By Gary Neuenschwander
For the Times
MONROE - Their journey began at 5 a.m. on June 9.
It took them more than 1,000 miles, allowed them to witness a culture different than their own and provided them with the opportunity to assist others.
It taught them about listening, about serving, about gratitude and friendship. And the journey isn't over.
Monroe High School students Alex Hendrickson, Ben Prophett, Eric Bush, Dan Hauck, Carter Atkins, Allison Crubaugh and Ramsey Benkert, all members of St. John's United Church of Christ, traveled to Cortez, Colo., for a week-long work trip where they lent a helping hand to those in need.
It was an eye-opening experience.
"I learned so much," Crubaugh said recently. "There was seeing and meeting the people of Cortez and working and living with those from a different culture. And there was so much poverty. We hear about it but we really don't see it here."
"It really made us grateful for what we all have and take for granted," Prophett added.
The seven, along with advisers Alison Phillips, Jason and Jasmine Leopold, were part of YouthWorks mission program designed especially for high school-aged students and aimed at providing participants with new experiences in a hands-on working environment.
The local teens traveled to Cortez by van. Located in the southwest corner of Colorado, the area is known as the archaeological center of America. To the north are the Rocky Mountains, to the south are desert plains. The region is home to Mesa Verde National Park and Cortez boasts a population of approximately 8,500. Approximately 20 percent of Cortez residents live below the poverty level. Nearly 19 percent of the residents in the county have no health insurance.
The group joined other youth and adults from four churches during their stay. Their time was divided between work projects and Kids club. Work projects included painting houses, performing minor home repairs and cleaning up debris. Kids Club involved leading games, crafts, skits, songs and lessons to children - and adults - of all ages.
"We were told in our orientation session that the children who come to Kids Club come from the poorest street in the nation," Phillips said. "But they were the happiest kids I've ever seen and looked so forward to our group arriving each day."
"Just seeing their faces light up made everything so worthwhile," Prophett added.
The group stayed in a church, sleeping in church school rooms. In addition to working off-site, they were all responsible for cooking their meals and clean-up and participated in evening programs where they had time to mingle with others their own age.
"Each night, there was a time when individuals were recognized for their efforts during the day," Phillips said. "Every single day, members of our group were recognized. I constantly heard praise for our group throughout the week about their willingness to work hard no matter what the task was. And in every task, people noted the optimism of our kids. I was so proud of how they represented St. John's and the Monroe community."
Phillips said while the group worked hard, there was time for sight-seeing and fun as well.
"Past trips have been out East so I wanted the kids to experience a new location and new challenges as they learned," she said. Highlights included a visit to Great Divide National Park, an overnight in Denver, a snowball fight in June and "miles and miles of magnificent scenery," Crubaugh said, as well as meeting others from around the country.
The group also came back with a special memento - a hand-crafted horsehair pottery vase they successfully bid on at an auction. The vase was crafted by a Navajo woman who explained the art form to the group. Horsehair pottery is a handcrafted art of making one-of-a-kind designs on pottery using horsehair as soon as the pots are taken from the kiln.
The vase was given to the church from the group.
Phillips is already making plans for next year when she will lead a group to Wind River, Wyo. Both Prophett and Crubaugh, who have gone on past trips, hope to be a part of the Wyoming trip.
But both say it's more than just a week long-trip. The Monroe group ranged in age from freshmen to seniors, Phillips said, and really bonded. "By the time we arrived in Cortez, we were a close group. Hopefully, that closeness will continue.
"It really is a journey," Phillips said. "We learned to understand others and what it means to serve and to work as a group. The journey has started but it's only started. It's far from over."
For the Times
MONROE - Their journey began at 5 a.m. on June 9.
It took them more than 1,000 miles, allowed them to witness a culture different than their own and provided them with the opportunity to assist others.
It taught them about listening, about serving, about gratitude and friendship. And the journey isn't over.
Monroe High School students Alex Hendrickson, Ben Prophett, Eric Bush, Dan Hauck, Carter Atkins, Allison Crubaugh and Ramsey Benkert, all members of St. John's United Church of Christ, traveled to Cortez, Colo., for a week-long work trip where they lent a helping hand to those in need.
It was an eye-opening experience.
"I learned so much," Crubaugh said recently. "There was seeing and meeting the people of Cortez and working and living with those from a different culture. And there was so much poverty. We hear about it but we really don't see it here."
"It really made us grateful for what we all have and take for granted," Prophett added.
The seven, along with advisers Alison Phillips, Jason and Jasmine Leopold, were part of YouthWorks mission program designed especially for high school-aged students and aimed at providing participants with new experiences in a hands-on working environment.
The local teens traveled to Cortez by van. Located in the southwest corner of Colorado, the area is known as the archaeological center of America. To the north are the Rocky Mountains, to the south are desert plains. The region is home to Mesa Verde National Park and Cortez boasts a population of approximately 8,500. Approximately 20 percent of Cortez residents live below the poverty level. Nearly 19 percent of the residents in the county have no health insurance.
The group joined other youth and adults from four churches during their stay. Their time was divided between work projects and Kids club. Work projects included painting houses, performing minor home repairs and cleaning up debris. Kids Club involved leading games, crafts, skits, songs and lessons to children - and adults - of all ages.
"We were told in our orientation session that the children who come to Kids Club come from the poorest street in the nation," Phillips said. "But they were the happiest kids I've ever seen and looked so forward to our group arriving each day."
"Just seeing their faces light up made everything so worthwhile," Prophett added.
The group stayed in a church, sleeping in church school rooms. In addition to working off-site, they were all responsible for cooking their meals and clean-up and participated in evening programs where they had time to mingle with others their own age.
"Each night, there was a time when individuals were recognized for their efforts during the day," Phillips said. "Every single day, members of our group were recognized. I constantly heard praise for our group throughout the week about their willingness to work hard no matter what the task was. And in every task, people noted the optimism of our kids. I was so proud of how they represented St. John's and the Monroe community."
Phillips said while the group worked hard, there was time for sight-seeing and fun as well.
"Past trips have been out East so I wanted the kids to experience a new location and new challenges as they learned," she said. Highlights included a visit to Great Divide National Park, an overnight in Denver, a snowball fight in June and "miles and miles of magnificent scenery," Crubaugh said, as well as meeting others from around the country.
The group also came back with a special memento - a hand-crafted horsehair pottery vase they successfully bid on at an auction. The vase was crafted by a Navajo woman who explained the art form to the group. Horsehair pottery is a handcrafted art of making one-of-a-kind designs on pottery using horsehair as soon as the pots are taken from the kiln.
The vase was given to the church from the group.
Phillips is already making plans for next year when she will lead a group to Wind River, Wyo. Both Prophett and Crubaugh, who have gone on past trips, hope to be a part of the Wyoming trip.
But both say it's more than just a week long-trip. The Monroe group ranged in age from freshmen to seniors, Phillips said, and really bonded. "By the time we arrived in Cortez, we were a close group. Hopefully, that closeness will continue.
"It really is a journey," Phillips said. "We learned to understand others and what it means to serve and to work as a group. The journey has started but it's only started. It's far from over."
