Spiritual Perspectives

Dancing with Landon & Addison

Our Youth on a Mission!

SHAWNEE, Okla. —

Brenda Jones has had her share of medical issues.
The McLoud resident battled cancer, underwent hip surgeries and has Guillain-Barre syndrome, an inflammatory disorder of peripheral nerves.
Jones, who is wheel-chair-bound, said she had high hopes when a Department of Health Services caseworker said she placed a request to build Jones a wheelchair ramp.
She said it was a God-send that her home was selected by Central Texas United Methodist Churches officials as a volunteer work site.
“They’re my little angels,” Jones said of the volunteer youth building her wheelchair ramp. “I think it’s wonderful they’re doing this.”
Curtis Nager, living center director of the Central Texas Conference Youth Ministry, said 37 youth and 16 adult volunteers from the Fort Worth, Texas, area are performing voluntary construction and janitorial tasks in Pottawatomie County this week.
The volunteers are housed out of Wesley United Methodist Church, 302 E. Independence, Shawnee, Nager said. Most of the work performed at selected sites was done indoors Monday.
Work performed by volunteers to build Brenda Jones’ wheel chair ramp was an exception.
“On the rain day it was hard and muddy but a lot of fun” said Erin McGuyer, a youth volunteer from First United Methodist Church in Stephenville, Texas.
Youth and adult leaders plan to finish building Jones’ ramp today, said Michelle Burkholder, Saginaw United Methodist Church adult leader. Work on the ramp began Monday.
“Thank goodness the residents had a shed we were to somewhat work out of when it was raining,” she said.
Curtis Nager said the group of volunteers arrived Sunday, June 13, and will complete service work in the area through Saturday, June 19.
“The main purpose of the trip is for youth to reach out and serve under Christ,” he said.
The group is one of 30 mission groups made up of about 2,200 volunteers from Central Texas United Methodist Churches doing service this week in Oklahoma, Nager said.
The youth and adults are from three Fort Worth-area churches: Saginaw United Methodist Church, Couts United Methodist Church and First United Methodist Church of Stephenville, Texas.
“It’s been a great experience,” Nager said.
He also said it’s interesting to watch the youth develop new construction skills and relationships. The youth also were able to interact with homebound elderly, he said.
“I hope this helps to close a generational gap,” he said.