"Appreciate Y'all !"

The  pungent,  woodsy smell hung thick in the air as the water from the morning rain dripped off eaves and leaves.  The sun worked it?s way out from behind clouds as a group of volunteers from Connecticut, Colorado, Pennsylvania,  Oklahoma and Tennessee pulled out tools to attack the day?s work.   Soon, the drone of saws, whir of drills, ka-pop of a nail gun, and thudding of tossed bricks filled the air. Singing quietly in the background, a small stream passed by, punctuated by indistinct chatter from those working together. Installation of flooring and window trim inside, soffit and a new back deck outside. Bugs. Sweat. Mud.

For the people living in ?Holler 5?, the group gathered to do construction projects for the week wasn'?t ?just another group.?  Rather, they were a beam of hope that continues to shine brighter and stronger through the curtain of darkness that has hung over McDowell County, WV for several decades. The local people of the area no longer stand back in suspicion that the Hope Force team house is an FBI or DEA headquarters to crack down on drug use.  Instead, they are amazed that summer after summer, Hope Force staff and volunteers return to offer a helping hand.

 As the week unfolded around me, I began to notice signs of what the ?ministry of presence? has established in the community over the past several years. Subtle traces that a hardened community is softening under the embrace of compassionate hearts and hands.   An elderly neighbor sits on her front porch and watches the activity of the volunteers; she?s eager to make eye contact, wave, and have a conversation when we stop to chat.

 A few cars that creep along to look at the progress we?re making on the latest construction project. With windows rolled down they call out words of, "?It?s looking good!?"

While we were working at the jobsite one morning, a water meter reader pulled up to get a reading on the house we were putting new siding on. He got the reading he needed, and without breaking stride on his return to the vehicle, he simply said, "?Appreciate y?all!"? as he passed by us. That small statement left a great impression on my heart. The hope we give to one person or family in McDowell County, is the entire community?s hope!

So who gets excited about spending long hours of hard work in the heat and bug-filled mountains of West Virginia? It'?s the volunteers whose lives have been touched and changed by their Father God, and in turn, want to touch another broken life in the simplest of ways.  And how does building a new deck, mulching the flower beds, or a new coat of paint give hope? It encourages those who have lost hope that life can be better.

This summer, the root of hope that was planted in 2009 pushes deeper into the ground. Early August saw the arrival of a new HFI staff couple ? Jack and Svea Schreiner, who will become the newest residents of War, West Virginia.   Instead of just seasonal team visits -- leaving the locals wondering if Hope Force will return again next year -- Jack and Svea will provide a year-round presence as they live and work among the locals.  We?re excited that our capacity to serve the community is increasing, and the darkness has been pierced by the powerful simplicity of hope.  (by Karen Ritchey, HFI Executive Administrative Assistant)