“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” Leo Tolstoy

The first week came to end today. Today was a beautiful day, sunny, very little humidity and a little bit of a breeze. Fridays in PVland are home repair free days so volunteers engage in all sorts of activities throughout the county.

I guess I should mention that we woke up this morning and did not have water at the school. It seems the pump had kicked off during a short power outage we had had a couple of nights before and we had been using the reserves of the water supply. The maintenance department came from Pineville by mid morning and all was well. On to the sites for the day…

A group went up to horse creek lake near Baileysville to clean up around the lake. The spot was absolutely gorgeous with all sorts of butterflies, birds, frogs, you name it, it was at the lake. By the end of the time, 11 bags of garbage were picked up and ready to be hauled out.

Friday was also the last day of the Mullens Soccer Camp. This year saw record numbers at the camp with 21 kids in the morning session and 7 in the afternoon session. A huge thanks once again to Zach for putting on the camp. A good time was had by all.

Another group went to St. Vincent DePaul for the home repair workshop we are offering to the people in the county. After that they moved on to the house in Pineville to finish up fixing the broken pipe.

After soccer many volunteers headed over to Mullens Manor for an afternoon recreation program. Again we saw record numbers as 18 residents took part in Banana Bingo, visiting and nail painting.

After everyone returned to the school we all enjoyed a wonderful dinner of sausage and bean soup, corn break and cheesy potato casserole. For dessert we were treated to home made ice cream. Yummy!

The evenings reflection centered around looking at the challenges we faced during the week. It was a very heartfelt sharing of challenges and for many overcoming those challenges.

It was a wonderful first week of the program and we look forward to the rest of the summer.

“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” Leo Tolstoy

The first week came to end today. Today was a beautiful day, sunny, very little humidity and a little bit of a breeze. Fridays in PVland are home repair free days so volunteers engage in all sorts of activities throughout the county.

I guess I should mention that we woke up this morning and did not have water at the school. It seems the pump had kicked off during a short power outage we had had a couple of nights before and we had been using the reserves of the water supply. The maintenance department came from Pineville by mid morning and all was well. On to the sites for the day…

A group went up to horse creek lake near Baileysville to clean up around the lake. The spot was absolutely gorgeous with all sorts of butterflies, birds, frogs, you name it, it was at the lake. By the end of the time, 11 bags of garbage were picked up and ready to be hauled out.

Friday was also the last day of the Mullens Soccer Camp. This year saw record numbers at the camp with 21 kids in the morning session and 7 in the afternoon session. A huge thanks once again to Zach for putting on the camp. A good time was had by all.

Another group went to St. Vincent DePaul for the home repair workshop we are offering to the people in the county. After that they moved on to the house in Pineville to finish up fixing the broken pipe.

After soccer many volunteers headed over to Mullens Manor for an afternoon recreation program. Again we saw record numbers as 18 residents took part in Banana Bingo, visiting and nail painting.

After everyone returned to the school we all enjoyed a wonderful dinner of sausage and bean soup, corn break and cheesy potato casserole. For dessert we were treated to home made ice cream. Yummy!

The evenings reflection centered around looking at the challenges we faced during the week. It was a very heartfelt sharing of challenges and for many overcoming those challenges.

It was a wonderful first week of the program and we look forward to the rest of the summer.

“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” Leo Tolstoy

The first week came to end today. Today was a beautiful day, sunny, very little humidity and a little bit of a breeze. Fridays in PVland are home repair free days so volunteers engage in all sorts of activities throughout the county.

I guess I should mention that we woke up this morning and did not have water at the school. It seems the pump had kicked off during a short power outage we had had a couple of nights before and we had been using the reserves of the water supply. The maintenance department came from Pineville by mid morning and all was well. On to the sites for the day…

A group went up to horse creek lake near Baileysville to clean up around the lake. The spot was absolutely gorgeous with all sorts of butterflies, birds, frogs, you name it, it was at the lake. By the end of the time, 11 bags of garbage were picked up and ready to be hauled out.

Friday was also the last day of the Mullens Soccer Camp. This year saw record numbers at the camp with 21 kids in the morning session and 7 in the afternoon session. A huge thanks once again to Zach for putting on the camp. A good time was had by all.

Another group went to St. Vincent DePaul for the home repair workshop we are offering to the people in the county. After that they moved on to the house in Pineville to finish up fixing the broken pipe.

