I went on a work trip to eastern Kentucky to interview some of the people that one of my clients serves. It was a great experience, and it really puts things in perspective. My client, Christian Appalachian Project (CAP), serves people in 13 states in Appalachia, but primarily focuses on eastern KY, where the need is the greatest.
We went to visit three houses and then drove around and just took pictures and interviewed CAP staffers at their different facilities. They focus on emergency aid -- like food, clothing, shelter -- but they also work on long-term problems like lack of education, childcare, and drug and alcohol abuse.
The first house was unbelievable. When we drove by it, we assumed it was an old burned-out abandoned building. Then our guide turned around and pulled the car in. We were all pretty surprised to learn that someone lived there. Inside we met Mary and her son, who's about 30. She's suffered from arthritis since she was 24 and since it's gone mostly untreated, it's crippled her severely. Her hands are drawn in and unusable and she has virtually no use of her legs and feet. Her son cares for her full time, so he's not able to get much of a job. Despite it all, she had a wonderful spirit about the whole situation and had a smile on her face the whole time.
We went to visit three houses and then drove around and just took pictures and interviewed CAP staffers at their different facilities. They focus on emergency aid -- like food, clothing, shelter -- but they also work on long-term problems like lack of education, childcare, and drug and alcohol abuse.
The first house was unbelievable. When we drove by it, we assumed it was an old burned-out abandoned building. Then our guide turned around and pulled the car in. We were all pretty surprised to learn that someone lived there. Inside we met Mary and her son, who's about 30. She's suffered from arthritis since she was 24 and since it's gone mostly untreated, it's crippled her severely. Her hands are drawn in and unusable and she has virtually no use of her legs and feet. Her son cares for her full time, so he's not able to get much of a job. Despite it all, she had a wonderful spirit about the whole situation and had a smile on her face the whole time.
This is all part of Mary's property. In the picture below, you can see the fire damage.
The last place we went was to a woman named Bertha's house. Bertha just lost her husband in November and lives alone on an old farm that's no longer in use. She was incredibly shy -- probably a byproduct of her loneliness and isolation way out in the country. The plot of land she lives on was beautiful, but I imagine it gets extremely lonely out there -- no neighbors in sight and miles away from any main road.
Bertha's house -- literally at the end of the road, which stops at her driveway.Overall, it was a great experience for me to actually get to meet some of the people I write about in my fundraising letters. And as depressing as all of this might sound, it was actually fulfilling. All of the people I met are getting help as a result of my client, and I play a part in that, which feels pretty good. I'm supposed to go back in a couple months and help do some work on houses and interview more people. I'm looking forward to that trip!
1 comment:
Wow, I don't know what to say! That was an amazing blog, and it's neat to have an insight as to what you do! You should feel very good about yourself and how you help those people! I can't imagine how important that trip must have been to you! I have to say, knowing that they are getting new houses makes it easier to read. I was totally depressed until I saw the light at the end of the tunnel.
Go back and look at my post on your recipe entry. It doesn't seem fitting to leave that update here!
Keep us posted! I loved reading about your experience!
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