Bulletin Board August - September 2007 Name: Bethany EMail: keute004@umn.edu uword: white Date: 01-Aug-2007 Comments CHWX Pittsburgh 2007 was one of the best experiences of my life. My group made a truely unbreakable bond and I feel as I could tell any of them anything. Our resident was amazing. Our team builders were all that we could have poosibly asked for and more. I miss everyone and hope to see them soon! Name: Tammy Marshall EMail: 16sparkles@cox.net uword: expert Date: 01-Aug-2007 Comments Hey this is Tammy from RI. The work camp in Pittsburg PA was absolutly amazing. The staff was awesome and I made so many new friends from all over the country. It was wicked awesome. The only sad part is not being able to see each other. I am definatly going again next year. Name: Jimmy (webmaster) EMail: jstaubin@insightbb.com uword: parcel Date: 02-Aug-2007 Comments hey...had a blast in Mishawaka!!! if u wanna keep in contact with everyone from workcamp, join my website...its free. u can post pics and other cool stuff. http://chwc.freeforums.org Name: Candice Ogden EMail: cogden@springdellcenter.org uword: boat Date: 02-Aug-2007 Comments Hello! My name is Candice and I am the Volunteer Coordinator at Spring Dell Center, Inc in Maryland. We are a non-profit organization dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities to achieve their highest level of independence by providing support and opportunities for the quality of life they desire within their community. Our center recently had 8 terrific groups from the Prince Frederick camp, at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, volunteer for 4 days. We are truly grateful for all of their help. 5 of the groups worked at our center, as well as at our group homes, painting and landscaping. The other 3 groups spent the week rotating between volunteering in our day programs, cleaning and sorting at one of our thrift stores and going on outings with the individuals. I can not express in words what their time, talents and compassion has meant not only to our staff but to the individuals we serve. I would highly recommend this event to anyone interesting in attending the camp. Everyone was so friendly and the open/closing ceremonies where VERY entertaining. We look forward to having volunteers, some new and hopefully a few of the previous ones, return to our center next year. Thank you again to everyone who helped for a wonderful experience! Name: Greensburg EMail: Erika@antolin-davies.com uword: safe Date: 03-Aug-2007 Comments HI, guys!! When I got home, I cried and cried!! It was only a 10 minute drive, but I felt so far away from you guys! But then, I remembered, and I will see you in the Eucharist! I feel like a new person, and I am applying te 2 Degree Shift all over the place, and I have you wonderful, awesome people to thank for it! Shout Outs and Love to: April Smith Katie Shannon William Earl Cristian IIII Erin Maher Katie McManison Ashley Katie Brendan (With the Cool Glasses) Chais Aaron Casey (Not Kyle) Ben (Who graduated) Sarah Rachael Tory Hannah Gorsich Dakotah Bocan Pam Curtin Kaylee (Sticks) Jessica With the Awesome Red Hair Mark (Who Excercised) Bisi Eric AND EVERYONE ELSE!!! My mom wants to know what happened to her daughter, and who I am, and I have FLIPPED!!!! Have a great rest of the summer, and KEEP IN TOUCH!!! Love forever, + Erika Davies + Thank you SOOO much for EVERYTHING!! Name: Manteno, IL EMail: showchoirgrl@comcast.net uword: rice Date: 03-Aug-2007 Comments the saint louis chwc was amazing! our resident loved the us and even though it was painful for her to work, she still did. I hope you all consider going back again! =) Name: manteno EMail: group 30 uword: screw Date: 04-Aug-2007 Comments camp was amazingly fun. everyone should go. not to be clique or anything, but group 30 was the best. yeah, that's right and represent! lol. st. louis was awesome!!! Name: Taylor EMail: tg8wb@yahoo.com uword: jewel Date: 04-Aug-2007 Comments hi everyone again. I miss everyone at camp! Group 8 rockkked=] & Grooup 7. CHWC 07. was seriously the best one yet im not even kidding. cause i say that everytime but this seriously rocked. But I miss my group from last year 2. whens the road trip ?!? Name: Tasha EMail: believen_grl4evr@yahoo.com uword: female Date: 04-Aug-2007 Comments This Years CHWC!!!! I changed my life 2* and I loved Team 53 St. Louis, MO Name: Taber EMail: tbirdvroomvroom3@comcast.net uword: regret Date: 04-Aug-2007 Comments I LOVE CHWC! it was the most fun ive had all summer! Name: Bonnie Toombs EMail: btoombs4@sbcglobal.net uword: polish Date: 06-Aug-2007 Comments A big "THANK YOU" to campers from the Wichita, KS camp!! You did an awesome amount of work. Many lives were touched and several houses saved due to your hard work. God bless each of you. The communities of El Dorado, Augusta and Towanda are better because you were committed to serving others! Name: dan allen EMail: propdock@hotmail.com uword: wound Date: 06-Aug-2007 Comments To the staff and campers that came to El Dorado and Augusta Kansas. 1st the staff, you all were the BEST !Being a small camp and the last one for you this summer you all could have chosen to take it easy but instead I think you kicked it up a notch or two. I have attened many CHWC camps and I think you were the best staff that I have been privileged to be around. You made such an impression on our parish priest that he is fired up and ready to go to camp next summer. His whole sermon Sunday was about the staff he had met and the program as a whole, THANKS for being here and doing such a great job. I hope to see some of you next summer............... Now for the campers,WOW! you all made my summer. You were a small group but a mighty group,you all did such a great job and I have had many compliments on your behalf that it made all the prep work worth it. I am really glad you all came to Kansas and stuck with us knowing it was a small camp and you really put yourselfs out there for our communities. You were a fun group and left a great impression on the community not only for your work but for your attitude and willingness to travel great distance to come and help out someone you didn't even know. I hope I will see some of you at camp next summer.Being a small camp we all had a chance to get to know the staff and each other on a more personal level , that and the fact that you were all such a great group of individuals made this camp such a neat experiance THANKS! Name: Rita Krause EMail: mrmbkraues@ms.com uword: smell Date: 06-Aug-2007 Comments I just returned from Greensburg and had a wonderful time! I went mainly to assist my daughter who uses a wheelchair but accomplished much more. Thanks to everybody from St. Pius and all the adults and teens from other parishes for their help with the many trips up & down the many staircases. Your service was as work! God bless and Bernadette and I will never forget you. RK Name: Rita Krause EMail: mrmbkrausemsn.com uword: glass Date: 06-Aug-2007 Comments Just returned from Greensburg. Yeah group #39. Thanks to all the wonderful St. Pius people & all the great teens and adults from other parishes for your help with Bernadette's wheelchair on the many trips up & down the endless stairways. Your service worked overtime. We will never forget you. God Bless Rita & Bernadette Krause Name: Bill in NJ EMail: unknown uword: please Date: 06-Aug-2007 Comments Hey Catherine P.--saw your pic from the MD camp--just wanted to let you know, I'm still praying for you! Name: Brooke Heinecke EMail: heinecke_7_13@hotmail.com uword: sugar Date: 06-Aug-2007 Comments CHWC was the best time of my life! im so glad i decided to come this year! the staff was amazing and i cant wait to go back next year! Name: alex EMail: alex.dosen@bgfoot.com uword: when Date: 07-Aug-2007 Comments i had a great time. Name: alex EMail: no thanks uword: mine Date: 07-Aug-2007 Comments twentythor forever!! i love chelsea and mavvrick and matt and robyn and elisha!! love, alex Name: Tori Laugton EMail: lifeteennc@aol.com uword: potato Date: 07-Aug-2007 Comments The Gap A Catholic Youth Minister Reflects On Summer Mission Trip and Work Camp By: Denise Dagesse I am a Catholic youth minister who works and ministers in an upper class parish and community in Fairfield County, CT. Locals lovingly refer to Fairfield County as the ‘gold coast’ as there is great individual and corporate wealth in our manicured lawns, nanny enclaves and communities. I was able to spend a week this summer painting houses for the elderly poor in Winter Garden, Florida. I worked alongside six teens from Georgia, Texas, Michigan, Connecticut, and Alabama. We prepared and painted the outside of an aging home for our senior resident, Christine (Tina) Jones. The teens were between 15-18 and all from middle to upper middle class homes and communities. On the first day that we and introduced ourselves to Tina I noticed that she was missing many of her front top and bottom teeth. We spoke for a while and shared with Tina where each of us was from. As we started our service work that first day I kept thinking the gap in Tina’s teeth. Poor dental care is a burden that the poor in our country carry like a scarlet letter~letting everyone know about the sin of poverty. This questions begs a response~who truly carries the culpability in the sin of poverty~is it the poor and oppressed or the wealthy and powerful? The teens and I worked in the hot and humid Florida sun. The tin roof on Tina’s house became a blazing furnace by the end of each work day. We had to be vigilant while up on the ladders and working near the roof, as blisters could result if our skin came into contact with the weathered tin. As fire ants bit and left red raised welts on our legs and arms, we sweated and worked alongside each other for a week. We took lunch breaks that included prayer and reflection. Tina and her eleven year old grandson were able to share lunch with us one afternoon. It was a blest time of food, faith, and fellowship between six white middle class teens, one upper class white youth minister, one black eleven year old boy, and an elderly black woman. And somewhere in the midst of our casual conversation, laughter, and humble prayers for each other the gap between the classes, ages, and races was being filled in on the hot, grassy, front yard in Florida. On our last day @ Tina’s house we worked hard making sure the windows were trimmed with Baked Alaska paint and the all the main walls of the house were covered from ceiling to ground with Historic Tan. The teens engaged in a water gun fight @ lunch time in an effort to cool off and somewhere in the distance a late afternoon thunderstorm was gathering. We finished our painting project around 3:30. Tina came out to look @ our completed job. She smiled broadly and again the gap in her teeth was evident. She said “oh, kids it looks like I have new home!” She tenderly embraced all of us and I could not tell if the moisture on her cheeks was the result of sweat (she did not have air conditioning) or tears. As we headed for our SUV for the last time we gathered in a small circle on Tina’s driveway for prayer. One of the teens from Texas, Amelia led us in a sweet prayer~she asked the Lord to keep us all safe and to grant Tina good health (as she was having trouble with her legs~most likely due to diabetes). We held hands and ended with the Lord’s Prayer. And with final hugs and good byes we drove out of Tina’s neighborhood. That night after dinner, music, skits, testimonies, witness talks, and showers I found myself on my air mattress and inside my pink sleeping bag. I was sharing a class room with the girls from our parish along with girls from Georgia and two other adult leaders. I was usually tired after our work days and sleep would come easily, however, despite my tired body my mind, heart, and soul were hopping and dancing in the love and grace of our Lord. It was then in the midst of lightly snoring teenagers and with ceiling fans whirling above me that the gap in Tina’s teeth came to mind. I sat up in my sleeping bag and my iPod clanked to the floor . . . I started this reflection talking about the gap in Tina’s teeth and compared that gap to the distance between and differences in the ages, races, and classes of teens, youth ministers, youth leaders, and residents who for one week were brought together to minister and serve one another. When we come together in the Lord’s name to serve one another the gap between us lessens and the common bonds of being brothers and sisters in the Lord intertwine and create a network of relationships. I doubt that I will ever meet Tina again and despite the use of the Internet, My Space, and Face Book, as time goes by I will lose contact with the teens I served with. They will start a new school year and some of them head off to college and work. I will move into new ministries and work. And Tina will continue to sit under the great brown tree in her back yard. However, during that hot and blest service week we were walking in each others shoes. God brings people together to share moments and those memories will endure. God has blest me with the ability to notice all the small things along the way that a youth minister treads~the good, bad, ugly, happy, funny, etc. I think he allows me to notice and reflect on the small as a way to facilitate knowledge and help the teens and young adults that I minister with to encounter his love, grace, and mercy. Kids, notice the small, reflect on the big, and help change the world. For Amelia, Putman, Michael, Colleen, Chloe, and Kelsey~Catholic HEART Work Camp~Work Group # 23~Orlando, Florida~July 2007 Name: sarah EMail: olphrcc@yahoo.com uword: keep Date: 07-Aug-2007 Comments great pictures from Nashville - thanks for making it a great week. Just want you to know that the week was life changing for some of the teens we brought with us from Memphis/Germantown Name: Steve Seberger EMail: sgsebe@iowatelecom.net uword: fact Date: 07-Aug-2007 Comments My Catholic Heart Work Camp 2007 experience in St. Louis... I had a different role this year than when I went with Tim to South Bend in '98. My role was one of "Troubleshooter" which means that rather than being assigned a group of kids to supervise at a single work site, I was a roving resource that any site could call on to look at special needs that were beyong the scope of a regular team. Sometimes it wasn't that they couldn't handle something, but rather that they didn't have the tools or materials, and sometimes they just wanted an opinion on how to approach something. I was paired up with an older guy (yes kids, even older than me). He had a pickup and some tools and experience as a building contractor, so he was better equipped than me by a long shot, but we were still a good pair. I served as the navigator to and between the sites, as well as a second opinion and a pair of capable hands so we could both work on the projects. Overall, I'd guess that our capabilities were pretty closely matched and complementary. Our first site visit was the most memorable of the whole trip. Ms. Dorothy, 80, lived on the first floor of a small, 2-story brick duplex which was NOT in good shape. She had a broken window that was stuffed with plastic bags held in place with Band aids; there were no ceiling light fixtures, no gratings over the heat registers, and no trim on the doors. There was a 3 x 4 ft. hole in the ceiling in her kitchen as well as multiple holes in the floor. There were many places you could see daylight through. She had a pest problem you wouldn't believe, and her back porch railing was falling to pieces. All these issues were beyond the normal activities of the work crews, which were usually limited to cleaning, scraping and painting. Most of these issues were resolved by a trip to Home Depot and sending the crew for that site back out the 2nd day with the right tools and materials. We checked in on them the 2nd day to find that her power had been turned off for non-payment of her bill. The crew had to continue their work with what natural light came in the windows and without the benefit of the air conditioning (which I'm sure was driving up her electric bill). I was talking to one of the other troubleshooters later that night and expressed my puzzlement at all the missing door trim. He asked me if the home had a fireplace, which it did. He informed me that poor people often resort to burning the non-essential woodwork in their homes when they are cold and can't affort their heating bills. This had not occurred to me... now I know. The story doesn't end there. On the 3rd day at this site, the crew encountered a grandson of Dorothy's and became aware that he was the source of many of her problems. Hearing this I wonder if the missing light fixtures and furnace registers might have had enough value for the kids or grandkids to steal them. How sad to think of an extended family that instead of being a source of love and support, is actually the cause of your own desperate situation. I'd like to think her situation could somehow improve with time... but I know that's not likely. Does this make me wonder if our time and effort at this site was a complete waste? No. Dorothy, and the 53 other residents (many in similar situations I'm sure) who benefitted from the charity of 300 teenagers and 80 adult chaperones, and camp staff, had their spirits raised, their hope renewed, their houses spruced up, their pride boosted, and somebody to talk to. Even if all that is fleeting, it is good. It is evidence of God's love, no, it is God's love manifested through our hands. Father Steve, a priest for only a month, was overcome with emotion as he said the final mass of the camp today. He told the kids that they are often called the future of the church, but that in fact they are the lifeblood of the church. He said the rumbling they felt at their feet was Satan trembling at the power of their spirit. I was pretty choked up myself this morning. 370 people jumping and dancing and singing and praising with one loud enthusiastic voice, not because they are expected to, or coerced to, but because they feel like it, is a pretty awesome sight to behold, especially when praising God is the activity rather than some athletic event. My legs are sore tonight...I haven't done that much jumping and dancing and waving of arms and singing at the top of my lungs... since the '98 CHWC in South Bend. Chaperoning on one of these trips is not for the faint of heart or the intolerant adult. The music is loud and modern, but with a Catholic/Christian theme. The workmanship is not perfect, but the residents are happy and many a teen finds the value of Serving the Lord through this upbeat experience. I'll come down from my high now. It's 11PM (things quieted down about midnight last night) and the energy of the week is wearing off. Time to return to the normal world, but not to ever forget the Dorothys of the world that need us. God bless you. Steve Seberger Name: Donna Hendrick EMail: mailto:dhendrick@valkyrie.net uword: black Date: 09-Aug-2007 Comments I just want to thank you both for my third year at one of your awesome camps as an adult chaperone. And, in addition, I am now 3 for 3 with my own children that have now had the opportunity to experience the wonderful gift that you created 15 years ago. My youngest child, 13 now joins the rest of my family in our love CHWC. I can't thank you enough! A quick question, is there any chance I can still obtain a copy of a summary DVD from 2005? It was Alexandria,VA June,05. Steve Walker was the director that weekend. I'll complete an order form if so. Thanks. Name: steve walker EMail: stevew@heartworkcamp.com uword: stiff Date: 09-Aug-2007 Comments Many folks have been emailing and inquiring about some resource for DVD's we used this summer. They can be purchased directly online. Vertigo. The Truth DVD (also know as the "opposites") can be purchased at http://www.wiredchurches.com/s.nl/it.A/id.2067/.f?sc=9&category=10002 The DVD of the "Painting of Jesus" and "Team Dick/Rick Hoyt" can be purchased at http://www.ignitermedia.com/ Volume 2 Name: Katie Medley EMail: rockbaby214@bellsouth.net uword: expert Date: 09-Aug-2007 Comments How do I get a taco tuesday shirt? Name: Sarahh EMail: sarabellxx09@aim.com uword: moon Date: 09-Aug-2007 Comments so i just got back from anderson Indiana a while ago. and i just wanted to say that this is my third year going, im going to be a junior and these camps have helped me through alot. = ) Name: Patrick Rust EMail: rusty4567@aol.com uword: fact Date: 09-Aug-2007 Comments This was my 5th mission trip with chwc. i went to greensburg/irwin, PA. everybody there was so amazing. group 33 was awesome, we had some hard tasks but we got them done with the help of God. Thanks for everything and i can't wait till next year. -Patrick Rust Name: David Amrhein EMail: SonicFalcon4@charter.net uword: spring Date: 09-Aug-2007 Comments I had a great time at St.Louis's CHWC...it was a 30 minute drive there for us from Missouri but i was glad all you guys came from other states to help out. i made some rly great firnds and i hope ill see you guys next time. and btw,how can we get a taco tuesday t-shirt? can somebody plz email me the info? thanks Name: Elizabeth Ward EMail: elizabethward@hargray.com uword: mine Date: 10-Aug-2007 Comments Even though its like 2 months late...I want to say that CHWC Atlanta was awesome. I met so many new people and had a great time strengthening m relationship with God. If i met you contact me at myspace.com/emw7370, or email me! Name: Mo Ragsdale - STL EMail: Maureen.Ragsdale@morganstanley.com uword: mark Date: 10-Aug-2007 Comments Many thanks to all that served the St. Louis area with CHWC. I hope and pray you are all rested and rejuvenated. I know your own communities are blessed with your presence as was STL this summer. The week in STL was a huge success for the agencies, the residents and in particular me. I thank all the campers for all the hard work and in addition want to thank the campers on my team that helped assure that we would have a very successful camp. The hard working Associate Staff and Medics; Neil Frederick, Janet Betley, Mary Engstrom, Kathy King, Maureen Loney, Maureen Mieson, and Maryann Ubinger. The amazing troubleshooters; Mike Marcon, Joe Wright, Steve Seberger, and Bob Ubinger. The managers in training Suzie and Steve Bernardi. And many thinks to Matt Toohill for answering my distress call for a “camp priest” and bringing Fr. Stephen Beatty to St. Louis for a wonderful and inspiring week. I would be remiss if I did not thank the staff for their dedication to the mission. Thanks to Laura, Nick, Julie, Jeff, Kevin, Angelo, Jon, Meghan, Alison, Dan and Kyle. And last but hardly least to the Directors of the STL camp, many, many thanks Rochelle Farris and Lisa Walker. “Everyone can be great because anyone can serve…...You only need a heart full of graceand a soul generated by love." -Martin Luther King, Jr. Name: steve EMail: steve uword: right Date: 10-Aug-2007 Comments test Name: Nicole Viteri EMail: dancingmonkey14@aol.com uword: sound Date: 11-Aug-2007 Comments Wow Chwc is such a Eye opener i attend camp n indian for the 4th time and also host the one in florida. Every summer i enjoy working for the poor,elder, and children. What else would i do with my time lol! Anyways showing some love frm Tampa, Florida -Nicole V Name: gina EMail: ggorka10@aol.com uword: glove Date: 12-Aug-2007 Comments okay i was on kitchen staff in dayton, ohio i was in the hosting youth group and i wanted to keep in touch with all the campers i met. cuz theyre rad like that :] anyway