Service Trip Reflection Day 3: Asha Beck and Genevieve Cowardin

We will remember today for a long time to come. We started the day off, bleary-eyed, at another house that had been almost put all up in a week in June. The owner, Cassie, is really looking forward for her and her three children to move in. We painted a second coat on most of the walls indoors and the trim on door frames and such. Some others worked outside with extra dirt to make the yard slope away from the house. After a half-day of work and mud caked on our shoes, we headed over to Koinonia Farm. This was an extremely rewarding and educational experience. We enjoyed a delicious, home grown meal there of baked potatoes, green beans, salad, and chocolate covered blueberries. The environment of a tight knit community with such kind hearts made all of us feel incredibly welcome and appreciated. We looked through the museum and talked with Alma Jackson (An African American gentleman who lived at Koinonia through the civil rights movement) and Bren Dunby (A current member in a leadership role at Koinonia), learning about its past, its future, and how much it has overcome. Next, we walked through the pecan making and packaging buildings, wearing hairnets and beard nets along the way. While we were strolling through, a bell rang for prayer time. At 10, 3, and 8 o’clock, the bell rings and invites everyone on the farm to take a moment of silence, reflection, and prayer. We found this meaningful and calming as we connected with God and the rest of the people on the farm. Then… coffee time. Many people on the farm gathered in the “coffee house” for social time and a break from work. We joined them and enjoyed pieces of melt-in–your–mouth chocolate, peanut brittle, and more chocolate covered blueberries. We soon made our way to the vans to head to the church. The van rides were full of drooping heads and sleepy faces, but back at the church, of course, our energy returned when we played body-body. 
The community feel of the farm and our youth group, appreciating the diversity of both, and getting to know each other better made the day quite lovely, meaningful, and inspiring.

Genevieve Cowardin and Asha Beck aka Jam and Squash