Church mission trip targets Tenn. youth
ZELIENOPLE — A group of Seneca Valley High School seniors found a lot more to cheer about last month than the usual football and basketball games.
The seven girls instead hosted cheerleading camps in Sneedville, Tenn., where victories included a neutral playing field between social stigmas of poverty and wealth.
"We all came to the conclusion that although we're coming from completely different financial backgrounds, we still have the same sense of humor and go through the same family struggles and have to deal with daily difficulties that occur," said Becky Eischeid, who attended the mission trip sponsored by Harmony-Zelienople United Methodist Church.
As part of the eight-day trip in July, the teens led cheerleading camps for girls in kindergarten through 12th grade in Sneedville, Tenn., an impoverished town of about 1,200 that only recently began football and cheering programs.
The teens traveled to Tennessee by van with two adult chaperones as well as a college senior and recent nursing school graduate, who offered Christian-based sessions on making wise choices.
Although the girls all are cheerleaders, former cheerleaders or dancers, not all attend Harmony-Zelienople United Methodist.
"This is an interdenominational trip," said Jody Eldridge, a parent chaperone.
Eldridge's daughter, Abbie Siple, became inspired to host the cheer camp four years ago after attending several family mission trips to Sneedville. The trips were through the Jubilee Project, a United Methodist outreach.
Although the family trips focused on community development projects like construction work and helping at food cupboards, Abbie saw a need for positive activities among the youths.
"They didn't have high school cheerleaders until last year," she said, explaining the high school football program was launched just three years earlier. A midget program began a year before that. Most of the equipment had been donated from groups in the Pittsburgh area, she said.
The cheer camps were divided into four age groups that learned a dance routine and stunting techniques. Grove City College senior Megan Podnar and nurse Kara Jefferies collaborated on the daily Bible lesson.
After selling pies to finance their trip, the mission team secured donated practice outfits from local businesses — enough for each camper to receive two T-shirts and a skort."We knew they don't get to go shopping," said Sarah Dennis, who along with Abbie and two others has attended all four cheer trips to Sneedville."Over the years we've gotten to know some of the girls," she said.Members of the mission group said poverty and apathy were among the noticeable traits of the Sneedville community, for which the 2000 Census reported a median household income of $13,281. The national median was $41,994.Those numbers were evident at camp, where insignificant items like hair ties were returned if borrowed, and some campers showed up having missed multiple meals.Although lunch was served daily at the free camp, teen leaders said bonding with campers also was an important factor. With cell phones stashed and clothing standardized, the teens found commonality with the Sneedville girls, who initially showed little enthusiasm while cheering."You had to constantly tell them to smile," said chaperone Jean Hutchison.According to mission member Kelly Keenan, bonding with the older campers began when one observed the Pennsylvania teens joking and exclaimed "Hey, they're just like us!"The apparent apathy was better understood after the group provided transportation for some campers, witnessing what Eldridge described as deplorable living conditions.But those sad realities were forgotten during a pep rally at the end of camp, which was attended by many of the parents."They were happy to be performing in front of somebody," said Anna Brunette, who recalled joy at hearing parents murmuring "Oh wow!" when the smaller girls were tossed in the air during stunts."It might have seemed like they appreciated us so much," agreed mission member Lauren Wehr. "But in the end we appreciated them.""I've watched over the last few years how much they've grown," said Shelby Kirkland, who left the mission trip early to play in a softball tournament. "Abbie was texting me ... telling me how they did," she added.In addition to forming friendships, Kirkland and several others said they returned home with gratitude for amenities in life."I take a lot for granted," Kirkland said. "I realize I want some Starbucks; I don't need to get it," she said."I haven't been shopping since I've been back."