email me or something. Name: Nick EMail: Nick@heartworkcamp.com uword: Date: 13-Aug-2007 Comments Taco Tuesday shirts are now available on our merchandise page. Hooray Taco Tuesday! http://heartworkcamp.com/order%20merch.htm Name: Mariah EMail: flash13sballa@aim.com uword: letter Date: 15-Aug-2007 Comments I have been home from camp several weeks. And Boy has adjusting to reality been hard. but we all manage to do it. But I have told so many people about CHWC. I think thier is deffinatly alot of people who wish they could also experience it. I think it deffinatly made me a better person myself. It changes a kid. It was my first year. and an Amazing one at that. Thiers nothing quite like the experience. Its like I wish the feeling lasted forever. Just being able to get away. Just being able to express and make new friends not from just a first encounter. But I think that actually having to live with people for a week is something that lets you get to know someone and who they are alot better. I attened anderson,in CHWC. And boy was it a memorable one. Let me tell you that My group roomed with people from debuque,iw. And it was great getting to know people just in the comfort of what for a week was your room. It was like one big sleepover. and it was a fun one at that. CHWC was about helping other people and knowing other people and learning about other people. I'm glad I got to experience that. It was so countercultural. it just was like some kind of something that you have never been able to experience before and it was nice. I mean coming from a small town you don't see alot of "different" so its nice. I can't describe how close I got to god. Its just amazing how my spirituality boosted. Thiers something about CHWC that makes you feel more at home than anything. I'm glad i attended. I truely think as a first year it was life changing. And i think it gave me a real confidence boost especially as a freshman entering the highschool. its just great that thiers things like CHWC in the world. It Makes good people better. and those people make for a great future of america. And you meet people who change your life. Who have the same intrests. and you could just talk to for the rest of your life. because the kind of friendship you form thier is the kind of friendship you cant compare to anything ever. because it bloomed out of gods love. and god brought you thier for a reason and that reason was to help the community and make friends that will last a lifetime and change your life. and im proud to say i met alot of them. and i'm glad i did. Since i got back and have still been talking to people i can't help but to thank god for them. because they are truely amazing people. and the staff had also contributed as great leaders role models and friends. and that is really nice to have the comfort from your supiriors. CHWC was amazing and i thank everyone who contributed and attend any camp. Bless everyone. Name: BK EMail: no thanks =] uword: idea Date: 15-Aug-2007 Comments the last page of the greensburg pix aren't working! Someone please fix them they are the ones of my group!!!! Name: Dana Miele EMail: No thanks... :) uword: basin Date: 16-Aug-2007 Comments I went to Greensburg PA and it was an amazing trip!! I went to one last year but this year was the best year ever. I worked in the Welcome Home Center and that was a great exsperience i could ever have. Team 8 was the best group because we worked together and got the jobs done and got them done well. When we were leaving the kids were crying and they wanted us to stay and play with them. The staff was awesome and we got to hang out with them everyday when we came back from our worksites. By the way... BK owned that kitchen and everyone knew it... hahaha After dinner Lia,Meghan,Dee,Gab and I would leave 1/2 early just to get front row for program. That was out favorite part of the night was program... and Bk knows why. I just want to thank everyone that had a something to do with this camp this year. You guys did an awesome job and I dont know how you do it but you do it very well! Name: Lindsey Stone EMail: lindsey11@neo.rr.com uword: parcel Date: 16-Aug-2007 Comments Hey CHWC! I participated in the Greensburg trip this summer and had an absolute blast! You have the slightest idea how much of an eye-opener this trip was for me, it really changed me for the better...I can't wait to go out and make a difference of my own...this trip was probably one of the best things that could have happened to me...thanks again. Thanks again, CHWC! can't wait until next year! ~Lindsey Stone, 13, OH~ Name: Dana Miele EMail: sportsgirl883@hotmail.com uword: desire Date: 16-Aug-2007 Comments Hi! My name is Dana Miele I am from St. Pius in Broomall Pa. I was at Greensburg Pa this year. I can say that is has been my best year. I went to Carney last year and it was fun but this year was way better. Even though this was only me 2nd year going. I was working with an awesome team and we worked at the Welcome Home center. That was a great exsprience because I have never done something like this. When we were there, the families and the women were amazed by the work that we did for them in just 1 week! When we were leaving the kids were crying and they didnt want us to leave. Every day we brought food to the center for them so they didnt have to cook. It was the left overs from the night befores dinner. They were thankful for having us for the week. Some of the stories that the women or the families would tell us about them are so sad and we would sit down as a team and pray for them. The staff was amazing they were fun to talk to and hang with. I will always remember this trip and talk about it with other people. Thanks again for having us Dana Miele Name: Mary EMail: mailto:mnelson@st-raymond.org uword: glove Date: 16-Aug-2007 Comments As we left early Sunday morning to head for Anderson, Indiana, I had a nervous-excited feeling inside of me because I did not know what to expect. When we arrived at the school we were staying at, I was overwhelmed with all the people from around the country and rules that we had to follow. Later that same day, we met the group we were to be working with throughout the week. At first it was awkward, and we did not have much to say to each other. But as the week progressed, we began to start conversations and really get to know one another. By the end of the week, we were giving out our email addresses and phone numbers just to make sure we would stay in touch. At night after the work day, everyone had to go to the gym for Program, a time where I really got in touch with my faith and had a chance to reflect and express it with a group of people that shared the same beliefs as me. The most touching part of the trip was at the end when we got an envelope with note cards that our peers wrote to us. The residents of the town said they were blessed to have such hardworking groups help them. Our work definitely had an impact on others, and this trip truly made me "shift 2 degrees" (the theme of the mission trip). This was my first mission trip. I decided to go on mission trip because my siblings have gone in the past and have had positive experiences. Before I went on the mission trip, I never knew how bad the conditions were in which people in our society really lived. This experience has really opened my eyes to these poor conditions. Many people had no running water, very little food, rats and cockroaches all over, and no air conditioning. I had the opportunity to work at Bill and Teresa Rentschler’s home. This 70-year-old couple needed our help because they had no money to pay for the expenses to repair their home. All they had was their trust in God. They had no family or income, but yet they must spend around $7,000 a month on medications. Our first day on the site, we washed dirty dishes from months ago for an hour and a half because Teresa is so busy taking care of her dying husband. I saw God in Teresa’s patience. Bill was very demanding of her because he was able to do very little. Teresa talked with me often of how hard it was to put up with his demands. She told me how she puts all her faith in God, who gives her the patience to do everything. She told me how she has never yelled at Bill, and they have never gotten in a fight throughout their whole marriage. We worked for hours pulling weeds, painting and repairing every room in their house as well as the fence and deck, dusting the dread-lock-looking dust bunnies off of fans and walls, and collecting dead mice from around the house. Teresa and Bill worked very hard to prepare us lunch one day. They were so generous. At the end of the week, Teresa and Bill gave us each the biggest hug. Those hugs meant so much to me. They made me realize my hard work and endless effort was all worthwhile. They also made me realize how much I take for granted—dishwashers, food, televisions and clean and mold-free bedrooms. Teresa and Bill were so grateful for our work. This past week was an unbelievable experience for me in which I saw God in so many places. It was so cool to meet people all over the country that have the same intention as I did. Mission Trip gave me the opportunity to gain and strengthen relationships. I definitely recommend mission trip to everyone. Name: mary nelson EMail: mailto:mnelson@st-raymond.org uword: brain Date: 16-Aug-2007 Comments OUR DAYS IN ANDERSON, INDIANA ARE STILL VERY MUCH IN OUR THOUGHTS. OUR ARRIVAL IN THAT SLEEPY LITTLE TOWN WAS GREETED BY THE WARM FRIENDLY STAFF AT ANDERSON'S NEW GRADE SCHOOL. AFTER A ROUSING, WELCOMING ORIENTATION AND A LIVELY SUNDAY MASS, WE HAD SUPPER AND EVENTUALLY SETTLED DOWN IN OUR SLEEPING BAGS AND AIR MATTRESSES TO REST UP FOR OUR JOB ASSIGNMENTS THE NEXT MORNING. MY ASSIGNMENT WAS WORKING IN THE SCHOOL KITCHEN. REPORTING FOR KITCHEN PATROL AT 5:45 EACH MORNING ALONG WITH THE CATHOLIC HEART COLLEGE STAFF; WE GOT THE COFFEE, CEREALS, BAGELS, FRENCH TOAST, BREAKFAST BURRITOS, EGGS, YOGURT, STRAWBERRIES, MELON, BANANAS AND ORANGE JUICE READY FOR THE TABLES. LATER, WE SCRUBBED DOWN THE OVENS, POTS AND PANS AND WIPED DOWN THE TABLES. IN MY 'FREE TIME' I RODE ALONG WITH THE STAFF MEMBERS OR WITH DON BURKE TO VISIT WORK SITES AND TAKE PICTURES. ALTHOUGH THIS WAS MY FIFTH YEAR WITH CHWC, I FELT TOTALLY UNPREPARED TO SEE SUCH UTTER POVERTY AT ONE WORK SITE WHICH SHOOK ME TO THE CORE OF MY BEING; A MOST HUMBLE LITTLE HOUSE, A LITTLE BIGGER THAN A GARAGE, WAS IN SUCH A TOTALLY NEGLECTED, FALLING-APART-CONDITION, I FOUND IT HARD TO HOLD BACK TEARS AT THE SIGHT OF IT; BUT OUR KIDS, OUR CARING, TRULY LOVING KIDS, ROLLED UP THEIR SLEEVES AND 'MIRACLED' THAT HOME OF A MOST GRATEFUL LITTLE RESIDENT LADY IN A MATTER OF FOUR DAYS! ALONG THE WAY, STOPPING AT OTHER SITES, I OFTEN FELT LIKE CHEERING OUT LOUD WHEN I SAW OUR KID S BUILDING RAMPS ON HOUSES FOR RESIDENTS CONFINED TO THEIR HOMES BECAUSE OF THEIR WHEEL CHAIR STATUS; GIVING THESE PEOPLE THE GIFT OF A RAMP, WAS A GIFT OF FREEDOM TO GET OUT AND ABOUT ONCE AGAIN. OUR CHAPERONES WERE OUTSTANDING! THEY NOT ONLY DID THE HARD WORK AND TAUGHT OUR KIDS NEW SKILLS, BUT THEY OFTEN PUT IN EXTRA GIFTS OF THEIR OWN 'FREE TIME' ......WHAT A TEAM WE HAD! AND LASTLY, HERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN ALL TAKE TO THE BANK; ONE COLLEGE STUDENT TOLD OUR ENTIRE CHWC GROUP, "KEEP PRAYING, ONE HAIL MARY CAN ROCK THE WALLS OF HELL! ONE HAIL MARY!" Name: mary nelson EMail: mailto:mnelson@st-raymond.org uword: wrong Date: 16-Aug-2007 Comments This was my first CHWC Mission Trip and I could not have asked for a more life-changing experience. I went on this trip knowing five kids from our group and I left with more friends than I could have ever imagined. That whole week before, I felt both nervous and excited for this unknown trip ahead. After the drive to Anderson, Indiana I felt much more