They chipped away paint and plaster on a 100-year-old church in Augustusburg, Germany. They helped renovate an orphanage in Samara, Russia. And they shared a faith that spans oceans.

A 21-person mission team organized through Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church recently visited Germany and Russia to work with local people on church projects, said Carol Harper, the church's pastor of education.

"We usually go each year," Harper said. "It is so important to meet and work with the people face-to-face."

The mission team was led by church member Gisela Gildenmeister. She is a native of the former East Germany.

The group helped to renovate the United Methodist Church building in Augustusburg and was able to stay for the building's dedication.

The mission group also worked with a sister church in Russia, the First United Methodist Church of Samara, to renovate an orphanage.

Harper said the orphanage has been completely renovated by mission teams.

All supplies for the remodeling and redecorating are financed by the United Methodist Church and team members. This year, the mission team took fleece material for jackets, and other materials, vitamins, cough drops, bandages, backpacks, crayons for the orphanage and clerical materials for the Samara Methodist Church.

The mission group stayed in the orphanage while the children were away at summer camp. But before the group left, the children returned and worked with the group on the renovation.

Harper taught the children about the Pentecost.

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Firefighters from more than 60 firehouses in Hamilton, Butler Warren, Clermont, Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties, working with Gold Star Chili gave messages on safety and fire prevention to more than 3,500 kids during Firefighter Education Night Monday.

The messages included hands-on educational material such as smoke houses that teach children how to escape a fire. The firefighters also showed off their gadgets, such as infrared scanners that can find people trapped in smoke-filled, burning buildings.

John Sullivan, Gold Star CEO, said the restaurant looks forward to teaming up with real-life hometown heroes to teach kids about fire safety.

"Fire Fighter Education Night is fun for families, for firefighters who meet the people they serve on this special Kid's Night and for the Gold Star Chili employees who host these neighborhood events."

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Allen Howard's "Some Good News'' column runs daily. If you have suggestions about outstanding achievements, or people who are uplifting to the Tristate, let him know at 768-8362, at ahoward@enquirer.com or by fax at 768-8340.