BY DANI TIETZ
dani@sjodaily.com
Need isn’t always something you have to travel far to find.
This is what St. Joseph-Ogden graduate Rylee Sjuts learned when she joined the Immanuel Lutheran Church of Flatville team that served in Bear Branch, Ky., this summer.
Located in Kentucky’s Eastern Coal Field region, Leslie County — where Bear Branch is located — has seen a 5.9-percent drop in population as well as a 34.5-percent poverty rate over the last five years.
Trip chaperone Alyson Suits said some of the group, which included Eric Suits, Lindsay Suits, Michael Suits, Daniel Suits, Jean Palmer, Angela Palmer, Jessica Palmer, Jennifer Wayland, Karsten Wayland, Colin Wayland, Coley Wolken, Rylee Sjuts, Anna Crites and
Kyle Meccoli, had been to Bear Branch with St. John Lutheran of Royal in the past.
“They thoroughly enjoyed their experience and they asked to go again,” Alyson Suits said.
“We chose to stay in the U.S. because there are so many areas here in our own country that need help,” she continued.
“Leslie County was listed as being in the top 10 of the poorest counties in our country. There is a very high drug prevalence in Leslie County and the kids there are shipped from family member to family member and from foster home to foster home.”
Traveling through Big Creek Missions, which focuses on affordable mission opportunities for church groups and missions teams looking to go to the Appalachian Mountains, the Flatville team was able to serve with other like-minded individuals.
“I was in awe of how things like this can come together to help so many people,” Sjuts said.
“One day, my group delivered over 600 hot meals in the community and I just think it’s really cool that that can happen.”
After their day of work, the group came back together to reflect.
“Our group was able to get together for about an hour every evening for our own group devotions,” Alyson Suits said. “During that time we spoke about our lows for the day, our highs for the day, and any God sightings we had during the day.”
The group also heard a lesson from Eric Suits.
Alyson and Eric decided that everyone needed additional time to unpack their experience before heading back home, so they rented hotel rooms in Louisville.
“We swam in the pool, went for dinner, and then went back to the hotel where we had about a three-hour devotion time,” Alyson Suits said.
“During that devotion time, we went through our group and spoke about why we chose to attend this mission trip.
“I started the devotion with my story of how I truly felt God’s presence for the first time last year and the need to continue with our LYO (Lutheran Youth Organization).”
Alyson Suits hopes that the youth and chaperones grew in their relationship with God and each other during their time in Kentucky.
Sjuts said that each trip she takes with the group has always strengthened her relationships and resolve to serve.
“I’ve been on several mission trips and all of them allow us to serve others and leave me feeling renewed,” she said. “I knew Big Creek was the perfect place to help those who need it, but also grow spiritually ourselves.”
In hopes of sharing what they learned and experienced, the students came back to the Immanuel Lutheran Church of Flatville and talked about their trip.
“In a world where we hear about so many awful things happening, it is truly a blessing to hear there are kids out there who are wanting to make a difference in the world,” Alyson Suits said.
Sjuts wants to continue to carry on that tradition.
“My biggest takeaway was that we don’t have to go far away to serve,” she said. “Reaching out and sharing Christ’s love can be done anywhere, including our homes.”
The LYO is currently hosting a clothing drive through August to be delivered to Big Creek Mission in Bear Branch.
Donations of new, like new, or gently used clothing free of stains, rips, holes and tears, plus shoes can be dropped off in the church breezeway at Immanuel Lutheran Church (2498 CR 2100 E in Thomasboro, IL) in a tub marked LYO Clothing Drive.
