top of page
Search

Meaningful Relationships - Old Man Winter - KPAP Saves Hundreds - Prayer Time!!

Writer's picture: Tim CrawfordTim Crawford
The Friday Finish – January 24, 2025

Physical Improvements and Meaningful Relationships Bring Joy

As the snow falls and the temperature drops, the projects don't stop for Red Bird Mission Work Camp. Brad Kulp (Work Camp Volunteer Manager), Bobby Bowling (Work Camp Resource Manager), and the Work Camp crew leaders spend the winter working on various projects and home repairs for the Red Bird Mission Campus. The crew has dedicated weeks installing new floors in a few apartment complexes, as well as installing a brand new laundry room on the second floor of the Cardinal House Kitchen.


The Work Camp crew leaders are also actively making preparations during winter for the home improvement projects in the upcoming spring. D.J. Fee, Project Coordinator, and crew leaders visit the homes of the community applicants each fall to make assessments of the repairs and projects needed. A meeting is then scheduled discussing the priority of each home repair project.


The impact of the Red Bird Mission Work Camp Program extends beyond just physical improvements to homes; they create meaningful relationships with residents on campus and in the community. Everyone who has been impacted by the program expresses gratitude for the assistance provided, noting how it has transformed not only their living conditions, but also transformed their lives by bringing them joy.


If you want to make a positive impact on the communities of Southeastern Kentucky, the Red Bird Mission Work Camp has openings for volunteer crew leaders who are eager to offer their time and skills assisting with various projects for the upcoming summer program. The Work Camp Program offers lodging and various accommodations for volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, you may contact Brad at bkulp@rbmission.org.


Volunteers are a crucial part of the program, but donations and supplies are needed, too. Donations of various items needed for the cabins have been graciously received. New or gently used mattresses are still being sought out as well as a list of supplies for the Cardinal House Kitchen. Tools such as drill bits, screws and sockets are only a few listed items needed to carry out various projects and repairs for the families in the community. To inquire about the list of tools and supplies needed for the Work Camp Program you can also contact Brad.


Colossians 3:23 - "Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.”


Old Man Winter Keeps Hanging On

“Old Man Winter” took a trip to the Deep South this week leaving accumulating snow on the beaches, but he left the back door open here in southeast Kentucky. Frigid temperatures rolled in on MLK weekend keeping most schools in our region closed until the end of the week. Low temperatures dropped to the single digits with wind chills below zero and highs stayed below freezing.


Red Bird Christian School students used the last NTI (Non-Traditional Instruction) Day allowable by Kentucky Department of Education guidelines and two “traditional snow days” this week due to icy road conditions. Students were called back for classes today because forecasters were calling for a low chance of light flurries. However, snow began falling this morning blanketing the parking lots at times after the school day began and continuing into the afternoon.


Unfortunately, hunger didn’t leave town this week. The extreme cold and icy conditions hampered monthly food box pickups for Family to Family and Gap Pantry recipients at Community Outreach this week. Candace, Family Ministries Coordinator, said that some are also dealing with no water in their homes due to frozen pipes. The water kiosk at the Red Bird Farmer’s Market pavilion even froze up one night but people are again using that source. Candace also said that neighbors are helping neighbors with water and bathroom access in some locations.


Tammy, Red Bird Mission Elderly Ministries Coordinator, said that getting meals delivered has been especially challenging this month because of icy roads. Her staff has been able to reach every household only one day this month and one other day were unable to deliver to every home. They had planned to make a delivery today but pulled her staff back when the road conditions became hazardous quickly this morning. The DeWall Center has been closed to in person activities since January 2nd, but Tammy stays in touch with the participants to make sure all are safe and have essentials.


KPAP Saves Hundreds Each Month

With the New Year upon us, it brings with it the onset of restarting insurance deductibles for medications and different pricing for medications.  Thankfully, community residents served by Red Bird Mission have certified Community Health Workers on staff trained to help navigate the Kentucky Prescription Assistance Program (KPAP) of the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services.


Over the past couple of weeks, Colleen, Red Bird Community Health Coordinator, has been able to help three clients get much needed diabetic medications with the help of KPAP. Between the 3 clients she was able to help get 8 medications - all diabetic medications and 7 of those will be free to the clients.  Not all medications on the program are free, but most are at a lower price than from pharmacies. One medication was going to be over $600 each month and all 3 of the clients are on this medication, and with the KPAP program, it will be free to each of them. 


Colleen said,

“It’s rewarding to know Red Bird can help our clients in this way. God is so good and I feel His goodness over and over each time He allows me to help someone in need.” 

Colleen also shared a Bible verse for reflection, 3 John 1:3 – “Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.”



Prayer time!!


Colleen, Red Bird Community Health Coordinator, shared the following witness.


“I was helping with some homecare this week. This client lives alone and states that she looks forward to her visits each week.  I did as I always do, and asked what chores she had in mind for me to do.  The first one was to pick a song from her hymnal, and we would sing and have prayer time.  Now, I have had prayer time before with clients, but on my asking, not the client’s direction. So, I was excited to be asked.   We sang the first verse of “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” one of my very favorites.  She then immediately began to say a prayer for a particular someone she had heavy on her mind. 


“She sat down in her chair after praying and began to tell me how important it was to have social time with her homecare attendants, just as important to her as the cleaning and personal care they helped her with.  It touched my heart so much. I went to help her, but she ended up helping me, because God is so faithful and knows what we need before we know because, ‘Great is His faithfulness, morning by morning new mercies I see, all I have needed thy hand has provided, because great is his faithfulness Lord unto me.’”






109 views0 comments

Comments


bottom of page