By Ed Simmons, Jr.
cpreporter@verizon.net How do you explain the calm you feel after talking with them?

Is it the charm of their youth? Their charity? Their Christianity?

Or as they would put it, their relationship with God.

Brittany Kaltenbaugh, Hunter Bladen, Will Bradley and Katie Meddings came to Caroline last week with 120 other teens and their adult supervisors to work on low-income homes, participating in a Baptist mission project called "Impact Virginia." Brittany, Hunter and Will are from Annandale and go to Parkwood Baptist Church. Katie's from Roanoke and goes to Bonsack Baptist.

On Baylor Road in Dawn they were working with about 10 others on Larry Simmons' house, shingling the roof, nailing on siding, painting, and building a new front porch and steps. Thursday afternoon they took time off from their labors to talk with The Caroline Progress.

Judging by the paint dabbed on Brittany and Katie's faces, they'd been having some fun, or "larking about" as the expression goes when talking about the high spirits of young people, but these teens were serious about their work and why they'd come to work on Larry Simmons' house.

"It's to serve the Lord," said Katie. "It shows we care about others. We love Mr. (Larry) Simmons."

"It was all in God's plan to come here and work on his house," Brittany added. She's a high school junior. Katie, Hunter and Will are seniors. "We actually paid to come here," Hunter said. Each participant pays $225 and then puts in a week's work. "This shows people around the neighborhood that God does good work."

Will was the quietest of the four. "It's a way to understand God," he said.

After high school, Will said he wants to go to college to study music composition. He plays piano, sings, and writes songs like "The Nature of His Love," "If All Else Fails," and "Eloquently Stated." He wants to make a career in Christian music, recording and perhaps being a music worship leader.

Katie is not sure yet of her plans. She wants to work a year at psychiatric unit for children, then head on to Liberty Baptist College. She's looking to God to show her her purpose.

Brittany, though still a year away from graduating from high school, had a clear vision of what she wants to do. "I really want to work with children and feel drawn to them," she said. "I feel it's something God wants me to do." She's intending to go to James Madison University to study psychology.

Hunter, like Will, has Christian music ambitions – but intends to be a good bit louder. He's the drummer of a Christian Metal band called "The Reborn." When they perform, they go "really psycho," Hunter said.

They're working on their own music and play songs like Demon Hunter's "Fading Away" and All That Remains' "This Calling."

When Brittany, Hunter, Will and Katie and their friends are finished working on the house on Baylor Road, Larry Simmons will be getting electricity and plumbing. "Everything we do is for God. Everything we encounter," said Brittany.

"It's not just about Sundays," said Katie. "It's every day."