ’t w ait u n til tommorrow to go p la y in the snow. People are last minute shopping, running the streets, shivering in the cold. Eric J o h n so n , 6th grade

Amy Howard, 2nd Grade.

Christmas would not be complete without the thrill and amazement of children. They approach the holiday season with excitement and innocent wonder —qualities that many adults lose and fail to recapture over the course o f living busy, demanding lives. Children may very well be God’s gift to all adults during Christmas —children, who allow themselves to be mesmerized by the magic of Christmas.

A gift for my friends would be to help them say no!!! to drugs because some people tell them that drugs make a person feel better. Some students call others “chicken” if they don’t drink it, smoke it, or take it. My father is a detective and he teaches drug education at schools. I would like to help him teach students to say, “no!”

For this holiday issue o f The Mountain Spirit, we asked third, fourth, fifth and sixth graders at Mountain Christian Academy this question:

A N ew F ur C oat

I f you could choose a very special gift and give it to someone you love, what would you choose and to whom would you give it? Why would you choose that special gift and that special person? We are delighted to share with you the children’s responses. Second graders responded in artwork; all other children responded in writing. Pleasant reading . . . and Merry Christmas!

I would spend more time with my dad. He leaves for work at 7:00 a.m. gets in at 7:30 p.m., sometimes not till 12:00 a.m. and 1:00 a.m. He only gets Sundays off. I love him and I know that he loves me and that he can’t help it that we can’t spend much time together. I know that some of it’s my fault, too. When he gets in I’m usually gone to baseball practice or football practice. But I love my dad. He’s kind, loving and don’t whip very hard either. I love my dad. He’s really great. My dad works very hard and never complains. He’s a great father and a great husband. He doesn’t know much about football but he’s great at basketball. My dad is great. I love him very much.

Mark Dudleson, 5th grade

A gift for my best friend, Amy, would be a fur coat. She would wear it everywhere she goes. When it was 92 degrees out she would still wear it out. It is a real sabaar coat. It is her favorite gift she has ever got. Why? because I love her as a friend. Everytime I am in trouble about getting a ticket, she would show o ff (or occupy the officer) with her fur coat.

Tammy Conn, 5th grade A S pecial G ift

If I had to chose a special gift for a special per son whom I loved I would give that special gift to my grandmother. I would give her a ceramic doll because she loves them and hardly ever gets anything. When she does get anything that is what she wants. If I had the money I would probably buy her a new car. Because I would do anything to make her happy, and I love her. The reason I would give her a ceramic doll is because she loves them and has about 20 of them. She is 67 years old.

Nathan Elliott, 4th grade M y S p ecial G ift

If I could give a special gift to anyone I would give it to Mom and Dad. I choose them because they take care o f me. Their gift would be a pet. They like animals very much, and I want to make them happy.

Michael Sanders, 4th grade

I would get Sheena, my pet cougar, an outdoor aviary. An outdoor aviary is a outdoor cage that looks like a bubble. Also I would get her a male cougar to roam around with her. The cage would be an acre across and one hundred feet tall with monkeys in it. That would be my special gift to Sheena.

If I could choose a very special gift and give to my mom. It would be a lots and lots o f love. I’d do things for her. I would clean the house. Wash the cars. And go to the store with Mom. I would swim with Mom. I would read to her. I would walk with her. I would go on a hike with Mom. I would get her flowers. I would make pictures for her. I would rest with her. I would wash the dishes for her. I would give her a lot of money. I would hear her sing for her. I would make things for her. Talk with her. Buy her rings. Go where she wants to eat. Give her lots of things. I will hug and kiss her and say I love you Mom.

Richie Bryant, 5th grade

Shane Moore, 3rd grade

Glenn May II, 6th grade S heen a

N ovem ber-D ecem ber 1986

Cory Helmondollar, 2nd Grade S o m eth in g S p ecial

If I could choose a special gift and give it to someone I love, the gift would be a house. I would give it to my family. The reason I would choose a house is because we need a bigger house. The reason I would choose my family is because I love all o f my family members very, very much.

Suzy Bentley, 4th grade A gift o f an exercise wheel for my hamster would be what I would buy. I would get it for Casey if he would use it. I believe he would use it so I am going to the pet store, “Pet’s,” and buy him one. I would let him use it during the night so he could have something to play with.

Dale Crum, 5th grade A S p ecial G ift

If I got to choose a special person and give them a special gift I would give it to Mommy. I love her and she brings me to school. The gift would be a music box o f an angel because she collects music boxes.

Jim Reynolds, 4th grade A S p ecial G ift

The gift I would choose for Mrs. Wilson for Christmas is perfume. The kind I think Mrs. Wilson would like is Giorgio. The reason I would give this to her is because I think she is a very nice teacher. She is also very nice to our class. For Christmas I would like to throw a party for Mrs. Wilson. But some of the other kids would have to help get things for the party. I think Mrs. Wilson would be very happy if everyone also would get her something too. Another one of our teachers is Mrs. Stumbo. She is also very nice to our class. I would get her something very nice, too. Mrs. Stumbo is very quiet and doesn’t yell at us. Mrs. Wilson is like that too. They both give us homework but I know that homework is good for us. A lot of kids get mad at our teacher when she gives us homework. I love my teachers and I know our class does too.

The special gift I would pick would go to my mom. I love my mom. The special gift would be love. I would pick my mom because she is the most special person in my life. My mom and I are good friends. We go a lot of places. I would give it to her. I love you, Mom. I am glad that God gave me her.

I would also give Mrs. Stumbo a bottle of Giorgio. I love them both very much. The End.

Am y McClees, 4th grade

Ronica Reid, 6th grade

I think Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Stumbo dresses well. I think everything matches well. I like the way Mrs. Wilson has her hair fixed. I also like her shoes.

The Mountain Spirit

A S p ecial G ift

A very special gift is love when it’s shared with special ones. A special one is hard to find like my mom who is very kind. When Christmas comes she’s so much fun, when she shares all her love. My dad is also very nice, when he cares for me all the time. When Christmas comes he gives me toys full of love and lots of joy. My sister who is sometimes mean, also can be nice to me. I love my sister very much, even though she’s sometimes rough. When she’s rough she hits me hard right across my left arm. My brother who is very small has a heart that is very tall. My brother has a very good gift and this gift is called love. Remember when Christmas comes the key to it all is love.

Am y Reed, 6th grade

One day, as I was walking down the road, I began to think. Christmas was near. It snowed last week. My best friend, Lisa, had just moved in. She only had two friends. Her little brother, Sam my, and me. Lisa would not have time to make more friends. I decided since I could only give one gift per person, I’d give her a very special gift. I went home. There was a lot to do. Dad drove me to a gift shop. I found easily what I wanted for everyone but Lisa. On my way to another store, I thought about what she was interested in. Sudden ly it came to me! She just loved animals! I cried, “Dad, let’s go to the pet store!” We did. I found just the right pet. That Christmas, she was very happy because she had a new pet. It was a mouse, her favorite pet!

Jenny Phillips, 3rd grade If I could choose a gift it would be very special. Maybe some flowers or a painting. Or maybe a ring. Sometimes I draw a picture and give it to some one special. And that would be my mom or dad.

Amanda Holbrook, 3rd grade A S p ecial G ift

If I got a very special gift for my mother, I would give her a hug and a kiss. I would give her that because I love her very much. I would give her thousands of hugs and kisses if I could. I would also give them to her because I care about her a lot. I would never be me if she wasn’t here.

Hannele Laine, 5th grade C h ristm as S pecial

I would choose the greatest gift of all to my parents. That is love. I would love them forever. With all my heart. Because they do things for me and I do things for them. Because they love me. That gift is the greatest gift o f all.

Benjamin Caudill, 4th grade

Mikele Osborne, 2nd Grade.

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V ery S p ecial C hristm as P resen ts

What do you give someone for a Christmas gift? A hug or a kiss might give them a lift. A piece of candy, a dandy, may come in handy. A big chocolate heart, in a candy cart, might lift their spirits a whole, whole, lot. No matter what you give them a hug, a kiss, or pants to hem, As long as they live, showing your love is the best gift to give.

Jessica Wade, 6th grade A S p ecial G ift for a S p ecial P erson

I’m going to give my mom a great big hug for Christmas that would please her very much. She would like that better anyway than a bought gift. And the hug would be a loving one and warm hug.

Jake McCoy, 6th grade If I could give a special gift to anyone in the whole world it would be to my mother and father. The special gift would be love. Because I love them very much. Like how they care for me by hugging, kissing and giving me shelter, food, and clothes. They also help me with everything I need help on. This is why I want to give them all of my love. Because I love them very, very much.

Pada Chalothorn, 6th grade If I could choose a special gift the gift would be all the money in Fort Knox. I would give it to my mom. Why would I give it to my mom? Because it suits her. Why would she be the special person? Because I love her.

Tristan Castle, 4th grade

S om eth in g S p ecial for S om eon e S pecial

My special gift would be giving my life to Jesus because He gave His life for me. I love Him and I know He loves me. This would be my gift to some one I love.

T.J. Mayo, 5 th grade

If I could choose a very special gift I would choose a diamond ring and give it to my aunt for Christmas and I would wrap it in silver and gold wrapping paper. I would put a ribbon on the top of the gift and put a card on it and it would say to my favorite aunt Tina.

If I had the money I would give it to Mom so she could take an art class under Russel May because she has been wanting it for a long time. She said that’s what she would want for Christmas. Right now she is doing oil paint and it looks good. She said she would paint me a pink unicorn for my room one of these days. I would give her the money if I had it because I love her very much.

If I would choose a gift, I would choose a pair of shoes for my dad. I like to buy him what he likes. Because he is nice to me. I like him too. He loves me and I love him. He takes me where I like to go. He buys me things I like.

Lora Daniels, 6th grade

Brandon Moore, 3rd grade

Becky Shelton, 3rd grade

The Mountain Spirit

Letters I enjoyed reading your recent arti cle on the growing crafts industry in Kentucky in The Mountain Spirit. This program has become a viable economic development tool for Kentucky, and I am committed to seeing that this industry continues to grow and expand.

Governor Martha Layne Collins Frankfort, K Y

Have just received The Mountain Spirit, and to say the least, I was so surprised to see that you have gone political, and I resent my money go ing toward an article about a woman named Huda Jones. I don’t know, and have no desire to, but I don’t want my donations and subscription money to support a “ well heeled” lady in Kentucky. I know I don’t send a lot of money, but I was giving for the sup port o f the mountain folks of Ken tucky—not a political woman of Kentucky. Based on the above, please cancel my subscription to The Mountain Spirit immediately, and I will con tribute no more —I will send my funds to St. Meinrad Abbey.

Praise the Lord! Not too long ago, you sent me a picture of the people in that area. I believe it had a picture of an old lady, a little child also, playing on a dirt floor. I can’t remember the other pictures on there, but, it was showing the poverty conditions in that area. Would you please send me another one, as soon as possible. Some people don’t believe that such poverty exists. I need to show some, the piece of paper that depicts the poverty.

Nathaniel Bethea Wilmington, DE

I enjoy The Mountain Spirit magazine very much. It’s wonderful what you are doing for the people of Appalachia. I, too, had a childhood of poverty brought up in a small town in Maine during the Depres sion years, but do not remember being unhappy. I contribute as much and whenever I can because I believe in the work you are doing there. May God bless you and all the volunteers at the Christian Ap palachian Project.

Irene F. Turner Gardiner, ME

Jim Sides Speedway, IN

Thank you for all your wonderful and caring work for the poor and elderly for so many years.

I have looked forward to receiv ing The Mountain Spirit ever since my first subscription. It’s heart warming to read o f the great strides being made in the areas of educa tion, housing, employment and the many self-help programs that have been implemented over the years. Father Beiting and all the volunteers deserve much credit and gratitude for their tireless efforts in bringing to the folks o f this area o f Ap palachia not only improved living conditions but also spiritual enrich ment, inspiration, support and good counsel.

Dorothy W. Mathis Leeds Point, NJ

Dorothy R. Lackey Brookville, OH

We’re very sorry that you misunderstood our story about Huda Jones. Mrs. Jones is not con nected with CAP in any way —we featured her in the last issue o f The Mountain Spirit because she is a mountain woman who holds office in a national organization, not because o f any ties to the Republican Party. Ed.

N ovem ber-D ecem ber 1986

Having grown up on a small farm, I can understand the feelings of some o f the Appalachian folks when there is a shortage o f everything, including money. Your Appalachian Project shows God’s love and gives more hope to those in poverty. I hope in addition to material help they also have the chance to enjoy music.

Mrs. E.B. Demaree Three Rivers, CA

What a spendid magazine you have! I read it from cover to cover as soon as it arrives. I can relate to many of these peo ple and my heart goes out to the children and elderly especially. Hav ing had missionary experience for nearly two years, I can well under stand the plight of these people. Would so love to visit and see for myself but because of a partial hand icap, and my age (past 80), I guess it is the Lord’s will that I give my ser vice to Him in prayer and giving as I can, so you may continue to help these dear ones to help themselves. God richly bless you in every under taking.

Mrs. Mabel Rogers Copiague, N Y

I enjoy reading The Mountain Spirit very much. I wish it came out each month. It has stories o f real people that is a real part o f our great country. Please keep up the good work.

