“A handful of pine-seed will cover mountains with the green majesty of a forest. I too will set my face to the wind and throw my handful of seed on high.” Fiona MacLeod

Another hot and humid day in southern West Virginia. Today we had two home repair sites and the basketball camps. The home repair sites are continuing sites from yesterday. The ramp is getting close to getting all of its framing done and the site with the floor and tile replacement is moving along quite well, as well. But sites ended up wrapping up a little early because of the heat and humidity. Basketball camp continues to grow and to gain momentum. The camp for the older kids in the afternoon has gotten bigger each day.

The menu for dinner tonight was breakfast for dinner. We were treated to an egg casserole, fried potatoes, fruit salad and blueberry muffins. Yummy, yummy.

Reflection centered around the idea of equality, or lack there of. We were read several quotes about equality and a prayer by Mother Theresa and asked to share a “new and good” from the day.

“A handful of pine-seed will cover mountains with the green majesty of a forest. I too will set my face to the wind and throw my handful of seed on high.” Fiona MacLeod

Another hot and humid day in southern West Virginia. Today we had two home repair sites and the basketball camps. The home repair sites are continuing sites from yesterday. The ramp is getting close to getting all of its framing done and the site with the floor and tile replacement is moving along quite well, as well. But sites ended up wrapping up a little early because of the heat and humidity. Basketball camp continues to grow and to gain momentum. The camp for the older kids in the afternoon has gotten bigger each day.

The menu for dinner tonight was breakfast for dinner. We were treated to an egg casserole, fried potatoes, fruit salad and blueberry muffins. Yummy, yummy.

Reflection centered around the idea of equality, or lack there of. We were read several quotes about equality and a prayer by Mother Theresa and asked to share a “new and good” from the day.

“It’s one thing to have a lot of people around you. But you know you’re in a good place when you have a lot of people around that would give you the shirts right off their backs.” Unknown

The temperature continued to climb today, despite the fact that it was a little drizzly in the morning. Like most of the country right now it, we are having hot and humid weather. The weather did not hamper a lot of wonderful work that was done today though. We had groups at three home repair sites and at Basketball Camp.

One home repair group finished the spindles on the ramp that was started two weeks ago. The ramp is officially done. Thank you to all who put in a lot of hard work in building the ramp, it looks beautiful.

Next door the ramp continues as about half the framing is done. Just like the ramp next door, this is quite a project as it helps the home owners exit and enter their homes after they have been raised up 8 feet to protect them from flood waters.

The third group headed out to Lilydale to work on several repairs in home there. There started by fixing in a leaky sink, tearing up the floor that the leak ruined, replacing the floor and tiling the floor. The hallway still needs to be done as well as a couple of other minor things around the house. Our friends from down the street were around lending a helpful hand whenever needed.

The Basketball Camp continued, and continued to pick up a few more kids. The kids are having a great time and receiving wonderful coaching from “Coach D” and the rest of the PVs.

Dinner tonight we were treated to chicken and rice, vegetable ratatouille and brown rice. Yummy yummy! With our over abundance of zucchini, it was but to creative use by making zucchini chocolate chip cookies and they were delicious.

Reflection tonight was on burdens. The reflection leaders used the symbol of a yoke and actually recreated a yoke that we each put on as we shared a burden that we see or share.

“It’s one thing to have a lot of people around you. But you know you’re in a good place when you have a lot of people around that would give you the shirts right off their backs.” Unknown

The temperature continued to climb today, despite the fact that it was a little drizzly in the morning. Like most of the country right now it, we are having hot and humid weather. The weather did not hamper a lot of wonderful work that was done today though. We had groups at three home repair sites and at Basketball Camp.

One home repair group finished the spindles on the ramp that was started two weeks ago. The ramp is officially done. Thank you to all who put in a lot of hard work in building the ramp, it looks beautiful.

Next door the ramp continues as about half the framing is done. Just like the ramp next door, this is quite a project as it helps the home owners exit and enter their homes after they have been raised up 8 feet to protect them from flood waters.

The third group headed out to Lilydale to work on several repairs in home there. There started by fixing in a leaky sink, tearing up the floor that the leak ruined, replacing the floor and tiling the floor. The hallway still needs to be done as well as a couple of other minor things around the house. Our friends from down the street were around lending a helpful hand whenever needed.

The Basketball Camp continued, and continued to pick up a few more kids. The kids are having a great time and receiving wonderful coaching from “Coach D” and the rest of the PVs.

Dinner tonight we were treated to chicken and rice, vegetable ratatouille and brown rice. Yummy yummy! With our over abundance of zucchini, it was but to creative use by making zucchini chocolate chip cookies and they were delicious.

Reflection tonight was on burdens. The reflection leaders used the symbol of a yoke and actually recreated a yoke that we each put on as we shared a burden that we see or share.

“It’s one thing to have a lot of people around you. But you know you’re in a good place when you have a lot of people around that would give you the shirts right off their backs.” Unknown

The temperature continued to climb today, despite the fact that it was a little drizzly in the morning. Like most of the country right now it, we are having hot and humid weather. The weather did not hamper a lot of wonderful work that was done today though. We had groups at three home repair sites and at Basketball Camp.

One home repair group finished the spindles on the ramp that was started two weeks ago. The ramp is officially done. Thank you to all who put in a lot of hard work in building the ramp, it looks beautiful.

Next door the ramp continues as about half the framing is done. Just like the ramp next door, this is quite a project as it helps the home owners exit and enter their homes after they have been raised up 8 feet to protect them from flood waters.

The third group headed out to Lilydale to work on several repairs in home there. There started by fixing in a leaky sink, tearing up the floor that the leak ruined, replacing the floor and tiling the floor. The hallway still needs to be done as well as a couple of other minor things around the house. Our friends from down the street were around lending a helpful hand whenever needed.

