St. James’ Youth

Group’s Workcam

p Trip 2009

OperationFacelift Workcamp

Reading, Pennsylvania

(Berks County, Southeastern Pa.)

June 20 – 28, 2009

The St. James’ Workcampers

About Reading, PA• As far back as the American Revolution,

Reading's iron industry had a total production which exceeded that of England

• Reading Railroad, incorporated 1833, was one of the most prosperous corporations in the U.S.; fortune based on transportation of anthracite coal; forced into bankruptcy in the 1970s

• Population reached nearly 120,000 in the 1930s; then shrank to about 80,000

• Hispanic residents 37.3% of the population by 2000*

• Median household income $26,698 in 1999; 26.1% of persons are below the poverty level*

•* US Census Bureau QuickFacts, (http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/42/4263624.html)

We stayed in dorms at Alvernia University – Unusual for a workcamp!

Reading Workcamp Stats

• number of youth participants: ~ 280 • number of adult participants: ~ 68• number of workcrews: 58• number of worksites : 54 homes• volunteer hours of service (30 hrs x 348

participants) = 10,440 combined hours!

Some Sites St. James’ People worked on . . .

Some Sites St. James’ People Worked On . . .

The back of the house View out the back from 2nd floor porch

Some Sites St. James’ People Worked On . . .

Some Sites St. James’ People Worked On . . .

Before

After

Some Sites St. James’ People Worked On . . .

Some Sites St. James’ People Worked On . . .

Some Sites St. James’ People Worked On . . .

Some Sites St. James’ People Worked On . . .

Some Sites St. James’ People Worked On . . .

Some Sites St. James’ People Worked On . . .

Some Sites St. James’ People Worked On . . .

Some Sites St. James’ People Worked On . . .

Some Sites St. James’ People Worked On . . .

Theme: RevealThe daily devotions and evening

programs built on the overall theme of REVEALing the Lord. Our Bible studies

focused on these themes each day:

Monday: Hope for the Poor (Luke 6:20)Tuesday: Release for the Captives (Genesis 34:29)

Wednesday: Sight to the Blind (1 Samuel 16:7) Thursday: Freedom for the Oppressed (Isaiah 58:6-7)Friday: The Day of the Lord's Favor (Psalm 107:1-9)

Lunch and worksite devotions

Personal Reflections

Mary Albrecht

Just as you excel in everything—in faith, in

speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness

and in your love for us—see that you also excel in

this grace of giving.2 Cor 8:7

Things We Remember from our Trip

- meeting our resident- meeting my crew (from all different states)- youth group devotions- God Sightings at the worksites- seeing God all the time now- meeting new people and making friends

(These memories were written by our

workcampers at the end of the trip)

More Memories . . .

- getting closer with the resident- getting to know my crewmates and working with them- helping the needy- singing fun songs- working as a community- getting closer to God- chilling with new Christian friends

More Memories . . .

- seeing our resident's face light up- getting to know others in the youth group better- seeing how happy our resident was when we finished- seeing my own actions in a different way through the programs and devotions- growing a lot closer to some of my friends- talking to my resident

More Memories . . .

-hearing our resident's life stories, his advice, and how it reflected what we were learning in the programs-learning how to reveal God through myself-feeling love from my crew-amazing music at the programs-feeling closer to God-working together-seeing God's love spread through the community

More Information

St. James’ Youth Group Web site

http://www.stjamespotomac.org/youth

(click on “Workcamps 2000-”)