Issuu

M arch-April 1989

The Mountain Spirit T h e M agazine of the C h ristian A ppalachian Project

T h e M o u n ta in Spirit:

The Magazine o f the Christian Appalachian Project

M arch-A pril 1989

V ol. V II I , N o. 2

Contents Features 4

“ A R ose b y A ny O ther N a m e” by Susan Scott As a returned Peace Corps volunteer, Susan has a special insight into supervising volunteers in the elderly program . H ere she shares some of the similarities between her work in Africa and in Eastern K entucky.

L earn ing, C aring, B ecom ing by C athie Bailey C athie and T om Bailey lightened their hold on “ things” to become C A P volunteers.

S taying C onnected

Elderly Program, p. 4

Volunteering, p. 9

by K eith Gilbertson Form er volunteer K eith G ilbertson looks at the two years that Lorraine Corsale spent as a C A P volunteer and how they influenced her work as a photographer.

Bonds o f C om m un ity by H eidi A nne P orter O ne of the im portant aspects of volunteer life is the com m on lifestyle. H eidi tells us how form er volunteers in Floyd C ounty keep up with each other.

Departments 3 8 13 14 16

A T hought From the E ditor L etters R andom T houghts T he CAP C loseup A round the Project

The M arch-April Theme T h e C A P volunteer p ro g ram is com prised of three com ponents: p ray er, service an d com m unity. For this issue of The Mountain Spirit we invited a volunteer, a form er v o lunteer an d a retu rn e d Peace C orps volunteer who supervises C A P volunteers to share th eir thoughts concerning each o f these p arts of volunteer life. “ T h e C A P C lo seu p ” an d “ A ppalachian A rts and C u ltu re ,” too, were w ritten by a v olunteer an d form er volunteer, respectively. W e believe th a t the involvem ent of volunteers in w riting this issue will give readers an even b etter feel for C A P ’ v o lunteer p ro g ram . O n the C O V E R , G a rra rd C o u n tian J o h n Stoll (photo by form er volunteer L o rrain e C orsale). O n the B A C K C O V E R , springtim e prep ares to blossom in the m o u n tain s (photo by form er volu n teer R an d o lp h J o rd a n ).

Published by the C hristian A ppalachian P roject. E d itor, M a rg aret G abriel. A d visory B oard, F ather R alph W . Beiting; M ike M cL au g h lin ; Leslie B. L arsen ; Bill Begley; R andolph Jo rd a n ; J u n e W idm an; K athleen Leavell; P at P adgett. G raphics C oordinator, D ebbie Fraley T u d o r. C ircu lation, E lizabeth M iller. The Mountain Spirit is published six tim es a year. T h e an n u al subscription price is $5.00. S ubscriptions an d o th er correspondence should be sent to The Mountain Spirit, C hristian A ppalachian P roject, 322 C rab O rch ard R o a d , L ancaster, K entucky 40446. C o p y rig h t, 1989, the C h ristian A ppalachian P roject, Inc. All rights reserved. M em b er, C atholic Press A ssociation. T h e C h ristian A ppalachian P roject is a non-profit C h ristian 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 ap proach to A ppalachian poverty.

A Thought From the E ditor l o hear us talk, one would think that all former volunteers ever do is sit around and talk about the “old days” with each other and with new volunteers. Farther into this issue (on page 13, if my dummy stays accurate) you will read a column by my friend, Kathleen Ford Leavell, telling about the time she has spent talking with “new recruits.” Sure enough, that’s how this former volunteer is going to start some thoughts, too. On the particular occasion that Fm remember ing now, a new volunteer asked which aspect of volunteer life I thought was the most important: prayer, community or service? Never one to think before I speak, I blurted out “Prayer . . . no, ser vice! No, community!” Then, it occurred to me that they’re almost indistinguishable. Without one the other two would crumble. The desire to serve is a common bond for volunteers, and the easiest to talk about because it’s tangible. Some people arrive with service en trenched in their lives through their academic pur suits; they’ve studied to become nurses or teachers. Others have been blessed with clerical and business skills and some do not offer a specific trade but say, “use me where you will.” The gifts differ, but the motivation is the same. It is interesting to talk to volunteers and ask them what prompted their interest in service. Church tradition and encouragement from family are two very oft-heard responses. In them we also see the other two aspects of volunteer life —prayer and community. Of the three, I find community the most dif ficult to explain. To try and use a Noah Webster definition is one thing, but probably anecdote can illustrate my point a little more clearly. I was talking with a former volunteer at the local county fair last summer when we came upon a mutual acquaintance whom we had both met under different circumstances. After talking with her for a few minutes, she looked a little puzzled and asked, “Are you sisters?” The question surprised me because, while we’ve always felt a special bond, I didn’t realize how evi dent it is to people that we don’t know very well. The incident made our friendship (that grew out of the time we spent living in community) even more special to me and caused me to start to observe the relationships of other volunteers who have lived in the same community. Some have established family in the more traditional sense by marrying and having children. Others have that M arch-A pril 1989

M argaret G ab riel.

special bond that grows out of sharing many things —chores, the bathroom, meals, pain, joy and prayer. For most CAP volunteers, the move to Ap palachia is their first experience with a new culture, and for some, the first time they have been away from home or their first experience after college. Living with a group of people who are going through a similar experience makes what could be very difficult, or even impossible, adven turous and joyful. This is where prayer and community really start to blend together. I think because, in some way, the community becomes the presence of God to its individuals. At its worst, living with a group of adults who are searching, and in many cases, searching for the same thing can be the most frustrating experience of a person’s life. At its best, we recall learning that God is present to the world in each of his children. That lesson becomes evident as one lives in a caring Christian community, able to see God in that community and feeling that they reflect God to the others. Exactly at this point, prayer (or spirituality), community and service become entwined. What would our relationship with God be if we could not share Him with those we work and live with? What better way to show our love for Him than through service to those around us? So, back to my original question: which aspect of volunteer life is the most important? Yes, prayer. Yes, service. Yes, community. 3

“A Rose By Any Other Name ’ ’

by Susan Scott

Susan and som e o f h er frien d s in Sierra L eo n e.

I joined the Peace Corps, together with my husband, in 1984. I went to Sierra Leone, West Africa, without preconceived notions and a bit of trepidation. I went as a volunteer —a bit unsure of what that might entail. Sure, I knew a little bit about Africa and about volunteer life. My uncle had been a Peace Corps volunteer before me. I wrote him, unknowingly describing his life as primitive, compared with my own. He would counter by using the words “rustic” or “simple,” He characterized the African children by describ ing their beauty, their eagerness to learn, and their keen interest in his life. You see, he was a teacher.

an outlet for sharing years of valuable experience. If a participant is willing to teach us, we are will ing to learn. This always seems a given in volunteer life. Each experience —volunteering and working with volunteers—has expanded my base of com parison. I can share what I learned as a volunteer with other volunteers and visa versa, and we can use our experiences to strengthen our program.

All of his portrayals of enthralling life episodes seemed intangible to me. What was I to compare them to? I had no base of comparison. I had not volunteered before. I had not travelled such a long cultural or physical distance. But then I joined. I was a volunteer for three years.

