River of Life Continues: Churches Help Locals With Household Projects

By Alexander Cain, The Union-Recorder, Milledgeville, Ga.

Jul. 12–Thirteen-year-old Casey Wood of Milledgeville could normally be out on Lake Sinclair or at a local park playing ball — but instead he spent it helping to construct a wheelchair ramp for Juliette Simmons’ home on West Montgomery Street.

“It’s been hot. We’ve had to sit on the porch a lot and drink a lot of water to stay hydrated,” Wood said.

Wood, a member of the First United Methodist Church of Milledgeville, is one of 285 youth and adults from nine churches assisting individuals and families in Baldwin, Putnam and Wilkinson Counties with household chores and the creation or repair of roofs, wheelchair ramps and miscellaneous yard work duties.

“We have 31 sites to complete in three days, and we started Thursday,” organizer and Milledgeville FUMC member Marty Sirmans said. “We will attempt to build 20 wheelchair ramps. This may not be a Guinness Book record but it certainly will be for us!”

One of those ramps was under construction at 2275 Leo Court, where seven youth were found sweaty but determined shortly after 2 p.m. Friday.

“It’s been really fun. We’ve been sawing and hammering all day,” Anna Beth Fazil from Wesley United Methodist Church in Augusta said. “This is a chance to get closer to God and do something good for the community at the same time.”

Nearby, Kendall King, 14, wiped a sweat-covered brow and began picking up materials scattered during the day’s construction.

“It’s been hard, but it’s been worth it. This is my first time in Milledgeville. I like it a lot, and I’m hoping to see more of the city later,” King said.

Across town at 916 W. Montgomery St., Juliette Simmons joined the youth and adults constructing a wheelchair ramp for her residence in a quick devotion and prayer service on her front porch.

With the smell of sawdust still in the air, Simmons recounted her own experiences and testified to her faith in God — now made stronger with the appearance of the group at her home that is expected to complete the ramp on Saturday.

“I’m thrilled about all of this. They seem to know what they’re doing. I heard about this program earlier in the year, and I’m happy that all of them are here,” Simmons said.

Gary Nichols is the associate pastor of Greensboro First United Methodist Church, and was one of the crew that manned the Simmons site Thursday and Friday.

“Saturdays are strange days,” Nichols said as he spoke to the weary yet bright-eyed youth on Simmons’ front porch. “Some crews get done by mid-afternoon, and some work until 4 — 5 p.m. If we finish early, I’m sure that there will be another site that we can visit that will be able to use some extra help.”

It’s that determination and spiritual fortitude that has brought these churches together.

Milledgeville’s FUMC has been joined by Gray United Methodist Church, Hopewell United Methodist Church, Greensboro First United Methodist Church, Hartwell First United Methodist Church, Jones Chapel United Methodist Church in Danielsville, Wesley United Methodist Church in Evans and two churches from LaGrange to complete the 31 sites in a little under three days.

“In order to provide this mission to the community, we have had support from many individuals, local organizations, businesses, and our congregation at FUMC. The participants also pay a fee to come and serve others in the name of Christ. Our prayer is that these young people will go stronger in their faith by what they experience this week,” Sirmans said.

Her prayers seem to have been answered. Speaking with some of the youth on these projects, one can easily see the passion and the love for Christ and their fellow man that has been brought with them into the Milledgeville and Central Georgia community.

“It’s been going well. We’ve been hammering and picking up stuff all day and even washed the house,” Antoine Minor, 13, said as he ended the day at Simmons’ home. “It was hard — but lots of fun.”

For Milledgeville FUMC member Linda Hodges, those are words she hopes to hear from all the participants as they return to the Days Inn each afternoon for rest, relaxation and a dip in the hotel’s pool.

“It’s a good way to be with the kids and lets them help out locals. Some of these projects are difficult, requiring lots of measurements and even some carpentry skills,” Hodges said.

But despite the difficulties, youth such as 13-year-old Kiersten Council from Milledgeville FUMC will continue their work through Sunday as they finish the projects and begin saying good-bye to what will surely be lifelong friends made during this three-day impacting event.

“I’ve participated in River of life four times. Each project is different. The wheelchair ramp was a hard one to do,” Council said.

Back at the Days Inn, Diane “Motel Momma” Deariso oversees the transportation and room arrangements for the more than 200 youth as they head for the swimming pool to cool off from the 90-degree temperatures that they’ve stood under for most of the day.

With a theme of ‘Divin’ In the River of Life,” some of the youth choose to take that literally and splash into the cooler waters of the pool as they discuss the day’s activities with each other.

“The kids are all well-behaved and really seem to have a good time. This is a great program,” Deariso said.

The River of Life program has occurred in Milledgeville for 11 years through the Milledgeville First United Methodist Church.

Each year brings churches together from across the state for a single purpose in assisting, ministering and uniting the local community.

The 2008 River of Life program is expected to conclude at Milledgeville FUMC Sunday morning with a worship service at the church’s Log Cabin Road location.

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