at ease and couldn’t wait for the week to start. The work team I had been assigned to (Team 26) was incredible. After the first hour of your typical awkward silences we were laughing and talking like we had been friends for years. Our leader was awesome. She shared stories from her life and was really interested in our lives. I really saw God this week through my work team and the residents we helped. One woman, Mrs. Williams, had wanted us to move bricks and stain her deck. The day we were sent to her house it rained and we were left with no choice but to tell her we could not stain her deck. She was so gracious and as soon as we were done with moving the bricks she asked us to have lunch with her, her grandson Christian and her granddaughter Brianna. They all loved just talking with us and getting to know us as individuals. The Williams Family each told stories of their lives and how amazing they thought we were for giving up a week of our summers to come and help them. Seeing the look on Mrs. Williams face when she talked about our group the last night of program was the greatest thank you anyone could have asked for. When the end of the week rolled around I found it nearly impossible to say good-bye. The bonds you form with kids during CHWC is something you can never lose, no matter how far away they live. I felt I truly shifted 2 degrees this week with God and myself. Sign me up for next year!! The past week, I have gone on a Mission Trip to assist others that are less fortunate. My group consisted of people from all over the country; from Iowa to Florida to Illinois. We helped out an elderly couple, and the wife was confined to a wheelchair. She had been unable to leave the house often because of that. Our job was to build a wheelchair ramp, from scratch, but without putting it permanently in. This is because she will be able to walk shortly after. The job had only taken three days and the last day we helped out another group who was doing the same job as us, but in a different place. During the week of the trip I have felt God within me and I have found new motives in my life, such as helping others more often, doing the best you can do in every job, and even if they keep tearing your work apart, you keep building it again. During the week I have also met some new friends that I will go on to keep in touch with. All in all, this week knocked a lot of sense in to me, helped me find God within me, and guided me towards others and new friends. There’s just one word that describes this amazing trip: WOW! I’m sure I’m not the first person to say that, but the truth is the truth. This trip was indescribably awesome. It went way past my expectations, and taught me more than I ever thought I could learn in a week. It didn’t teach me math or science, but, to me, more important stuff, such as hard work, working together, just to be yourself, and have fun! I learned such true qualities in life that I’m sure everyone aspires for. Not only did I learn so much, but I also met and became very good friends with so many different people. This trip made me come closer to my close friends, and closer to people I’ve never met. All the people I met were truly wonderful people, and I will make sure to keep in touch with all of them. As for the people I became closer to that I already knew, I’m so glad I did. All of my roommates were awesome!!! The list goes on forever. I could say something about each person, and still not say enough. I think what made this trip an outstanding one, was that I saw God everywhere I went. Whether it was in my resident, my teammates, roommates, staff members, chaperones, or whoever, God was always there and I’d just like to thank Him for that. Because it was my first trip, God made sure to watch over me and made sure that I had a great time. Boy did he work wonders because that trip was the most amazing, wonderful, and life-changing experience I could ever ask for! Fabulous! Entertaining! Fun! Amusing! Spontaneous! All of these words are only a small portion of how I could describe the 2007 Mission Trip. I think that the mission trip was an outstanding experience, not only for myself, but for the whole youth group. It taught me to appreciate the things that I have at hand and don’t misuse them. I think that the best part of the trip was meeting new people and really learning about our faith in depth. Working for the homeless veterans makes me now think twice about all that I have compared to the homeless. I think that our group made a difference in our 38 homeless veterans. To think about that brings a smile to my face knowing that doing a good deed... can make a difference in many peoples' lives. =) I don’t think that I could ever forget this year’s trip. When you break a body part, you tend to remember it! I broke my wrist this year, but a lot more good came out of it than bad. I made many new friends that I keep in touch with. I could keep doing my job in the daycare with the rest of my amazing group. I could see God in the eyes of all those kids and even the random campers that would help me get food or other small tasks. I was touched by the concern and care from everyone who approached me. What was once a dull, white, plaster cast transformed into a rainbow of colorful signatures and kind words. It was a humbling, spiritual experience that has changed me for the better. Name: mary nelson EMail: mailto:mnelson@st-raymond.org uword: turn Date: 16-Aug-2007 Comments This year’s trip to Indiana was my first ever mission trip. Before arriving at the camp, I didn’t really know what to expect. I honestly thought it would be boring and uninspiring. I was very wrong. This camp has been the highlight of my summer so far. I absolutely loved the work (my group built a wheelchair ramp), the nighttime programs, and the people we met there. The camp made me feel closer to God than I have ever felt before. The residents we worked for were kind and fun to talk to. They were so grateful for all the help. I especially liked the part of the camp where the residents came in and talked about what their groups did for them. It really made me feel like they truly appreciated our work. I can barely wait until next year when we can go on that trip again. I think that the mission trip was really a good experience. During the trip, I went to the YMCA and did chores around the facility. I was sent to do laundry and clean windows, but mostly I worked with kids. Some of the kids were physically and mentally challenged; other kids were just very young and didn’t have a lot of money to spend on the necessities. I worked with the kids and showed them how to have fun in spite of their challenges. They were always so excited when we walked into the building and that put a smile on everyone’s face. It’s a good feeling to know that such a small act can make someone so happy. I learned to appreciate what I have and I look forward to coming next year. While on the mission trip I learned a lot about the people around me and I also learned a lot about myself. The mission trip exceeded all of my expectations. Once I got into the vans to leave, I was a little weary and I asked myself what I signed myself up to do. By the last night and morning I realized that this experience was something that no person should pass up. It was a wonderful opportunity to help others, meet new people and to help remind me to always help people who are less fortunate then I am. All of the residents were so thankful for everything that we did, even if it was the smallest things. I know every person had at least one moment that they were proud of themselves. If it was holding a door or opening up in front of friends and family, we all had our times. This week’s theme was to shift 2 degrees. I feel that that was definitely achieved by many. I was really looking forward to the mission trip this year. I had a blast last year and couldn’t wait to go on it again. This year I worked at the Rawlin’s House Nursing Home in Pendleton, IN. Despite the smell my group had a great time working with the residents. Our main job was to clean and we probably washed over 200 windows during the week. Cleaning was boring but when we got to spend time with the residents it made all the work worth it. The residents hardly ever get many visitors and just spending five minutes with them made their whole day better. My favorite parts of the week were calling bingo and playing checker with an 86-year-old man named Richard. Calling bingo I gave everyone in my group a headache but at least the residents could hear me and I have also never been beaten so badly in checkers in my life. Overall, this year’s mission trip was an experience I will never forget. Name: mary nelson EMail: mailto:mnelson@st-raymond.org uword: mine Date: 16-Aug-2007 Comments The Mission Trip to Anderson, Indiana taught me a great deal about other people. One of the residents my team was scheduled to work with was a 90 year old woman named Ada. In only a few hours, Ada taught us how to love life and be happy with what you have. She lived alone and usually sat in her kitchen all day, and the highlights of her day were when her son-in-law called to check in, and most importantly, when she got to read her Scripture and pray. I have never seen a person so excited to pray than Ada. She wouldn’t let our team leave until she prayed with us, and through her excitement about simply praying and talking to God, it reminded me of the purpose of our service, and it truly made the trip worthwhile. My first mission trip was so much fun! I had a blast throughout the whole week. We worked at a number of different places, but one the really meant the most to me was painting the house of this old lady. She could barley move around and when she saw the outside of her house freshly painted the smile on her face made the long days work worth it. I also enjoyed the programs at the school very much because you got to be with everyone in the camp. I will probably go on future mission trips and I can't wait! The moment I walked into my resident's home, I turned to my team and said very calmly, "We have a bit of work to do." Little did I know the room we were staring at wasn't the room we needed to fix up. Once we walked through into the next room, I had a sudden rush of reality: People actually live like this. It was brutal to look at, dead mice in the cabinets, the floors cracked and covered in dirt, and grease and mold splattering the walls. However, all of our confidence was boosted when we met Marie. She was the most patient and understanding lady you could ever meet. To her, everything we did made a difference, whether it was sweeping the floor or putting in new cabinets. The small things we take for granted were a blessing to her because it is very hard for her to get around, seeing as at any moment she could be struck by a seizure. As the days rolled on, our team also started to bond with her and really began to understand what she was going through, which in turn motivated us to do more and more. Finally, at the end of the week, it all hit me. Throughout the week I really had not thought about it as much, seeing as there was always something to do. However, at the end, once I really had a moment to ponder, I realized just how much we [our team] had done. We had given Marie a new beginning. Although her house was nowhere near perfect, we had given her a starting point, somewhere to work forward from. This act had therefore made all the difference. I myself changed during this experience. I began to more frequently recognize the small things people did for me, and fully appreciate the little things in life more. It is amazing what a few days of service can do. "Change is the only sign of growth" (unknown). I believe that I have grown from this mission trip. If I want to grow more in my faith, I may need to