ASP Team Heading to “Almost Heaven, WV”
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For the 24th time in 25 years First Church will send a youth mission team to serve with the Appalachia Service Project this summer. For years the ASP trip has been a hallmark of our congregation’s youth ministry program. Our team of 45 high school youth and college and adult leaders will depart on July 16 for Cabell County, West Virginia.
For a week the youth participants and adult leaders will sleep on air mattresses, wear the same grubby work clothes each day, eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch, drink lots of Gatorade, and work to make homes “warmer, safer, dryer” as the ASP motto states. Common home repair tasks during an ASP trip include siding, roofing, installing insulation, and building accessible ramps.
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Equally important to the home repairs are the relationships these young people build with the homeowners and vice versa. The experience is truly that of walking in another’s shoes, finding common ground, and feeling God’s presence. At the close of each hot, sweaty, exhausting day, the team gathers to sing and share “God moments.”
Although ASP is a no-frills trip, the cost is significant. Rental fees and gas (!) for 10 large vans for a week, tools (yes, safety training is a thing), Covid test kits (new protocol this year), gatorade, snacks, and scholarships for some of the youth really add up.
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Support the 2022 ASP Mission Trip
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The ability to send young people on this potentially life changing experience with ASP depends heavily on the support of this congregation.
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Today, June 9th, the First Church ASP leadership team launches a virtual Silent Auction. The auction features items and services donated by the youth, their families, and local businesses. Church members, friends, all who want to support the cause are invited to bid online.
Of course, donations of any amount are always welcome online (choose “ASP donation” from the dropdown menu) or in the form of checks made out to First UMC with ASP in the memo line.
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How Does a Virtual Silent Auction Work?
Actually, it’s pretty straightforward on the platform we use. The auction link takes you to a webpage with a menu of options at the top. First, register (and do that now) so you can bid as soon as the bidding begins today. To view the items for bidding, click on auction. The menu option donate is another way to straight out give to this great cause.
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