After soccer many volunteers headed over to Mullens Manor for an afternoon recreation program. Again we saw record numbers as 18 residents took part in Banana Bingo, visiting and nail painting.

After everyone returned to the school we all enjoyed a wonderful dinner of sausage and bean soup, corn break and cheesy potato casserole. For dessert we were treated to home made ice cream. Yummy!

The evenings reflection centered around looking at the challenges we faced during the week. It was a very heartfelt sharing of challenges and for many overcoming those challenges.

It was a wonderful first week of the program and we look forward to the rest of the summer.

“The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own.” Benjamin Disraeli

Today we were awakened to rainfall hitting the metal rooftop of the school. While nice to listen to, the rain is not too nice for all our home repair sites since they were all outside. One site was canceled for the day, but the site out in Lilydale went on as there was some indoor work and plenty of opportunity for visiting.

Soccer also went on in the rain. Luckily for the kids and the volunteers it only rained for the first hour out in Mullens, but really, soccer is kind of fun to play in the rain.

We did have an impromptu site in the afternoon, the mail water line going into our rental house in Pineville sprung a leak. After a lot of digging and a little jack-hammering to get to the pipe, the pipe was replaced and water was restored. Yay!

We all feasted on a wonderful and filling meal of spaghetti and meatballs, salad and garlic bread. How could you go wrong with spaghetti, right? It was delicious.

In the evening we gathered for our nightly reflection, this time the reflection focused on what it was that brought us here to WV and why we keep coming back. It is always wonderful to hear what it is that brought people to the PVs.

“The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own.” Benjamin Disraeli

Today we were awakened to rainfall hitting the metal rooftop of the school. While nice to listen to, the rain is not too nice for all our home repair sites since they were all outside. One site was canceled for the day, but the site out in Lilydale went on as there was some indoor work and plenty of opportunity for visiting.

Soccer also went on in the rain. Luckily for the kids and the volunteers it only rained for the first hour out in Mullens, but really, soccer is kind of fun to play in the rain.

We did have an impromptu site in the afternoon, the mail water line going into our rental house in Pineville sprung a leak. After a lot of digging and a little jack-hammering to get to the pipe, the pipe was replaced and water was restored. Yay!

We all feasted on a wonderful and filling meal of spaghetti and meatballs, salad and garlic bread. How could you go wrong with spaghetti, right? It was delicious.

In the evening we gathered for our nightly reflection, this time the reflection focused on what it was that brought us here to WV and why we keep coming back. It is always wonderful to hear what it is that brought people to the PVs.

“The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own.” Benjamin Disraeli

Today we were awakened to rainfall hitting the metal rooftop of the school. While nice to listen to, the rain is not too nice for all our home repair sites since they were all outside. One site was canceled for the day, but the site out in Lilydale went on as there was some indoor work and plenty of opportunity for visiting.

Soccer also went on in the rain. Luckily for the kids and the volunteers it only rained for the first hour out in Mullens, but really, soccer is kind of fun to play in the rain.

We did have an impromptu site in the afternoon, the mail water line going into our rental house in Pineville sprung a leak. After a lot of digging and a little jack-hammering to get to the pipe, the pipe was replaced and water was restored. Yay!

We all feasted on a wonderful and filling meal of spaghetti and meatballs, salad and garlic bread. How could you go wrong with spaghetti, right? It was delicious.

In the evening we gathered for our nightly reflection, this time the reflection focused on what it was that brought us here to WV and why we keep coming back. It is always wonderful to hear what it is that brought people to the PVs.

“The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was: “If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?” But…the good Samaritan reversed the question: “If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?” Martin Luther King,Jr.

The weather today was just about perfect, warm but with a nice cool breeze. The afternoon got a little warmer, but the breeze seemed to always be around.

Today we finished up our home repair site out in Indian Creek, the first of the summer. Not only were the volunteers that were there treated to fresh biscuits (and the directors as we happened to stop by at just the right time 🙂 ) but a whole batch was prepared by the home owner and one of our younger volunteers to bring back to the school for everyone to enjoy. Wonderful work was done by everyone at the site throughout the week, we couldn’t have asked for a better first site of the summer program.