Mr. Carl P. McNeal Caribon, ME 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. 9

Random Thoughts

There was much warmth and welcome from our hosts. They had cooked food especially for us and openly laughed and wept as they talked about their work. There were “ Amens” o f agreement from the students concerning much that the Pentecostals and Baptists shared about their faith. Right in front of my eyes, some of the old walls of separation between mainline Protestants and Catholics and independent mountain churches were beginning to crack. As I drive through the hills, I often wonder, “ How many others hear the refrain?” Do mainline denominational leaders hear it? Do the old soldiers of the 1960’s War on Poverty, social gospel days hear it? How many worshippers in those little mountain churches singing “ give me that old time religion” hear it? Do you hear it across the country, beyond the hills of Ap palachia? You see, there is a special history to this whole separation of Christians in the mountains. Little independent Baptist and Holiness churches have dotted the mountains from the earliest days o f set tlement. The mainline churches have largely come as outsiders, believing that the mountains are an unchurched mission field. Each side has long held stereotypes about the other. Through this separa tion, both sides have lost spiritually, and, in a region where there are limited resources, lack of cooperation between churches has contributed to physical suffering. As a seminarian in the ’60’s, I lived through the last wave of mainline churches trying to save mountain churches from themselves. “ The times they are a changin’ ” and “ We shall overcome” were refrains beaten out on a thou sand guitars in the ’60’s until they were indelibly burned into my very soul. They were written large ly on the experience o f the mainline Protestant 10

Gabriel

“ The times, they are a changin’ . . . ” A folk refrain out of the 1960’s kept running through my mind, as I sat in the front yard o f a little white frame house, on a hillside in Jackson County, Kentucky, with 25 mainline Protestant and Catholic seminary students from all over the eastern U.S. Behind us, just off the blacktop road, was a sign that read “ Joy-in-Harvest Institute.” Our hosts on this beautiful July afternoon were local Pentecostal and independent Baptist leaders who have formed “ JOY” (Jesus for Old and Young) to serve people o f all faiths in their rural community.

J a ck M orris.

and Catholic churches of which I was a part. When we were at the height of our ’60’s crusader zeal, these refrains meant that we were to go forth in peace, black and white together, and drive violence, poverty and racism from the land. When I was a student at Lexington Theological Seminary, we aligned ourselves with the poor of Lexington to tutor and work on tenants rights. We did battle with our administration to open up the use of seminary facilities to black youths in our neighborhood. We sent students to legendary places like Selma and Montgomery to march with Dr. King. When President Johnson (himself a Disciple), came to Kentucky to talk about his great society and its war on poverty, we believed. Some believed so deeply that they joined the host of volunteers that went to serve in the hills o f Appalachia. Those of us who are old social gospel soldiers, in the War on Poverty, certainly have no reason to hang our heads in shame. Much good has been done and much good will be done in the future. But, maybe we are better at talking than we are at listening. Maybe we are better at doing than we are at praying. Maybe we have a lot to learn from those little churches nestled in the hills, just like they have a lot to learn from us. Most certainly, the old walls of separation are cracking. Most certainly, all God’s people need to see the light coming through the cracks in the walls between us. It is this kind o f light that spiritually enriches all o f us and strengthens our ability to serve. —JGM. The Mountain Spirit

Appalachian A rts and Culture

T he C reative P rocess— A ppalachian Style

b y G iovanna Burks G odby

Photos by Rocky Burkhardt

R o ck y Burkhardt is not a native of Appalachia. But, his respect for mountain people runs so deep ly and is so much a part of him, that he closed his art gallery in Covington, packed up his belongings and art equipment, and made a new home with his wife and four children in Irvine, Kentucky, in the foothills o f the Appalachian Mountains.

palachian people, scenes and culture. Rocky ex plains, “ I came to the point where I felt that most of my work was Appalachia, so I might as well move down here and be close to it.”

Rocky Burkhardt is an artist, and his creative process is inspired by the lives o f the people whom he respects so greatly. “ There is a spirit in Ap palachia that you find nowhere else in the world,” explains Rocky. “It’s a spirit of creativity. It’s not artificial; it’s not ‘store boughten’; it’s unique to the area. In fact, it is probably, in large content, a spirit o f creation, a spirit of G od.”

Rocky has not only moved to Appalachia, but has immersed himself in it. With the cooperation of Betty Holbrook, coordinator of the Estill County Arts Project, Rocky is now the artist-in residence of Estill County. Rocky explains that the artist-in-residence program is one in which “ an ar tist lives and works in a community and shares his creative processes with the students and the com munity so that the community can see what a real artist is all about and participate in that creative process.”

Rocky is a native o f northern Kentucky and has always had a deep interest in Appalachia. Since 1974, the majority of his painting has been of Ap

Given the nature of the artist-in-residence pro gram, and Rocky’s practical and academic ex perience in working with students, he talked with

N ovem ber-D ecem ber 1986

When the people of the community visit the museum, they will see the product of the students work, described by Rocky as “ a reflection o f the people of the mountains.” There are plans for noontime presentations where mountaineers will come to the museum to tell stories or play in struments. People in the community have been quite supportive and eager to make suggestions of people Rocky and the students may wish to visit. Rocky notes, ‘‘A lot of people are really interested in capturing the lifestyle and people who live in Appalachia because they know they have something special.” Rocky continues, ‘‘Now is the time to do it. The Appalachian way o f life is being eroded by satellite dishes, and modern highways are splitting these people off. It’s a way o f life, a simplicity of life, that is going to be a thing o f the past.” Working with students and teaching is not foreign to Rocky. Outside of owning an art gallery in Covington, Rocky served as visiting artist in the schools. He especially enjoyed giving art lessons to children because they are less inhibited to use their senses. Rocky explains, ‘‘People become so socialized as they grow older that they tend to rely less and less on their senses and more and more on what society tells them.” In one of his lessons, Rocky asks the students to Betty about his idea for preserving Appalachian culture. Rocky says, “ I discussed with her the idea o f working with the students in the school system on an educational project to build the heritage and pride in themselves through a firsthand process and culminate all this in a museum that would show the people in the area their culture and heritage and establish pride in the community.” Together, Betty and Rocky gained the support of the Estill County Board o f Education to begin such a project —The Spirit of Appalachia Museum. “ Our goal,” says Rocky, “ is to show the inner spirit o f the people who live in Appalachia.” Every student in Estill County, 3100 in all, will take part in the project to, according to Rocky, “document, for posterity, some of the people and the way of life and what it was all about.” The students and Rocky will visit people o f the mountains and then make sketches, paintings, and photographs of them. The students will also com pile oral histories and perhaps some video tapes, all o f which will be displayed at the museum on the second floor o f a building in Irvine at the cor ner o f Broadway and Main. The project belongs to the students; they will even serve as curators of the museum. Rocky will teach, advise and facilitate.

draw a rabbit. Invariably, he explains, the class will draw thirty rabbits that look alike —usually stick-rabbits. Then, Rocky introduces the students to a real rabbit. They touch the rabbit, smell it, look at it, listen to it, and some even try to bite it. Through “experiencing” the rabbit, the students create their own rabbit on paper —with fur, whiskers and life. Rocky has used this technique with geriatric students as well as in Upstroke, a program sponsored by Easter Seals in which stoke victims use art as a medium to regain dexterity and interest in life. Rocky’s philosophy of art centers around “ creation.” He explains, “ In my art lessons, I im press on the people that they’re not trying to make something look like something, but they are ac tually creating that thing that they are doing. So that if they are drawing an orange, I don’t want them to make it look like an orange; I want them to feel that they are creating the orange as they go on paper —that they can feel it, and touch it, smell it, and create that thing and make it come alive and put on paper the feelings they have in themselves through that orange. It becomes like a ritual.” The concepts o f creation as well as understand ing life were emphasized in Rocky’s award winning cable television series, “ The Secrets of Life Drawing.” Rocky believes that in order to draw life or paint life, you must understand the secrets of life —how life works and how one fits in to life. The secrets are learned by slowing down and using the five senses as a medium for discovery. According to Rocky, “ This philosophy blends in so well with Appalachia. You’re dealing with people who, every day, must rely on their senses.” Rocky’s sensitivity and slow-paced approach suit his life in the mountains and his approach to his work. “ I don’t think there’s anything much more satisfying than to see someone experience life —anyone at any age. Life gets so fast, and peo ple don’t enjoy life. That’s one o f the things that I like about Appalachia. People observe what’s go ing on.” As long as Rocky lives in Irvine, he will pro bably be helping people to observe more, enjoy life more and discover more through their senses. “ We are so lucky. God has given us five fabulous senses, and when you look and see that ninety per cent o f the people don’t use them and that life is just passing them by, and if you have the feeling that you can get to them and talk to them, and slow them a little bit and let them realize how lucky they are and what they have, that’s enough motivation for me to do it.” cap.

