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Jacob’s Creek Christian School to help with mission work

By Frances Borsodi Zajac 7 min read

The satisfaction of helping others convinced members of Jacob’s Creek Christian School in German Township to return to Fairmont, W.Va., this summer to participate in mission work. “I had a lot of fun last year helping people,’ said Jamie Jenkins, 14, of Point Marion. “I think everybody should get involved.’

The school sent a team that included youths Brandon Radosevich, Vince Pahula, Kaleb Berdar, Ian Morley, Nathan Smith, Jamie Jenkins, Sabbath Friend, Nathan Kelley, Brianna Zinn, Marque Leech and Sarah Kennedy as well as principal Norma Kelley and her husband, Harold.

They made the trip June 17-24 with a missions program operated by Impact, which Norma Kelley learned about through the Presbyterian Church of America. The principal liked the program and felt the short distance from home – about an hour – and the structured program would work for middle school students.

Prior to joining Jacob’s Creek Christian School, a middle school for students in sixth, seventh and eighth grades that opened in the fall of 2004 in Jacob’s Creek Lutheran Church, many of the youths had been students at Mount Moriah Christian School, an elementary school located at Mount Moriah Baptist Church in Smithfield. At Mount Moriah, they did good works by participating in philanthropy programs such as the Heifer Project and Operation Christmas Child.

But as they moved to middle school, Jacob’s Creek offered the students to increase their participation.

“Now that they’re older, it’s a good time to experience what a missionary does,’ said Norma Kelley. “The Bible says what we do for others is service to the Lord. We wanted them to experience that.’

Both in 2005 and 2006, the Jacob’s Creek team stayed in Camp MarMac, a 4-H camp in Marion County, W.Va., and met missionaries from other states who also participated in the program.

This year, the Jacob’s Creek team included some new faces.

Kaleb Berdar, 12, of Smithfield and a sixth-grade student at Jacob’s Creek, said, “I like to work a lot and I thought it would be fun to work for the Lord. I got to meet new friends and help out somebody who needed help.’

Sarah Kennedy, 12, of Smithfield and a seventh-grade student at Jacob’s Creek, said, “I wanted to help the people we worked for and try to do a nice job. … I liked it. I liked helping the people. I liked meeting new friends from around the country.’

Those who had participated before were eager to return.

Jenkins, 14, who will be home-schooled this fall and is entering ninth grade, said, “I liked helping people.’

Smith, 14, of Point Marion, who will be entering ninth grade at Albert Gallatin High School, said, “It was fun last year to help the people of the community.’

Morley, 14, who will now attend ninth grade at Trinity Christian School in Morgantown, said, “I wanted to get back down there. I went the year before and had a lot of fun. I liked the people I worked for last year and wanted to see them again.’

The people included Nina Moore, 73, who has been in wheelchair since she was a child because of a neuromuscular disease and lives alone with the help of a caretaker.

Morley said, “We went down there and celebrated her birthday. It was a week before. Nathan and his mom baked a cake and we celebrated.’

Asked what they thought of Moore, Nathan Kelley said, “Kind.’

Kennedy noted, “She was thankful for what we were going to do.’

Berdar said, “She was fun to be around – a good person to know because she was close to the Lord.’

Nathan Kelley also told the story about Moore fighting for voting rights for the handicapped. Kelley had reported last year that Moore was turned away from voting several years ago because the voting booth was upstairs in a building that was not accessible to the handicapped. Upset, Moore wrote letters to the governor and state officials that resulted in West Virginia passing the Nina Moore Amendment that requires that voting be made accessible to those who are handicapped. They have to be able to vote at the building or have the materials brought to them.

The team also worked this year for Cheryl Tate, 58, a widow who was off work because of an injury. The youths enjoyed working with Tate as well.

“She’s the kindest person you’d ever meet,’ said Nathan Kelley. “She did everything and worked for us.’

He told the story of the youths having to wait for transportation from her house back to the camp because a van broke down. As they sat waiting, Tate asked if they were hungry and made them popcorn.

“When it was hot, she’d bring us water,’ said Kennedy.

Last year, the team helped Moore by power-washing her wheelchair ramp and sealing it. This year, they put another coat on the deck.

They helped Tate by painting the outside of her one-story house: green with white trim. They also planted flowers in front of her house in anticipation of a visit by Tate’s brother for the Independence Day holiday.

The teams also had Bible study, devotions and speakers in the evenings. Up early and with such busy days, the youths became very tired.

“We would sleep through the alarm,’ Kennedy said.

But the youths agreed the trip was worthwhile.

Sabbath Friend, 12, of Fairchance, who is in seventh grade at Jacob’s Creek, said, “I liked being with friends and helping people and getting to know the people we helped.’

Their families agreed.

Tonya Friend, Sabbath’s stepmother, said, “It teaches them a good bit of responsibility and they should help others before they do for themselves.’

Ann Berdar, Kaleb’s mother, said, “I felt it was a blessing. I can see a change in Kaleb. He enjoyed helping others.’

She noted her son also learned from seeing people living in different conditions and that the people could maintain good attitudes despite any hardships they had.

“I’m glad the kids were able to experience that,’ she said.

Jacob’s Creek School prepared for this mission trip throughout the school year, hosting fund-raisers and sending out prayer support letters. Two churches offered help: New Geneva Baptist and Redeemed Baptist Church in Lake Lynn.

The trip cost $450 per child, which covered room, board, insurance and materials for the projects. The members also brought materials with them, such as paintbrushes. They were also told to pack long pants and tennis shoes for working.

The school plans to make another trip last year and will start fund-raising with the new academic year. The team would also appreciate any donations from local churches. This year’s team represented many local churches, including Jacob’s Lutheran, Redeemed Baptist, Mount Moriah, New Geneva Baptist, Faith Assembly of God in Uniontown, Glad Tidings Assembly of God in McClellandtown and Greene Valley Presbyterian in Carmichaels.

Norma Kelley asked the youths what lessons they learned from the trip.

“Patience,’ answered Kennedy.

Jacob’s Creek Christian School will hold an orientation for the coming school year at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18, at the school, located at 342 Lutheran Church Road in German Township.

For more information, call principal Norma Kelley at 724-883-2160 or teacher Kellie Sullivan at 724-569-2853 or the school at 724-583-9040.

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