Carol Memorial United Methodist Church
Fernandina Beach, FL

We arrived as a Work Camp team of 18 to Red Bird Mission last summer.  Our week-long assignments were basic repairs like repairing a roof, fixing steps, and building a handicap ramp.  As we drove into the hollers, we quickly learned what was not easy, the human frailty and living conditions of the mountain people we were to serve.  We were humbled by their spirit, their abundant graciousness, and profound love for God. 

While we worked on replacing the floor of her trailer, the owner, a woman afflicted with many ailments, washed the outside. It took many hours and many breaks, but what pride when she finished.  During commodity distribution at “God’s Storehouse,”, an elderly man receiving food removed the sack of potatoes, saying, “I’m able to grow these and have a pretty good crop.  Please give them to someone that needs them.

A visiting hospice nurse expressed thanks for installing a handicap ramp for a family.   A team member assisted the wife of the elderly man to get him up, washed, dressed and onto the stoop. The man was so frail, but his love showed through as he thanked the team for making their lives a little easier. 

Red Bird Mission is nestled in the rural coal fields of the Appalachian mountains in Southeastern Kentucky.  In an area where town is at least an hour away and unemployment is high, you may ask, “Why are these people still living here?”  The answer is simple, it is home and family.

This year our team of 13 was assigned to a job on the Mission campus, working on a lodge that houses long-term volunteers. Even though we had hoped to be in the community,  God had something different in mind for our team this time.  We were acquainted with each other, but didn’t really know each other. By the end you would have never known and we all were truly blessed. 

For those of you who are baby boomers, you may remember the TV show based in New York called “The Naked City”, where there are a million stories to be told.   In my opinion, New York has nothing over Red Bird, but don’t just take my word.  Get a team together and go experience Red Bird for yourselves.
You won't be sorry.

Red Bird Mission, guided by Jesus Christ, empowers individuals and advocates justice by providing spiritual, educational, health, and community outreach ministries.