Admittedly, my experience as a volunteer in Sierra Leone was somewhat different from that of a CAP volunteer. Many of the broader goals, achievements and self-maturing stages are shared, however, by most volunteers. Comparisons are easily made. This should become evident as I briefly relate some of the stories from my volunteer life and attempt to link them to my cur rent work with volunteers.

In 1987, I began working with volunteers as manager of CAP’S elderly visitation program. The elderly program seemed a perfect extension to my volunteer service. It is dedicated to reaching isolated, elderly persons in need of services which range from task-oriented assistance, to providing

Most volunteers remember the best of their ex periences and I am no exception. Sure, there are difficult, heart-wrenching times. These, however, come and go as physical pain does. They are in tense, momentary and tangible, but disappear into a more shadowy memory very quickly. It is like

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climbing a mountain and enduring the physical pain, but quickly replacing the painful memory with a feeling of ecstasy at reaching the top. The worst of it is nearly forgotten then as you coast down the mountain’s face. My volunteer days were busy. Work was the order of the day, and many times it was the order Monday through Sunday. Outside of my assigned job, I was expected to work on secondary projects and keep up with my domestic chores. There was not any television, no phones, very little electricity and only occasional hopes for running water. I willingly accepted this as part of being a volunteer, though. I defined “volunteer” as someone who was willing to absorb herself in a new culture, will ing to learn new ways, practice new skills and set aside her own cultural values to show precedent to those of the host country. During my three year tenure in the Peace Corps, I devoted myself to several projects. I taught English to the equivalent of ninth and tenth grade students who did exhibit an insatiable appetite to learn. They not only wanted to learn English, but they also showed interest in places they had heard about on a shortwave radio, for example. “Where is Czechoslavakia?” Abdul once asked in the mid dle of an English class devoted to dictionary usage. I guess you could consider the question ap propriate to the lesson. I went with it, quickly searched for a map and jumped into a geography lesson. That was one of my favorite classes —in

Susan m et sen iors in A frica, too.

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E b b ie L a w so n , L in c o ln C o u n ty , K e n tu c k y .

memory, anyway. There were other teaching assignments and learn ing processes that I stepped into while I was in Sierra Leone. I participated in several cooking lessons where I learned that four dried, hot pep pers were not enough to sweeten the stew, but twenty was way too many. The women would laugh at my inadequacies and vulnerabilities but that was all right. They accepted me unabashedly and quietly resolved to make me stronger and more prepared to meet my simple, everyday needs. They had seen it before in the lives of volunteers who preceeded me. It was almost as if they believ ed all volunteers were in some way interconnected. They expected a certain degree of helplessness and set about instructing us on how to survive simply and basically in life. What does all this have to do with CAP volunteers? How does it influence my approach to working with volunteers in the elderly program? Well, as I see it, there are several common bonds that run through my volunteer experience and that of elderly program volunteers. I have touched on several of these threads linking all volunteers, but have yet to explain myself fully. Remembering these themes, keeping them in perspective and sharing the results of these common bonds make working with volunteers a most satisfying ex perience. Both the learning process and boundary hopping continues. 5

In my view, all volunteers’ motivations are similar. Volunteers, and I include myself in this category even though I am technically an ex volunteer, tend to view their service as a new adventure. We are keenly interested in learning new and insightful things about ourselves and about those we serve. We offer ourselves and our skills only to learn rather quickly that we are more often on the receiving end. What do I mean? Well, if we think of it in terms of the elderly program, we must quickly question the validity of our life experiences in contrast to theirs’. For ex ample, I very willingly help an elderly person weed her garden and accomplish a great deal in the pro cess. But, in the meantime, she is astutely passing on the tricks of the trade. She explains when to plant, how to care for the garden, when to harvest and will eventually invite me to learn the canning process. Upstaged? Yes, but pleasantly so. I sub mit that all volunteers could relate plenty of similar experiences. This, however, does not de mean the volunteer experience. It makes it a more valuable exchange. Volunteers, in general, exhibit a willingness to expose their inadequacies and themselves when it comes to experiencing something new. I did not know how to cook Sierra Leoneon stew, but I was intent on learning how to cook it well and was helped in my several attempts to master the art. The elderly program provides ample opportunities to “expose” ourselves. Participants in the program have taught several volunteers how to quilt, crochet, cook, to conserve and to live simply and provide for one’s own needs. One volunteer thoroughly enjoyed her quilting lessons, but complained that her teacher did all the work. Maybe the teacher did not think her student’s beginning work was neat enough yet, or maybe the teacher was thrilled to get the chance to quilt again. In exchange for such valuable lessons, volunteers have offered the seniors time, an eager audience, help with tasks that have become difficult due to arthritis, asthma or some other physical disability and a desire to experience the living histories of those visited.

V o lu n tee r M ary F in la y so n w ork s in the eld erly program in L in c o ln C o u n ty . B e lo w , M a ry v isits w ith T h eo d o re K id d . A b o v e , she receiv es a p illo w co v er that M r. L a w so n ’s, w ife, E v e ly n has stitch ed for h er.

Volunteering is a self-maturing process. It is a stage in our lives that we carry with us, though, because it has enriched us. I think that the people we serve recognize this. Elderly persons may not be aware of their powerful influence on our lives, but participants do 6

The Mountain Spirit

M ary v isits w ith M yrtle A n d erson , w h o takes great d elig h t in sh arin g p h otograp h s o f h er g irlh ood .

recognize that our volunteer experience is a stage in our lives. Many volunteers have come into their lives and left just as abruptly. Yet they appreciate the arrival of the next volunteer. Why would somebody from the United States want to come and live in Sierra Leone? Why would a young person from New York want to come to Kentucky to visit elderly persons? Not only do we do it, but we revel in it and savor it. Several volunteers enjoyed life in Kentucky and their volunteer experience so much, that they have kept in contact with elderly persons and have even ventured back to visit again. One volunteer regularly calls persons she visited while a volunteer. She keeps up with the news from Gar rard County by subscribing to the local paper. Another sent what seemed like millions of green stamps to a participant who still collects them. Yet another sent pictures of his latest creation from carpentry school to a woman whose husband was a carpenter. Friendships were easily made and many friends still keep in close contact. I envy this quality in CAP volunteers. Sierra Leone and the Peace Corps seem so far away, physically. Emo tionally they are not, however. The goals and achievements of the Peace Corp and the results of working to achieve them in fluence my work as a returned volunteer and with volunteers. Many of the qualities I attribute to M arch-A pril 1989

volunteers result from my own understanding of my volunteer days. I can look back on them now and draw these conclusions. Many of the strategies we use in the elderly pro gram to promote healthy aging through shared ex changes and educational experiences, result from strong beliefs I developed as a volunteer and as a returned volunteer. Through these experiences, I have matured personally, and was able to make some very small strides to improve the English language skills of a few African students. The more important experiences, though, came through those things that that I was taught about living. Persons in Sierra Leone understand basic life skills and how to survive. Elderly persons do, too. Elderly program volunteers may reach some of the same conclusions as they look back on their experience. I hope so. These volunteers may be learning from the last generation of Americans who understand basic, simple living. Their volunteer contributions, as well, will have been many. In truth, however, new volunteers will come and, eventually, we will all be intercon nected again in the minds of those we serve and in our own minds. We will have deep-rooted feelings about our volunteer experience. We will have broadened our base of comparison and we will seek out others who are able to share it with us. 7

