By Jessie Fossenkemper
Smith River Site Director, from Gilbert United Methodist Church
Beautiful does not even begin to describe Smith River. And when I say beautiful, I do not just mean the redwood trees, the sparking Smith River, or the miles of greenery that surrounded us. I also mean the people. With each person that we met on our recent site visit, I grew more and more excited to be working with them, and in the community.
With each person that we met on our recent site visit, I grew more and more excited to be working with them, and in the community.
We drove in early Sunday morning and had the opportunity to speak in front of the Smith River United Methodist Church who will be hosting our site for the third summer. The congregation welcomed us with open arms, told us funny stories from the last two summers, and expressed their excitement for our arrival. After sharing lunch with them, and listening to a little history about the community we left to begin meeting with some of the organizations and people my staff and I would be working with this summer.
The congregation welcomed us with open arms
We have so many wonderful and exciting projects lined up. Volunteers will help out with the Tolowa Dunes Stewards, and possibly even paint a mural with a local artist at an animal shelter. I’m also very excited at the prospect of working with the Tolowa Tribe to complete some home repairs.
Even after the short three days that I spent exploring the community I can tell that this summer is going to be full of love, laughter, a lot of hard work, and so much more. I feel very blessed that I get the opportunity to spend my summer learning, working, and living in this new place, and I cannot wait to spend it with all of you lucky enough to be joining us in Smith River!
Editor’s Note: SSP is excited to be returning to Smith River in the summer of 2016, register today!
