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Fall 2007
Fall 2007 Fall 2007 
| Maranatha Volunteers |
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From October 9 - 23, fifty enthusiastic seniors from Maranatha Volunteers International helped build two much needed houses for staff families at Advent Home Learning Center in Calhoun, TN. “These elderly people, ranging from 47 to 82 years young, refuse to sit in rocking chairs and rot,” says Sadie Torrez, volunteer coordinator. “Instead, they choose to travel throughout the United States and the world building churches and schools for communities in need.” Advent Home is a non-profit remedial schooling and residential program that serves 12-16 year old boys, grades 6-10, who have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), attitude, behavior and emotional problems. These students have been dismissed or are about to be dismissed from private and public schools. In addition to remedial schooling, Advent Home incorporates mental, physical and spiritual wellness using the natural remedies of nutrition, exercise, work, sunshine, temperance, fresh air, rest and trust in God resulting in a total approach to wellness. Maranatha Volunteers International Teams Up with Advent Home Maranatha Volunteers International, a group of mostly retirees from throughout the United States, is sponsored by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. With precision teamwork, these diligent workers can frame and construct buildings for homes, schools or churches in a very short time. Many of them have operated their own construction business, but others actually learn their skills on-the-job. They pay their own travel expenses—from $1000 to $5000 per person—depending on where they travel. Some help with several projects each year. During the Advent Home project, women worked side by side with men on the two 1400 square-foot houses. Sharon Ray, from Michigan, says: “The women can do anything the men can do. They teach us what we don’t know and they’re patient with us.” Richard Burns, 76, who commuted from nearby Cleveland, has worked on many of these projects and sees each one like a vacation. He gets to travel and learn about different people. When not involved in a project, he stays fit by riding his bike 25 to 65 miles a day. Rory Daily, 54, is one of the ten volunteers who worked in Riceville, where two older homes are being remodeled, also for Advent Home staff. Coming from South Carolina, Daily joined this project because his wife recently died of cancer and he needed a change. Some husbands and wives travel as teams, like Marion and Gladys Mizner from Arkansas. In their late 80’s, he does electrical work, while she helps with housekeeping. Sadie and her husband Ted have each served on over 30 projects, in the States and abroad. In Spanish-speaking countries, Sadie often doubles as a translator and coordinator. Dr. Blondel Senior, Director and Founder of Advent Home Learning Center, says: “Marnatha is doing for Advent Home what we don’t have the money to do—build comfortable homes for staff who are making personal sacrifices to help at-risk teens overcome their disabilities and become successful citizens.” To finish these projects soon, Dr. Senior says that Advent Home needs additional volunteers for plumbing, electrical work, air conditioning, dry wall and trimming. If you would like to help, please contact Elsie at (423) 336-5052 x 222 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it To learn more about the Maranatha, call 1-916-920-1900 or visit www maranatha.org. | |
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