Letters Your publication is a reflection of the beautiful ministry of CAP —full of caring, sharing and love. Reading about your efforts on behalf of the poor of Appalachia is a real inspira tion. May the Lord bless and reward all who are involved in this wonder ful work. Noelle M. Sullivan New York, N Y

The magazine of the Christian Appalachian Project, The Moun tain Spirit, is best summed up so succinctly and comprehensively in an article by Father Ralph Beiting. He says, “In the many years since I founded the Christian Appalachian Project, I think our finest contribu tion has been the love we share with the people and their land and the pride we experience as we get to know them better.” Richard Timm Cleveland, OH

I really enjoy The Mountain Spirit magazine. God bless all of you who are involved in the Chris tian Appalachian Project. If only I were younger, it would be an in teresting challenge to work in the project. However, I try to get in volved in many ways with our local Lutheran church. We participate in “Food Share” and frequently go to the inner city Minneapolis area to serve (prepare and donate) a nutritious meal to many. It is very rewarding. Mrs. Donald R. Babb Cambridge, M N CAP is always interested in receiving inquiries about the volunteer program from retired peo ple. We have had several in the past and find that they have much to share, both with younger volunteers and the people we serve. I f you are interested or know someone who is, 8

please contact Kathy Kluesener, CAP Volunteer Program, 235 Lex ington St., Lancaster, K Y 40444. Thanks! Ed.

I not only read each issue of The Mountain Spirit thoroughly, but share it with others on this floor of my apartment building. We all en joy the magazine and applaud the great work being done by the CAP staff, volunteers and people in general. Laurie J. Fox Madison, WI

I enjoy this magazine very much and find material in it that I can pass on in my church “Newsletter” where everyone can enjoy some of it. Thanks for all your good infor mation about your people there in the mountains. God bless all of you and your efforts for those people who are in need of help and a better understanding of everyday life. Christ never said life would be easy! Look at the price He paid for us. Pauline R. Dudley Santee, CA

As chaplain of Eastern State Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, I came to appreciate the culture and people of Kentucky’s mountains. Even from those suffering mental ill ness as well as poverty, I experienc ed a warm embrace from these people-centered folk. I appreciate CAP both for its ecumenical flavor and its approach to serving the peo ple of Eastern Kentucky. As I see it, CAP ministers most effectively because, as an organization, it nourishes the gifts and wisdom of the mountain people while it also provides basic needs. God bless you all! Ray N. Cooley Wallingford, CT

Back in the ’60s, I saw first hand, as a public health nurse, the Ap palachian poverty, plus the richness of heart among the people there. Now I’m married to a wonderful man, and we have continued our contributions to Father Beiting’s CAP that I was doing years ago. Our contributions are not so large, but we give as often as we can. Rita and Robert White Belleview, FL

There is so much need in the world today that one cannot con tribute to all, except in prayer. Other countries need our help but it is really heartwarming to know that there is such a fantastic group as CAP dedicated to helping our own. Keep up the good work. Alonzo D. Spaugh Winston-Salem, NC

I have really enjoyed The Moun tain Spirit magazine. It is proof of the progress being made through the Christian Appalachian Project. Everyone seems to help each other. The love, caring and sharing is a beautiful way of showing the Chris tian spirit. I have enjoyed helping in my small way, but wish I could do more. God bless you. Lillian A. Johnston Livingston, TX

Letters to the editor are welcome.

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

Learning, Caring, Becoming by Cathie Bailey

1 didn’t realize how inseparable spirituality would be from mission work before I started. I though I’d be able to put everything in little boxes, and have my work over here, my prayer life there —keep everything compartmentalized. I’m not sure exactly when I realized how inseparable they are. I suppose it just grew on me in the quiet times. As I’m driving from student’s home to stu dent’s home, I have plenty of quiet time, and I’ve learned that it’s a good time to think and to pray. But let me go back to the beginning, when my hus band, Tom, and I realized to what we had been called. When I was certain that I must do some type of service work, my first question was “How is that possible?” as I considered my marriage and my conviction that the partnership of marriage is a M arch-A pril 1989

most special and permanent arrangement. I realiz ed God’s plan when I talked to Tom, and learned that he, too, felt that we should extend our ser vice. Once again, the “I” became “we.” The first cautious steps toward volunteer work were a series of tests. “If we sell the house, we’ll know we’re supposed . . . ” “If someone accepts us as volunteers . . . ” “If the kids are on their own, we’ll know . . . ” After twenty-three years of marriage, we had to clear ourselves of possessions, debts and liabilities. And clear away they did. It all happen ed so quickly, once we committed ourselves to serve. We experienced a feeling of release, of be ing unencumbered by ownership. It was very liberating to lighten the hold on “things.” 9

In the same way that my work and my spirituality have grown together . . .

This freedom from “things” is just one of the very liberating aspects of life within CAP, but more specifically, as a volunteer. It’s easier for me to be a volunteer than an employee, because I’ve found that I’m freed from things that bind, the money things —things you so often have to con cern yourself with. As a volunteer I’m free from those things, and I’ve learned that this type of poverty leads to an unbelievable wealth, spiritually.

Wheels) I began to see drastic changes in my own spirituality. The biggest change has come in the way in which I accept different people and dif ferent ideas. Back in Ohio, I never would have become friends with some of the people that I’m friends with here. I never would have created or made that available to myself, opened myself to different kinds of relationships that I have here, mostly with students.

Our parenting responsibilities had also been fulfilled, at least for the moment. Our son, Tom, is in the U.S. Army, stationed in Herlong, Califor nia. Our daughter, Tina, is studying nursing at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. Tina was married last September and began a new life with Michael, the son-in-law for whom every mother hopes.

It puts me in a different light when I go to their house, as we do in School on Wheels. They’re the host or the hostess and I’m the outsider, forcing me to accept more than I would have back home. As I’ve stayed open to accepting what the Lord sends, it’s become easier for me to come from the outside into a situation and become a part of it, than if I had grown up in that situation. Here I choose them as my friends and I think it has work ed the opposite way, too.

