“I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.” Dr. Angela Davis
As the old Creedence Clearwater Revivial song goes “Long as I remember the rain been comin’ down, clouds of mystery pourin’ confusion on the ground. Good men through the ages tryin’ to find the sun. And I wonder still I wonder who’ll stop the rain.” This has been one of the wettest weeks I can remember during the PV summer program. We are used to the soaking passing thunderstorms, but we have had settled in rains, or threats of impeding downpours pretty much the entire week. Thankfully we had sites that were conducive to this weather pattern and very patient volunteers willing to wait out the passing storms.
Despite the weather challenges, today we were able to complete two sites. The site that we have been working on in Alpoca Bottom is complete with a brand-new front door. The home owner and her children are now very close to moving in and starting their new life. She has been painting and decorating as we we have been there and move in day for her and her three kids should be very close.
Volunteers also went back to the site that was started yesterday in Bud. The crew today was able to dodge the raindrops for the most part and install four new windows. The home owner and his three boys will now hopefully stay a little warmer, safer and drier.
The third crew stayed back at The Way for open gym and did many projects to help keep the program running smoothly and get ready for the new group of volunteers coming in tomorrow. This group also spend time at Glen Rogers Manor for a little Banana Bingo and nail painting. Fun times were had by all!
With the rainy, cooler weather it was wonderful to sit down to a homey comfort food meal of shepherds pie (both meat and veggie options available), served with broccoli and salad. To top off the meal….the famous Camas homemade ice cream cake. You all know what I am talking about.
As each Friday we try and wrap up the week by reflecting back on our experiences from the week and sharing how we can take this experience back home. It is important that all that we saw and learned doesn’t stay in a little box marked “West Virginia” and stow it away. We need to take the examples of love and compassion and bring them into our daily lives.