Witt in the Delta

Cary Christian Center began its decades-long mission of breaking the cycle of poverty in the Mississippi Delta back in 1971, when pediatrician Peter Boelens became aware of the significant economic and healthcare challenges faced by the people of the Delta. He opened a clinic in a mobile home on highway 61 in rural Cary, Mississippi. Over the next 40+ years, Dr. Boelens's clinic grew into a multi-faceted nondenominational nonprofit serving Cary and the surrounding counties. Cary Christian Center's ministries offer a variety of services including a dental clinic, a thrift store, after-school programming for local kids, and parent-child training.

 

Wittenberg students work with the Cary Christian Center staff in multiple service projects in the area, including

• Painting houses

• Repairing roofs

• Tutoring and leading after-school activities

• Creating gardens

• Organizing thrift store merchandise

• Going on home visits with social workers

• Helping out in the CCC office

 

While at Cary Christian Center, we live in housing provided by CCC with a community kitchen/living area and bunkrooms. A typical day weekday at the Center begins with yoga (if we get up in time!), breakfast, and devotionals with the Center staff. Then we head out to work on various service projects in Cary and the surrounding area. Back to the dorm for a quick lunch and out again for service projects and/or after-school activities at The Children's Village on the CCC grounds. Dinner and down time in the evening to hang out or catch up on assignments. Team meeting and reflection time before lights out in the bunkhouse.

 

And, on our last night there, if we're lucky . . . we just might get to experience one of Robert Jackson's famous fish fry dinners, topped off by a piece of good ole Southern unbelievably addictive pecan pie.