After considering many directions and oppor tunities, we were accepted as volunteers with CAP. So, we loaded the car with what was left of our belongings and moved to Kentucky to become the “old, married couple” in the Renfro Valley volunteer house. Living in community as the only older couple among people the age of our children has been a real learning experience for Tom and me. We assumed that there would be other people our own age, but that isn’t the way it’s turned out. It has worked out well, though, and looking back, there is nothing that we’d care to change. We’ve made friends out in the community and we spend time with them, in addition to the time we spend at home. After we got settled in our work assignments (Tom in maintenance at the Family Life Center in Renfro Valley and I, as a teacher in School on 10

My time as a teacher in the School on Wheels has been a wonderful experience. My experience and background is as a first through sixth grade teacher, so I interviewed with Gary Eldridge here in the adult education program, and with the Family Life Child Development Center. It seemed kind of wasteful to have all that teaching ex perience and not use it. Teaching is kind of a dream job for mothers because they get summers off and all that. But I think I’ve continued to teach because I’ve always felt that that was where I was supposed to be, in order to help people find out what they’re capable of. All it takes most of the is a little directional help, a little push in the right direction, and people can find the way themselves. The best teachers, I The Mountain Spirit

think, just have an instinct about how to en courage people. I don’t think I’ve changed the approach that I used when I worked with children. I’ve tried to stay flexible enough to know what this person needs, or what that one needs or doesn’t need. It’s a new insight because you can see it from an adult’s perspective. A child can’t tell you why he thinks that way, but an adult might be able to ver balize a little better. Teaching adults has taught me many different approaches. Being here in Rockcastle County, too, has taught me that teachers often make assumptions that aren’t true. I’ve always assumed that a child could take work home and have someone there to help, and often that’s not true. People at home won’t help or can’t help. Even though I’ve always put a lot more than just forty hours a week into a job (as if a forty hour week was possible for a teacher!), I’ve found that with this job those “after work” distinctions become very blurry. In the same way that my work and my spirituality have grown together, so has my “work” time and my “off” time.

true, except that Tom and I are the only Pro testants in our volunteer house. Most of the younger volunteers are Catholic, and I’m sure when people see Father Beiting, they think “Catholic.” In fact, a very dear friend of mine from our home church told me that her grandmother asked, “What are they doing down there in that Catholic organization?” But the peo ple that we’ve met through our work and most of the CAP employees have enriched us because of the many different faith traditions that we’ve observed and experienced. The most difficult part of stepping into this new experience has been leaving our friends back in Ohio, especially our church group. We belong to a small congregation in Butler, Ohio, near Mansfield. We hear from them often. It’s a small church, so it’s very close. That church community role has been picked up somewhat by our volunteer community, although it hasn’t made our separation from our friends back home any easier.

We belong to the Methodist Church, and in our tradition, we have always been focused on mission work. In the church that we attend in Ohio, our yearly projects were always mission projects: we’ve always been centered on that.

It’s been a struggle, too, not to become the “house parents” of the community, but in that way we’re fortunate because of the way we raised our own children. They’re very independent —both have worked on their own since they were sixteen and we assumed that everyone their age had that same independence. Learning that that isn’t true caused some conflict at first, but we’ve worked through it.

When Tom and I were searching for a volunteer project, we wanted one that was inter denominational, not terribly specific. The CAP policy appeared to us that it was trying to be truly inter-denominational. And we’ve found that to be

I’ve started to be a little more tolerant and, I think, some of the others have learned that if you do care about the others in the community then you have to show it, and not just say, “I care about you.” We’ve all learned that cleaning up

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C ath ie w ork s w ith on e o f h er S ch ool O n W heels stu d en ts, N o la M cC lu re.

your mess so the next person doesn’t have to, for example, says “I care about you” much more clearly than all the words in the world. I don’t think I could do this kind of work —at least not very effectively—if there was no spiritual dimension. It’s very demanding; I am asked to share so many problems. One lady said, “I think you’re my psychiatrist.” It’s a heavy load to carry, to be that close. Without faith, without the spiritual dimension, I would never be able to take it. I don’t under stand how people who have little faith or no faith would be able to help that share the load of other people’s problems. I don’t believe that I’m hand ling their problems, but I’m close enough to them to listen, to talk, to tell them what I think, if they ask. And I worry. And I pray about them. Without my own faith, I don’t think I could. I don’t evangelize toward people very much, but they do toward me to a certain extent. They’ll share what the sermon was about at church on Sunday and we’ll discuss it. I’m more inclined to listen to them than to speak to them. I think evangelism doesn’t necessarily have to come out of 12

your mouth. It’s the way you respond to the Word. We’ve been trying to stay open to what we’re go ing to do next. We hope that when the opportunity comes, we won’t have a mind set that says “this is what we’re going to do next, or this is what we’re planning to do.” We’re trying to avoid thinking about the next step on purpose, so that we’re open to whatever comes. In much the same way that our children, so much a part of us, have needed this time apart from us to find, to experience and to establish their own way, we have become part of another family as we grow together with the other volunteers with whom we share home. We ex perience some similarities between this new family and our other-life family, as the exuberance of youth surrounds us. But we also learn new kinds of acceptance, pa tience and understanding as we learn from each other, everything from recipes and colloquialisms to future goals and shared feelings. Life, as a part of this family is full of surprises, new feelings and many opportunities to learn more, care more and become more. The Mountain Spirit

Random Thoughts Volunteer admissions coordinator Kathy O’Donnell Kluesener, occa sionally invites me to meet and talk to new volunteers. It’s a joyful ex perience to talk to “recruits,” and to remember our own uncertainty as we embarked on volunteer life in the mid-seventies. I always come away renewed after sharing some of the highlights of work and community. It’s wonderful to see the exciting things that are happening in the volunteer program. The volunteers are motivated and committed, the leadership is solid and deeply rooted in love —Father Beiting’s dream continues. It takes a special breed of volunteer to help bring to reality the dream of someone who is not there to continually inspire. The former volunteers take particular pains to share the hope, courage, faith and love we found in Father Beiting; a torch we take great pleasure in pass ing.

I have to smile when I think of Father Beiting sighing and rolling his eyes. Perhaps he was lifting up his eyes unto the hills, from whence came his patience to deal with us. Q. What were the mealtimes like? A. Mealtimes were probably much as they are now, lots of noise, swap ping of stories —even an occasional complaint to the cook. Often in cluded in our menus were donated food items that came in bulk from several generous food companies. One year, it was sorghum.

As for this column, however, I’ve been asked to share some lesser known inspirations that might il luminate the “shadow side” of the volunteer experience. I think many such stories can be found if we reflect on the questions the inex perienced volunteers ask of us wise old veterans.

I think we must have received two or three semi-trucks full of sorghum. When we gave away all we could, we still had too much and Father Beiting told us that there would be no more maple syrup, honey or sugar until the sorghum was gone. We poured it on pan cakes, waffles, toast and biscuits, we tried it in coffee, tea and oatmeal. We chilled it in the refrigerator and heated it on the stove. When “the day of the last jar” arrived, we were jubilant. As we were putting away the last pots and pans of supper, we discovered onemore-jar-of sorghum. Without a moment’s hesitation, we took the jar quietly out to the back yard and buried it. I expect it’s still there.

Q. “Was it hard to be on time for those early morning prayers?”

Q. What did you do for community activities?

A. Oh, no, no! Every morning we would bound out of bed at 7:20 a.m., knock each other over, joyful ly running down the stairs. We’d hop across the church lawn, putting on socks and shoes in transit. We would trip up the stairs, ease the front door open and utter our first prayer of thanksgiving that Father Beiting (already deep in prayer) had not noticed our tardy entrance. Safely in our pious places, we would reel with shock and disdain at the unfortunate volunteer whose late ar rival was announced by the squeaky left door (we always used the right).

