Adult Education at Red Bird

Like many volunteer couples, Elvera "Al" Zunk and her husband, Bob, began full-time mission service after their retirement in 1988. A year later, they came as long-term volunteers to Red Bird Mission in Beverly, Kentucky—a program of the Red Bird Missionary Conference, located in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains. While Bob led work teams in doing maintenance projects, Al initially taught and tutored students at the mission school. After her husband's death, she stayed on to work with the medical transportation and meals-on-wheels programs, then received training to teach physical fitness to senior adults.

For the past three years, the 73-year-old volunteer has directed an adult education program, helping clients earn General Equivalency Diplomas (GEDs) in order to obtain decent jobs and seek higher education. She credits supportive prayers, greetings, and "little love notes" from her home church and her family and friends with keeping her uplifted in her work.

One typical former student recounts her story of becoming a teen mother, dropping out of high school, and working "low-paying dead-end jobs, trying to keep food on the table."

"I gave up for a while until I realized I needed to give my child a better future," she said. "I changed jobs, completed my GED, and now have a supervisory level position with my employer. Completing my GED allows me to consider going to college to continue improving my life. Without support and encouragement from Al Zunk, I might not be a success story today."