change the way I look at things and develop a different perspective of life as I know it. Exhilarating. That is how I have felt at the end of my week at Catholic Heart Work Camp for the second year now. This year my group had many tasks as opposed to staying with one resident the whole week. We did everything from pulling weeds to painting part of a house. Although I could tell that our help changed the life of every single resident, I feel that this trip I got more out of the experience than I gave. The bond that was built between my group members as well as other teens was incredible. Because of the bonds created, I feel as if each participant left with a better understanding of their faith. We were all able to open up with each other and we just felt comfortable talking about anything. CHWC is a truly amazing experience and I am fortunate that I was able to participate in another week that made me go WOW. Name: mary nelson EMail: mailto:mnelson@st-raymond.org uword: garden Date: 16-Aug-2007 Comments My experience on my last Mission Trip taught me a lot. It taught me not to judge people and to be grateful for what I have. I saw God in my team as we came together at the end of the week. I also saw God a certain team member of mine. He was obnoxious, loud, and overpowering. It was hard for everyone on the team to get along with him. However, I saw it as a challenge from God. I tried to talk to him and treat him with respect. My experience with him taught me that I need to be more patient with people, because not everyone I meet is going to be pleasant and easy to deal with. On Mission Trip this year I had a lot of fun. At my resident's house we trimmed the bushes, pulled weeds, and watered her flowers. We cleaned her bathroom and painted her bathroom green. Our group also painted her patio white. We painted her gutters black. Our group cleaned 3 rooms in her house. We organized all of her clothes, and she had a lot of them. On the second day we realized that her bedroom and guest rooms had been flooded. So another group came and helped our group empty out her room and replace her carpet. Replacing her carpet took 3 days. It was a big task. I saw God in our resident because even though she was difficult to deal with. It taught me to have patience. Yes she complained a lot and made us work very hard but on the last when we were leaving she thanked us with this big smile. She sounded very grateful and she asked us for our addresses to keep in touch. It made all we did worth it. This trip taught me that if you don't judge at first people may just surprise you. I learned that just because people are a little different then you doesn't mean they are bad people. This was my first Mission Trip, and I had a great time. I was lucky enough to be assigned to work with children, and so for four days I got to play counselor to 20 or so boys and girls from ages 8-10.I played kickball and dodge ball with them, helped them with various arts and crafts, and even got to be a chaperone on their trip to the science museum. Although they were extremely energetic kids and somewhat hard to keep under control, they were incredibly sweet. I was touched by the way that even though some of them had pretty rough backgrounds, they were very open, accepting, and willing to love. I'm really glad I had the opportunity to work with the kids. The entire mission trip was a fantastic experience for me. I experienced my faith in a new way, made new friends, and became even closer to some old ones. I'm hoping to go on the trip again next year! The mission trip this year was amazing. I met so many people and it was a great time to open up to a personal level. When we first saw our residents' home, I knew that our teams (we had two of them) were going to be challenged and worked to our fullest extent. The list of what our two teams accomplished was amazing. We rebuilt a deck, constructed a railing, replaced the kitchen ceiling tiles, cleaned the kitchen, repainted the bathroom (after scraping off about 10 layers of wallpaper), put drywall on the bathroom ceiling, replaced the bathroom floor, and leveled the kitchen (it was sinking). We accomplished all of this in four days even when it rained three out of the four. Our teams worked together and really bonded. It is just simply amazing that people from all over the country can come together and work for a common cause. In the evenings, there was a program and it would help you to better understand yourself and your relationship with God. Giving service to others is rewarding and fun. Name: mary nelson EMail: mailto:mnelson@st-raymond.org uword: desire Date: 16-Aug-2007 Comments The mission trip was one of the best experiences of my life. From meeting some great new friends from all over the country to helping out people that are less fortunate then me was truly life changing. The project I had to do was build a ramp and deck for an 80 year old man in a wheelchair. It was quite a challenge for a bunch of teenagers who don’t exactly have degrees in construction to build something like that. We called for help a lot but we still got it done. The whole week the man never came out of this one small room in his house but when we were finished he was racing up and down his new ramp. He also came out and sat with us for a few hours and talked with us. There was not a happier man in the world then him when he took his first run down that ramp. The smile on his face was indescribable, it was so great. I am definitely going on the mission trip next year. I strongly advise you to do charity work in our community to help people that are less fortunate then you and me. Finally I’d like to thank the chaperones who put up with us for a week. Thank you for giving up your time, the mission trip wouldn’t be a success without you. Team # 20 (my team) was a great group of teens. Unlike last year (we knocked out walls-) we were assigned to the home of Mrs. Rebecca Carr, a delightful lady, 91 years old one of the most gracious people I've ever met and soooo thankful for our presence. My team worked diligently at painting the bathroom and parts of the kitchen, installed bathroom safety fixtures, organized Mrs. Rebecca's clothes and bedspreads and pulled weeds. In addition we helped in food pantry, a total departure from what we'd been doing the other 3 days. Both sites provided many gratifying moments for myself and the teens, a special shout out to Ty for his work in the installation of the mini-blinds and bathroom safety fixtures. One of the primary goals of the Catholic Heart Work Camp is to show the teens Christianity in action thru service-over-self. Thru Comedy, skits, music and lots of audience participation they made it fun for the teens (chaperones, too). All in all a very gratifying experience for all involved. This was my third year attending Catholic Heart Work Camp with our parish and each year I seem to enjoy myself more than the year before. My main focus this year was my work group. Our main project was to build a deck for a slightly crippled elderly woman. We also cleaned out her kitchen, built two railings (one in front and one in back), painted her bathroom and dry-walled the ceiling, cleaned the house’s siding, as well as replaced her kitchens ceiling tiles. Two groups were assigned this single house all four days. Right away we joined together and formed one big group and rarely separated ourselves into group seven or group eight. It was very nice to get to know people from other states like Mississippi, South Dakota, Iowa and Ohio, but it was also nice to get to know people from my own parish better as well. My experience this year was extremely rewarding. Even today looking back at how much we accomplished in those four days amazes me. I can only hope that my experience for my fourth year will be as rewarding and eye opening as this past year was. My experience at CHWC was very fun. I learned many new things that I never thought I would be able do. I replaced carpet, painted a home, did yard work, and organized a house that I felt good about reorganizing and cleaning up. I never thought in a million years I would see a home where you could not see the floor or be as disorganized as it was; I felt great being able to help out. I saw God in my team mates because we worked so hard, put in many long hours and kept trying even though the tasks were very difficult. Name: mary nelson EMail: mailto:mnelson@st-raymond.org uword: stiff Date: 16-Aug-2007 Comments This year was my second year attending mission trip. I was so privileged to work in a wonderful woman's house this year by painting her kitchen, living room, and a bedroom. My resident's name is Mrs. Bernice Brown, she is 81, and one of the most extraordinary people I have met. Mrs. Brown raised sixteen children, ten of them not her own. She dedicated her life to these children and the promise of their future, in doing so giving all she had. Mrs. Brown knew Martin Luther King, Jr. personally and was inspired to join the Civil Rights Movement. She believed that no matter how different anyone was everyone should be treated equally and as neighbors. Before we left for mission trip the gospel we heard discussed what it meant to love your neighbor as yourself. Throughout all of Mrs. Brown's life, no matter who discriminated against her, she showed everyone she met God's love work through her, and this week I witnessed Christ's love through her as well. I learned a lot this week through Mrs. Brown and the examples she set unknowingly. I am currently keeping in touch with Mrs. Brown and hope to visit her when visiting colleges. I will never forget this mission trip or Mrs. Brown. Name: mary nelson EMail: mailto:mnelson@st-raymond.org uword: judge Date: 16-Aug-2007 Comments Well...This was my third year going on the mission trip and it just keeps getting better and better! I saw God in so many places while spending a week in Anderson, Indiana. The main place I found God was in my teammates. Every year I get the opportunity to meet great people who enjoy changing other people's lives for the better. On this mission trip we had many schools intertwined. So you got a chance to make a lot of new friendships that will hopefully last beyond just that one week; I know I did. Then there is the evening program that is held after you come back from a hard day's work and dinner. Here, you get to relax and open your eyes to things that are going on around you in a world that's always changing. We hear so much about the world's poverty and suffering that I often feel overwhelmed and hopeless in terms of what I can do. The Mission Trip allows me to do and see a difference even if it is just a few people in just a small town. We can make a difference...one family at a time. Name: mary nelson EMail: mailto:mnelson@st-raymond.org uword: safe Date: 16-Aug-2007 Comments Well...This was my third year going on the mission trip and it just keeps getting better and better! I saw God in so many places while spending a week in Anderson, Indiana. The main place I found God was in my teammates. Every year I get the opportunity to meet great people who enjoy changing other people's lives for the better. On this mission trip we had many schools intertwined. So you got a chance to make a lot of new friendships that will hopefully last beyond just that one week; I know I did. Then there is the evening program that is held after you come back from a hard day's work and dinner. Here, you get to relax and open your eyes to things that are going on around you in a world that's always changing. We hear so much about the world's poverty and suffering that I often feel overwhelmed and hopeless in terms of what I can do. The Mission Trip allows me to do and see a difference even if it is just a few people in just a small town. We can make a difference...one family at a