A. I remember the winter nights in the living room. There was usually someone who could play the guitar and we did a lot of singing by the fireplace. Someone was usually working on a school lesson and of course, M arilyn was always “macrame-ing.” Every so often, we would go caving or canoeing or hik ing. I think perhaps one of the “lowlights” of community fun was our bicycle journey from Lancaster to Mount Vernon for Thanksgiving dinner —a brisk 27 mile workout. It’s a long story, but let’s just say that the only volunteer who made it

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K a th lee n F ord L e a v ell.

all the way was Joe Higgins, a gentleman in his 70s. When he arriv ed at the Mount Vernon volunteer house, he sent a van out to rescue us. As Marilyn put it, “When you start having trouble going down the hills —it’s time to quit.” The other volunteers had very kindly held Thanksgiving dinner for us. That was the good news. The bad news was that we couldn’t sit down to eat it —for days! The more I remember the way it was then, the less different it seems from the way it is now. We sang John Denver songs and they sing Amy Grant songs. But we all sing —and pray and work and hope. And the inspiration of Father Beiting is very much alive, treasured and reflected in the volunteer direc tors, and the volunteers are still making the dream come true. —KFL Kathleen Ford Leavell joined CAP as a volunteer in 1976. Today she is a teacher fo r CAP’S pre school handicapped program. 13

The C A P Closeup

Of Dreams Unfinished D ebbie H am ilton

Story and photos by Heather Obley

D eb b ie lead s sto ry tim e at th e E agle C h ild D ev e lo p m e n t C en ter.

(Circumstances often hinder one’s ability to believe in dreams. Five children, a husband, a trailer in desperate need of repair, and a single sporatic source of income have not stopped Deb bie Hamilton from holding onto the hope that one day she may be standing in front of a classroom of children, giving them a love for learning and a love for life. Debbie has lived in McCreary County, Ken tucky, for twenty-one years. Raised in a family of eight children, she assumed domestic respon sibilities at an early age. As the third oldest child, Debbie began baby-sitting her siblings when she was six and cooking for the family at eight, laying the foundation for what was to be her greatest joy in life, “the thing that I enjoy the most is cooking and providing for my own kids,” Debbie says. In May of 1979, after a four-year courtship, Debbie and Glenn Hamilton were married. He was eighteen; she, fifteen and a freshman in high school. They moved into their own place and shortly after that, Debbie bore their first child, Geneva. She continued to go to school while fami ly and friends watched the baby. The day after Christmas, 1979, Geneva died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. While this could depress any woman’s vision of motherhood, Debbie’s desire 14

for children shined through their loss. By December of 1980, she and Glenn were blessed with their second child, Edward. Debbie’s dream of becoming a teacher remained in the forefront of her mind. Though she was working outside the home and fulfilling her role as mother and wife, she stayed in school and in May of 1982, Debbie graduated from McCreary Coun ty High School with high honors in home economics. Since then, Jessica, five, William, three, and Tiffany, six months, have become a part of the Hamilton family. There is nothing Debbie enjoys more than cooking, sewing, reading and singing for her children. The experience of growing up with her children has been exhilarating for Deb bie. But her dream to become a teacher is never far from her mind. *

February 1988, Eagle Child Development Center opened in the Eagle Elementary school, less than one mile from the Hamilton trailer. Jessica and William were both of age to attend the center and so begins the process of making dreams come true. In exchange for sending their children to the The Mountain Spirit

center, parents agree to work at the school two days per month. The first day of work, Debbie came with wide, eager eyes. She was quiet, rather reserved, but extremely observant of how the teachers interacted with the children. On her se cond visit, Debbie worked with four children in the arts and crafts area in much the same manner as other pre-school teachers. She asked questions which allowed the children to verbalize their thoughts. She helped the children feel good about being in school. She made them feel proud of their arts and crafts creations. “After I started working in the school I could see that they needed some extra help,” so after a short time, Debbie realized that her presence in the center was not only appreciated, but needed. She began to volunteer her service every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. For the first time since her children were born, Debbie was doing something for herself. She saw an opportunity to serve and to actually take hold of her aspirations. “I like to work at school because I always dreamed of going to college to be a teacher and work with kids. Working with kindergarten has been part of my dream come true.

D eb b ie su p erv ises snack tim e.

“Tuesdays and Thursdays are my days —I’ll cancel anything just to be there. Headaches and things that used to get me down —I don’t let them anymore —anything that would stop me from go ing . . . ” The responsibility and the satisfaction have given Debbie new inspiration to strive for her dreams, not to mention the new ideas she’s gained which she can take home to her own children. When asked how she felt about Eagle Child Development Center on the whole, Debbie responded with loads of sentiment. “I’ve seen my own children mature much faster than I ever thought I would. Just things like pouring their own milk, setting the table. I always used to do those things for them, but now I’ve learned that they can —and should —do those things for themselves.” But more than this, Debbie has witnessed changes in the other community people involved with the school. The parents tend to get out more and really take part in their child’s development. It’s pleasing to Debbie to be a part of these changes in people and to help the children enjoy school. But above all, Debbie Hamilton has gotten closer than ever before to the reality of her dreams unfinished. *

To Debbie, from the employees and staff at ECD C. . . We would like to express our gratitude fo r all o f your help and devotion to the children. Also —thank you fo r allowing us to befriend you in such a way that McCreary County comes alive and becomes a true interest fo r us. Best wishes for dreams which do come true. D e b b ie and h er n ie c e , A n n ie , and tw o o f h er ch ild re n , J essica an d W illia m .

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Jean, Kay, Milissa and Heather 15

Around the Project

by the CAP News Service

H a p p y B irth d ay Father B eiting! BEREA —With balloons, cake, music, cards and gifts, CAP celebrated 65 years in the life of its founder, Father Ralph Beiting, at the Russell D. Acton Folk Center on Sunday, January 8, 1989. Bishop J. Kendrick Williams, of the Diocese of Lexington, Father Beiting’s brothers and sisters, volunteers, former volunteers and employees and parishioners from the churches that Father Beiting founded or pastored in his 39 years as a priest joined to wish him a happy birthday and to share each other’s company. There were cards and greetings from children at each of CAP’S five child development centers, as well as a scroll that had been signed by all of the children at the Mountain Christian Academy in Floyd Coun ty. Volunteer Julie Gabert fashion ed a card which was signed by every guest. CAP president Mike McLauglin addressed the group, estimated at 250, commenting that “at an age when most people look forward to retirement, Father Beiting still works not four or five, but seven days a week, not eight or ten or twelve, but often sixteen hours a day. He is a fine example of what it means to grow old, but to stay young,” McLauglin said. “He gives us all greater love and with it, greater motivation.” After a rousing chorus of “Happy Birthday,” Father Beiting and the children who were present blew out the 65 candles on his 3’x 6’ cake and told his family and friends that when he tries to characterize himself, he considers himself “the luckiest man on earth.” “I am lucky to have been able to spend my life in Eastern Kentucky and climb a mountain and dream of what can be. Pm lucky, too, that people are foolish enough to listen to me.” 16

Sm all guests at F ath er B e itin g ’s b irth d a y p a rty en jo y cake and ice cream .

