The 2016 Hometown Missions Youth Event was a great success! For the second year running this mission-oriented event was hosted simultaneously in two separate convocations, spreading our service throughout the state.
Nine youth and seven adults gathered together in Albany to put the finishing touches on a Habitat for Humanity build. Volunteers painted siding, planted shrubs along the house, and built food-garden beds out of salvaged materials with cotton gin-compost donated by Deacon Leeann Culbreath. The youth were able to meet, worship with, and work alongside the family that will be moving into this new house next week. It was a beautiful day full of laughter, dirt, and power-drills!
Twenty-three youth and six adults worked to clear the overgrown Butler Cemetery and lay a brick paver path to the gravesite of Liverpool Hazzard, the last freed slave in McIntosh County, Georgia. Creating the path included relocating dirt by wheelbarrow to even the land out, as well as moving hundreds of brick pavers by hand.
Thanks to all the kids, adults, and to the community of St. Andrew’s and St. Cyprian’s for their support, for providing delicious meals, and for planning water games for a hot afternoon!
All together, youth and adults from around the Diocese completed over 450 hours of service in their communities. Hands-on volunteer service is not only a great way to learn more about your community, it is the best route to understanding God’s call to love and serve ourselves and our communities.
You can find more photos at the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia Youth Facebook page.