Wilson

The C A P Closeup

Pat Padgett Service Through Economic Development

T e n years ago, Pat Padgett worked in a cramped house across the street from St. William Church, processing CAP payroll by hand. Had anyone told her then that she would someday be administrative assistant of product marketing, travel to major wholesale craft shows across the nation, and meet representatives like those from the Smithsonian and Horchow catalogs, she pro bably would have laughed. Ironically, Pat just returned from her most recent trip to New York City and The New York International Gift Fair. Pat is administrative assistant to Bernie Hale, marketing manager. She supervises the shipping department at CAP, and it is her responsibility to see that all orders are invoiced and shipped out to 425 wholesale accounts. She sees that all the book keeping is complete and works with Bernie on developing product catalogs.

by the CAP News Service 14

Pat is particularly proud o f the popularity of the cornhusk flowers. She remembers, “ It’s my pet project. I was here when we first began dying cornshucks and had the training on the flowers. It’s real exciting to see them at the point they are now when we’re sending out 500 dozen a month. It makes me feel like we’ve really done something since I can remember taking the cornshucks home and dying them on my clothesline. I feel like we’ve accomplished a lot.” The Mountain Spirit

Nunemaker

Pat has witnessed the growth o f product marketing as an important and viable part o f the CAP mission. Pat explains, “It was different [back] then. We were more in a position of where we provided employment for the handicapped centers and Jackson County. We didn’t have a wholesale line at that time. With the wholesale line, we’re trying different marketing aspects.” One o f those marketing aspects is CAP’S in volvement with wholesale shows and marketing representatives. The show she just attended in New York included 2,000 booths, and one million wholesalers from giftshops and catalogs passed through during the week long period. Work is enjoyable and fun for Pat. She ex plains, “ It’s something to look forward to when you plan a show. You meet all these people from different places; you feel like you’re a little part of their world. It’s fun.” Pat’s CAP work experience hasn’t always been quite so glamorous. She began work at CAP near ly 10 years ago and worked in accounting on payroll . . . by hand. She remembers those days fondly. “ One winter, the water froze, and we had to walk all the way across the street to the church rectory to use the bathroom.” Pat laughs, “ For about a month, Mike (McLaughlin) would pile anyone who had to go to the bathroom in his car and take us across the street.” When Pat ponders the changes that CAP has undergone in the last ten years, she immediately thinks o f the way she became a CAP employee. “ I called Mike at home one night. Now, it amazes me that I did that. Now, he’s president, and I wouldn’t think o f calling him at home.” In those days, there was no personnel depart ment . . . outside o f Pat and the other CAP employees. She explains, “ If they [CAP] needed anybody to work, they’d say, ‘Hey, do you know anybody who needs a job?’ ” Pat names a long list

P at and B ern ie at the gift sh ow in N ew Y ork.

of friends and family who came to work during that time. She laughs, “ I always knew somebody who needed a job! Everybody was the personnel department.” When asked if she misses those early days, Pat doesn’t hesitate to answer, “ Yes, sometimes. Things were just a little more homey. Now, we’ve grown, and I know we can’t be like that anymore. Now, people ask me how to get a job at CAP, and I have to tell them to fill out an application. Sure, I miss those days.” Home, for Pat, is in Stanford with her husband, Clayton, and her children, 2Vi year old Adam, 12 year old Jennifer, and 15 year old Jeff. She is step mother to 18 year old Anita and 15 year old Deb bie. In her free time, Pat loves to read, especially Danielle Steele, Stephen King, and Sidney Sheldon. She also likes to write . . . for her own enjoyment and for her children. She spends much of her time playing with Adam and finds her approach to motherhood different now than when her other children were small. She explains, “ I know more about children now, and I don’t expect Adam to be perfect like I did the first two. It’s been a more relaxed companionship. It’s just special when you’re older and you have a little one to start all over with. It’s like you’re given a second chance at motherhood. Adam has drawn our whole family closer together.” Pat is a pleasant person with a quick wit and eager laugh. Conversation comes easily and com fortably. There is an air of contentment about her —a “ down-home, easy” approach to life and those around her.

H a n d crafted b ird h ou ses are on e o f C A P ’s n ew w h o lesa le lin e s for th is year.

N ovem ber-D ecem ber 1986

Pat’s air of contentment is also apparent in her approach to her work. “ I like what I do. I like the fact that we are a service organization. The sheltered workshops, the people in Jackson Coun ty, and all the other people —I feel like we’re help ing someone else.” CAP. 15

A nd the G reatest o f T hese Is L ove

b y Jen n ifer Sprague

J o h n Hopkins bespeaks a certain wide-eyed boyishness he keeps well hidden from the casual observer. He speaks cautiously, remembering the days when he left Kentucky to fight for his coun try, grateful for the day when he returned to the people and the mountains he loved. For John, the years following the Depression will always remain crystal clear in his memory, for when he came home to his native Kentucky, John began to read the Bible with a zeal similar to the patriotism he felt for his country during those WWII fighting years. John Hopkins became a Christian in the 1930’s, and thirty-five years later, he talks unreservedly about the primary role his religious beliefs have played in his life. Like many in the Appalachian region o f the United States, John Hopkins identifies with the Pentecostal-Holiness Church and has been a member of the Mt. Vernon Pentecostal Church for many years. He believes that a person’s salva tion is contingent upon renouncing all worldly things. John says that the world is only a tem porary lodging and that a more permanent lodging will be found someday in heaven. Like the huge sign painted on a barn off the Daniel Boone Parkway in eastern Kentucky, John Hopkins believes that “ Jesus is Coming Soon.” Yet John hopes to bring a little of that heaven here on earth. John believes that being a Christian means “ sharing other’s sufferings,” and he does what he can to help with the physical needs o f his community. Through his church, John’s tithing supports a Children’s Home at Barbourville, a home for orphans run by the Pentecostal Church. John thinks that he is better able to relate to the suffering o f others because he has been there himself. “ I can’t say I’ve always been on the mountaintop, I’ve been in the valley some.” 16

There are other members of the Pentecostal Churches and other small, independent churches in the area who are building a better community by lending a helping hand to a brother or sister in need. Sometimes many hands reach out and touch the community; sometimes just one hand and one heart wrap a single person in love and humility. Anthony Hunn, a member of the Church of God in Lancaster, remembers the way his family was touched one Christmas . . .

