“Suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be. I have been bent and broken, but – I hope – into a better shape.”
Charles Dickens

The common thread that seems to be running through this summer is the lack of electricity. After another big thunderstorm that cleared out the heat and humidity, many were left without power, including one of our sites. We we had virtually no rain the first several weeks of the program, we have certainly made up for it the last two weeks. What do they say, when it rains it pours?!

Despite the rain we had a very productive day with finishing 4 sites and getting very close to finishing a fifth had it not been for running out of tile with a row and a half left. The site up in Oceana finished up it’s tiling in the dark after losing power, but the floor looks gorgeous, and the home owner very happy with all the work that had been done at his house over the last week.

We also went to Lillydale to work with several of our old friends. We ended up working on three different family member’s houses. In one we replaced a light fixture, in another we fixed a door and then in the third we finished some plumbing underneath the house and put a new subfloor and tile on 9/10 of the the floor. We will go back and finish that up tomorrow.

We also had a group of volunteers help haul trash at a site up on Sunhill road for a man and his son whose house we worked on a couple of years ago. He was going to get fined if he didn’t get some of his garbage hauled away so St. Vincent DePaul called us to see if we make a couple of trips to the dump. The best part of the dump runs today was that the volunteers were able to use the entrance to the dump that is actually a two lane road the whole way making the drive to the top of the mountain a lot less exciting.

The final group of volunteers stayed back at the school for basketball camp. Due a smaller than usual turnout, the morning session has now become a day camp with crafts and the PV kids and local kids hanging out together and playing. In the afternoon basketball camp was back and they picked up two more kids and had a great session of basketball.

For dinner tonight we were treated to breakfast for dinner: pancakes, eggs, ham and home fries. For dessert we had coffee cake and homemade ice cream. Yummy, yummy!!!

During reflection we were asked to reflection on worrying. Think about a time when we worried about something only to find out that we shouldn’t have worried.

“The opposite of live is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference.”
Elie Wiesel

It was another hot and humid day in Wyoming County. Volunteers were at four different sites throughout the county. Volunteers finished up the tiling in Lillydale. The bathroom looks fabulous!

Another group went to continue with the porch and the tiling in Oceana. The porch is almost finished, just one step left. All the underlayment is done in the kitchen, only the tile needs to be put down. As a little extra job today, volunteers cleaned out the aquarium at the house. It now looks sparkly clean.

A third group went back to the Itmann school house to continue work. A hard working group worked in the back continuing to dig the trench, while another group worked inside putting the bathroom back together and insulating the back wall. The back wall is now ready to have the drywall installed.

The final group stayed back at the school to run the basketball camps. The kids had a great time and learned new basketball skills. We look forward to another great day tomorrow.

The dinner tonight was terrific. We had pasta alfredo with broccoli and chicken, salad and homemade rolls. Everything was delicious!

The focus of reflection was on the Mother Theresa quote “We cannot do great things, only small thing with great love.” We were asked to share something that was a small thing, but showed great love in doing it.

“The opposite of live is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference.”
Elie Wiesel

It was another hot and humid day in Wyoming County. Volunteers were at four different sites throughout the county. Volunteers finished up the tiling in Lillydale. The bathroom looks fabulous!

Another group went to continue with the porch and the tiling in Oceana. The porch is almost finished, just one step left. All the underlayment is done in the kitchen, only the tile needs to be put down. As a little extra job today, volunteers cleaned out the aquarium at the house. It now looks sparkly clean.

A third group went back to the Itmann school house to continue work. A hard working group worked in the back continuing to dig the trench, while another group worked inside putting the bathroom back together and insulating the back wall. The back wall is now ready to have the drywall installed.

The final group stayed back at the school to run the basketball camps. The kids had a great time and learned new basketball skills. We look forward to another great day tomorrow.

The dinner tonight was terrific. We had pasta alfredo with broccoli and chicken, salad and homemade rolls. Everything was delicious!

The focus of reflection was on the Mother Theresa quote “We cannot do great things, only small thing with great love.” We were asked to share something that was a small thing, but showed great love in doing it.

“The opposite of live is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference.”
Elie Wiesel

It was another hot and humid day in Wyoming County. Volunteers were at four different sites throughout the county. Volunteers finished up the tiling in Lillydale. The bathroom looks fabulous!

Another group went to continue with the porch and the tiling in Oceana. The porch is almost finished, just one step left. All the underlayment is done in the kitchen, only the tile needs to be put down. As a little extra job today, volunteers cleaned out the aquarium at the house. It now looks sparkly clean.

A third group went back to the Itmann school house to continue work. A hard working group worked in the back continuing to dig the trench, while another group worked inside putting the bathroom back together and insulating the back wall. The back wall is now ready to have the drywall installed.

The final group stayed back at the school to run the basketball camps. The kids had a great time and learned new basketball skills. We look forward to another great day tomorrow.

The dinner tonight was terrific. We had pasta alfredo with broccoli and chicken, salad and homemade rolls. Everything was delicious!

The focus of reflection was on the Mother Theresa quote “We cannot do great things, only small thing with great love.” We were asked to share something that was a small thing, but showed great love in doing it.

