DAN KAUFFMAN studied Spanish and Philosophy at OU while working the night-shift at the Timothy House as an undergrad in 2005. The night-shift experience, and mission trips to NYC and Mexico, were very important in determining God's call on my life. As Keith says, “I was ruined for the American dream,” and he was right. I no longer desired to live a prosperous life; I only wanted to live wholly abandoned to God. To me that meant living as and serving the poor.

“We have all known the long loneliness and we have learned that the only solution is love and that love comes with community.” This quote, from Dorothy Day, had a huge impact in bringing me back to the Good Works community and to Athens. During my 2 year absence from Athens I have lacked meaningful community. I felt the void of the long loneliness and I came back to fill it.

Though I have traveled abroad three times (twice to South America and once to Greece) and worked with diverse peoples (immigrants and refugees living in Louisville, KY) my heart is at home in southeast Ohio. I am from Chillicothe so I know the struggles of people here for they are my own. The subtle majesty of the rolling hills and the simple beauty of the people call to me. And Good Works is the perfect outlet for me to express the passion God has placed within—to connect others and myself with the poor so the kingdom of God can be experienced. Jesus in Luke 6:20, “Blessed are you who are poor for yours is the kingdom of God.”

When I am not immersed in the Good Works community as an Appalachian Immersion intern I am reading or in nature or both.