First Presbyterian Church continue Mission Trip tradition

Newton’s First Presbyterian Church and the Brooklyn Presbyterian Church spent its annual Work Week outreach mission at the Kemmerer Village in Assumption, Ill.

This is the second year the Brooklyn Church has participated with Newton, which has been performing outreach missions with high school students and adult advisors for more than 25 years. In addition to locations in Iowa, the mission trips have visited New Orleans; Galveston, Texas; Albuquerque, N.M.; Colorado; North and South Dakota; Illinois; Indiana; Michigan; Maryland; Nebraska and West Virginia.

Kemmerer Village, a private, non-profit human service agency, was established in 1914. Their mission is to support families and children who face stress and turmoil in their lives. The original farm was given to the community of Assumption by the Kemmerer family to be used as an orphanage. Over time, it evolved into a home for troubled youth providing a warm, supportive environment coupled with a highly structured daily program and an extensive array of professionally delivered treatment services.

Those participating in the 2015 mission trip were Chet Adams, Jordan Norvell, Josh Ventling, Dana Hashman, Steve Hopkins, Shirley Stevens, Mickey Van Baale and George Wilkening from First Presbyterian Church and Tony, Anna and Lara Hilpipre and Kaitlyn Hildebrand from Brooklyn Presbyterian Church.

While each participant pays a fee to go on the trip, the main fundraiser for the Presbyterian Church is its annual ice cream social held the first Tuesday in June. The Brooklyn group also holds fundraisers, and this year they held a baked potato bar. Money raised, along with the individual fees paid, go toward the cost of transportation, food, activities on “fun day” and the money needed to pay the location chosen for the Work Week team to serve.

The group stayed in the Retreat Center, a former barn refurbished to house mission groups. Meals were taken in the cafeteria with the residents, although the group was assigned their own table. Construction work consisted of replacing several doors, making and installing shelves in some closets, etc. There were also doors and trim to be painted, and work to be done in the barn, where the equestrian program is held.

The Work Week mission crew insists that they come away with more than they feel they give — an important message from everyone who attends, regardless of age.