by Ann Barber

Hinton Rural Life Center, a mission agency of the United Methodist Church, is nestled in the Southern Appalachian Mountains on a picturesque lake in western North Carolina, a few miles from Georgia.

Recently 36 Primetimes, 24 of them from Troy Conference, Vermont and Northeastern New York, had an opportunity to experience this area's rich mountain culture and to serve those with needs in the community. Primetimers is a program for people who are at least fifty years of age, that combines lectures and entertainment with construction and repair work.

At Hinton we learned about the Cherokee people of western North Carolina. We visited a folk school, a pottery studio and a glass studio and enjoyed Appalachian music and food. The group split up into small teams to build a ramp and deck rails for a blind woman; to garden; to sort and wash clothing and bedding; to wash windows; to tar a new foundation, paint, do odd jobs and build a pump house at the Center. This was a great opportunity to meet and get to know, United Methodists from Oregon to Virginia and North Carolina to Vermont put their Christian love into action.

Ann Barber is a member of First United Methodist Church, Burlington Vermont.

	See Also... Topic: Christian love |  GBGM programs |  Volunteers |  Older adults |  Geographic Region: United States |  Source: United Methodist Churches
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Date posted: Nov 18, 2003