JACKSONVILLE —
The Texas Conference of the United Methodist Action Reach-out Mission by Youth was in Jacksonville for its Christmas camp, which began the day after Christmas and ended Friday, building and fixing homes for people in need.
There were a total of 86 participants for the Christmas camp of which 51 were high school, students, 21 were college students and the remainder were adults, Marla Matthews, programs director, said.
The youths were from different areas of Texas including Houston, Clear Spring, Nacogdoches, Del Rio and League City.
“Right now we're doing anything from building walls and doors for family who need extra space, building ramps and porches, building stairs or installing rails in bathrooms for elderly,” she said.
Matthews said most of the participants hear about the organization through their local Methodist churches, but in the past, Baptist, Catholics, and youth with no church backgrounds have also participated.
“Our focus is the mission and working to help the people who need it,” she said.
Matthews said this is the fifth Christmas camp U.M. Army has done and this year's theme was peace, love and Christmas. The theme scripture was Colossians 3:15, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
“Each year we do this in different locations,” Matthews said. “U.M. Army also has 36 camps during the summer and one during spring break.”
“The students give up about a week of their time to help someone else out,” she said.
Jack Matthews and his team of six were out at a house on South Bonner Street, turning an old car porch into an extra room.
Matthews said U.M. Army calls local groups, such as Meals on Wheels and healthcare providers to let them know how many participants will be in town, and ask these groups to pick the residents they see need help.
Jack Matthews said he has participated in more than nine camps and the reaction of the clients is what keeps him coming back.
“At the end of the program, happy clients didn't expect this age of kids to do something like this and it makes it all worth it,” he said.
Matthews said although he was leading the team, everyone has a vital role in getting the job done.
“It's a team effort to get things done,” he said. “No one person is in charge.”
Ryan Foster, freshman at Stephen F. Austin State University, said this is her fourth Christmas camp she has attended and her seventh U.M. Army camp.
“You grow a family when you're here,” she said. “You really do.”
Foster said she has gained building experience throughout the camp projects.
“This is my first wall,” she said, “I don't do those much,” she said.
Another team was on its second day making repairs to a home down the road.
Summer McLemore said her team made repairs to a roof and made a handrail for the homeowner's stairs after she had fallen.
Christian Tallant, a senior at Bridge City High School in Bridge City, said this is her first Christmas camp and her fifth U.M Army. She said when she first started out, it was for selfish reasons.
“I was one of the older kids in my church, and I wanted to be the one who was doing things,” she said. “Now, it's hard to describe. It feels really good to see them (the clients) so happy.”
Zach Pritchard, a sophomore at Clear Spring High School, said the reason he joined was because he enjoys helping other people.
“It was nice to give them a late Christmas present,”he said.
Living
Related Photos
-
From left to right, Ryan Foster, Katelyn Arrington, Casey Chelton and Keanon Williams were turning a car porch into an extra room on Thursday for their Christmas camp with U.M. Army. Progress photo by Marivel Resendiz
Discussion
UM Army in Jacksonville
- Living
-
-
Field Day
About 61 children with special needs from five schools competed and played at the Cherokee County Special Education Coop's annual field day on Friday.
-
Bob Bowman's East Texas: Casablanca’s East Texan
When you talk to East Texas movie buffs about their favorite all-time films, the one everyone places near the top is Casablanca, a seventy-year-old love story made in 1942 starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman.
-
Lescroart’s ‘The Hunter’ a psychological drama
The Hunter
By John Lescroart
Rather than a straight mystery by this prolific writer of suspense, The Hunter is a psychological drama, set in motion when Wyatt Hunt, a private investigator, receives an enigmatic text on his cell phone: How did your mother die?
-
Preserving a wild and scenic river
The Neches River has been a lifeline for Cherokee County residents for centuries. Not only has the river provided a water source for irrigating crops, it has also provided fishing, recreation and transportation for residents living on the stretch.
-
‘After high school comes college’
Children are classified as future leaders of the United States and educators are going above and beyond to guide them along the right path.
-
The Book Shelf
In order to escape a violent stalker who is protected by his wealthy parents, beautiful, intelligent Ellie Sullivan leaves home, assumes a new identity and pursues a career path as a surgeon. Jogging on the last day of her residency, she observes a couple fleeing from an FBI sting gone wrong.
-
Civic Theater announces cast members For ‘Dearly Departed’
Living and dying in the backwoods of the Deep South are seldom tidy, but, in the case of the dysfunctional Turpin family, are rib-tickling hilarious!
-
Middle School student accepted to summer program
Jacksonville Middle School 8th graders and Duke Scholars Evan Murphy and Swanson Traylor have recently been accepted to the Duke Summer Studies program at Texas A&M.
-
Church event aids Relay for Life
Jacksonville First United Methodist Church recently held a 1OK/5K run benefiting the Cherokee County Cancer Relay for Life. The event route, designed by Paul Travis and Greg Wade, was ran by 70 participants from several states.
-
Lion Vic Whadford Speaks to Rusk Lions About His Life
PDG Lion President Ardys Brown opened the meeting by calling on Lion Billy Watson for the invocation, Lion Jim Cromwell to lead the pledges and Lion Jim Richings to lead the singing. Special guest was Boots Burfoot.
- More Living Headlines
-
Franciscan Files Tell Stories of Priest Abuse
Wildfire Destroys 2 Homes
Flight Diverted After Suspicious Note
Panel Recommends Against Routine Prostate Test
Remains of Veterans Found in Basement Are Buried
Fired Lingerie Employee Claims Discrimination
Joplin Remembers Deadly Tornado, 1 Year Later
Serial Stabbings Suspect Guilty of Murder
Facebook Shares Continue Negative Slide
8 Hurt in Oklahoma Shooting After NBA Playoff
US Airways: Diverted Flight Has 'Landed Safely'
A Few Odd Business Sparks but Europe Gloomy
Revived Focus on Regulation After JPMorgan Loss
Gerard Butler: the Good, the Bad and the Cannes
At Least 25 Dead in India Train Collision
Raw Video: Private Rocket Blasts Off
Boy to Rescuers: 'Do You Have a Plan?'
Doctors and Devotees Debate Barefoot Running
Blacks Seek to Find Their Own Missing
Houston Museum Unveils $85 Million Dinosaur Hall
