Outhouse on the move
In Kerkhoven, Minn., they’re sending kids to Detroit with a check and some chuckles By Julie B. Sevig
U
ntil recently, Lutherans in Kerkhoven, Minn., may have poured themselves a cup of
morning coff ee and looked out their front window to see an outhouse on the front lawn. But just because Kerkhoven
Lutheran Church has a traveling toilet, don’t think for one minute that members aren’t serious—in fact, they’re very serious—about the global water crisis. T ey’re just playful in their eff orts to share that awareness. “We are in a rural area,” said
member Ann Hanson. “We under- stand the importance of water and the need for fresh water.” In anticipation of the ELCA
Youth Gathering in Detroit, young people throughout the church have been asked to join the ELCA World Hunger “Walk for Water” project (
www.elca.org/walk4water). T e Gathering’s goal is to raise $500,000
for the water campaign, with $500,000 more in matching funds from a generous ELCA family. If you’re at the Gathering
July 15-19, watch for the six kids and two adults from Kerkhoven in T-shirts bearing an outhouse. Hanson works part time in the
church offi ce and chairs the evange- lism and outreach board. She’s also fi lled with good humor, creativity and energy for ELCA World Hunger projects, including this one. “We will help you raise money,” she recalled the adults telling the kids. T e idea for a traveling toilet
came from World Hunger resources. Making that toilet an outhouse was a local idea that got everyone on board, Hanson said. “We thought it sounded like a fun thing to do but were a little concerned people would think we were making light of a serious issue, the water crisis,” she added. “So we did some explaining. T e traveling toilet is symbolic of what we’re learning about.”
A previously used outhouse
wouldn’t work since it had to be both sanitary and light enough to be moved around. So member Donald Lottman built one and the youth decorated it. “You can’t miss it,” Hanson said. “It’s bright blue and has a presence wherever it is.” Members Lee and Phyllis Meyer,
both in their 80s, have spent months moving it from yard to yard. “We call them our ‘hit squad,’ ” Hanson joked.
On May 5 the outhouse made a
visit to the church’s oldest member, E.W. Solyst, on his 103rd birthday. Hanson said he was delighted. “T ank you so much for including me in your project,” he told them before “paying” to have the house removed. T e moving outhouse is similar
to other fundraisers, such as pink fl amingos that land on lawns unless the homeowner has purchased insurance against it. If they haven’t, they pay to have it removed.
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www.thelutheran.org
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