“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”
Soren Kierkegaard

Today was a rare day, it was cool and rainy for pretty much the whole day. Usually in the summer here we have quick downpours, but today was a settled in rain that lasted pretty much the whole day.

Today being Friday we focused on activities other than home repair. We started the day with our school clean up. The school always looks so nice after it has been scrubbed and clean!

For sites today, a group headed out to Horsecreek Lake to do a trash pick up. This is a lake, not far from us at the school, that we helped clean brush and pick up trash two summers ago with UGWA. They asked us if we would be interested in doing it again this summer and of course we said yes. The volunteers were troopers going out and picking up trash in the rain, but it was a very successful day.

Another group went to Glen Rogers Manor in the afternoon to play banana BINGO with the residents, as well as playing pool and painting nails for some others. A good time was had by all!

Friday’s are also a chance for volunteers to go and visit some of the residents that they had met over the years. It is always a good day when volunteers get to catch up with old friends.

Dinner tonight was a scrumptious Mexican feast. There were beans, beans and chicken, tortillas, Spanish rice and all the fixings. It was really a delicious meal.

This being the end of the week, we had a closing reflection. Tonight the reflection focused on the Oscar Romero quote about us being workers and not masters builders. The volunteers shared when they witnessed or when they were the workers, doing something small that really counts. It was wonderful to hear the impact that so many small events made up a great week or two weeks.

“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”
Soren Kierkegaard

Today was a rare day, it was cool and rainy for pretty much the whole day. Usually in the summer here we have quick downpours, but today was a settled in rain that lasted pretty much the whole day.

Today being Friday we focused on activities other than home repair. We started the day with our school clean up. The school always looks so nice after it has been scrubbed and clean!

For sites today, a group headed out to Horsecreek Lake to do a trash pick up. This is a lake, not far from us at the school, that we helped clean brush and pick up trash two summers ago with UGWA. They asked us if we would be interested in doing it again this summer and of course we said yes. The volunteers were troopers going out and picking up trash in the rain, but it was a very successful day.

Another group went to Glen Rogers Manor in the afternoon to play banana BINGO with the residents, as well as playing pool and painting nails for some others. A good time was had by all!

Friday’s are also a chance for volunteers to go and visit some of the residents that they had met over the years. It is always a good day when volunteers get to catch up with old friends.

Dinner tonight was a scrumptious Mexican feast. There were beans, beans and chicken, tortillas, Spanish rice and all the fixings. It was really a delicious meal.

This being the end of the week, we had a closing reflection. Tonight the reflection focused on the Oscar Romero quote about us being workers and not masters builders. The volunteers shared when they witnessed or when they were the workers, doing something small that really counts. It was wonderful to hear the impact that so many small events made up a great week or two weeks.

“At any moment, you have a choice that leads you closer to your spirit or further away from it.”
Thich Nhat Hanh

PVs set out to three sites today. One group went to finish up in Lillydale, another went back to Itmann to continue work on the future UGWA offices and a third group went to a new site. The new site is working for a man who lives just outside of Oceana. We will be doing several things at his house, but today the group focused on power-washing the outside of the house and talking with him. A good time was had by all.

We were treated to breakfast for dinner again tonight, but this time it was french toast casserole on the menu. Along with the casserole there were eggs, bacon, orange juice and coffee. Very delicious and satisfying.

Reflection for the evening was very creative. We were each asked to create a tweet that recapped our day for the group. For many it was their first tweet ever, others you could tell were seasoned veterans.

“At any moment, you have a choice that leads you closer to your spirit or further away from it.”
Thich Nhat Hanh

PVs set out to three sites today. One group went to finish up in Lillydale, another went back to Itmann to continue work on the future UGWA offices and a third group went to a new site. The new site is working for a man who lives just outside of Oceana. We will be doing several things at his house, but today the group focused on power-washing the outside of the house and talking with him. A good time was had by all.

We were treated to breakfast for dinner again tonight, but this time it was french toast casserole on the menu. Along with the casserole there were eggs, bacon, orange juice and coffee. Very delicious and satisfying.

Reflection for the evening was very creative. We were each asked to create a tweet that recapped our day for the group. For many it was their first tweet ever, others you could tell were seasoned veterans.

“At any moment, you have a choice that leads you closer to your spirit or further away from it.”
Thich Nhat Hanh

PVs set out to three sites today. One group went to finish up in Lillydale, another went back to Itmann to continue work on the future UGWA offices and a third group went to a new site. The new site is working for a man who lives just outside of Oceana. We will be doing several things at his house, but today the group focused on power-washing the outside of the house and talking with him. A good time was had by all.

We were treated to breakfast for dinner again tonight, but this time it was french toast casserole on the menu. Along with the casserole there were eggs, bacon, orange juice and coffee. Very delicious and satisfying.

Reflection for the evening was very creative. We were each asked to create a tweet that recapped our day for the group. For many it was their first tweet ever, others you could tell were seasoned veterans.