One year, it’s been, I mean, ages ago, my father got fired from his job, and we really had a bad year. We did not have hardly any fo o d to eat. It was around Christmastime, and it was the first time I had ever seen my father cry. My father cried and he said, ‘I’m going to tell you something. When I was growing up, there was a lot o f times when I only had one pair o f shoes and one pair o f pants and a shirt, and I used to wash those pants and shirt out everyday when I got home from school. But we made it. Don’t worry about it. One way or another I ’m gonna see these kids have a Christmas. ” Anthony pauses and remembers . . .

During that time, we weren’t even getting fo o d stamps; most o f the nights only thing we had to eat was potato soup made out o f instant potatoes, hardly no meat; but every now and then, beans. And this went on for the longest time. But it seemed like each one o f those meals was the best because somebody in our church scraped up whatever they could find and gave it to us. On that Christmas Day, members o f Anthony’s church brought gifts to him and his family and of fered Anthony’s father money to hold him over until he received unemployment. Anthony Hunn The Mountain Spirit

says, “ That Christmas was the best Christmas we ever had. I’ve never felt so much love than I felt on that day.” Anthony has seen others in his church see a need and try to fill it. “ It’s more on a personal people-to-people level. You do it because you want to do it.” Opal Adams, a Pentecostal believer who attends the Church o f God in Berea, also remembers the way her needs were met by another Christian who belonged to a small, independent church in the mountains. Opal grew up in a family of eleven in Jackson County. Her father died when she was young, and Opal remembers the way Bernice Abrahms filled part o f her emptiness.

Her name was Bernice Abrahms. I think when I was growing up, o f all the people that ever was the total expression o f Jesus, it was her. She was a teacher, and everytime she could and with every opportunity, she injected into our lives love, ex perience, whatever was needed; it always seemed like she could meet that need. She gave us Christmas presents, which was all we got. She didn’t forget birthdays. She would take us to her house, and she had a library o f books, and she had toys, and she had puzzles, and she had everything you could imagine. And going to her house was like going, we thought, to heaven. I f heaven was any better, we couldn’t stand it. Sue Smith, who leads a spirit-filled Bible Study in Jackson County, believes that each person needs to “ hear the voice o f God, and then you don’t have to insist that people feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick or go to the prisons. It will be a natural by-product o f our coming to that place.” As a life-long resident of Jackson County, Sue has been able to identify the physical needs o f the com m unity, perhaps more thoroughly and personally than a larger organiza tion. She touches folks because she knows the peo ple and the area as her own.

praying, and we were thinking about the needs of the individuals in our community that were not be ing specifically met by the traditional church.” These women started planning for Joy-in-Harvest Institute in May, and though folks in the area said it couldn’t be done, the school opened its doors in September. JOY gives children in Jackson County a more personalized education than is often available in a traditional school setting. Working at their own pace and level, regardless o f age or grade, children at JOY find just that —a joy in learning. Children receive stars and small gifts as they progress to each level o f achievement. Working one-on-one with Anna Hobbs, the teacher at JOY, they are receiving love, nurturing and encouragement. Anna Hobbs is careful to stick to the women’s original intention, that JOY be a nondenominational school. Although all three women strongly believe that the gifts o f the spirit, such as speaking in tongues, interpretation, prophesy and healing, are in operation today, they do not discuss personal convictions with the children at JOY. Anna says “ We wanted to let children from all faiths come. We did not want to get into who had long hair, who had short hair, who spoke in tongues, who didn’t speak in tongues. We wanted to start a school where children could grow.” Sue Smith believes that different denominations can come together to work toward a common goal. “ I think we can learn from each other and grow. Each will serve the proper function He designed it to serve.” Sue Smith is excited by the work she sees the Lord doing through JOY.

We don’t even know whose lives will be touched through JOY, but it’s just exciting to know that a few women . . . a few believers . . . can get together and make a difference. And you don’t have to wait on your church. We can do something as individuals; that was Jesus’ prayer. He said the fields are white unto harvest and He

Sue Smith, Anna Hobbs, Perry Johnson, Marquita Hisel and several other members o f small, in dependent churches run JOY, Inc., which stands for Jesus for Old and Young. JOY serves many in Jackson County through a weekly young mothers and elderly support group, visitation o f the elderly and a small mountain school for children (K-8) called Joy-in-Harvest In stitute. Sue Smith says that the idea for JOY started when “a group o f us in a Bible Study in my home were N ovem ber-D ecem ber 1986

said, ‘pray ye the Lord o f the Harvest and He would send laborers into harvest. ’ And this is our prayer today . . . that the Lord will send more laborers into His harvest. She stops for a moment and begins to quietly weep.

That’s a big task. But we have a big Lord that can still take just a little boy’s basket and feed five thousand. Like Sue Smith, who believes that JOY is not the result of her own efforts but of the Lord’s, many other members o f independent churches believe that good works should always be done humbly. Lucille Boatley, a layperson in the Church o f Jesus Christ in Lancaster, says, “Well, you know, sometimes, if you say something about what you have done for people, the Lord don’t want us to brag. But, if we do things from our hearts, God sees it and blesses us for what we do for other people.” Says Perry Johnson, a Pentecostal believer who helped plan JOY, “Most Holiness people really don’t like to come out and say This person helped that person.’ I think a lot of times Holiness people do help people, but it’s in secret.” Despite the conviction o f humility many Pentecostal believers feel, there is an equally strong conviction that a Christian has a respon sibility to reach out and help others. Opal Adams believes, “ The Kingdom of God that is in us should be lived out and demonstrated in the per son.” Says Earl Thornton, pastor of the Church of Jesus Christ in Lancaster, “ Being a pastor or in ministry is not just standing behind the four walls of the church. We must get into the streets, the highways and byways, not only giving to people 18

for their spiritual needs, but for their physical needs.” Earl’s church helps transients and families whose homes have burned down. Although Earl holds a full-time job in Lexington, is the pastor o f a church in Lancaster and cares for his seven-member family, he still finds time to visit shut-ins in Stanford and visit the area jails. Says Earl, “ Christ told us ‘Freely we receive, freely we give.’” Small, independent churches have often been criticized for emphasizing spirituality to the exclu sion of what mainline and other denominations often refer to as ‘Social Gospel.’ Yet, often, good works remain invisible to the public because of the humility o f Pentecostal believers. The geo graphic isolation of many independent churches keep their true belief and action from view. Unlike mainline churches, such as the Methodists, Presbyterians and Catholics, which meet physical needs through an organized struc ture connecting them to churches o f the same denomination, most Pentecostal churches are governed autonomously, and that doesn’t permit them to meet needs in more formal, organized ways. Yet Pentecostals say that meeting physical needs is synonymous with Christ’s claim and Lordship in the Christian’s life. As Earl Thornton says, “ The church should be the arm of Christ, ex tended out to help.”

