The Arizona Pathfinder theme this year is Serving Him. So, for their camporee this fall Pathfinder leaders decided to do something a little different as a project.
They heard about the Elias family, whose home on the reservation had burned. The tribe they belong to is not a wealthy one, and could not help the family rebuild for another two years. The family was forced to either live the best they could in the burned-out house or move somewhere else on the Reservation.
Not far from where this home is located, is the one-teacher, eight-grade Maricopa Village Adventist Christian school, where two of the Elias children attend school. The children didn't want to leave the area, they said, because they love Ms. Jessica, their teacher, they love their school, and and they love their classmates. Moving would mean attending a public school.
Erik VanDenburgh, Arizona Conference youth director, and Fred Daniels, Pathfinder coordinator, contacted the family and made arrangements with the tribe and inspectors, and got the specifications they would need to help rebuild the family's home. They knew the job would take a couple Sundays of work before the camporee—then the final touches would be done during the camporee.
The demolition crew, consisting of Pathfinder coordinators, the Chandler-Gilbert Fire Blossom Pathfinder Club, and other volunteers, began work on Oct. 7. The plan was to tear down the burned part of the house and save the rest, but they soon realized that the whole structure needed to come down. So that day ended with cleanup of the site—right down to the cement slab.
The following Sunday, Hugo Losano and his framing crew framed the house and finished the roof—all in one day. Next came the sheeting on the outside, electrical work, plumbing and sheet rock.
Pathfinders are continuing to raise money for this project and others. Donations are greatly appreciated.
"There was so much to be done on this house before it could be lived in again," said Erik VanDenburgh, youth ministries director for the Arizona Conference. "We're asking all the Pathfinder leaders and Master Guides to help raise funds."
