A Mission Right Here In The States

An Interview With Last Summer's Long-Term Volunteers

Each summer, Gateway Woods is blessed by the many volunteers who come and serve. Last summer, we were blessed with some long-term volunteers. David Prevo (Gridley, IL), Amy Hohulin (Roanoke, IL) and Bethany Witzig (Gridley, IL). All three had volunteered at Gateway Woods the previous year and couldn't wait to come back!

At the end of that summer, Tim Sauder sat down with these three youth. They had obviously been blessed by their experience here and they share that blessing with you through excerpts from a video interview.

Why Volunteer at Gateway Woods?

• "Volunteering at Gateway Woods is so rewarding to everyone and when you put your heart into it, you receive the blessing back." - Bethany
• "You get out of it so much more than you put into it." - David
• "It's neat to see that we have a mission right here in the states." - Amy
• "No matter what your skills are, Gateway Woods can use you!" - David

What Did You Learn?

• "I learned to have a more eternal perspective about the kids. Now when I see troubled adults I think, 'If only they had been to a place like Gateway, they probably would have turned out much differently.' " - Amy
• "I learned to live what I believe. When you volunteer at Gateway, you are a role model to the kids and have to live like you should." - David
• "I have so much respect for the Houseparents and the role models they are to the kids. They are a great example of how a family should function and should love and respect each other." - Amy
• "I came not knowing what to expect. Getting to know the kids and the Houseparents has been amazing. There are so many opportunities to build relationships!" - Bethany

Volunteering At Gateway Woods

Gateway Woods has always been an encouragement to me. With all the problems facing youth today, Gateway has stood out in my mind as a beacon of hope. I am excited and thankful for the opportunity to serve as the Summer Volunteer Coordinator. I can't wait to get a closer look at all that God is doing through Gateway, and I hope that you can join me to do the same!

Whether you have served at Gateway Woods in the past or you are looking at coming out for the first time, I would absolutely love to get to know you and guide you in service. Our calendar is wide open and I am excited to start filling it up. Please don't hesitate to contact me no matter how long or short of a time that you can come out. I want everyone to have the opportunity to bless and be blessed through Gateway. I would personally love to see plenty of old and new faces this year and grow and serve alongside each of you!

If you are 18 or older please pray about volunteering this summer. This opportunity is an incredible blessing and an experience that will strengthen you and bring glory to God! Have a great spring wherever God has placed you. As for me, I'll be continuing my studies in Human Resources and Sociology at Illinois State University and looking forward to a great summer at Gateway Woods!

     - Justin Wiegand, 2008 Summer Volunteer Coordinator