Jennifer Sprague is a senior political science and religion major at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts. During her time as a volunteer in the spouse abuse program in the sum mer o f ’86, Jennifer worked on a research project involving twenty-six taped interviews with ministers and lay persons o f both Pentecostal and mainline backgrounds. The Mountain Spirit

A round the Project N ew s from E m m aus BEREA —Gladys Peters, an 82 year old resident at Emmaus Chris tian Life Center, began classes at Berea College last September and plans to pursue a degree in philosophy. Originally from Jackson County, Gladys moved with her family to Il linois as a child. She returned as a freshman to Berea College but was unable to complete her coursework when her mother became ill; Gladys returned to Illinois to care for her. After living in San Francisco for fif ty years, Gladys returned to her native Jackson County ten years ago. She acquired a special fondness for Berea during those early college days, so taking up residence at Em maus five years ago was a natural for Gladys. Emmaus is within walking distance o f Berea College, so Gladys can conveniently continue the col lege career she began at the school

by the CAP News Service over sixty years ago. Gladys already has a school friend —her grand daughter, Gweneth Burge, a Berea College student in her junior year. Mary Guinn, a native o f Garrard County and a four year resident of Emmaus Christian Life Center in Berea (See The Mountain Spirit, July-August 1984), spent her sum mer making Christmas presents. She embroidered and quilted pillows, complete with ruffles, for each of the fifteen residents at Emmaus. Mary is an expert quilter and rightly so, given her years of prac tice. She began quilting when she was eight or nine years old and has made over 100 quilts during her lifetime. Mary’s friends at Emmaus are en joying their Christmas presents. No, there’s no mistake in this ar ticle—Mary was so excited about her Christmas creations that she couldn’t resist her impulse to give the gifts to her friends early . . . in September!

S ilen t D a y W orkshop GARRARD C O U N T Y -H ands threw and moved in the air, bodies paced around the floor, facial expressions showed without voice. An interpreter voiced the leader’s signed words, “Welcome to the Silent Day Workshop! You are now entering and experiencing the silent w orld. The purpose o f this workshop is to gain understanding and knowledge of deafness and how deaf people live their lives in the hearing world.” Roger McCowan, Deaf Services Coordinator of CAPrice Industries led the twenty workshop par ticipants from CAPrice Industries of both Stanford and Somerset, relatives o f participants, a CAP volunteer and a summer employee from the Somerset Attic. Roger introduced the com munication exchange activities to the group with “The Mirror.” Part ners faced each oth er and “mirrored” their partner’s non-vocal movements. Other activities included a “deaf walk” and a “deaf and blind walk.” After the “hearing” partner led the “deaf and blind” partner outdoors, the pair communicated in the man ner o f the deaf and blind, by finger spelling into their hands. A crash course in sign language was offered during lunch, to prepare participants to communicate with the hearing-impaired guests who came to the Cliffview Lodge for the afternoon workshop session. The hearing-impaired guests expressed and shared the frustrations of deafness in the workplace and other communication situations.

B erea C ollege freshm an and E m m au s C h ristia n L ife C en ter re sid en t, G ladys P eters, shops at the B erea A ttic w ith S ister T erry G on yea.

N ovem ber-D ecem ber 1986

The formal activities o f the day ended at 4:30, but participants continued to learn about deafness and communication with deaf people during an evening cookout on Herrington Lake. 19

around the project . . . continued

H ea l the C h ild ren and C A P W ork T ogether

was formerly occupied by the Mt. Vernon Attic. The teen program’s primary thrust will be to create an environment where teenagers can function as a peer group.

BOSTON —The heart o f a sixteen year old Owsley County boy was found to be healthy after a thorough examination in August at Saint Vin cent Hospital in Worcester, Mass achusetts.

The old Attic is being renovated into a 3300 square foot facility, now called the Rockcastle Teen Center. Recreational equipment, such as ping-pong tables, exercise equip ment, foosball tables and television, are being installed along with study and meeting areas.

The examination was made possi ble by the northeast chapter o f Heal the Children and the Christian Ap palachian Project. “Early examinations of Ricky Beard’s heart indicated a murmur in a valve, but that has evidently disap peared,” said Dr. Harry Clermont, director o f medical services for Heal the Children. “The heart valve is normal; there is no organic pro blem.” The Christian Appalachian Pro ject made airline arrangements for Ricky and his mother, Mary Rose, to and from Boston. Heal the Children made arrangements for the donation hospital, physician and technician services and arranged for Mary Rose and Ricky to stay with a family while in Boston. Connections were made with Heal the Children through Jean Afves Raberif, o f Connecticut, who came to Kentucky to photograph CAP programs. Being a stranger to Ap palachia, he wanted to become familiar with a family by staying a night and a day. CAP arranged a stay with the family of Mr. and Mrs. Hobert Beard, who live near Booneville, Kentucky. It was during that visit that Jean learned of Ricky’s medical problems. When he returned home, Jean set up appoint ments for Ricky through Dr. Cler mont. Heal the Children provides medical care unavailable to poor children. It began in Spokane, Washington, and has independent chapters in many parts o f the coun try. The northeast chapter’s original mission was to provide medical care 20

R ecrea tio n is an im p o rta n t part o f life in eastern K e n tu c k y .

“We plan to organize several short and long-term program com ponents along with just having this a fun place to go to ,” says Ike Adams, the program coordinator. High on his list o f priorities is teaching young folks to accept social and civic responsibility and to become more aware of their importance to the community. “We also want them to know that they are important to G od,” he said, “and that He should be important to them.”

to children in the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Mexico and Haiti. It has expanded its mission to include any poor child in need of medical care not available at home. Heal the Children brings children to the northeast for treatment and sends medical teams and equipment to the areas it serves. CAP hopes to establish more such cooperative efforts with other charitable organizations. “I hope we can do this again sometime,” said Dr. Clermont.

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The Mountain Spirit

around the project . . . continued

L ea d in g R etailers C arry C A P B room s BEREA —L.L. Bean, based in Freeport, Maine, and Brookstone, retailer o f hard-to-find tools, began carrying Christmas Ridge brooms this fall, just in time for Christmas shopping. Christmas Ridge is the product marketing division o f CAP. A c c o r d in g to B ern ie H a le , marketing manager, “Brookstone ordered 200 each o f the Yankee Broom (a house broom with a braid ed top) and the Father’s Broom (a wide brush broom good for corners) to place in stores and to list in its catalog.” He continues, “L.L. Bean is test marketing the Shaker Broom in its Freeport store and may possibly include it in future catalogs.” The new accounts were secured through a CAP mailing to major mail order catalogs. Bernie smiles, “Broom sales took off at the end of the summer. Actually, we have more orders than we can ship.”

worker/acting program manager of Bethany House. Last summer, the club sponsored a Charity Ball that raised $1500, enough money to cover the cost and installation o f the equipment. Ac cording to Anita, “We have an average o f nine or ten kids here, and the playground equipment gives them the opportunity to be outside and release a lot o f frustration.” Bethany House Family Abuse Center is a CAP program that, ac cording to Anita, “provides tem porary housing for victims of family violence.” The Center provides medical and legal referrals, housing, clothing, and adult and child counselling for its clients. In addition, thanks to the Business and Professional Women o f Pulaski County, the center can now provide more smiles and laughter among the children who must make, for however long, Bethany House their home.

The brooms are made by CAP workers at the broom factory, a part of Appalachian Village, in Berea (S ee The M o u n t a i n Spi ri t , September-October 1986). The fac tory, established in 1985, employs people from the area who make six teen different kinds of brooms — three o f which are now included in the inventories o f L.L. Bean and Brookstone.

