"The number one goal is for the youth and adults to grow closer to God. Spiritual growth is more important than the service projects. Evening programs, on site devotions, and youth group devotions each night are required for adults and youth."

The above statement could be called Group Workshop Foundation's mission statement. Our Sacred Heart group consisting of 20 young people and four adults, left at 4 AM Sunday morning (June 25). We were commissioned and prayed for by our parish family the previous evening (June 24) at the 5:00 Mass. Our Land Jet bus arrived at the Washington Academy, our base camp, in Machias, Maine after a ten hour long trip. We quickly settled in to our cramped quarters, had dinner, and gathered for orientation in a large gym, a necessary facility for 400 adults and youth.

Using the theme "Full Service: A Jesus Attitude", all groups were asked to bring a decorated automobile tire that represented their group (Ours was covered with a multitude of hearts). The gym where we all met twice a day (AM & PM) was decorated with an antique gasoline pump and other memorabilia of the full service era.

Beginning on Sunday evening and each day thereafter, a scripture reading (Philippians 2: 1-18) set the theme for that days service. Using multi-media, drama, song and prayer the virtues of compassion, humility, servanthood, obedience and sacrifice set the goal for each day.

We expected to meet new people from all Christian faiths. We expected to be challenged, to work hard, to sleep on the floor and to eat camp food. We all knew there was a strict code of conduct expected of everyone. Safety on the job site was stressed. We soon learned this adventure in faith encouraged participation and celebration throughout the day. The novice campers soon discovered our work groups of five or six would be total strangers, but that lasted only for a day. Each person in the work group was asked to choose their area of responsibility for the week:

• The Quartermaster was in charge of the tools needed
• The Breakmaster (Me) gather lunch items, ice and ice chests, water for breaks and sees to these needs on the job
• The Progress Reporter reports back to camp staff each day on progress or special needs
• The Work Director matches skills to work, oversees, coaches, and encourages, also requests any materials needed
• The Organizer gets us to our vehicle and job site each day, and takes charge of the first aid kit.
• The Devotion Leader leads the crew in lunchtime daily devotions on that day's theme and shares events of the day at the evening sessions.

Our job description: Tear down an old rotten front porch and rebuild it. At the same time we began scrapping, then painting the house. We did this in mostly rain and fog. The 100 year old house sat on a hill across the road looking down on a lovely bay that we saw clearly only three times! The entire work camp tackled 55 homes in a 20-mile radius. Neighbors - Helping - Neighbors coordinated the event and the communities spoiled us with coffee cakes, brownies and drive by "Tootsie Roll Tosses" on site. We felt loved and cared for.

Was everything perfect? By no means. Youth groups of this size are bound to challenge rules and codes of conduct. Minor infractions were swiftly dealt with. There were minor mishaps and glitches with the water supply and showers. All handled efficiently.

I was extremely proud of our Sacred Heart young people – We had many discussions on "hot topics". They missed not having Mass and a priest in attendance (something they had the year before) and they missed Eucharistic reception (One night was devoted to the symbolic "bread of life" by a minister).

You can all take heart in our future with the youth such as these. Praise God and give thanks.