St. Monica-St. George Alternative Spring Break
Mission Trip to Spencer, West Virginia
March 14-20, 2015
Over spring break, myself and nine other UC students went on a mission trip to Spencer, West Virginia where we experienced the beauty and magnificence of the West Virginian mountains. We got to climb straight up a mountain, sit in the palm of God’s hand (actually a large rock on top of the mountain), smell the sassafras scent of the roots of a newly dead tree, lay beneath the sun atop a huge rock formation, and watch thousands of stars shine above us each night. All this was then contrasted with what we learned about the disastrous effects of Mountain Top Removal (MTR) mining, which is destroying these mountains. To learn more, we got to know the community and hear their stories through attending an MTR rally, working on a man’s farm, having dinner with a local family, exploring the town of Spencer, and gardening with one of Jeannie’s friends. Each evening, after a long day of service and learning, we would gather together to discuss and reflect on the day, and through these revealing discussions of the issues facing society and poor people around the world, each of us on the trip realized how we can and need to change our lives in an effort to better these people’s lives. Since returning, I have begun to live each day intentionally and with a newfound awareness of the effects of my actions on others.
Maria Gunnoe
On our second full day in West Virginia, we attended a Mountain Top Removal rally in front of the Department of Environmental Protection. The theme of this rally was "Put Your Foot Down" and was held in an effort to stop the approval of MTR permits. This is a short clip of Maria Gunnoe, an environmental activist and winner of the Goldman Environmental Prize. Our group first saw Ms. Gunnoe in the documentary "The Last Mountain" we watched before going on our trip and then had the honor of listening to her speak at the rally. Her enthusiasm and passion for the cause is inspiring and truly toughing to witness first hand.