A Christmas gift that blesses Appalachia and brings you tax-free in come? Yes —a Gift Annuity! It’s really very simple. You in vest in our work, and in return we pay you at a guaranteed rate for the rest of your life. A portion of the income is tax-free. Write today for your free copy of “Giving Through Gift Annuities” by filling out the coupon below and enclosing it in the envelope provided in this issue of The Mountain Spirit. Clip Here

B eth a n y H o u se R eceives P la y g ro u n d E q u ip m en t SOMERSET —The children at Bethany H ouse Family Abuse Center spent the fall enjoying their new playground equipment. “The swings, tires, seesaw and so on were donated and installed through funds raised by the Pulaski County Business and Professional Women’s Club,” says Anita Seals, case N ovem ber-D ecem ber 1986

Please send, without obliga tion, my free copy of “Giving Through Gift Annuities.” NAM E_______________________ A D D R E SS__________________ CITY _______________________ STATE, ZIP________________ D eb b ie N u n em a k er and D a v id F ish er sh ip broom s to reta il and w h o lesa le b u y ers.

Faith, Hope and Room fo r One More by Debbie Fraley Wilson

I n the foothills of Appalachia, deep in the heart of Kentucky, there is a special home, set on a beautiful hill in the knobs of Casey County. Sur rounded by lots of trees and grass, it has plenty of fresh air and sunshine; a home that is filled with laughter and love and God’s presence. And LOTS o f children —23 of them! They are the children of Jerry and Sandy Tucker. Two are natural, many are adopted and some are foster children. Over half of the children in the Tucker home are handicapped, mentally or physically, to various degrees. Several came from institutions as “hard to place children.” Some were neglected and are far behind in their emotional and physical growth. Some have correctable problems. Some don’t. Rosie had lead poisioning when she was a baby. Amy is a “drooler.” Patty, Donald and Milton, siblings born of first cousins, are cerebral palsied, blind, hearing impaired and retarded. Found lying on newspapers on the floor when taken from their home, they now sit up on their own. Patty has stopped screaming in fright when she is touched, realizing, even in her dark world, that there is only love here. Sandy and Jerry hope to adopt another of the other four children from this family soon. 22

The Tuckers met on a blind date 23 years ago, immediately fell in love, and married three months later. “When we didn’t have children right away, we wanted to adopt about a year after we married,” Sandy said. “You just can’t. You’re sup posed to be married three years, and I was only nineteen.” The doctors said that it would be “medically impossible” for Sandy to ever conceive. When they had been married seven years they were finally able to adopt their first child. “Then I got pregnant,” Sandy said. “I conceived a baby under my own heart.” But that didn’t stop Sandy and Jerry from adopting more children. “After we found the first child, the others came tumbling down,” Sandy explained. At last count, there were 28 (five have married and moved away), but Jerry said, “By the time you write this article, we may have 40!” Beginning as a foster care home for hard to place children, Sandy and Jerry began adopting the children to “make room for one more.” Jerry explained, “The state limits the number of foster children you may have in your home to six. So we adopted Rosie to make room for Tommy, and now we’re adopting Donald, Patty and Milton to make room for other children.” The Mountain Spirit

Corslae

When asked if they had planned a large family, they laughed and said, “Not this large!” “We both came from a family of four,” Sandy said. “We thought that was a big family. But when you wait for seven years and then finally start getting children, it gets in your blood and you don’t know when to quit.” After adopting eight more children, and having another “miracle” baby o f their own, the Tucker’s decided to leave their native Michigan, and find a rural area to raise their family. “It just wasn’t economically feasible to raise a family in the city,” Jerry said. “And not as healthy, either.”

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They tried several places in Kentucky, finally settling in the Mennonite community where they now live, seven years ago. “We even moved to Montana for a year,” Jerry said. “But we came back to this community. We came back to the peo ple, to join the Mennonite Church.” “When we first moved to Kentucky, we were the Mennonite’s drivers,” Sandy explained. “We took them to Pennslyvania to weddings, funerals. We got to know them real good. “But it was the children that had led us to God in the first place,” the Tuckers explained. “We were raised in the Christian Church, but we didn’t attend. The children would come home from [the Mennonite] Sunday School talking about Jesus and his love, so we started going with them.”

A b o v e , S an d y and J erry T u ck er; b elo w , tw o ol the ch ild ren at p la y .

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N ovem ber-D ecem ber 1986

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cabinet). Others help carry in firewood, and they all like to help pick strawberries which they raise themselves. The children are also responsible for their own bedrooms. The Tuckers have four full time and two part time employees, in addition to volunteers and friends who help. They have their own classroom, for children who won’t benefit from going to regular school. Several o f the children are very skilled at sign language and performed a few of the Christian songs they can sign for The Moun tain Spirit staff. Only four of the children are able to attend regular school at the Mennonite school close by. George, a foster child, attends public school. M an y o f the ch ild ren in th e T u ck er h o u seh o ld h a v e m en ta l, p h y sic a l or em o tio n a l h a n d ica p s.

Although they loved the quiet, simple way of life that the Mennonites lead, after a few years the Tuckers felt “God leading us out. He was calling us to work with handicapped children.” “We needed electricity and automobiles because o f the work with the children,” Jerry explained. “As much traveling to doctors as we have to do, we would have to hire someone to drive. It would cost $100 to hire someone to go to Louisville to the doctor. We couldn’t afford a chauffeur.” “We had to make a choice,” Sandy said. “We had to decide whether to serve the church or God. We left with good feelings, and I still deliver their babies.” Explaining that she is a midwife and has delivered about 80 babies in the last three years, Sandy said, “I had to have something to do with my spare time.” Members o f the Assembly o f God Church in Somerset, Kentucky, the Tuckers visit any church that invites them, as the Lord has called upon the entire family to witness. The Galiean Home Ministries, as they are now called, travels with all o f the children in the family. “If it is a long trip, we take two or more vans, along with about thirty people.” Sandy said. There is a lot o f work to be done in taking care o f the children. “We just have a normal day of cooking, cleaning, shopping and taking care of the children,” Sandy said. “It’s just on a much bigger scale.” Picture the Tuckers baking about three dozen biscuits, scrambling almost three dozen eggs and pouring gallons o f milk, just for breakfast —never mind lunch and dinner! The children all help and are assigned chores within their capabilities. They set and clear the table, help cook, and wash the dishes, (although Rosie likes to put the dirty dishes back in the 24

“If someone is having trouble finding a babysit ter, I tell them to bring [the children] on,” said Sandy. Sandy and Jerry both expressed, very strongly, that their home is open to any child who needs it. They would also welcome any Christian unwed mother who has no where to go. “She could see first-hand all of the responsibilities that go into raising a child,” Sandy said. “She could make a more realistic decision on keeping her child, from her own experiences here.” Asked how he coped with such a big family, Jerry laughed, “We pray a lot. But every time we pray for patience —we get another child.” But how do they divide their love up between all the children? “We don’t divide our love,” Jerry ex claims, “We multiply it!” Always trying to find a way to “make room for one more” Sandy and Jerry started the legal maneuvers necessary to become a group home about a year ago. By meeting the legal re quirements, they will be able to keep two more foster children in their home, for a total of eight.