The Basketball Camp continued, and continued to pick up a few more kids. The kids are having a great time and receiving wonderful coaching from “Coach D” and the rest of the PVs.

Dinner tonight we were treated to chicken and rice, vegetable ratatouille and brown rice. Yummy yummy! With our over abundance of zucchini, it was but to creative use by making zucchini chocolate chip cookies and they were delicious.

Reflection tonight was on burdens. The reflection leaders used the symbol of a yoke and actually recreated a yoke that we each put on as we shared a burden that we see or share.

“You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.” Kahlil Gibran

We woke up today with the sun shining and a promise of a warm day. Volunteers were spread out at four different sites today, two home repair sites, the Itmann Food Bank and Basketball Camp.

One of the home repair sites was finishing up the ramp that we have been building for the last couple of weeks for a man up in Hanover and the other was working next door at his son’s house to build him a ramp of own. Both are moving along wonderfully, but by afternoon it started getting pretty hot. That is for everyone except the lucky two who worked near the open front door and could feel the air conditioning coming out : )

The group who ended up at the Itmann Food Bank started their day stopping by St. Vincent DePaul and picking up as much paint as could fit in the vehicles to bring over to the Food Bank for distribution. They got pretty much most of it, but there are a few cans left. After they got to Mullens and unloaded the paint, they began to reorganize the food bank from Friday’s distribution.

The final group of volunteers stayed back at the school to run the basketball camps. Coach D is back for another year of basketball fun. There were nine kids at the camp, with expectations of there being more tomorrow as many of them were going to bring friends along. Also there was some recruiting of the kids who are often found in front of the school playing basketball.

Tonight for dinner we had a filling, but simple meal of spaghetti, salad and bread. The veggie sauce was fortified with vegetables from a volunteers garden that made the trip to WV.

Reflection this evening centered on community and how community can stretch us, in a good a way. We were asked to share an example of how community stretches us.

All in all, a great start to another week.

“You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.” Kahlil Gibran

We woke up today with the sun shining and a promise of a warm day. Volunteers were spread out at four different sites today, two home repair sites, the Itmann Food Bank and Basketball Camp.

One of the home repair sites was finishing up the ramp that we have been building for the last couple of weeks for a man up in Hanover and the other was working next door at his son’s house to build him a ramp of own. Both are moving along wonderfully, but by afternoon it started getting pretty hot. That is for everyone except the lucky two who worked near the open front door and could feel the air conditioning coming out : )

The group who ended up at the Itmann Food Bank started their day stopping by St. Vincent DePaul and picking up as much paint as could fit in the vehicles to bring over to the Food Bank for distribution. They got pretty much most of it, but there are a few cans left. After they got to Mullens and unloaded the paint, they began to reorganize the food bank from Friday’s distribution.

The final group of volunteers stayed back at the school to run the basketball camps. Coach D is back for another year of basketball fun. There were nine kids at the camp, with expectations of there being more tomorrow as many of them were going to bring friends along. Also there was some recruiting of the kids who are often found in front of the school playing basketball.

Tonight for dinner we had a filling, but simple meal of spaghetti, salad and bread. The veggie sauce was fortified with vegetables from a volunteers garden that made the trip to WV.

Reflection this evening centered on community and how community can stretch us, in a good a way. We were asked to share an example of how community stretches us.

All in all, a great start to another week.

“You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.” Kahlil Gibran

We woke up today with the sun shining and a promise of a warm day. Volunteers were spread out at four different sites today, two home repair sites, the Itmann Food Bank and Basketball Camp.

One of the home repair sites was finishing up the ramp that we have been building for the last couple of weeks for a man up in Hanover and the other was working next door at his son’s house to build him a ramp of own. Both are moving along wonderfully, but by afternoon it started getting pretty hot. That is for everyone except the lucky two who worked near the open front door and could feel the air conditioning coming out : )

The group who ended up at the Itmann Food Bank started their day stopping by St. Vincent DePaul and picking up as much paint as could fit in the vehicles to bring over to the Food Bank for distribution. They got pretty much most of it, but there are a few cans left. After they got to Mullens and unloaded the paint, they began to reorganize the food bank from Friday’s distribution.

The final group of volunteers stayed back at the school to run the basketball camps. Coach D is back for another year of basketball fun. There were nine kids at the camp, with expectations of there being more tomorrow as many of them were going to bring friends along. Also there was some recruiting of the kids who are often found in front of the school playing basketball.

Tonight for dinner we had a filling, but simple meal of spaghetti, salad and bread. The veggie sauce was fortified with vegetables from a volunteers garden that made the trip to WV.

Reflection this evening centered on community and how community can stretch us, in a good a way. We were asked to share an example of how community stretches us.

All in all, a great start to another week.

Saturday morning, as we said goodbye to 23 PVs we awaited the arrival of another 14 to begin the fifth week of the program. After Mass, as a group we headed up to RD Bailey Lake Dam and checked it out. After getting the view from above the dam and lake, we drove down the road and checked out the backside of the dam and the river.

The evening festivities were the usual Sunday night fare, orientation, dinner and reorientation for everyone who came in over the weekend. We wrapped up the evening with jobsites and our commissioning service. We are looking forward to another great week.

Saturday morning, as we said goodbye to 23 PVs we awaited the arrival of another 14 to begin the fifth week of the program. After Mass, as a group we headed up to RD Bailey Lake Dam and checked it out. After getting the view from above the dam and lake, we drove down the road and checked out the backside of the dam and the river.

The evening festivities were the usual Sunday night fare, orientation, dinner and reorientation for everyone who came in over the weekend. We wrapped up the evening with jobsites and our commissioning service. We are looking forward to another great week.