Family style: Parents, sons all in work camp
For the Kiefer family, this family vacation was no vacation. “I don’t have a dry spot on my shirt to wipe my face on,” said Trent Kiefer, age 17, as he dumped wheel barrows full of rock around a foundation. He was working on a new Habitat for Humanity House in Jefferson City. Intermittent storms had kept the temperature down to about 90, but the humidity was stifling.
Across town Kiefer’s dad, whom the youth had deemed ‘Captain Wayne,’ was supervis- ing a crew as they painted in two other Habitat houses. About 25 miles further west, Kiefer’s brothers Chad, 19, and Tate, 11, and his mother Karla were build- ing a ramp for Mt. Zion UMC in California so people in wheel chairs can access the sanctuary.
“I’ve been helping Dad with construction since I was 10. I can’t get away from it,” Chad said with a laugh as he set a corner post for the ramp. “Nah, really, I like it.”
All were participating in a Missouri Conference Youth Workcamp based out of Jefferson City.
Chad’s an Emergency Medical Technician, and works for his dad’s construction business when he’s not on duty as an EMT. Trent has a year of high school left and works with his dad when he’s not in school. Tate does, too.
“I work for him about three days a week,” Tate said.
Because Wayne owns his own construction business, when he takes the week off, he isn’t just giving his time, he’s also forgo- ing a week’s worth of pay, as are his sons. There’s no paid vacation for the self employed. He was happy to be part of this week, though.
“With one out of school, and another graduating next year, I don’t know more summers we will all have together,” Wayne said. “I’ve been in the construction business 25 years, but I’m encouraging them to do something else. Having to work in the weather, whether it’s 100 degrees or 0, seems harder as I get older.”
Having that much expertise on hand was valuable for the youth work camp. Wayne oversaw one crew, Chad led his crew, and Trent was the one person on his crew that has experience in construc- tion work.
Despite the heat, rain and mud, and the fact that they were doing something very similar to what they do the rest of the year, all the Kiefers were having a good time. Much of that had to do with why they were there.
“It’s really fun knowing that we’re building a ramp that will help get people into church,” said Tate. “It’s also fun at the end of the day, to get together with everyone and hear about what they’ve been working on.”
Two years ago Wayne and his two oldest sons joined the Conference youth work camp group that went to Greensburg, Kansas to rebuild after a tornado hit the town. Last year, due to the economy being down, the family stayed local.
“Going to Kansas was kind of expensive due to the distance and overnight stay getting there, so last year we focused on com- munity service,” said Karla Kiefer. “We cleaned up some yards, and put a new roof on the back of a church.”
The Kiefer family were part of a group of 17 people from their church.
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