Visitors help with Habitat for Humanity project

A Washington church group lent Habitat for Humanity a hand. photo by Jim Mitchell Sisters Habitat for Humanity received extra help last week.

Sue Logghe, Associate in Ministry at Faith Lutheran Church, brought two other adults and eight of the church's youth from Bellingham in northwest Washington for a week of house building in Sisters. They worked on houses in the Edge of the Pines subdivision near Sisters Elementary School.

Logghe, through a friend-of-a-friend, made contact with Marie Clasen at Sisters Habitat. Because Habitat would allow the youth on their projects and because it was out of state, the group was swayed to come to Sisters.

The church rotates its youth activity schedule on a three-year cycle. The first year it holds a national youth gathering. During the second year, emphasis is on a western states youth gathering. This year, the third year in the cycle, emphasizes mission work.

This excursion to Sisters kicks off a summer of intense activity for the youth in this group. Returning to Bellingham the group is going to feed elementary school-age children and their families in a particularly poor area near Bellingham.

In one elementary school in this area 67 percent of the children are eligible for free or reduced meals.

But when there is no school, there is no food. So the church goes out five days a week just to feed the children.

The group will end the summer conducting a vacation Bible school for about 100 other youth in August.

Logghe said this is the first time the group has worked with Habitat.

"We have met so many people who have dedicated themselves to this. They're just amazing," she said. "The hospitality and welcome we have received is incredible."

The group stayed at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Sisters.

"They just gave us a key and we made ourselves at home," Logghe said. "And we've been able to go out to Black Butte Ranch to take showers because we get really dirty... this is an incredible community. We have had a great time."