Metcalf Ministry Returns To United States
"Our heart is for the whole family," said Cindy Metcalf, half of the ministry team of Drew and Cindy Metcalf. "We have always been We Help Children, but one of the best ways to help children is to help the mom and dad to be that solid support system."
The Metcalfs and their children have spent the last decade in Guatemala training staff in orphanages. But with the advent of COVID-19, it became difficult for the pair to do their work. In Guatemala, strict shutdowns made it hard for people to obtain food, and opinions of the COVID-19 restrictions in the U.S. changed the way missionaries were viewed. "If you had white skin, you were suspect of bringing the virus (to Guatemala)," explained Drew. "It was a huge shift (from the previous benevolent view)."
In response, the ministry began to offer a monthlong online training course to people in different countries. "We trained indigenous people in third-world countries to help people in their own country," explained Drew. The Metcalfs noted that benefits of the online program included people working in their own countries where they understood the culture and did not deal with language barriers.
In June of 2021, the Metcalfs heard the Lord encouraging them to return to the U.S. Thinking they were just going for a visit with friends and relatives, they soon traveled to East Earl. "By July 2021, it was clear to us (that the Lord wanted us) to live here," said Drew. "Doors for the ministry just flew open."
In August 2021, the Metcalfs received a call from a board member of The Haft, a ministry set on a 105-acre converted sheep farm in Bradford County. The Haft was founded in 1958 by a former college professor and his wife, who sought a place to help students heal from traumatic experiences. The Haft later became a place to overcome and heal from addictions. "It was an intensive discipleship program," said Cindy, who noted that the center was about 85% self-sufficient in producing its own food. More than a decade ago, The Haft became a retreat center, which offered space to sleep 22 in a converted barn. When the Metcalfs received the call, they were offered an invitation to live on the farm and provide ministry to hurting families.
The Metcalfs spent a few months of restoration and acquainting their children with the local culture. By November 2021, The Haft had opened as a family restoration center, with former Eastern Mennonite Missions workers Galen and Phyllis Groff providing marriage mentoring services. Several families have visited with stays ranging from a weekend to weeks. "People come for family wholeness programs," explained Drew. Cindy added that intensive counseling is part of the process of helping families to develop healthy behaviors and bonds. Therapy animals on the farm include goats, chickens, guinea hens, and a black Labrador retriever. The grounds feature a 10-acre pond for kayaks, canoes, and fishing, as well as trails for hiking.
More information about the Metcalfs' ministry at The Haft may be found by visiting http://www.family-refresh.com or by calling 570-363-2189.
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