A Waynesboro teen has created a meditation garden at her church for her Eagle Scout project.
“It will give people a place to sit quietly to pray and meditate,” offered Olivia McDonald, daughter of Sean and Becky McDonald. Evangelical Lutheran Church, 43 S. Church St., Waynesboro, also will use the gated, grassy space off the church parking lot for outdoor church services, youth ministry and Sunday School lessons, she added. “In addition, it will be welcoming to neighbors who wish to use it,” she added.
Olivia said she conceived the idea for the project after talking to the church pastors about the possibility of having an outdoor worship space. She was assisted in the construction of the garden by members of her troop, Boy Scouts of America Troop 199 of Greencastle, and also received donations to pay for materials during Scout Sunday recently at the church.
The garden features a 30-foot evergreen tree behind the three 6- by 8-foot fences that were installed. “One of the fences is parallel to the tree and the other two are diagonal to the center. There is a cross that is parallel to the center fence,” Olivia noted. “And the fence and tree will provide privacy from people walking by.”
A senior at Waynesboro Area Senior High School, Olivia will attend Shippensburg University this fall to study criminal justice.
“What I like about Scouts is that every person who comes into Scouting is different.” Olivia said. It has been fun to watch their leadership skills grow and help them become brand new leaders. The Scoutmaster is a big part of teaching us how to lead. After she teaches us something, we can turn around and teach another person.”
