Diantha Hodges, Tennessee

Missionary Code #781325-3

Web site: http://jubileeproject.holston.org/

Web site for farm/food cooperative where you can order gift baskets and products: www.apspringcoop.com

Diantha Inglis Hodges is a missionary of the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church serving in Hancock County, TN. She is a health and community worker with Jubilee Project, Inc., a project related to Church and Community Ministries in the Mission Personnel Program Unit.

Jubilee Project is a mission of community development and long-term change in Appalachia. “We respond to community crises and needs in the areas of education, health, youth leadership development, recreation and economic development especially for small businesses and agricultural alternatives and community leadership development,” she says. “The goal is to involve local people in becoming agents of change in this community. My work focuses on leading community planning for health care needs and providing childbirth education and counseling in addition to assisting with other projects.”

Diantha continues, “One of the teens in our teen groups attended a workshop for youth on community empowerment. Out of this workshop, she decided to start an afterschool program for elementary school children who were having trouble with their school work. I was the adult sponsor, but she organized the other members of the teen group to do some of the planning and supervise the program. We enrolled fifteen children and provided help with homework, remedial games and a fun craft activity. Several of the children really enjoyed it and tried not to miss a session. They received needed help. This program would not have existed if it wasn't for the work and initiative of that one caring youth. It's experiences like this that shows how God's mission is being carried out through our work here.”

Prior to this assignment, Diantha worked in Robeson County, NC. She provided childbirth education classes and one-to-one counseling with pregnant women, often single mothers.

From 1987-89, Diantha and her husband, Steve, served as missionaries in Taejon, South Korea. Her duties included childbirth education and support, teaching English conversation at Pai Chai College, Taejon, and occupational therapy at Yonsei University, Seoul.

The granddaughter of missionaries to Mexico and the daughter of a United Church of Christ minister, Diantha grew up in Indiana and Connecticut. She holds a B.A. degree in psychology and sociology from Earlham College, Richmond, IN, and a M.A.T. degree in occupational therapy from Texas Women University, Denton, TX. She is an occupational therapist, an accredited childbirth educator, and a midwife.

Prior to becoming a missionary in 1987, she was employed with Southside Rehabilitation, Inc., in Farmville, VA, as an occupational therapist serving two rural county schools, and worked with children in special education. She was co-founder and co-leader of Richmond Homebirthing Families, and served as a board member of Family Beginnings Birth Center.

Diantha and Steve are the parents of three daughters: Hope, Joy and Sarah.