DesotoExplorer.com

The De Soto Youth Ministries building is bustling with more youth than normal this week.

About 15 members of a youth group from an Arkansas church came to De Soto on a missions trip this week. They are working with the newly formed De Soto Community Church and DYM to help make repairs to the buildings' roof.

DCC pastor Matt Maestas said the youth group at Southside Community Church in Paragould, Ark., contacted him and said it wanted to do a missions trip. So he and Bill Wilting, president of DYM, worked together to organize the roof repairs to the building where DYM and DCC both meet.

Wilting said he looked into repairing the roof last year and received a bid for about $12,000.

The roof had four layers of shingles on it, and the lower level of shingles have been part of the house since 1910, Wilting said.

The hail and wind in the spring added to the roof's damage.

"The next time I mowed the yard I found shingles all over the place," Wilting said.

He called his insurance and was able to get $7,000 to make repairs, but it still wasn't enough to cover the cost of labor and supplies if he hired a contractor.

However with the help of DYM, DCC and the Southside Community Church youth group, Wilting didn't have to pay for labor, and supply costs will be about $3,000 or $4,000, he said.

"The insurance check will cover that, plus I want to replace about six windows," he said.

To beat the heat and sun, the crew started work on the roof early at about 5:30 a.m. Tuesday.

DCC organized lunch throughout the week with free lunches provided by Pizza Hut and Sonic. Mr. Goodcents also is offering the group half off of their meals. The Kansas City Kansas Baptist Association also is sponsoring a lunch this week. Maestas said he also will post photos of the work on the DCC Web site, www.desotochurch.com, throughout the week.

Wilting said he has been impressed with Maestas and his wife and their dedication to service in the community.

"They have a real heart for our community," Wilting said. "They've been here for about a year, and their commitment is long term to the city. They are going to be here for a while."