Honeytown performs local concert to support Hazlett mission trip
Friday, Nov. 13, Honeytown, the local Americana/Bluegrass group which features area talents Tim Shue, Nate Gundy, Maria Miller, Toby Hazlett and Jared Himes will perform a live concert at 6 p.m. at the Millersburg Mennonite Church. The purpose of the concert is to benefit Zach Hazlett, a local youth who is raising funds for an eight-month mission trip to Guinea Bissau, Africa.Hazlett said he wanted to use his first year after high school graduation to "do something important."
"I want to be doing something important with my post-high school year instead of working or just sitting around doing nothing," he shared. "This opportunity lined up directly with when I needed it. The timing was perfect. Mission work has been something I've wanted to do for a long time, but I never really looked into it seriously until I was contacted by Youth Evangelism Service (YES) of the Eastern Mennonite Missions (EMM) organization."
YES is a program for young adults ages 18-30 who desire to grow closer to God during two months of discipleship training and four to eight months of cross-cultural outreach. The program is facilitated through the EMM and Hazlett is currently spending his training time in Harrisburg, Pa., at the Harrisburg Discipleship Center (HDC) preparing for his upcoming trip to Africa.
During his eight-month stay in Africa, Hazlett will work in a variety of areas and hopes to impact the children of that region where their education is concerned.
"I'll be working to teach the locals how to do many things," he said. "I will help them learn how to read, build composting toilets, learn how to operate water irrigation systems and perform other agricultural trades. I'll also work with the community building various facilities and I'll work in children's ministry and women's ministry. Our goal is to try and preserve their culture, not replace it with American culture. We want to try to help build them up, not just give them everything they need."
According to Hazlett, education is the biggest need in that area.
"The children don't know how to read or write in their own language," he said. "We want to help them learn. We will also be making improvements on solar ovens, water systems and composting toilets. These are all important areas for their society."
Hazlett is grateful for the upcoming concert and support he's receiving from the Honeytown group. His father, Toby, plays bass for the band and in the past, Hazlett himself ran the sound system for the group. Honeytown is a five-piece bluegrass and folk band based in Kidron. Members include Tim Shue on guitar and mandolin, Nate Gundy on guitar and banjo, Maria Miller on violin, Toby Hazlett on bass, and Jared Himes on keyboard and percussion. The group plays a broad range of music, from U2 and Dire Straits to Emmylou Harris and Old Crow Medicine Show, as well as original numbers and Christian folk music.
One thing that makes the band so unique is their harmonic blend and vocal styles. Each member offers a distinct talent to the group and makes the band very versatile and special.
In addition to the concert, there will be a silent cheesecake auction featuring sweet and savory cheesecakes made by local hobby and professional bakers. Light refreshments will be served as well. Tickets for the event are $15, with discounted rates available for families. Tickets can be purchased by contacting guinea.bissau.missions@gmail.com or calling Denice Hazlett (Zach's mother) at 330-473-9218. Cheesecake donations are still being accepted.
For more information about the YES program, visit www.emm.org/shortterm.