We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
Kyra and Sal Chang, recently arrived YAVs in Chinook, are shown earlier geared up to BASE jump off the Perrine Bridge over the Snake River near Twin Falls, Idaho. In the second photo they pose by the river after the jump from the bridge 486 feet above them. BASE jumping involves jumping off a fixed object and using a parachute to land. Base jumping is considered more dangerous than skydiving because shorter jump distances are involved and jumpers normally have only one parachute. BASE is an acronym for the kinds of objects used for jumping: Building, Antenna towers, Spans (bridges) and Earth (cliffs).
Kyra and Sal Chang, recently arrived YAVs in Chinook, are shown earlier geared up to BASE jump off the Perrine Bridge over the Snake River near Twin Falls, Idaho. In the second photo they pose by the river after the jump from the bridge 486 feet above them. BASE jumping involves jumping off a fixed object and using a parachute to land. Base jumping is considered more dangerous than skydiving because shorter jump distances are involved and jumpers normally have only one parachute. BASE is an acronym for the kinds of objects used for jumping: Building, Antenna towers, Spans (bridges) and Earth (cliffs).
Salvadore (Sal) and Kyra Chang arrived in Chinook last week. After an orientation in Mexico the couple made their way to start 10-months of service as Young Adult Volunteers (YAVs) in Chinook. This is the 13th year of the YAV program in Chinook. They are the first married couple to be a part of the local program. Sal and Kyra were married last December.
The YAV program was started by the national Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) more than 20 years ago. Locally the program is supported by four congregations in Chinook-the Presbyterian, United Methodist, American Lutheran and Alliance churches. Each year young adults are placed around the world to serve in a variety of ways to communities. Chinook is the only rural site that is part of the YAV program. Per local site coordinator Rev. Jack Mattingly, Chinook is the third oldest operating YAV program.
YAV candidates go through a multi-step application process, are selected for a particular site and make a ten-month commitment to serve. The purpose of the program is to help young adults "discern a life path in a career and develop spiritually." The Changs said they began exploring the YAV program after they felt called to do Christian ministry. Their local pastor in Florida suggested the YAV program as a way to gain experience working directly in a ministerial situation.
During their year in Chinook they will work with residents at Sweet Nursing Home and the Grande Villa and help with the weekly Funshine Pre-School and SonShine Church School on Fridays. They will also help tutor at the high school and work with JUMP, serve as Meadowlark School Aides and work at the Food Pantry.
Sal Chang wrote that he and Kyra interviewed for positions in New Orleans and Chinook. He added, "After interviewing at both sites we left our decision in God's hands and were excited to accept the invitation to serve in Chinook." YAVs must raise some of the funds to support their year of service and are also helped with financial support by the local churches and the national PCUSA.
More about Sal and Kyra Chang, Chinook area's new YAVs
Both are natives of Florida. Sal grew up in Orlando, Kyra was raised in DeLand. Most recently they worked in DeLand, a city of 40,000+. DeLand is often described as "the skydiving capital of the USA" and they met through skydiving. Kyra explained her father was part of the skydiving industry and the last few years she worked full time as a parachute rigger and instructed new riggers. Sal did a parachute jump and from that experience became interested in working in the skydiving business. Most recently he also worked as a parachute packer.
Both Sal and Kyra attended college in Florida. Kyra finished high school and community college at the same time. During high school she worked as a ranch hand/feeder/groomer at a horse ranch for a couple of years and later was a home health aide. Sal studied finance for two years at a local community college. Before becoming a parachute rigger he worked as a landscaper, a legal assistant at a family law office, a real estate agent and checked in patients at a children's hospital. They bring varied job skills to the YAV program.
I asked about their initial perceptions of Chinook and Montana. Kyra commented, "My high school had more students than there are people in Chinook. While DeLand is not a large city, it is big enough you seldom see people out and about that you know." They both commented how it will be unusual to see people, on a regular basis, that they will soon know. They both commented during the drive from the airport in Great Falls about the openness of the country and the lack of trees, much different from where they lived in Florida.
Both Sal and Kyra come to the program with similar hopes. While Kyra said she tries not to "go into anything with specific expectations," she shared, "I'm open to whatever it is God has brought me here to learn." Sal said he hoped "...to understand what it truly means to be a pastor of a church, grow in my Christian faith and gain fresh perspectives on life and relationships."
The Journal wishes Sal and Kyra success during the coming year as Young Adult Volunteers in Chinook.
