Student ministry making real difference

To the editor:
    On the evening of March 20, college students all over Maine rejoiced at the beginning of a week of school vacation. Whereas most students head out for parties, visiting, relaxing, and just plain good times (which is a good thing), a handful of students from the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Campus Crusade for Christ headed out for a little town in Downeast Maine called Machias.
    The reason? To begin the process of renovating a building in order to provide shelter for many women and children for years to come. The Shekinah House is a longtime dream of Pastor Doug and Diane Watermolen of Lifespring Chapel in East Machias. When the project is completed, women and children who are victims of domestic violence and abuse will be able to be sheltered and welcomed from all over Maine. They will be able to have their own apartments, staying until they are well able to get back into the mainstream of life and stand on their own feet to provide for themselves and their children. While they are there, they will have access to recovery resources that are needed, whether it is vocational, medical needs, or emotional or spiritual counseling. These women and children, having escaped some heartrending situations, will be able to live in an atmosphere of love, peace, and hope.
    The UMPI Campus Crusade was joined by joined by students from the UMM Campus Crusade, the USM Auburn-Lewiston Campus Crusade, and members of the Machias community. Together, the team filled two 30-foot dumpsters with broken down walls and left-overs from the building’s previous owners. An atmosphere of comradeship was instrumental in the work that was done! Little sleep, lots of laughter, a lot of hard work, and a lifetime of warm and precious memories and friendships were accomplished through the vacation week.
    But, even though the week is over, the work is not. This, however, does not bother the team, for they will continue to support the ministry, whether financially or through going down to continue the work. They plan to be there again during the weekend of April 25, the same weekend of the fund-raising auction to be held there at the building at 10 Cooper Street. These young folks, with hearts for a mission with a good cause, started the first steps of what will most likely be a long journey, a journey they are willing to see to the end.
    With special thanks to our greatest help and supporter of Manna Support Ministries and the initiator of the Campus Crusades’ mission trip this year to be to the Shekinah House; Andrew Ciszewski.