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The Presbyterian Church In Sudbury,
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M.A.T.E - Mission at the Eastward Each year, our church sends a mission team to Mission at the Eastward, a housing ministry in Farmington, Maine. We spend the week rehabilitating housing for those who cannot do it for themselves, and who need a helping hand. Here is a slide show of our 2006 trip. This guide is intended to help first-time participants in the MATE work week prepare for their week in Maine. It may also be useful as a memory jogger for those who are going again. A check-list appears at the end of this document. Some people drive to Farmington, Maine on Saturday afternoon, check into the dorm at the University of Maine Farmington before supper, attend Sunday worship at one of the MATE churches, attend the MATE picnic at noon Sunday, view the work sites, and take the rest of Sunday to enjoy the scenic area. Other people arrive Sunday afternoon or night. Most stay over on Friday night and depart Saturday to return home. Don’t feel that you must be there all of Monday through Friday if you have other commitments. The work crews can work around your schedule, if needed (but they need to know in advance to aid in scheduling projects, and arrangements need to be made to get you out to one of the work sites if you arrive mid-day). We share the cost of food for Monday through Friday, usually around $35 per person. Meals other than three meals Monday through Friday are on your own. You don’t pay for meals you don’t eat. There is a charge for the use of the University of Maine at Farmington dormitory, usually around $84 per week if you share a room, somewhat more for a single. The dormitory provides typical dorm space. Each room is shared by two people, and you usually have a chance to choose your roommate. The dorm provides single beds, pillows, and blankets. You will need to bring anything else, such as sheets, towels, and clothes hangers. A week in a work crew consists of five days of work building, refurbishing, and/or repairing housing in west-central Maine. You will spend Monday through Friday as part of a crew assigned to one or more tasks. A work crew is typically 5-7 people, including the “crew-chief.” More complicated jobs may also have an experienced carpenter who is paid by MATE. For example, in 1997, we had three crews. One reroofed a house, a second painted the same house, and a third installed drywall in an entryway and replaced wood shed doors and repaired miscellaneous related structural items in a 19th-century colonial-style house. Often there are additional “unplanned” tasks that crop up along the way. In 2000, two larger crews worked on one large project, while two or three smaller crews (one and two people each) traveled extensively around the area finishing up some “left-over” projects started by other crews earlier in the summer. Because the Sudbury Church is one of the final work crews of the season, we are under considerable of pressure to finish our assigned tasks, since there will be no one to “finish up” after us until the next summer! Work crews complete their assignments with the guidance of the MATE staff who provide directions on how to perform the work and the necessary materials to complete the tasks. Each crew has its own “crew chief” selected from among our workers. Although MATE provides some tools (often not in the best condition), it is helpful if you bring your own tools appropriate to the anticipated work assignments. You may want to bring a few (or a lot of!) extra tools, as we often to do some “unplanned” work. The days at MATE develop a routine of their own: The daily schedule is to meet around 7:15 A.M. at the Church for fix-your-own breakfast (cereal, coffee, juice, fruit, toast, etc.) and to pack your own lunch. Around 8:00 A.M., we depart for the work site (usually later on Monday morning). Lunch is either eaten “on-site” or at a nearby scenic location. Between 4:30 and 5:00 P.M., we return to the dormitory (or other sleeping location if you are not staying in the dorm) for showers. We meet again at the church for dinner (which is prepared for us by Jane Dossett) at 6:00 or 6:30 (the time is agreed upon by the teams in advance). You will be expected to take a turn at cleaning up after dinner. Helping in the kitchen at other times (such as before dinner) is always appreciated as well. There is often some activity after dinner that one or more persons have suggested or planned, such as the traditional moose hunt (we rarely find any), a swim in the UMF pool, or visit to a previous year’s work site. Of course, there is usually a trip by a few to Gifford’s Ice Cream, too, shortly before they close. Or you can just “chill out” in your dorm room. An “open door” in the dorm is considered an invitation from the occupant(s) for you to drop in for a chat. A closed door means “do not disturb.” “Lights out” occurs about 10:00 PM. The sun rises early in Maine, especially in August! 2004 Calendar
Dorm Checklist
Work Crew Checklist
Rev. 7/17/2002 LDC Rev 7/26/2004 BD
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