Father Beiting allowed himself two birthday wishes, “even though we missed one of the candles,” he told the children. “My first wish would be for my brother, Ray. He has Lou Gehrig’s disease and may not see Christmas again. My wish is that he would be healed or that God would give me what he has. If that would not be the way of God, I pray that Ray would be given the strength to understand how much God loves him, to allow him to share his suf fering. “Ray,” Father Beiting said, “I’ve never been prouder to be your brother than now.” “For each of you I wish you could take a step closer to God and reach out so you could hold hands and never leave each other’s side. What a wondrous world that would be!” Father Beiting followed his remarks by cutting the cake that was so huge it made 65 candles seem paltry.

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The Mountain Spirit

around the project . . . continued

‘‘O p eration S h a rin g ” R eaches O ther States LANCASTER —Charlie Deaton, manager of “Operation Sharing,” the program through which CAP distributes in-kind donations to other service organizations, recently learned that CAP has been reaching out not only to the Appalachian people in Eastern Kentucky, but to many Appalachian migrants living in Cincinnati. Charlie met Jay Calvert, an Episcopal seminarian studying for the deaconate, through CAP’S distribution of Care Bear and Cab bage Patch doll books in 1987. Jay is a member of the Episcopal Church of the Nativity, which is in volved in many outreach programs. On a recent trip to Lancaster, Jay trucked nearly a ton of food, in cluding potatoes, beans, cornmeal, and a few boxes of pie cherries. Upon his return he contacted Charlie. “In his own mysterious way, God directed us to load rice,” Jay wrote, “even though it is not a popular staple among the Ap

palachian people here.

G ift A n n u ities

“Within 24 hours of my return, I was confronted with the problem of helping an extended family from Cambodia, where rice is the main food source!” Jay went on to tell Charlie about Prospect House, a residential treat ment program for recovering alcholic men which is located on the property of the Church of the Nativity. “For most alcoholic men, there is a family in need,” Jay said. “This food will be on many of their tables on Christmas day. How can one thank those who give so much through CAP? I know of no ade quate words that can express the thanksgiving I have seen in the eyes of hungry people who have been fed or in the eyes of a teenage mother who receives baby food for her baby. Yes, and in the eyes of a Cam bodian family, some of whom do not speak English, yet, but whose faces show their great love for those who have helped.”

A gift annuity to the C hristian Appalachian Project will help us continue to provide em ploym ent opportunities to Appalachian peo ple. T his activity is an essential part of our mission to help people help themselves. But, what is a gift annuity? I t’s a legal agreem ent by which you make a gift to C A P and receive a guaranteed life income in return. For a m ore complete explana tion, write today for your free copy of “ Giving T hrough Gift A nnuities” by filling out the coupon below and enclosing it in the envelope provided. Clip and send

Please send, without obligation, my free copy of “ G iving T hrough Gift A nnuities.”

Nam e ________________________ Address________________________ C ity, State, Zip_______________ Date of Birth_________________ Telephone ___________________ B o b b y S im p son o f H arlan C o u n ty p ro u d ly d isp la y s the tru ck that C A P h elp ed to p urch ase for the C ra n k ’s C reek S u rv iv a l C en ter.

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around the project . . . continued

C hild ren and E lderly Spend T im e T ogether M OUNT V E R N O N -L isa Randerson, a CAP volunteer, started her service working in the Family Life Child Development Center. With a degree in early child development from the University of Wisconsin, Lisa worked with pre school children for AVi years before making a big change in 1988. “I decided that I needed to get away,” Lisa said, “so this year, I began working in the elderly pro gram. Then I realized that I couldn’t break away from kids for that long.” So Lisa did the sensible thing. She started to bring her two groups together periodically —get-togethers that both enjoy. Lisa has initiated a visiting pro gram between the elderly and the children. “I go over to school in the afternoon and pick up some of my older ones from last year and take them out home visiting with me in the afternoon.

plans that will enable her elderly people to actually teach in the centers. The plans can then be given to volunteers in elderly programs in other counties, enabling their people to teach in child development centers in their particular counties. The exchange has been good for everyone involved, Lisa said. “It’s been good for me because I didn’t realize before I left child develop ment how much I would really miss it. The program has let me keep my hand in. The elderly love it because they’re really making a contribu tion, and they know that the kids really love them. “It’s been really good for the schools because we’ve been able to give the children some extra atten tion. Teachers always want to do that, but never have enough time. At least, I never felt like I was spend ing enough individual time. With the elderly going into the centers, we can give more quality time to more children.”

FLC Services Staff Stu dy C P U MOUNT V E R N O N -F am ily Life Services staff, because of the nature of the work they do, are cer tified yearly in cardio-pulminary resuscitation. Classes are held at a hospital in Richmond, and until recently the staff traveled to Rich mond for testing. Willa Jo Roberts reports that this year testing was administered by Vernon Sowder with the Rockcastle County Ambulance Service. “It’s much better,” Jo said. “You get more individual attention.” Residents, too, learn CPR in their life skills course. One of their babies was prone to seizures, and they soon realized that CPR training for the mother was essential for the well being of the child. They’ve added first aid, so that residents will be well trained for emergency situa tions.

“Then, this week, we really got off the ground and were able to take some of the elderly into the child development center.” It worked out so well, Lisa reports, that they plan to take several people to the center every week. Lisa said that her elderly friends do the same kind of work in the centers as other staff people: they help with arts and crafts, go out on the playground and serve lunch. “I have one lady who’s really in terested, but she’s not as mobile as some of the others. The school has a big rocking chair in the book cor ner, though, and she’ll love sitting in that chair and reading. The kids love it —they love visitors of any kind!” Susan Scott, manager of CAP’S elderly program, has suggested to Lisa that she write several lesson 18

T h e Garrard C o u n ty ch ap ter o f th e N A A C P sp onsored a m em o ria l m arch on J a n u a ry 2 3 , to h o n o r th e b irth o f D r. M a rtin L u th er K in g , J r. L an caster m ayor B illy M o ss, g ave the k ey n o te address on the cou rth ou se step s. The Mountain Spirit

Ken Kerbs

Appalachian A rts and Culture

L orrain e C orsale.

S tayin g C onnected by Keith Gilbertson

I n the early 1980s, in New Jersey, a bunch of friends were sitting around talking about life. The question was asked of Lorraine Corsale, “If you could do anything in life, what would it be?” Lorraine thought a little while and said, “I’d be a volunteer.” It sounded good, but then there was her career as a photographer. She had graduated with a fine arts degree from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn in 1980 and was working as a medical photographer. Lorraine had dreams of books, photo exhibits and more. In the fall of 1982, Lorraine decided to just go ahead and do it. After an interview with CAP, “I liked the area and decided that volunteering was a natural thing for me to do.” She moved to Lancaster, Kentucky, to serve as a volunteer in CAP’S elderly program. She met and worked with many loving and caring people and returned that love in many ways. A trip to the grocery store. A birthday card. A hug. A ride to a church revival. A nice long talk on the porch. Just being a friend.