“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is the noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bittersweet.”
Confucius

Today the temperatures were a little cooler, the sky was a little overcast, a beautiful day to be outside working. We spent the day at the Itmann school house and at the house in Lillydale again. The house in Lillydale is almost complete. There remains a little more painting to be done on the porch and adding a railing on the newly built back porch. After tomorrow all the outside work should be done. We will be going back next week to work on some floors on the inside.

At the Itmann school house we continued work on the drainage ditch and tiled the bathroom floor. The building is really coming along. At the end of the day two people from UGWA came and were very pleased with all the work that has been done. They are hoping to move into the space by the end of the summer.

Dinner was a tasty chilli, meat and non-meat, served over rice and with cornbread. It was delicious. For dessert there was homemade magic bars that topped off the the meal perfectly!

The reflection for the evening focused on who we saw God in during our time in WV.

“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is the noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bittersweet.”
Confucius

Today the temperatures were a little cooler, the sky was a little overcast, a beautiful day to be outside working. We spent the day at the Itmann school house and at the house in Lillydale again. The house in Lillydale is almost complete. There remains a little more painting to be done on the porch and adding a railing on the newly built back porch. After tomorrow all the outside work should be done. We will be going back next week to work on some floors on the inside.

At the Itmann school house we continued work on the drainage ditch and tiled the bathroom floor. The building is really coming along. At the end of the day two people from UGWA came and were very pleased with all the work that has been done. They are hoping to move into the space by the end of the summer.

Dinner was a tasty chilli, meat and non-meat, served over rice and with cornbread. It was delicious. For dessert there was homemade magic bars that topped off the the meal perfectly!

The reflection for the evening focused on who we saw God in during our time in WV.

“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is the noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bittersweet.”
Confucius

Today the temperatures were a little cooler, the sky was a little overcast, a beautiful day to be outside working. We spent the day at the Itmann school house and at the house in Lillydale again. The house in Lillydale is almost complete. There remains a little more painting to be done on the porch and adding a railing on the newly built back porch. After tomorrow all the outside work should be done. We will be going back next week to work on some floors on the inside.

At the Itmann school house we continued work on the drainage ditch and tiled the bathroom floor. The building is really coming along. At the end of the day two people from UGWA came and were very pleased with all the work that has been done. They are hoping to move into the space by the end of the summer.

Dinner was a tasty chilli, meat and non-meat, served over rice and with cornbread. It was delicious. For dessert there was homemade magic bars that topped off the the meal perfectly!

The reflection for the evening focused on who we saw God in during our time in WV.

“If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain.”
Emily Dickinson

Another beautiful day in wild, wonderful West Virginia. This morning as we drove out to sites, the view was spectacular. The clouds had settled into the valleys between the mountains, it was gorgeous. At times we were above the clouds looking down. It didn’t take long for the clouds to burn off and for us to have sunshine for the whole day, with fairly pleasant temperatures.

The group split up into two groups today with one group going to the Itmann school house and the other group going back to the painting site in Lillydale. The Itmann crew continued digging the drainage ditch behind the school and begun work on tiling the bathroom floor.  The Lillydale crew also made a lot of progress. They finished up most of the main painting and completed a lot of the trim work. The porch building is going along smoothly as well. The frame is done, as is the deck boards. All that is needed are the steps ans the railings. As was the case from yesterday, there were extra helpers and visitors from up the street.

Tonight’s dinner was an Italian feast. Lots of spaghetti, sauteed veggies and a salad. Yummy!

We also had a few guests for dinner tonight, two women who are working on an interactive documentary that is being shot in McDowell County. The project Hollow , is a “hybrid community participatory project and interactive documentary where content is created “for the community, by the community.” They shared with us some early footage and talked about some of the their experiences so far. It was a very interesting and very informative night. We encourage you to check out their website and see how you can help.

“If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain.”
Emily Dickinson

Another beautiful day in wild, wonderful West Virginia. This morning as we drove out to sites, the view was spectacular. The clouds had settled into the valleys between the mountains, it was gorgeous. At times we were above the clouds looking down. It didn’t take long for the clouds to burn off and for us to have sunshine for the whole day, with fairly pleasant temperatures.

The group split up into two groups today with one group going to the Itmann school house and the other group going back to the painting site in Lillydale. The Itmann crew continued digging the drainage ditch behind the school and begun work on tiling the bathroom floor.  The Lillydale crew also made a lot of progress. They finished up most of the main painting and completed a lot of the trim work. The porch building is going along smoothly as well. The frame is done, as is the deck boards. All that is needed are the steps ans the railings. As was the case from yesterday, there were extra helpers and visitors from up the street.

Tonight’s dinner was an Italian feast. Lots of spaghetti, sauteed veggies and a salad. Yummy!

We also had a few guests for dinner tonight, two women who are working on an interactive documentary that is being shot in McDowell County. The project Hollow , is a “hybrid community participatory project and interactive documentary where content is created “for the community, by the community.” They shared with us some early footage and talked about some of the their experiences so far. It was a very interesting and very informative night. We encourage you to check out their website and see how you can help.