Throughout the spring, Trinity members prepared for the annual mission trip to assist in the rural Applachian region. Besides collecting items for the house kits and stuffing the truck with furniture and other supplies, a group of volunteers from Trinity was also readied themselves for trip to the region to serve in a hands-on capacity as they Engage the World.
The team of volunteers left on June 9 to help the Helping Appalachian Rural People, or HARP, mission in southeast Ohio. The Appalachian region has high poverty and unemployment rates. The area also faces low education levels, poor infrastructure and few government assistance program options. Without the necessary skills and tools to better thmselves, the problem of proverty continues into the next generation. The HARP mission has dedicated itself to serving the people in this region. The mission of the organization is, "To transform the spiritual and physical lives of people in need." The goal of HARP is the help low-income families "to gown, prosper and break free from the limitations of their location."
One of the ways they get help is through volunteer groups that visit the area throughout the year. Through their work for the with the low-income families, which includes seniors, disabled adults and veterans, the teams are truly the hands and feet of Jesus. They perform repairs and help with construction. While doing this work, they often interact with homeowners or others from the area, getting know them, share the love of Jesus and live out their faith.
Trinity's HARP team consists of adults and youth. The opprotunity to serve together has created bonds among them that last beyond the week-long mission trip.
To learn more about HARP, visit the HARP website. To participate in future Trinity HARP mission trip, watch the announcer and our website for more information after January 2025.