Two home repair crews also headed out to Lilydale to do a little work on the homes of some old friends of the PVs. All the volunteers new and old, were greeted with a welcoming hug and huge smiles. A lot of terrific work was done, but more importantly a lot of great time was spent together.

The third group headed out to soccer camp for another great day with the kids. You couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day to play soccer. I’m not sure who had more fun, the kids or the volunteers.

After a busy day, hungry PVs feasted on a hearty meal of meatloaf, baked potatoes, bean salad and delicious home made rolls made by our cook. To top if off, for dessert the biscuits made earlier were served with peaches and ice cream. Yum yum.

All the PVs gathered in the evening for reflection were greeted by our youngest PV with a beautiful reflection on finding God in the moments of the day. We went around the room and shared where we each saw God that day.

“The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was: “If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?” But…the good Samaritan reversed the question: “If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?” Martin Luther King,Jr.

The weather today was just about perfect, warm but with a nice cool breeze. The afternoon got a little warmer, but the breeze seemed to always be around.

Today we finished up our home repair site out in Indian Creek, the first of the summer. Not only were the volunteers that were there treated to fresh biscuits (and the directors as we happened to stop by at just the right time 🙂 ) but a whole batch was prepared by the home owner and one of our younger volunteers to bring back to the school for everyone to enjoy. Wonderful work was done by everyone at the site throughout the week, we couldn’t have asked for a better first site of the summer program.

Two home repair crews also headed out to Lilydale to do a little work on the homes of some old friends of the PVs. All the volunteers new and old, were greeted with a welcoming hug and huge smiles. A lot of terrific work was done, but more importantly a lot of great time was spent together.

The third group headed out to soccer camp for another great day with the kids. You couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day to play soccer. I’m not sure who had more fun, the kids or the volunteers.

After a busy day, hungry PVs feasted on a hearty meal of meatloaf, baked potatoes, bean salad and delicious home made rolls made by our cook. To top if off, for dessert the biscuits made earlier were served with peaches and ice cream. Yum yum.

All the PVs gathered in the evening for reflection were greeted by our youngest PV with a beautiful reflection on finding God in the moments of the day. We went around the room and shared where we each saw God that day.

“The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was: “If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?” But…the good Samaritan reversed the question: “If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?” Martin Luther King,Jr.

The weather today was just about perfect, warm but with a nice cool breeze. The afternoon got a little warmer, but the breeze seemed to always be around.

Today we finished up our home repair site out in Indian Creek, the first of the summer. Not only were the volunteers that were there treated to fresh biscuits (and the directors as we happened to stop by at just the right time 🙂 ) but a whole batch was prepared by the home owner and one of our younger volunteers to bring back to the school for everyone to enjoy. Wonderful work was done by everyone at the site throughout the week, we couldn’t have asked for a better first site of the summer program.

Two home repair crews also headed out to Lilydale to do a little work on the homes of some old friends of the PVs. All the volunteers new and old, were greeted with a welcoming hug and huge smiles. A lot of terrific work was done, but more importantly a lot of great time was spent together.

The third group headed out to soccer camp for another great day with the kids. You couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day to play soccer. I’m not sure who had more fun, the kids or the volunteers.

After a busy day, hungry PVs feasted on a hearty meal of meatloaf, baked potatoes, bean salad and delicious home made rolls made by our cook. To top if off, for dessert the biscuits made earlier were served with peaches and ice cream. Yum yum.

All the PVs gathered in the evening for reflection were greeted by our youngest PV with a beautiful reflection on finding God in the moments of the day. We went around the room and shared where we each saw God that day.

“Our prayers for others flow more easily than those for ourselves. This shows we are made to live by charity.” C.S. Lewis

After yesterdays nice cool day, today the temperature soared into the 90’s, making it little more hot and humid. Once again, three crews headed out for the day.

Soccer camp continued going strong, as 6 new kids were added to the list of those enjoying learning the basics of soccer. Not only are they learning soccer, they are having a lot of fun. And I think the volunteers are as well : )

Another group was sent to the Itmann Food Bank to continue with the organization that the group the day before them did.

The third group continued the repairs of the flood damaged house in Indian Creek. And yes, if you were wondering, they did have home made biscuits again….

For dinner last night we enjoyed rigatoni, salad and garlic bread. A simple, but delicious meal.

The evening came to a close with a nice reflection on how we put our faith into action each day, with the help of two wonderful and thought provoking songs.