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But, they had a lot o f work to do before they could become licensed. The house needed an addi tional 2,000 square feet, including room for a ward for children who need constant care, a bedroom for Jerry and Sandy to be on call and a few extra offices, one for the doctor and nurses who will be attending the children so they can establish a clinic, and one for Jerry’s mounting paperwork. They needed to replace their refrigerator and stove with industrial sized ones. A fire alarm system had to be installed throughout the building, and the new stove would require a special hood with a sprinkler system. They also needed hospital beds, mattresses, cribs and medical supplies to complete the new wing. “Neither Jerry or I do outside work now, as we have a full time job here with the children and our ministry,” Sandy said. “The handicapped children receive SSI (Supplimental Security Income) and we receive donations from friends all over, but it takes most o f that to live.” The Tuckers didn’t let a little thing like lack of money stop them. After receiving their Certificate o f Need, they began laying the foundation for the new addition. Borrowing the money for the building supplies, they “stepped out in faith” knowing that the Lord would provide. The Mennonite community joined in a “frolic,” where all the people of the community work together, to construct the outside walls and roof of the new ad dition. One o f the Mennonite hospitals donated an industrial sized refrigerator. Jerry and their oldest son, Jeffery, a carpenter by trade, have installed the windows and doors and plan on doing the finishing work, as soon as they have the money.

T h e ch ild ren cross races and n a tio n a litie s.

Congressman Hal Rogers contacted the Chris tian Appalachian Project after he met Sandy and Jerry and observed the work they are doing. CAP made a grant to cover part of the building materials and subcontracted an electrician to in stall the fire alarm system. Hoping to refinance their home to pay the re maining expenses that are due, Sandy and Jerry were appalled to learn that their home is too large to be considered a residential building, and that their income would not meet the criteria for a commercial loan. “We need about $29,000 to pay o ff the building materials, and to finish the addition,” Sandy said. “The bank told us to come back in January, when they would have more money in from tobacco crops. That probably won’t be soon enough to help us meet our obligations and the deadline for the group home license. But we have faith in the Lord, and we know that He will provide. He always has, whenever we are doing His will.” Meanwhile, Jerry must have prayed for a lot of patience through this, as the Lord has called the Tucker’s to take in more children. “The children have come from all over,” he explained. “Some were led to us —Weldon through Readers’ Digest, some through a foster home. We received three from CAP’S group home in Mount Vernon, picked Joshua from the state book, and some came from private organizations.” A few months ago, Rosemary Platel, a Haitian

It d o e sn ’t take lo n g for the T u ck er ch ild ren to adapt to a n ew b roth er or sister in the h o u seh o ld .

woman who runs an orphanage in her native coun try, was in the United States trying to get help for the orphans in her home and those in General Hospital there. Someone gave her the Tucker’s name, and she came to see if they could help. San dy traveled to Haiti, accompanied by her good friend, Mary Lou Weldy, to see what was needed and if there was anything they could do. They were appalled at the conditions there. “If the orphanages were here in the United States, they would be condemned,” Sandy came back to report. “The children are tied to their bed so they won’t hurt themselves by falling out. They lie on straw mattresses, most o f them with no diapers, which attracts flies. They use disinfectent soap to treat bed sores, and they have very little medicine. Simple things to take care of in the U.S. are life threatening there because they don’t have the facilities, the doctors or the money they need for even the simple things. Children with hand icaps are treated poorly in Haiti, many being deserted in hospitals or orphanages and left there until they die.” She continued, “Children in most o f the or phanages only get one meal every three days. At some of the better ones, children get one meal a day, along with fruit. Rice or corn mush, with no salt or surgar, is their main staple.” The Tuckers began making immediate plans to help these children. They decided to open their home to children who would travel to the U.S. on medical visas, receiving medical care that cannot be obtained in Haiti. They hope to arrange for families in the United States to adopt these children, so they won’t have to return to the or phanages. A few weeks after their first trip, Sandy and Mary Lou returned to Haiti, intending to bring four children back with them. It took them two

weeks to get three children out. “Red tape,” Sandy explained. “We went to World Vision in Haiti, where we got help. I finally broke down and cried.” One little girl that Sandy wanted to bring back the first time had already died. Sandy and Mary Lou came back with Elenue Padieu, 13, Jean Francois, 10, and baby Marie Montina. Elenue and Jean both have withered legs which will be replaced with artificial limbs. Jerry explained, “Of course as they grow, the leg will have to be changed. They will have to learn to walk with it, too.” Already learning to speak a little English, Elenue said, “I love you, Mama,” to San dy, and you can see the adoptive gleam shining in Jerry’s eyes. Jean’s favorite toy is a truck big enough for him to put his bad knee on and race through the new addition at breakneck speed. Marie Montina is a five month old hydro cephalic; she has water on her brain. “She has to have a shunt implanted in the back of her head to run into her stomach to drain off the fluid,” Sandy said. “Without this operation, she will die soon. The pressure is already affecting her eyesight.” (The Mountain Spirit is happy to report that at the time we went to press, Marie had had her opera tion and was recovering nicely at home.) The cost o f airfare, hospital care and expenses are the full responsibility of the Galiean Home Ministries. “I believe this is going to grow into something, not only what we are doing, but for other people to d o,” Sandy said. “That’s what I’d like to see it grow into. There are a lot of children who have medical needs in our own country and they can’t afford them. I think this is going to open up a whole new world of helping each other. This is something that we never planned. I believe that God led us into it, and we don’t know where it will lead. We have to step out first and trust in God, and God’s love knows no borders.” cap.

Spread The M o u n ta in S p irit this Christm as! “ I ’d love to visit A ppalachia, b u t read in g The Mountain Spirit is the next best th in g !” “ I love to read the stories ab o u t w hat y o u ’re doing to help the people!” “ I read it cover to cover!”

W e ’ve had these com m ents— an d m any m o re— about The Mountain Spirit. O u r stories, both fiction and non-fiction, illustrate the lives an d the spirit of the A ppalachian people. W e ’d like to give you the o p p o rtu n ity to share th at spirit w ith yo u r friends and loved ones this C h ristm as. Y ou can give two gift subscriptions to The Mountain Spirit for only $9.00. T h a t’s a dollar off the regu lar price. If we receive y o u r o rd e r before D ecem ber 17, w e’ll announce yo u r gift w ith a C h ris tm a s c a r d , d e s ig n e d especially for The Mountain Spirit. So, spread the spirit th is C h r is tm a s — The Mountain Spirit\ Mountain Spirit readers will be especially excited about Mountain Passages, the latest book by G arry B arker. It has an entire section devoted to stories about the W atts family, whom y o u ’ve com e to know an d love th ro u g h the m agazine. A re you looking for a special C hristm as p resent for a special person? H ow about a book, au to g rap h ed by the au th o r? W rite: G arry B arker P O Box 528 B erea, K Y 40403 Enclose $9.95, plus $2.00 for postage and han d lin g , and y o u ’ll have some g reat— and u n iq u e — C hristm as presents! T o ensure delivery in tim e for C h ristm as, please contact G arry by D ecem ber 5.