time. Name: mary nelson EMail: mailto:mnelson@st-raymond.org uword: PARCEL Date: 16-Aug-2007 Comments This summer, I attended a week of Catholic Heart Workcamp, and it was not easy work. By the end of the week, my body was exhausted and I could hardly stay awake, but I had still no regrets on my trip. Throughout the experience of programs, serving others, and a special program called 4 corners, my spirit was renewed. I felt like my heart was on fire with spirit and love. This week helped me to shift my thinking to others over myself. By joining with other teens from all across the country, I realized that we are all called for the same mission, to love and serve others as disciples of Jesus. I am so glad that I went on my first mission trip. It really showed me how much a week of volunteer work could really mean. Even the little things meant so much to each and every resident. They all were so thankful to have us there. It was also nice to meet so many new people on the trip. At first, I thought I was just going to go on the mission trip and know no one and have no fun but it turned out to be the exact opposite. If you did not know them, you met them and that was the best. I had a great time! I hope that see you next year! Name: MARY NELSON EMail: mailto:mnelson@st-raymond.org uword: SHOE Date: 16-Aug-2007 Comments This was first mission trip experience and let me tell you, it was worth it. I thought it was going to be dreadful but after the first night of program everything started to grow on me. By the end of the week I was singing and dancing with everyone else. The thing that surprised me the most was that when I finally got home I already missed it. That night it was so weird that I wasn't able to sit up and say something random and hope that someone was still awake to respond. The Mission Trip made an impact on my life not only through program but from helping the less fortunate. I was able to realize how fortunate I am. I would like to tell anyone who is thinking about going to DO IT! I'm sure you'll have fun. Name: MARY NELSON EMail: mailto:mnelson@st-raymond.org uword: PAINT Date: 16-Aug-2007 Comments Last year in my History class, I learned all about "paradigm shifts" which is when an experience changes your life. Lots of students would even share theirs. At the time, I was always hesitating to share because I was unsure if my experiences had really fit into the definition of a paradigm shift. However, after going on Mission Trip, there is not a doubt in my mind that the entire experience has changed me. Mission Trip has changed the way I run my life forever. More specifically, it was the people involved in the Camp that made it worthwhile for me. For example, all the churches coming together from all over the Country for one common purpose...to help others in a Catholic atmosphere. I saw God in Church, my team, and my resident who showed that you don’t need a lot to be happy. My resident would show tears of joy over something as simple as us putting another lock on her door (so she would feel safe) or things I usually take for granted. The Mission Trip really made me more appreciative of little things. Also, my resident’s love for animals amazed me especially because I see on TV animals being neglected by people who have the ability to give them the life they deserve, but they choose not to. My resident treated her dogs and cats with more love than I have ever seen. Although she was poor, it cost next to nothing but her love for them to become the happiest pets around. In just a week at Catholic Heart Work Camp I was able to not only understand the definition of a Paradigm Shift but to actually live through it, all thanks to God and my Church. I am privileged to have gone on five Mission Trips and each trip has been a spiritual experience in many ways. Witnessing the boundless energy of our teens and their willingness to serve is rewarding. Each time we attend Mass we are challenged to go out and serve. These teens have heard the challenge and have acted on it as they said “Here I am Lord, send me’. I also had the experience of working with four teens prior to leaving on the trip as we rehearsed the skit they would put on during the week. All four did very well, making the St. Raymond group proud. As a troubleshooter, I visited a number of job sites and saw groups working hard on their projects. Electrical or plumbing projects can hold up the work the teens are doing and typically it’s the teens that are anxious for me to complete a job so they can move on with their work. Accomplishing the work the residence wanted is important to the teens. It was good for me to see the teens bonding with their residence at each site. My hope and prayer is that we all remember the great feeling of helping others that we experienced this week. I saw God in two of the teen residences where we worked. Their 48 year old mother of 8 children was dying from AIDS and was in a rehab center recovering from a recent stroke. Their home was in poor condition with no running water in the kitchen and a leaky drain in the tub upstairs. As for food in the pantry, my guess is there wasn't much available for this family. Despite this situation, both of these kids were extremely thankful for what they did have. The older one had his gospel music collection and the 12 year old had his own personal photo album showing the family gatherings that took place since he was born. Neither of these boys had any of the "extras" but, what they did have, was a sense of calm and serenity that everything was going to be fine. I saw a trusting faith in God in these two young men. Name: MARY NELSON EMail: mailto:mnelson@st-raymond.org uword: GLOVE Date: 16-Aug-2007 Comments The Mission Trip to Anderson, Indiana changed my perspective on life. I saw people who were in critical condition, people who couldn't afford to put food on their table, and people who just needed some company. This made me realize that everyone does not have it as good as me and I need to do whatever I can to help. During the week I saw God in many places, one that stood out the most though was in the residents. They welcomed us into their home and always offered help even if they couldn't give it. It really showed me that there are still good people in the world, you just have to search a little, and there they will be. Name: MARY NELSON EMail: mailto:mnelson@st-raymond.org uword: PROFIT Date: 16-Aug-2007 Comments This is my second year going on the mission trip. I really enjoyed going to Anderson, IN this year. I helped paint, clean and repair toys, and cleaned blinds. I really enjoyed program, the singing, dancing, and acting was the best. Sleeping in classrooms wasn’t that bad, it made me realize that I should be grateful for what I have. After seeing where the children go to daycare it makes me appreciate what we have, and how fortunate we are to have what we do. I’m looking forward to next year and making more friends from across the country and helping more people. My worksite was to build a heroin addict who has gone blind a porch, paint a swing set, trim bushes, do yard work, take out a tree, and paint a church basement. I was kind of scared when I first met my lady because she was blind, a heroin addict, and had very poor living conditions. My opinion slowly changed during the week and that was through the help of my amazing friends I met, one from each group that came. I still keep in touch with some of them and have grown very close to two of them. I saw God that week through my leader, Paul, and my three friends I made, Amanda, Nick, and Maddie. Overall it was a great experience and has definitely made an impact on my life. Name: MARY NELSON EMail: mailto:mnelson@st-raymond.org uword: WEST Date: 16-Aug-2007 Comments This was my first year attending CHWC. My son went on the first parish mission trip and my daughter has gone the last four years. CHWC had a tremendous impact on them. But we became more open and enthusiastic as the week went on. Sunday night I also met my work group of 6 teens from 5 states, South Dakota, Pennsylvania, Florida, Illinois and 2 from Ohio. Our jobs during the week included yard work, washing windows, painting, screen repair and freezer cleaning. The teens did these basic chores with enthusiasm (the kind you won’t see at home) to serve five elderly women who had health problem. Some were still caring for grandchildren and great grandchildren. The 91year old woman we served on the last day impacted our group the most. She was so happy we were there to help her but more importantly to spend time with her. She shared stories, joked, laughed and prayed with us before we left. Her love of God and her love of life was contagious - you could see it in the teens! I saw God there! On Wednesday I had the opportunity to pray with several teens and groups of teens during Four Corners. These teens have huge hearts! They love, care, and worry about their families and friends more than anyone realizes. I feel blessed to have shared that time with them. I also feel honored to have shared this week with so many wonderful people. I connected with old friends and made new friends. It was amazing experience! Name: MARY NELSON EMail: mailto:mnelson@st-raymond.org uword: FREE Date: 16-Aug-2007 Comments This week in Anderson, Indiana really changed me for the better. It was a humbling experience due to the kids that I worked with, and learning about other people at CHWC. I was thrilled that I was assigned to work at the Wilson Boys & Girls Club. On Monday, we arrived and saw that there was a lot of work to be done. The first person we met was Mr. Taylor, a tall older man who was awesome. He never said anything bad about anyone and always tried to help out. For the entire day, I trimmed the hedges that surrounded the school and cleaned windows. I left the place that day with real good vibes and huge ambitions for the place. For the next couple days, my job consisted of picking weeds, cleaning out an old storage room, and painting a cafeteria. I left our worksite on Thursday with a huge sense of accomplishment. The week with CHWC will affect me for the rest of my life. I can talk to God now! Coming into this week I really didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t think I was really religious and was close to God in any way. Well, I did not give myself enough credit. I did get closer to God this week by participating in the programs, listening for him more at my work sites and looking for signs that God was trying to send to me. I will try to be a more humble person, and put God first in my life. Going to church will have a greater significance since I am closer to God. I went the Sunday after I got back and it was real different. I felt something inside me, a more spiritual me, and it was a very good feeling. If I can feel like that every time I go to church, I’ll be a much better person. While I was at CHWC, I saw God in many places. I saw him in my adult leader Mike. He was always pleasant to everyone and saw things in positive ways. I also saw God in a man that was walking down the street on Monday. I was working outside trimming the hedges when the man shouted, “This is the best I have seen this place in years. Thanks!” His words really brought a smile to my face. I knew that my group and I were making a difference in the world. Lastly, I saw God in all the little kid’s faces that were at the club. They always had smiles on their faces even though they were probably going through very tough times. They taught me how to look on the bright side of things. Name: MARY NELSON EMail: mailto:mnelson@st-raymond.org uword: FRONT Date: 16-Aug-2007 Comments This was my first year attending the mission trip. At first I was a little bit hesitant of going because I really didn’t know what to expect. Once I got there, I had the time