Acts Of Kindness: The Sion Farm Entrance Project

ST. CROIX — It was supposed to be a simple revitalization and upkeep project of the Estate Sion Farm entrance. The area had looked desolate for many years, and Free Will Baptist Church pastor Gene Wooton, after being nudged by the Freewill Baptist School principal, decided to take up the challenge.

“We thought if we do this, hopefully it’d inspire other people to take care of their neighborhoods,” Wooton told The Consortium on Wednesday. Never did it occurred to him that project would inspire so many people.

From the initial cleaning and repainting to Victor Cepeda’s beautiful mural, and now with Christian missionaries from Albany, Georgia, who will be on the island until Tuesday, residents have been showing their support by honking each time they pass the Sion Farm stoplights, and making popular the images that VI Consortium have been posting of the ongoing work at the entrance.

“It is kind of a mystery for me because all we’re doing is working,” Wooton said when asked to explain the excitement behind the work. “But I guess they’re encouraged to know that they’re not alone. Other people see that we’ve got to step up and so it encourages them to do the same kind of thing.”

The pastor then pointed to a resident of Sion Farm who donated about a dozen plants. The resident said he was inspired by the ongoing work and decided to contribute to the effort.

Others in the community have expressed the same sentiments, and residents have been calling for similar jobs to be performed at neighborhood entrances around the islands — spurred by one pastor’s act of kindness.

Wooton said when they decided to move ahead with the Sion Farm project, the first task was to find out who was responsible for its maintenance. Once that problem was sorted, they sought and received permission from the Department of Public Works and began working.

Because Christian missionaries visit the island often through Free Will Baptist Church, the maintenance of Sion Farm presents an opportunity for people like Kenzie Todd to make a difference.

Todd, one of the missionaries visiting this week, told The Consortium that her travel to the island marked the first time she’s been on an airplane, and that her trip to St. Croix was worth it.