There was an article in this week’s Beckley Register Herald about the PVs working in Itmann on the old school house. Click here for the story.

There was an article in this week’s Beckley Register Herald about the PVs working in Itmann on the old school house. Click here for the story.

There was an article in this week’s Beckley Register Herald about the PVs working in Itmann on the old school house. Click here for the story.

“Each day, accept everything that comes to you as a gift. At night, mentally give it all back. In this way, you become free.”
Daniel Levin

Another week starts and the temperatures rise. Today it was not only warmer, but much more humid than in the past few weeks. There was a brief shower in the afternoon, but not enough to clear out the air.

Today the PVs went out to three different jobsites. We continued at two of the sites from last week, but doing different jobs. We went back to the house in Lilydale that we painted and built a back porch, but this time volunteers worked inside replacing a few floors. Tomorrow the group that goes there will place vinyl tile over the new floor.

Volunteers also went back to the site just outside of Oceana where last week we power-washed. Today the volunteers finished the power washing that couldn’t be done last week because the power washer stopped running, as well as starting to lay a new kitchen floor and build a back porch. The porch was a little tricky as it would block the door to the owner’s chicken coop, so the first step was to move the chicken coop door. In the middle of all the hard work that was being done at the site, a couple of the volunteers had to also help with a flat tire that the truck had when it was dropping off supplies.

The final site of the day was the Hanover Basketball Camp. Today was the first day of this summer’s basketball camp. Coach D is back in town to run is wonderful camp. The kids that came, both local kids and PV kids, had a wonderful time. We are looking forward to the rest of the week.

Everyone was starving by the time dinner time came. We were lucky to be treated to home made calzones, deviled eggs, salad and homemade cookies. All around yummy!

During reflection tonight, the readings from Sunday were used and we reflected on what we brought with us from home for comfort on this journey this summer. It was interesting to hear what people brought and why. Volunteers also were encouraged to share a new from the day.

“Each day, accept everything that comes to you as a gift. At night, mentally give it all back. In this way, you become free.”
Daniel Levin

Another week starts and the temperatures rise. Today it was not only warmer, but much more humid than in the past few weeks. There was a brief shower in the afternoon, but not enough to clear out the air.

Today the PVs went out to three different jobsites. We continued at two of the sites from last week, but doing different jobs. We went back to the house in Lilydale that we painted and built a back porch, but this time volunteers worked inside replacing a few floors. Tomorrow the group that goes there will place vinyl tile over the new floor.

Volunteers also went back to the site just outside of Oceana where last week we power-washed. Today the volunteers finished the power washing that couldn’t be done last week because the power washer stopped running, as well as starting to lay a new kitchen floor and build a back porch. The porch was a little tricky as it would block the door to the owner’s chicken coop, so the first step was to move the chicken coop door. In the middle of all the hard work that was being done at the site, a couple of the volunteers had to also help with a flat tire that the truck had when it was dropping off supplies.

The final site of the day was the Hanover Basketball Camp. Today was the first day of this summer’s basketball camp. Coach D is back in town to run is wonderful camp. The kids that came, both local kids and PV kids, had a wonderful time. We are looking forward to the rest of the week.

Everyone was starving by the time dinner time came. We were lucky to be treated to home made calzones, deviled eggs, salad and homemade cookies. All around yummy!

During reflection tonight, the readings from Sunday were used and we reflected on what we brought with us from home for comfort on this journey this summer. It was interesting to hear what people brought and why. Volunteers also were encouraged to share a new from the day.

“Each day, accept everything that comes to you as a gift. At night, mentally give it all back. In this way, you become free.”
Daniel Levin

Another week starts and the temperatures rise. Today it was not only warmer, but much more humid than in the past few weeks. There was a brief shower in the afternoon, but not enough to clear out the air.

Today the PVs went out to three different jobsites. We continued at two of the sites from last week, but doing different jobs. We went back to the house in Lilydale that we painted and built a back porch, but this time volunteers worked inside replacing a few floors. Tomorrow the group that goes there will place vinyl tile over the new floor.

Volunteers also went back to the site just outside of Oceana where last week we power-washed. Today the volunteers finished the power washing that couldn’t be done last week because the power washer stopped running, as well as starting to lay a new kitchen floor and build a back porch. The porch was a little tricky as it would block the door to the owner’s chicken coop, so the first step was to move the chicken coop door. In the middle of all the hard work that was being done at the site, a couple of the volunteers had to also help with a flat tire that the truck had when it was dropping off supplies.

The final site of the day was the Hanover Basketball Camp. Today was the first day of this summer’s basketball camp. Coach D is back in town to run is wonderful camp. The kids that came, both local kids and PV kids, had a wonderful time. We are looking forward to the rest of the week.

Everyone was starving by the time dinner time came. We were lucky to be treated to home made calzones, deviled eggs, salad and homemade cookies. All around yummy!

During reflection tonight, the readings from Sunday were used and we reflected on what we brought with us from home for comfort on this journey this summer. It was interesting to hear what people brought and why. Volunteers also were encouraged to share a new from the day.