of my life! At night we had an evening program where we sang songs, and danced. It was so much fun! My project was to build a deck and ramp for a man who was wheelchair bound. All week we worked very hard on our project. On the last day, our resident got to try out his new deck and ramp! As he slowly came down the ramp, he almost started to cry. He was so thankful that he could get in and out of his house much easier than before. It was so great being able to see that one week of my summer can make a huge difference in someone’s life. I had a great time on mission trip, and I can’t wait to go back next year! The Mission Trip was a great experience for me. At first I really wasn’t very excited for it all. It seemed like it would be interesting, but I really didn’t think I would have all that much fun. The first day felt tiring and awkward and from that I had the feeling it wouldn’t be too fun. Then I met my group and we didn’t exactly hit it off, but they seemed like good people. Finally the next day (Monday) we were sent off on our jobs and that’s when I noticed all around us people did need help. It felt good to be a part of something that made a difference in the end. When we got to our residents house we were greeted by Rebecca Carr, a 91 year old woman with an enormous heart. She would always thank us for what we were doing every chance she had. When we started working our group really got to know each other and ended up having a lot of fun. Coming back to school after a hard day’s work was really relaxing even though taking a shower was sort of a hassle. Being able to hang out with friends the whole time was fun as well. By the end of the week I had actually gotten really used to it all. The one thing that made me sad that I had to leave was that we were going to leave our resident behind. I felt bad that I couldn’t help anymore and so did the others. We did exchange addresses so that we could keep in touch though. What really surprised me was the impact it had. I really enjoyed helping people out to the point where when I had to leave I really felt bad. Next year I plan to go on the Mission Trip and help as many people as I can. Name: MARY NELSON EMail: mailto:mnelson@st-raymond.org uword: ROUND Date: 16-Aug-2007 Comments God and I have been meeting and talking for eight years now. We are even on a first name basis. God says that it is a wonderful thing that the teens are doing by helping the needy. He always quotes “What you do for the least of my brethren, you do unto me.” So God is thankful for all of the work that the teens and chaperones do when on the Mission Trip. God knows how much I have enjoyed being involved in the Mission Trip program. Because of the program, I have made many new friends; not only the teens but also their families. Thank you for your friendship, love and support. God bless. The Mission Trip was a very mind opening experience for me. Observing the conditions many of the residents live in, and comparing their lives with mine, it is impossible to not realize, not just how lucky I am, but how much myself and others consistently take for granted. Not simply the vast difference in material possessions, but in social and psychological aspects as well. While I am nearly constantly surrounded by loving family and friends, others have no one and live a life of near total exclusion. Such was the case with my resident, who lives alone, naming her two cats and two dogs as her best friends. Yet with such modest assets, she was completely happy. Her positive attitude regarding her meager living arrangements made me almost ashamed of the excessive lives we live, almost. Just having us present within her abode was an incredible joy for her. Except for the occasional low point, the Mission Trip was a very positive experience for me and my contemporaries, as we also greatly enjoyed our music, the truck showers, and the other Mission members company. Yet we should not dwell solely on our actions during the trip. For is it not more important what we take away from our experience and implement within our daily lives, as we strive to better the existence of mankind and grow closer, in our individual ways, to Jesus Christ and God? Name: MARY NELSON EMail: mailto:mnelson@st-raymond.org uword: DEGREE Date: 16-Aug-2007 Comments After many years of having heard about the Mission Trip from my children, who attended a number of Mission Trips themselves over the years, I had the pleasure and fortune to chaperone this year’s trip. My children had never shared much with me about their mission trips as they felt it was a private and personal experience. They had shared with me what a rewarding and life altering experience they had in their service of others and by the overall Catholic experience while on their mission trips. This year, without any of my children on the trip, I felt I wanted to go on my own journey and find out more about the mission trip experience for myself. And what a journey it was! The trip started off on a high note when I came to know the girls in my van. We chatted, laughed, and played music on our ride as we came to know one another. The sleeping and shower arrangements were not the best, but as a group the teens in my sleeping room came together. The girls chatted, giggled, laughed, and at times played beauty shop with one another. What a great group of girls these were with such spirit, compassion, and heart for one another. During the week I was lucky enough to work with six teenagers from various parts of the United States in painting and organizing three residents’ homes in Anderson, IN. The group immediately connected with one another. They talked, joked, laughed, and worked with one another as a team throughout the week. Though our work was not difficult and we were provided home cooked lunches by our residents on three of the four days, I was able to watch a group of teens give of themselves through their work and conversation to find out more about others especially those different from themselves. They chatted with the residents and displayed sincere warmth and care for them. The showed great patience and compassion when we assisted in the home of an elderly man with Alzheimer’s who lived with his mentally challenged adult son and stroked wife. The week was not all about service to the residents of Anderson, IN; it was also about service to Christ. The night programs with their various modalities caused me to become uplifted, inspired, and compassionate about my faith. I believe it did the same for the teens. I cannot wait for next year’s Mission Trip, because I plan to be there. And if you ever need your faith in the goodness of teens restored, I would highly recommend you go on the Mission Trip. Name: MARY NELSON EMail: mailto:mnelson@st-raymond.org uword: REGRET Date: 16-Aug-2007 Comments God and I have been meeting and talking for eight years now. We are even on a first name basis. God says that it is a wonderful thing that the teens are doing by helping the needy. He always quotes “What you do for the least of my brethren, you do unto me.” So God is thankful for all of the work that the teens and chaperones do when on the Mission Trip. God knows how much I have enjoyed being involved in the Mission Trip program. Because of the program, I have made many new friends; not only the teens but also their families. Thank you for your friendship, love and support. God bless. Name: marcy EMail: classicgirlsays@verizon.net uword: rain Date: 18-Aug-2007 Comments I was at greensburg PA this year and all I can say is W.O.W! The week was great- This was my second time- I loved the challenges and the triumphs and I can say that since I have been home I have noticed a shift of at least 2 degrees in me, my son and my husband. Yes all three of us were there and we all thought it was great! Name: Lisa EMail: mrswoodhead@saintjosephschurch.net uword: still Date: 20-Aug-2007 Comments HELLO TO THE AWESOME "SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD" group #3!!Pittsburgh 2 was one of the most incredible experiences!! God bless everyone I had the pleasure of meeting and I hope our paths will cross again through other acts of service! Keep focused on the 2 degree shift and keep GOd the focus of your life. Peace Name: Lisa EMail: mrswoodhead@saintjosephschurch.net uword: silver Date: 20-Aug-2007 Comments HELLO TO THE AWESOME "SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD" group 3 -Pittsburgh #2. I miss you all and hope you still have your attitude! Keep focused on Christ! I will keep ALL of the wonderful people I met in this life changing week in my prayers. I hope we cross paths again in some future service project. God bless. Peace Name: Sierra Hooge EMail: skizone3@yahoo.com uword: male Date: 20-Aug-2007 Comments hey everyone from the louisville camp and the staff @ CHWC i have a question...what was the poem called that scrolled down and was really depressing and then it turned around and it was all happy? is there anyway that i can get it? thanks...by the way...many thanks to Jon Pressimone and Jason Wiemelt!!! U guys are the BEST!!!!! Name: sierra hooge EMail: skizone3@yahoo.com uword: body Date: 20-Aug-2007 Comments hey everybody that was at the recent pittsburgh camp i thought that i would let u know that i live in pittsburgh and i went to the louisville camp and i went to kennywood on the friday that was your freeday. i thought that it was really cool to see everybody walking around in their shift 2* shirts and i knew what it meant...many thanks to the Louisville staff especially Jon, Jason, Aaron, Travis, Jeremy, Cooper, and Myrna!!! Father Geoff is AWESOME!!!! Name: dan allen EMail: propdock@hotmail.com uword: WOOD Date: 22-Aug-2007 Comments WHY SO LONG ON THE WICHITA PICS? Name: tori EMail: vicky-t103@adelphia.net uword: regret Date: 23-Aug-2007 Comments i miss work camp sooo much!!! Greensburg PA!!!! i can't wait til next year!!! Name: Denise Dagesse EMail: lifeteennc@aol.com uword: when Date: 24-Aug-2007 Comments The Gap A Catholic Youth Minister Reflects On Summer Mission Trip and Work Camp By: Denise Dagesse I am a Catholic youth minister who works and ministers in an upper class parish and community in Fairfield County, CT. Locals lovingly refer to Fairfield County as the ‘gold coast’ as there is great individual and corporate wealth in our manicured lawns, nanny enclaves and communities. I was able to spend a week this summer painting houses for the elderly poor in Winter Garden, Florida. I worked alongside six teens from Georgia, Texas, Michigan, Connecticut, and Alabama. We prepared and painted the outside of an aging home for our senior resident, Christine (Tina) Jones. The teens were between 15-18 and all from middle to upper middle class homes and communities. On the first day that we and introduced ourselves to Tina I noticed that she was missing many of her front top and bottom teeth. We spoke for a while and shared with Tina where each of us was from. As we started our service work that first day I kept thinking the gap in Tina’s teeth. Poor dental care is a burden that the poor in our country carry like a scarlet letter~letting everyone know about the sin of poverty. This questions begs a response~who truly carries the culpability in the sin of poverty~is it the poor and oppressed or the wealthy and powerful? The teens and I worked in the hot and humid Florida sun. The tin roof on Tina’s house became a blazing furnace by the end of each work day. We had to be vigilant while up on the ladders and working near the roof, as blisters could result if our skin came into contact with the weathered tin. As fire ants bit and left red raised welts on our legs and arms, we sweated and worked alongside each other for a week. We took lunch breaks that included prayer and reflection. Tina and her eleven year old grandson were able