Organization’s Efforts Shine To Alaska And Minnesota

By Krista Hurley July 28th 2010

Each year, LightShine Ministries provides a number of volunteer opportunities to individuals of various ages and skill levels. The organization, which is based in Mount Joy, focuses on meeting a host of different needs in Alaskan towns while also working, at times, with ministries in the contiguous states.

Recently, four teams of volunteers did their parts to make a difference in the areas of Eagle, Seldovia, and Globe Creek Camp in Alaska. Volunteers also offered their services at a retreat center in Minnesota. All who take part in LightShine’s trips are responsible for funding their own trip, and recent trip participants noted that they are thankful for the generous support they received.

Larry Newell helped to lead a five-member team as it worked in Eagle as a follow-up to last year’s disaster relief team. In four days, they helped to construct a church by building the walls and setting the roof trusses. “It was great,” Newell recalled. “We worked our tails off, but we had a great time.”

A six-member team, led by Mel Miller, traveled to Globe Creek Camp to provide their services. “It’s a Christian camp that’s being built for summer and winter camp activity,” Miller explained. Three years ago, the only structure at the camp was a partially finished lodge. Since then, teams from LightShine and other ministries have helped to build two cabins, finish the lodge, and more. The recent team met its goal of constructing a utility building, complete with fresh water tanks, water heaters, a generator, and a furnace.

Mel and Carl in Alaska - Photo by Krista Hurley

The Globe Creek and Eagle teams then united for the final week of their respective trips, during which they helped out at a retreat center in Seldovia. Last year, a team had started to construct a lodge. This year, the group continued this work by finishing the roof, building a loft and a stairway, closing the gable ends, and more.

With the number of trips that LightShine plans to Alaska each year, it is no secret that the teams make a difference in the towns in which they work. While the organization was able to make a difference without a van of its own, director Tom Denlinger knew that a vehicle would be helpful for the transportation of teams and materials.

Recently, Lancaster County resident George Calder donated a van, and a local repair shop performed maintenance on the vehicle. A team from LCBC volunteered to drive the van, a trailer, and a donated sound system from Lancaster County to Alaska. According to team member Bob Bender, the nearly 5,000-mile trip spanned four days filled with spectacular sights. “My favorite part was probably going through British Columbia through the Rockies,” Bender said. “We saw nine black bear in British Columbia. We saw elk, caribou, moose, (and) mountain sheep,” he recalled.

The fourth team stayed a bit closer to home, working at a retreat center in Minnesota. According to team member Jerry Polizzi, the center will eventually be available to host pastoral retreats. Last year, LightShine’s father-son team cleared land on the property, and this year’s four-man team built a chapel at the retreat center.

“There are still a few more trips coming up this year,” Polizzi noted, explaining that anyone who is willing to work, regardless of age or skill level, is welcome to sign up. He explained that participants do more than physical labor, as they also build relationships with residents of Alaska by encouraging them, listening to their stories, and more.

More information about the upcoming trips or about LightShine Ministries may be found at www.lightshineministries.org.

Photo By Krista Hurley