“Remember that mentor leadership is all about serving. Jesus said, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).”
— Tony Dungee
 

Houseparents have the opportunity to play the incredible role of mentor to young adults as you live together in the mission house. Moving in together as a family, learning new routines, discovering Lewiston, sharing meals, growing together in ministry, and challenging each other in your walk with Christ are just a few examples of the blessings that come from being a houseparent.

You get to provide a strong foundation and support system for young men and women as you serve together in Lewiston. Volunteers are excited about the Gospel, but at the same time they are taking a big step of faith outside of their comfort zone. Your role helps provide the friendship and encouragement that is so vital to their year of serving.

 

  • What fears did you have as you considered serving as houseparents?

    Carol Fretz: My biggest and only fear was how would I be able to relate and keep up with 4 teens, after having an empty nest for 22 years. However, when I considered the fact that there had been previous house mothers, who were my age (68) or older, that calmed my fear. God had given them the strength and grace they needed, so I knew He would do the same for me...and He did!

  • What was it like to blend multiple family backgrounds together for a year of service?

    Elaine Horning: Each new unit brings together individuals with different tastes, backgrounds, traditions, likes, and dislikes. As the new unit begins their year together there is a time of adjustment and getting to know one another on an ever deeper level. As a housemother this may mean learning to try new recipes to make a volunteer’s favorite meals. The blending of individuals is a time of give and take as everyone learns to work together as a unit.

  • How did God provide for your financial needs as you prepared to move to Lewiston?

    Monika Nolt: Our family and volunteer unit was blessed in many different ways. One family blessed our Unit by donating different types of meat throughout the year. Other times people would bless us with gift cards or monetary gifts.

    Zach Nolt: My expectation was that our year of volunteer service would be a big financial hit for our family. While the volunteer program provided the vehicles, housing and funds for daily expenses, I was blown away at how family, friends and people we didn’t even know rallied around us and gave above and beyond what we needed.

  • What was it like to be in a new church for a year?

    Joe & Carol Fretz: Our family has been involved in helping support the churches in Maine for many years. We felt at ease with the Lewiston church because we knew many of the folks there.

    Monika Nolt: It took some time to become comfortable with a new church. I didn’t know many people, but as time went along I built deep friendships that have left a lasting impact on my life.

  • What was it like to adjust to city life?

    Emily Rogers: "This was among the larger adjustments for me. It is a transition to live surrounded by trees and open land, to being surrounded by buildings. It was challenging when neighbor kids would pick all our flowers and dogs would “use” our lawn. Suddenly, everything was everyones.

    I was blessed by our neighbors who would take the time to chat and chill on their porches. Too often we tend to organize our time tightly with "ALL" that "MUST" be done. The city taught me valuable lessons. It brought me face to face with how tightly I hold property, possessions and time."

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  • What's it like to adjust to full time ministry?

    Tim Rogers: When I left my regular job and moved to Maine to begin full time ministry there were a number of adjustments that came with the transition. What is expected of me was the first difficult question to ponder and there was much time spent trying to answer that question. In the end putting aside my own pride and saying “God please direct me where you want to bring light”, was helpful in combating the never ending question “am I doing enough?”

    One of the greatest joys in beginning full time ministry was to step into an established ministry and continue the work of others. Catching the vision and joining the work, side by side with other believers is a treasured memory.

    Getting the privilege to serve in Lewiston was a true gift and I am grateful to each one that made it possible.

  • What was most challenging in your year?

    Emily Rogers: Deciding if we were going to move back to PA or stay in Lewiston. How could we leave this community? What might we miss out on if we moved back. It became so challenging, so we just stayed. =)

  • What was the greatest blessing during your year?

    Glenn Horning: Watching the young people grow and mature in their faith, as well as learning about foreign cultures.

    Zach Nolt: There is nothing more important than relationships and God blessed me with impactful relationships with the volunteers we served with, neighbors, Root Cellar staff and the community members at The Root Cellar. I learned so much about the Gospel and what it really means to love and serve your neighbors. Lewiston has left more of an impact on me than I could have imagined!

  • What were the biggest blessings?

    Emily Rogers: "One unexpected thing that was really cool was having a year without the distraction of life's big decisions. It was a rich opportunity to focus on people and ministry. Our lives and conversations could fully center around serving others. It was a special year for our family."

  • How did your view of the Kingdom of God grow as you served in Lewiston?

    Sheldon & Jolene Shank: The plight of the immigrant community in Lewiston left a heavy imprint on my heart. After serving In Maine, the challenges that the immigrant community faces became more evident to me. After seeing some of their struggles and hearing their stories, I left Lewiston with a different perspective on immigration issues in the US. I saw a group of people that were desperate to start a new life in a strange land. These people all had a difficult journey in life, and it was a joy to hear their stories. The perseverance they displayed to come and learn a new language was an inspiration to me. How hard do I "seek a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God"?

  • What relationships left a lasting impression on your life?

    Sheldon Shank: One relationship that continues to leave a lasting impression from my year in Maine was a man named Jean Louise. Now, two years later, we continue to communicate on a fairly regular basis. I met Jean Louis at the Root Cellar . He had recently arrived from the Democratic Republic of Congo where he had fled to escape backlash from a government job he had held . He was no longer safe after he refused to lie about airplane safety reports. I spent a lot of time with him as we worked together in FANN groups, gave him driving lessons, and drove him to various appointments.

    After we moved back home, Jean Louis’s niece and her family came to visit us. They only live an hour from our Maryland home and we have really got to know them. Jean Louise hopes to visit us someday and we enjoy getting to see him when we visit Lewiston.