to share lunch with us one afternoon. It was a blest time of food, faith, and fellowship between six white middle class teens, one upper class white youth minister, one black eleven year old boy, and an elderly black woman. And somewhere in the midst of our casual conversation, laughter, and humble prayers for each other the gap between the classes, ages, and races was being filled in on the hot, grassy, front yard in Florida. On our last day @ Tina’s house we worked hard making sure the windows were trimmed with Baked Alaska paint and the all the main walls of the house were covered from ceiling to ground with Historic Tan. The teens engaged in a water gun fight @ lunch time in an effort to cool off and somewhere in the distance a late afternoon thunderstorm was gathering. We finished our painting project around 3:30. Tina came out to look @ our completed job. She smiled broadly and again the gap in her teeth was evident. She said “oh, kids it looks like I have new home!” She tenderly embraced all of us and I could not tell if the moisture on her cheeks was the result of sweat (she did not have air conditioning) or tears. As we headed for our SUV for the last time we gathered in a small circle on Tina’s driveway for prayer. One of the teens from Texas, Amelia led us in a sweet prayer~she asked the Lord to keep us all safe and to grant Tina good health (as she was having trouble with her legs~most likely due to diabetes). We held hands and ended with the Lord’s Prayer. And with final hugs and good byes we drove out of Tina’s neighborhood. That night after dinner, music, skits, testimonies, witness talks, and showers I found myself on my air mattress and inside my pink sleeping bag. I was sharing a class room with the girls from our parish along with girls from Georgia and two other adult leaders. I was usually tired after our work days and sleep would come easily, however, despite my tired body my mind, heart, and soul were hopping and dancing in the love and grace of our Lord. It was then in the midst of lightly snoring teenagers and with ceiling fans whirling above me that the gap in Tina’s teeth came to mind. I sat up in my sleeping bag and my iPod clanked to the floor . . . I started this reflection talking about the gap in Tina’s teeth and compared that gap to the distance between and differences in the ages, races, and classes of teens, youth ministers, youth leaders, and residents who for one week were brought together to minister and serve one another. When we come together in the Lord’s name to serve one another the gap between us lessens and the common bonds of being brothers and sisters in the Lord intertwine and create a network of relationships. I doubt that I will ever meet Tina again and despite the use of the Internet, My Space, and Face Book, as time goes by I will lose contact with the teens I served with. They will start a new school year and some of them head off to college and work. I will move into new ministries and work. And Tina will continue to sit under the great brown tree in her back yard. However, during that hot and blest service week we were walking in each others shoes. God brings people together to share moments and those memories will endure. God has blest me with the ability to notice all the small things along the way that a youth minister treads~the good, bad, ugly, happy, funny, etc. I think he allows me to notice and reflect on the small as a way to facilitate knowledge and help the teens and young adults that I minister with to encounter his love, grace, and mercy. Kids, notice the small, reflect on the big, and help change the world. For Amelia, Putman, Michael, Colleen, Chloe, and Kelsey~Catholic HEART Work Camp~Work Group # 23~Orlando, Florida~July 2007 Name: Mary EMail: bspiffy@hotmail.com uword: rain Date: 31-Aug-2007 Comments HECK YES FOR THE TACO TUESDAY SHIRTS!!!! Name: mr. d (or mike) Nashville Tn. July 2007 EMail: a52deadhead@bellsouth.net uword: Date: 02-Sep-2007 Comments to all the young people (groups 9 and 10? or 10 and 12?) who worked with me in Nashville at the next level camp July 1 thru 6. We worked at the halh house/half trailer out on Burkes Hollow Road in Nolensville. you will remmber that we painted the trailer and the house and washed windows and cleaned up the back porch and fixed his deck. Well do you remember the money you collectd amongst yourselves that we used to buy flowers and plants for the flowerbed we rejuvenated? I had the chance to be in Nolensville this past weekend and so I drove by the house. I was really worried about the flowers because of the drought that we are having here. Well no need to worry. The flower beds look terrific and the flowers are doing great as are the butterfly bushes. And the tomato plants that we transplanted also look good. We turned a desolate piece of dirt into something pretty. I am sure you all now the story of the mustrad seed. well you did it in action. I do not know if any of you are reading this but I hope you occasionally check. I am very proud of the work you did and that flower buid you made is a permanent sign of your doing things for God. You can e-mail me at a52deadhead@bellsouth.net. I have a picture of us at the house and it reminds me of all of you and your hard work for others. God Bless You all, Mr. D. (Mike) Name: Mary Macyauski EMail: mcmacyauski@alldial.net uword: good Date: 06-Sep-2007 Comments This was our first mission camp, ever, and was the most amazing experience for our youth ministry. We saw miracles happen!!! Thank you for creating this mission event. Name: Pennsylvania EMail: kitkatcheer88@aol.com uword: credit Date: 06-Sep-2007 Comments Catholic heart work camp was a great experience!!!!! GO TAMPA! Name: Sarah D EMail: gladysinez@yahoo.com uword: hand Date: 10-Sep-2007 Comments I'm looking for the "backwards prayer" that was the video at program one night. You know, the one that looked like it was not a prayer or anything uplifting but as it went along, it turned out to be so positive. If anyone knows where this came from, please let me know Name: nicole but everyone called me jeff EMail: dancin_dork17@yahoo.com uword: female Date: 11-Sep-2007 Comments i LOVED chwc... i made soooooooooooo many new and amazing people. i cant wait until the next time i go... this workcamp changed my life... I LOVE Y'ALL!!!!! Name: MAUREEN mitchell EMail: mmitchell@sgabrielp.org uword: sudden Date: 22-Sep-2007 Comments We were in Lexington and it was wonderful..I say hi to all that I worked with packing lunches for the kids and working with the mentally challenged.. Catholic heart is a blessed nexperience..The teens from Milwaukee did the skits and we are so proud of them. Blessings to all and maybe we will see some of you next year..Love Mitch Name: Maria garcia EMail: mtg0929@yahoo.com uword: hope Date: 23-Sep-2007 Comments CHWC was such an amazing retreat. It has been the best week of my life. Name: Maria garcia EMail: no uword: right Date: 23-Sep-2007 Comments CHWC was such an amazing retreat. It has been the best week of my life. Name: Mrs. Ruth McNair and Linda McNair EMail: uword: Date: 24-Sep-2007 Comments It's not every day you meet such nice young willingly christens as you all were. It was truly a blessing to me when you all painted my house. I pray God have favor in your life for helping me and others in their time of need. You all were truly a God sent to my daughter and I. We thank you and will always remember you all. "May the Lord repay you, for what you have done..." Ruth 2:12 NIV Name: Maryann EMail: uword: degree Date: 24-Sep-2007 Comments I appreciate the terrific CHWC Staff I encountered at workcamp in Jackson, MS. Names escape me, but they were wonderfully diligent and energetic and were open hearted to witnessing. They were amazing! I know the other camp attendee's and worker's will benefit from their efforts and their presence. Name: Pam Curtin EMail: uword: Date: 24-Sep-2007 Comments As the summer comes to a close, I'd like to thank you for the opportunity to parcipate in the Catholic HEART Workcamp. This was my second year as a camper, and I am thankful to have another great experience to share. I am a fifteen year old from Latrobe, Pennsylvania, and I participated in the Greensburg, Pennsylvania Workcamp for July 29th through August 3rd. It was fantastic being able to work with so many caring people from across the United States to serve my community and the Lord. I worked at an elder woman's house in McKeesport, repairing and painting her front porch floor, her yard, and weeding an overgrown pathway. Although my group and I worked in heat and sun, the feeling I received when leaving the worksite each day was fulfilling. The staff members' eager and enthusiastic personalities also channeled over to the campers, keeping us going each early morning. My work provided me with the feeling of purpose. Being able to witness the heartfelt thanks and genuine appreciated from my resident was the best reward of all. I am already looking forward to returning next year! Name: Emily Zarnick EMail: uword: mark Date: 25-Sep-2007 Comments Dear Brother's and Sister's in the Lord, I am writing to thank you for sending Miss Maggie and the young people from your workcamp. It was a sure blessing for me. I am 60 years old low income, both my husband and I are both physically unable to do the kind of work needed around the house. I had been asking God to help my get things done. When I found out your youth camp workers could help me I was delighted. They polyurethened the wood work through out the house, painted a room, scraped and painted the iron railings out side. Then Miss Maggie the team leader measured and put up the tub surround for me. I was trying to get that done for 4 or 5 years. I could not say enough about Miss Maggie or the team involved. I just know that when God does something he does it perfect. I hope you will continue this program in our area next year. Thank you again. God Bless all of you. Name: liz bobak EMail: lizzieizzy@myway.com uword: join Date: 26-Sep-2007 Comments where are the pictures from jamiaca '06? Name: Eric EMail: ericcoon@hotmail.com uword: desire Date: 26-Sep-2007 Comments hey send me an e-mail if uve been to the CHWC in mishiwaka IN plz Name: Taylor EMail: tg8wb@yahoo.com uword: smell Date: 27-Sep-2007 Comments Hi everyone. I want to the Second Pittsburgh camp/irwin. That was my third work camp. It was seriously the best one yet. I made so many memories this year not that i didnt the years before but i got closer with a lot of ppl in and out of my group. I came out of my shyness shell this year and let loose. My group was seriously so much fun we just got along so well. Taking everyone to Sheets and me being only one that had ever been there..cause its what we live off here in Ohio and ..you guys being AMAZED.Its POP not soda! haha it was funnny. I love everyone. I miss my Roomies. love ya all. & my groupies. Becca i just want ya to know i still have ur Hand its on my dresser. Thanks for helping me at 4 cornors:) Name: anna! the cheese factory worker! EMail: annaduffrin@wi.rr.com uword: Date: 30-Sep-2007 Comments I was at the Milwaukee, Wi. workcamp and had so much fun i was in group 16 and who ever was in that group please email me at annaduffrin@wi.rr.com i would really appreciate it! i will be attending the Omaha Nebraska workcamp next year and hope to enjoy it just as much as the milwaukee wisconsin! hope to see you there! Name: Anna EMail: annaduffrin@wi.rr.com uword: basin Date: 30-Sep-2007 Comments I attended the Milwaukee, Wisconsin workcamp and really enjoyed it alot! any body who was in group 16 at that camp it would be greatly appreciated if you could email me at annaduffrin@wi.rr.com! I will be attending the Omaha, Nebraska workcamp, hoping to have just as much fun as the last year! Back to Main Bulletin Board Page