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“Of course I took pictures while I was there,” Lorraine said. “Each person sees things in their own way, experiences and interprets it. If I was a writer I’d do that with words, but since I’m visual ly oriented, I have done it with pictures.” When she photographed the people, “there was a trust that comes with friendship.” Her friendship with the people of Appalachia puts Lorraine in company with many fine CAP volunteers. What makes her special is the way in which she has maintained those friendships after returning home in 1984. Since returning to her work in New York, Lor raine has made many return trips to Lancaster, each time visiting as many of her elderly friends as possible. A trip to Lancaster is not complete without visits to folks like Lena, Reverend Miller, Leonard, Gracie, Elizabeth, Miss Bea, and Nellie. “Sometimes it gets to the point where I have to sneak in and out of town because I know I’m not going to see everyone,” Lorraine admits. “Having lunch at the senior citizens’ center solves some of the problem, but even so . . . ” Volunteers who spend time in Kentucky are blessed with experiences that will forever remain a part of their lives. Lorraine had a unique oppor tunity to share her experience by blending her

skills as a photograher with her love for the people with whom she worked. Out of this opportunity grew a book, Mountain Images: A Photographic Essay o f Central Appalachia. In the book, we see many of the people who Lorraine grew to know and love. I was there when Lorraine took many of the photographs and I saw that love first hand, both when she was taking the picture and after it was printed. The book jacket tells readers that Lorraine’s photographs offer “an intimate look at the spiritual richness of central Appalachia.” I agree. As a worker with CAP for six years, first as a volunteer, and now as an employee, I have worked with many high-quality volunteers. Lorraine stands out for her service back in 1982-84, but more importantly, for her continued interest in the people as friends and individuals. People call or tell me when I visit that they got a birthday card or Christmas card from “Lo-Rain (she’s so sweet).” Recently Gracie told me that Lorraine called to ex press her sympathy for the death of Mattie, Gracie’s sister. “They’re my friends and they always will be,” Lorraine says simply.

And in New York, what do her friends and family think about Appalachia and her work there? Those who thought she was a little crazy for leaving a job in 1982, now for the most part, ad mire and respect her. They see the Appalachian

people as “individuals who have stories worth listening to.” Whatever stories volunteers take back home with them have an effect on the work CAP is able to do through prayers and donations. We know that Lorraine’s presentation of the people through her photographs has helped show an honest por trayal of the folks in CAP’S programs, serving to further its mission. Lorraine is busy in New York as a medical and free-lance photographer. Her photos have been published in several magazines, including Smithsonian, and she is applying for a grant that will enable her to pursue her next project —a photo essay which will include oral histories of women in Appalachia.

U p p er le ft, H a z el W h ittak er; left, L en a N a p ier, u p p er rig h t, L in d a R ay. P h o to s b y L orrain e C orsale.

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“These women have stories to tell. Many of them are getting old and if we don’t capture their stories soon, a whole segment of culture in Ap palachia will be lost forever. I feel I can help to preserve this culture through my photographs.” 21

H e id i A nn e P orter, le ft, stops to talk w ith R eg in a C o llin s for p urposes b o th b u sin ess and p lea su re.

Bonds of Community by Heidi Anne Porter

Photos by Margaret Gabriel 22

The Mountain Spirit

T h i s is my third winter in Kentucky. Two years ago I promised my friends and family that I’d be back for Christmas. A year seemed long enough to serve God. Like most new volunteers, I wasn’t quite sure what I was getting into. I think we’re all motivated by a desire to serve, to teach, to learn, and to grow. We’re just not sure how it all comes about. I was pretty frightened of the thing, actually. I figured that I could tolerate anything for a year. Heart quaking, I made it to Lexington, where an experienced volunteer met me. I longed for her self-assurance and wondered how she could spot me so easily. (I would quickly develop the same ability to recognize a fresh, fearful volunteer.) A week of orientation whirled by. During this time, I met many people who continue to in fluence my life today. I was assigned to work in the emergency assistance/small farms/Christmas basket program in Martin. It was then managed by a dynamic Donna Yellen, who, I soon discovered, was a former volunteer. I wondered why she was still here after several years. Under Donna’s guidance, I learned the myriad of responsibilities I’d have throughout the year. The work was exactly what my hazy prayers had asked for. I was on the road daily, working with the people of Appalachia as a teacher, counselor,

and friend. It soon felt as if I had been there forever. As the months passed, I began to under stand why people like Donna were still around: one year was too short to learn everything I wanted to know. My local friends began calling me “sissy” and “daughter.” I couldn’t even imagine telling them I was going at the end of the year. Many days I’d come home shaken and disturbed by my day’s visits. At these times, I learned the im portance of the people with whom I lived. They sensed my moods and offered their words or their presence accordingly. Through prayer, shared responsibilites, and everyday living, we grew closer, building what we call “community.” Community meant becoming less selfish and more tolerant. It meant managing conflict mature ly and creatively and learning to express feelings honestly. There was such an emphasis on building community that sometimes it was a challenge to see to personal needs. The year passed, full of good days and bad days. As I had foreseen, I wasn’t ready to return “home.” I wanted to stay with CAP but in a dif ferent capacity. I was hired as the program coor dinator of the Martin Youth Center. No longer a volunteer, I moved in with Donna Yellen (my hero-worship of her soon dissipated as I discovered she seldom did dishes) and Megan Cor coran, another former volunteer (with somewhat

H e id i A nn e w ork s as the co ord in ator o f the M artin Y outh C en ter in F loyd C o u n ty

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A n ita C hase m aps a route for v o lu n tee r J e n n y Z e ta h , w h o is g o in g h om e v is itin g for the p r e v e n tiv e and en v ir o n m en ta l h ea lth program .

less-than-desirable dishwashing habits, too). As former volunteers, it was important for us to maintain a feeling of community in our home. We shared household duties (if I always ended up with dishes, Megan usually cooked, and Donna manag ed the bills), prayed together over meals, and sup ported each other with our job stresses. We main tained an “open door policy,” welcoming friends, volunteers, family and kids from my youth center. In the beginning, it felt awkward to be around my old community, the CAP volunteers. I wasn’t sure how I fit in anymore. The anxiety soon pass ed as I came to terms with the changes and turned

R egin a is a case-w orkers for the B ig S and y F a m ily A bu se C en ter in M artin .

