Friday morning, we officially closed the first week of WorkFest. The students began the week as groups of separate schools, but by the end had come together as a community, and had become especially close with the members of their crews. One of the ways WorkFest is different from other alternative spring breaks is we intentionally split schools up so that they will be working with students from other schools. Sometimes we have resistance from schools, either because they would rather work with their friends, or because they want the trip to be a time of bonding and spiritual growth within their school group. Usually though, schools recognize the value of creating a larger community by the end of the week, and end up making some great friends by being forced out of their comfort zones. We ask college groups to meet for reflection time in the evenings so that they can maintain that bond with their classmates during the week.

Friday closing is always emotional: WorkFest can be an intense experience, and on Friday morning we give volunteers the opportunity to share any thoughts they have with the larger group. It's great to see how close the students have become with their crews and participant families, and how this experience has changed them. We challenge the students to tell people about what they've seen in Appalachia and to continue to live as people of service when they return to their schools. Obviously, I would love for all these wonderful people to come back to CAP, but I realize that's not in God's plan for everyone. But what I do know is that God is calling each one of those students to serve, in some way.

To all the students, crew leaders, and cooks who made week one of WorkFest possible, thank you so much! To everyone else in cyberspace, please continue to keep our participant families in your prayers.

Amy Schill is CAP's Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator