Sometimes the desire to serve others for no other reason than to help can make life better for everyone. In Chilhowee, Missouri, this is precisely what happened.

In remembrance of those who responded to the World Trade Center on 9/11, the people of Norris United Methodist Church, Chilhowee United Methodist Church, and Chilhowee Baptist Church wanted to respond for their small community. After projects to provide meals and fund raising to help Emergency Heat Relief Fund, the third--the topper--was a senior housing project.

Leona Wilson, from Norris, took charge. After calling friends and fellow members, she called the manager of the housing unit, Shirley White, who – according to Wilson – was “so surprised and almost speechless when [she asked] if there was anything a group could do at the housing complex”.

After walking the grounds to estimate of how much paint would be required for the three buildings and the storage shed, they decided it was a task they could accomplish ... with a LOT of help and TALL scaffolds!

After a few calls to good friends, the scaffolds and extension ladders were located, generous equipment loans were arranged, and with paint and primer donated by Lowe's, a crew of volunteers from all three churches got to work painting, trimming trees and shrubs, cleaning, and scrubbing. The distance between towns, people, and churches disappeared.

Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday flew by as people of all different ages helped to turn the units into something bright and beautiful. Ben Murphy was sent from Heaven with his chain saw, the Langford boys gave up a Saturday morning to haul off the tree/shrubs. The housing authority furnished lunch for the workers that afternoon. Mary Alice, Rich, Joyce, Lee and Deloris, and many others, were there with smiles every day!

The final total for the project? “Twenty-two people ranging in age from 3 to 78, 175 “man hours”, 49 gallons of paint, one chainsaw, lots of elbow grease, tons of laughter, loads of enthusiasm, and even a couple of small wounds”, says Leona. But there was more than that. There was appreciation, satisfaction, thanks, a sense of community.

Why?

Why spend time and energy and money making a housing unit presentable when all of those things may be in short supply, especially in an area that may have been hit harder by the economic recession than others? Simple. "We tried to explain, said Leona with a smile, "that it was our way of expressing our appreciation to God for this wonderful place we live, and this is what we felt neighbors should do for neighbors. (Of course they said they would NOT take any of my calls again!)"

Have you traded man-hours and elbow grease for a smile? 

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