my attention to those who made up my new com munity—my housemates, the people of my holler, and other people involved in CAP. My communi ty had expanded. Others from my volunteer community decided to stay in the area. I wondered how they made the transition and how they sustained a need for com munity. Anita Chase was the first woman I met in my community. I had often relied on her quiet wisdom and understanding. As a volunteer in the elderly program, she had a similar experience to mine in emergency assistance. Anita returned to Ohio after her volunteer year. She worked as a visiting health nurse, a position that reminded her of the elderly program, but Anita wasn’t content at home. She found it challenging not to be cynical or judgmental of those around her. “I knew that I was the one who had changed, but I couldn’t explain how to those around me,” she remembers. The people of Kentucky, her experiences as a volunteer, and the philosophy of CAP kept draw ing Anita to visit. Finally, she returned to live, first working as nurse at Camp Shawnee (for the third summer!) and then as program coordinator of the preventive and environmental health pro gram. The main thrust of this program is health education in schools, senior citizen centers and youth centers. It also includes the Floyd County Healthline (a radio broadcast), and the Women’s Group, a support group directed by Anita. [See “The Floyd County Women’s Group,” The Moun tain Spirit, May-June 1988] “Our work focuses on issues ranging from blood pressure with the elder ly to peer pressure with the kids,” explains Anita. They demonstrate choices people can make to have The Mountain Spirit

more control over their lives. Through their outreach work to homes, schools, and various centers, Anita and her volunteers build personal relationships with the people they teach. “Before they will listen, we often have to concentrate on building self-esteem. We have to gain the trust of the people before we can teach them,” Anita tells me. In another CAP program, former volunteer Regina Collins sees the same need for building self-esteem. As a case worker at the Big Sandy Family Abuse Center, she tries to prove to residents that life can be different and that they always have choices. “A lot of the women and children have never known what a choice is,” says Regina. “I try to show them that if they decide to do something, then they can do it.” Like Anita, Regina came to CAP to offer her skills as a nurse, but the shelter is where she has found her niche. She works as an advocate for the women, a comprehensive job that depends upon the needs of each individual. Regina accompanies the women to receive such services as health care, food stamps, AFDC and legal aid. The situations at the shelter can be lifethreatening and the job all-consuming. Regina struggles to balance it with the rest of her life. “The volunteer community had a built-in support system of spirituality and friendship. I miss that, but it’s forced me to develop my own system of support to meet my changing needs,” she says. “Today, I depend on my housemate, some of the ex-volunteers, and other CAP people to be my community.”

Former volunteer Anne Meiman agrees with Regina, “Community was nice and it contributed to a lot of growth, but at the end of the year, I knew it was time for me to move on. It was time to create new support systems.” Anne now works as a case-manager for a mental health organization in Pike County. After her first year in Eastern Kentucky, Anne wanted to make a deeper com mittment to the area. She wanted more time to learn and to become involved with the problems she was trying to solve. Her job includes home visitation, learning of needs, and directing people to available services. It sounds almost like a CAP program. Anne agrees and talks about how her concept of work has changed, “As a volunteer, your work becomes closer to your self. It’s not a job or a paycheck. It’s your outlook and your spirituality.” She chuckles, “I have to step back sometimes, especially when I find myself ‘case managing’ my friends and neighbors.” I laugh, too; we used to call Anne our community shrink. Anne lives alone, and I wondered if she missed sharing living space with others. “I depend on the ex-volunteer community a lot, as well as the peo ple I’m meeting at work. I like to drop in at the volunteer house at prayertime or at meals.” It continues to feel like a family house for many of us, a place you can drop by on your way to your own home. We continue to appreciate the volunteer community, even as we seek our own in dependence. Cindy Monberg is another former volunteer who has joined a different organization. As a volunteer, she worked at Mountain Christian

A n ita is th e co ord in ator for th e p r e v e n tiv e and e n v ir o n m en ta l h ealth program in F lo y d C o u n ty .

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M a rily n S tefa n sk i b egan h er v o lu n tee r w ork in 1 9 7 2 , as F ath er B e itin g ’s secretary. A fter w o rk in g in the S u n sh in e C en ter, she fo u n d ed P arents-A reT ea ch ers, the p re-sch ool program at M C A , th en resu m ed w o rk in g as F ath er B e itin g ’s assista n t.

Academy; now she teaches at the David School, an alternative school for kids who have not suc ceeded at public school for various reasons. “We give the kids ways to succeed, whatever that might mean to each one,” says Cindy. “It’s very per sonal, very family.” Cindy remembers her community as a very tightly knit group of people. “Community put each of us in a very vulnerable position, with the choice to withdraw or the choice to grow. We each made a committment to get through it, and through prayer, we did. But I could never do it again!” Cindy stayed in Kentucky to allow the roots she put down as a volunteer more time to grow. “The more time you spend here, the greater and truer your insight becomes.” Her housemate, Marilyn Stefanski, agrees. She has been with CAP in various capacities since 1972. “The real difference that volunteers make is slow. It takes more than a year to see it,” Marilyn states. “I’m seeing families form in CAP and decide to stay on. The children of these families are going to local schools. The parents then have opportunities to share their experience and knowledge in different ways, such as within the school and legal systems. I sometimes think that

those initial ‘roots’ that continue to grow are perhaps the greatest and longest lasting contribu tions CAP makes to the area.” Mike Sanders, CAP’S director in Martin, has come to similar conclusions. He believes that when volunteers elect to stay on, they are making a greater committment to the family of Ap palachia. They cease to be “outsiders” and become members of the family. They demonstrate that there is hope in their work and in their committ ment to support the work of others in the area. “One of the key aspects of the community ex perience seems to be the Christian atmosphere.” Mike says. “When volunteers stay on, they carry this into other jobs and into the local community.” As long as the volunteer program continues to bring people into Appalachia, volunteers will con tinue to stay longer in the area. They will spread their experience of community wherever they go. They will discover, as we did, that community doesn’t end when volunteerhood ends. It expands. It stretches. It grows to include more people, peo ple who continue to make sacrifices for each other, people who still call on one another, people who keep sharing the load. These bonds that connect and nurture us are strong. The Mountain Spirit

Help Make A Difference! F o r n early th irty years, the v o lu n teers o f the C h ristia n A p p ala ch ian P roject have helped to m ake a difference to the people in th e hills o f E astern K en tu ck y . O u r v o lu n teers com e from all over the U n ite d States a n d have a great v ariety o f skills to share w ith the people h ere. W e ’re alw ays h a p p y to h e a r from retire d people w ho are in terested in v o lu n te er w ork. W e ’ve fou n d th e experience o f older p eo ple is en rich in g for the y o u n g er v o lu n teers, as well as the people of A p p alach ia. B u t, as any v o lu n te er will tell you, w h at you gain far exceeds w hat you give. W e can practically g u a ra n tee im p o rta n t, b u t in tangible th in g s, like new friends, new skills, self-confidence. J o in us, w o n ’t you, for an a d v en tu re in A p p alachia? F or m ore infor m a tio n , w rite: K a th y K lu esen er C h ristia n A p p alach ian Project 322 C ra b O rc h a rd R o a d L an c aste r, K en tu ck y 40446

N O N -P R O F IT O R G A N IZ A T IO N U .S . P O S T A G E P A ID Christian Appalachian Project

C H R IS T IA N A P P A L A C H IA N P R O J E C T 322 CRAB ORCHARD ROAD LANCASTER, KY 40446 The Mountain Spirit

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