Volunteering in Retirement

     When we were making plans to retire a few years ago we decided we wanted to have an "Active Retirement". We were't planning to just sit around and watch the world go by. 

     We wanted to travel and see places throughout our country. (we plan to take our pick-up camper on a trip to Alaska one of these summers) 

     We wanted to enjoy the challenge of long distance hiking trips. (so far we have hiked the Appalachian Trail from Springer Mtn. in Georgia to Duncannon, PA - over 1100 miles up and down mountains in all kinds of weather) 

     We didn't want to spend the long, cold winters in Michigan. (around New Years we head with the trailer to AZ and other points south until April)

     We were interested in finding volunteer work to do as well. (we joined the NOMADS and have done 3 projects with them, one in Michigan, another in Arizona and the last one in Louisiana) By the way, we learned that one of the jokes told at NOMADS projects deals with what the letters in NOMADS stand for: Northern Older Methodists Avoiding Deep Snow. We thought this was pretty funny when we first heard it.

     I will try to give you a little idea of what NOMADS the organization is all about and give some background on the 3 projects that we have worked at.

John & Joyce building walls for Faith UMC in Coleman MI

     NOMADS are people who...

• Are usually retired or close to retirement
• Enjoy traveling in a RV
• Are looking for a purpose and personal mission
• Want to share their Christian faith
• Enjoy using their skills in service to others

     NOMADS projects include...

• Building projects, maintenance, repairs, new construction, office work, painting, sewing, childcare or gardening
• Work at United Methodist-related agencies such as churches, church camps, homeless shelters, children's homes, mission agencies, disaster relief agencies
• Work at homes of needy families through host agencies

     NOMADS furnish...

• Their own RV and all costs for traveling to the mission sites
• Their own meals while at a project
• Their work time for three weeks, four days a week - totaling 24 to 28 hours per week
• Most of their own tools. Specialty items usually supplied by host agency

We camped behind an electrical contractor's shop in Coleman

     There are around 1100 active NOMADS throughout the country. In addition to the 15 normal 3 week work periods, there are often Disaster Rebuilding projects that are on going for several weeks at a time. Currently we have 2 in Alabama (tornados), 1 in Texas (wildfires) and 1 in North Dakota (flooding).

     I will follow up this entry with more specific details on the 3 projects that we have worked at in future blog entries.