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Gays eye return trip to Alaska |
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Written by Reporter1
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Tuesday, 27 May 2008 |
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Page 2 of 2
The Gays will begin their Alaskan service work in Arctic Village where they will implement a gardening project. Bill Gay said his trip last summer was successful with 15 of 15 plants growing in an experimental garden.
This year, they plan to grow flowers and vegetables in several gardens, in addition to building two, 12-foot by 12-foot greenhouses.
Arctic Village is a poor community that relies mostly on government funding. "The goal is to educate them that there is more to life than receiving a $300 check each month," said Bill Gay. "We want to help them grow a garden and set up a fruit stand to help them make money and get them off of government welfare."
At the halfway point in their service work in Arctic Village, the Gays will travel to Fairbanks for a week to work with the Fairbanks Habitat for Humanity. They will meet up with seven volunteers from the Adams County area to help build homes for people who need them.
The trip to Fairbanks will be an annual trip to take place in the summer months, and the more participants the better, said the Gays. After the airfare, the cost to go to Fairbanks is minimal, because most of the room and board will be provided as "love gifts" by local churches.
The Gays met on an organized Church of the Brethren disaster relief trip in McComb, Mississippi, in March 2007, where Bill Gay was the project's coordinator.
"I knew in my heart that not only was I supposed to be there to do the Lord's work, but to meet my wife," said Bill Gay.
They were married seven months later.
Bill and Penny Gay have independently been on dozens of service, disaster relief and mission trips, and now they are looking forward to going on service trips together.
Penny Gay, who has been dedicated to service work for 20 years, is currently a math teacher and junior varsity softball coach at Norwell High School. She has also served on the board of directors for the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity.
Most recently, she and Bill Gay traveled to New Orleans with the Pleasant Dale Church of the Brethren to help with the continued rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina.
"I do it because I can. We are physically able with healthy bodies," said Penny Gay about why she continues to find new avenues for service work.
Bill Gay, who has been dedicated to service work for more than 17 years, said, "The more service work I do, the happier I am in life."
For more information on Bill and Penny Gay, or for more information on how to join a future service trip, visit their blog at http://billandpennyblogspot.com.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 28 May 2008 )
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