Category: Salkehatchie Series

Endless Possibilities With God

Posted on by Wendy
The wake up crew.
The wake up crew.

On the first day of my mission trip, we went around the room and introduced ourselves. That kind of thing is usually kind of awkward, but in this case, there was lots of joking. Many of the people already knew each other and everyone was incredibly friendly.

There was one teen in attendance who used a walker. His name was Duncan. He had cerebral palsy and appeared awfully frail to me. To my shame, I wondered  how he could possibly participate. My understanding was that we would be in extreme heat and up on a roof all week. I silently doubted his ability to contribute to the mission. It was a very foolish assumption on my part.

There once was a giant named Goliath who had the misfortune to have underestimated a boy that he thought was small and frail too. He failed to understand that the boy had a heart for God. It proved to be a huge mistake on his part. That small boy changed the fate of Israel for ever.

There was a mighty king of Egypt who doubted that an outcast, shepherd who stuttered, could lead thousands of people out of bondage. He too, underestimated the power of any person, no matter their physical limitations, who has a heart for God.

As it turned out, Duncan was the first teen up every morning and he summoned all of the others, with a trumpet. It was really difficult for the other kids to complain when they dragged themselves out of bed to be met by his cheerful smile.

I also learned there was plenty to do on the work site besides roofing and there were several kids and adults who couldn’t get on a roof for various reasons. Duncan proved to be a dynamo. He scrubbed kitchen walls which hadn’t been scrubbed in over a decade. He painted. He installed cabinet knobs. He helped get roofing nails off of the ground. He even helped leave Salkehatchie’s iconic calling card in a unique way.

Each year, the volunteers leave a reminder behind of their service.
Each year, the volunteers leave a reminder behind of their service.

He never quit early. He stuck it out in the sweltering 100 degree heat with everyone else. His tireless dedication was an inspiration to everyone around him.

One evening the kids were having a scavenger hunt and they were divided into teams. Duncan couldn’t run around with the others, but he sat at the table and thoughtfully read each clue. Time after time, the other teens would return and ask him where they should look. They would lean in as he made a suggestion and off they would go. He was usually right.

God showed His face to me and to all of us, in so many ways that week through this very special boy. He reminded me that everyone is a unique creation of God. We all have a purpose and a part to play in the Kingdom. Duncan played his part beautifully that week.

Duncan also reminded me that, “All things are possible with God.” Sometimes I need a reminder. Perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Salkehatchie Series

Posted on by Wendy
This sign went up when we started. We would replace it with a signed cross when we finished.
This sign went up when we started. We would replace it with a signed cross when we finished.

I went on a mission trip in June, all the way to the great state of South Carolina. I encountered God in so many places and faces while I was there, that I decided I should write a series on it. There are so many God sightings I want to share that I couldn’t possibly cover it in one post.

The Salkehatchie mission was started by Reverend John Wesley Culp in 1978.  He lived in Hampton County, South Carolina. He said, “Some of the worst poverty is in middle class America. The poverty of loneliness, lack of communication, emotional and spiritual poverty… These kids are dealing with divorce, estrangement, drugs. They need hope as much as the people who suffer material poverty.”

Hmmm, I find this quote to still be true today. He named the camp after a river that flowed through his town. His goal was to have the youth of his church enter the homes of people across race and socioeconomic lines to offer assistance and along the way, learn that these people were really not much different from them.

The first group had forty kids and adults. They worked on four houses. They slept in a local elementary school and showered outside with a garden hose. Today, there are 48 camps across the state of South Carolina.

One man’s inspired idea has touched thousands of people. When God is involved, one person can make a huge difference.

The volunteers take a week and repair and replace roofs, ceilings and floors. They sometimes replace plumbing. They paint and replace light fixtures as budgets allow. But, the focus of the ministry is on building relationships. All of the campers youth and adult alike, are encouraged to interact with the homeowners and with each other.

They are encouraged to build lifelong relationships with other campers because Christ centered relationships last. Youth have to be 14 to attend and it was amazing how may older people had attended since they were 14. Some of our volunteers had been volunteering for over 20 years.

Everyday begins and ends with a group prayer with the homeowners. Friday is a short day that ends with a cross being placed in the front yard. Later in the day, the entire camp gets to tour each other’s houses and see what was accomplished. The kids speak and share and the homeowners speak. It’s incredibly moving.

Area churches feed the campers all week. They always hugged as and told us what good work we were doing. Many of them wanted a picture with us. A pastor at one of the churches we visited, shared that a Salkehatchie group had worked on one of his relative’s houses.

It’s amazing how much support and recognition the ministry gets from other South Carolina residents. When we were buying items at Wal-Mart for the family who I worked with, we told a stocker, we were with Salkehatchie. He was so excited as he shared that a Salkehatchie team had worked on his family’s house, three years earlier. He said they repaired the roof and floor and that it had changed his life. He proudly said that the cross was still up in the front yard.

I left the store feeling once again, truly amazed at the unlimited possibilities when our plans are God-inspired. Of course, I felt that way the entire week, but more on that later.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