“One generation plants the trees; another gets the shade.”  Chinese Proverb

Last night for reflection we were presented with the idea of God’s calling, service and our presence in West Virginia.  For sharing we were asked to share how we started volunteering with the PVs and why we keep coming back.  It was a wonderful way for us to remember why we do what we do and and ground us in who we are as PVs.

Fridays in PVland are a day to focus on all the activities other than home repair.  It is a great way to connect with social service agencies in the area, connect one on with with individuals and try a great variety of activities.  But before everyone headed out for the day, we all did our part to make the school sparkle and shine with our weekly cleaning.  Although not the most fun thing to do, I am always amazed at how beautiful the school looks after the cleaning is done.

As for service activities, the second day of tutoring was another great success, all five kids from Wednesday returned and a fun time was had by all.  We also wrapped up with the Mullens Soccer Camp with another fun, HOT day on the pitch.  A special thank you to Zach for giving up his time and running the camp for the week for the seventh year.  Volunteers also continued to help organize at the Itmann Food Bank all the items that came in on the trucks during the week.  Volunteers also spent time visiting with folks they have met through the years.

One new and exciting project that began today was a new PV Home Repair class at St. Vincent DePaul.  Out of a suggestion at the Midwest Reunion, we decided to try and provide of service to the people of the county by having volunteers share some of the home repair skills that they have learned throughout the time as PVs.  Today’s class was the first and focused on the parts of a toilet and how to make minor repairs.  We were very pleased that we had three local people show up for the class.  We are hoping it will gain momentum as the summer goes on.

We are getting ready to feast on a wonderful Mexican feast!  Ole!

It has really been a tremendous first week.  We were able to get a lot accomplished, but more importantly we have met some wonderful people.  What a great way to start the summer program!  We will try and post some pictures tomorrow…

“One generation plants the trees; another gets the shade.”  Chinese Proverb

Last night for reflection we were presented with the idea of God’s calling, service and our presence in West Virginia.  For sharing we were asked to share how we started volunteering with the PVs and why we keep coming back.  It was a wonderful way for us to remember why we do what we do and and ground us in who we are as PVs.

Fridays in PVland are a day to focus on all the activities other than home repair.  It is a great way to connect with social service agencies in the area, connect one on with with individuals and try a great variety of activities.  But before everyone headed out for the day, we all did our part to make the school sparkle and shine with our weekly cleaning.  Although not the most fun thing to do, I am always amazed at how beautiful the school looks after the cleaning is done.

As for service activities, the second day of tutoring was another great success, all five kids from Wednesday returned and a fun time was had by all.  We also wrapped up with the Mullens Soccer Camp with another fun, HOT day on the pitch.  A special thank you to Zach for giving up his time and running the camp for the week for the seventh year.  Volunteers also continued to help organize at the Itmann Food Bank all the items that came in on the trucks during the week.  Volunteers also spent time visiting with folks they have met through the years.

One new and exciting project that began today was a new PV Home Repair class at St. Vincent DePaul.  Out of a suggestion at the Midwest Reunion, we decided to try and provide of service to the people of the county by having volunteers share some of the home repair skills that they have learned throughout the time as PVs.  Today’s class was the first and focused on the parts of a toilet and how to make minor repairs.  We were very pleased that we had three local people show up for the class.  We are hoping it will gain momentum as the summer goes on.

We are getting ready to feast on a wonderful Mexican feast!  Ole!

It has really been a tremendous first week.  We were able to get a lot accomplished, but more importantly we have met some wonderful people.  What a great way to start the summer program!  We will try and post some pictures tomorrow…

“How far you go in life depends on you being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and the strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these.”
George Washington Carver

Last night we were asked to reflect on our connections as PVs.  The focal point of the reflection was a beautiful rainbow striped afghan the Lucy created to raffle off.  It was wonderful to hear all the many ways the PVs have touched each other and connected with each other.

Volunteers continued today to work out in Hanover, at Soccer Camp and at St. Vincent DePaul. Saturday we will post pictures show the progression of work at the the Hanover site, the kids and fun at soccer camp and the hard work organizing and unloading trucks at St. Vincent DePaul and the Itmann Food Bank.

Dinner tonight was a wonderful medley of marinated chicken and veggie patties, baked potatoes and sweet potatoes, veggies and topped off with a delicious apple spice cake.  Yummy!

“How far you go in life depends on you being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and the strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these.”
George Washington Carver

Last night we were asked to reflect on our connections as PVs.  The focal point of the reflection was a beautiful rainbow striped afghan the Lucy created to raffle off.  It was wonderful to hear all the many ways the PVs have touched each other and connected with each other.

Volunteers continued today to work out in Hanover, at Soccer Camp and at St. Vincent DePaul. Saturday we will post pictures show the progression of work at the the Hanover site, the kids and fun at soccer camp and the hard work organizing and unloading trucks at St. Vincent DePaul and the Itmann Food Bank.

Dinner tonight was a wonderful medley of marinated chicken and veggie patties, baked potatoes and sweet potatoes, veggies and topped off with a delicious apple spice cake.  Yummy!

“How far you go in life depends on you being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and the strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these.”
George Washington Carver

Last night we were asked to reflect on our connections as PVs.  The focal point of the reflection was a beautiful rainbow striped afghan the Lucy created to raffle off.  It was wonderful to hear all the many ways the PVs have touched each other and connected with each other.

Volunteers continued today to work out in Hanover, at Soccer Camp and at St. Vincent DePaul. Saturday we will post pictures show the progression of work at the the Hanover site, the kids and fun at soccer camp and the hard work organizing and unloading trucks at St. Vincent DePaul and the Itmann Food Bank.

Dinner tonight was a wonderful medley of marinated chicken and veggie patties, baked potatoes and sweet potatoes, veggies and topped off with a delicious apple spice cake.  Yummy!

“Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of nonessentials.”  Lin Yutang

We ended last evening with a beautiful reflection on how bad things that happen to us so often turn into a suprisingly good thing.  There was a heartfelt sharing of some of these examples from our own lives as well as good things from the day. The PV community gathering together at the end of the day is really a special and blessed time.

This morning we woke up to a little more cloud cover than we have had the last couple of days and even a little bit of rain that later turned into torrential downpours at differenct points in different parts of the county.

Today we continued on with the flood site and with soccer camp. These two sites are lasting all week and a lot of volunteers are involved.  Every volunteer is doing a wonderful job and are continuing to give their love, sweat and tears to people they are encountering.

Today we also started the Glen Fork Summer Tutoring program.  We were very happy to have 5 kids show up for the first day.  This is the biggest first day of PV Tutoring history!  It shows the importance of continuity and building on each summer.  This first day would not have been so successful with each and every tutoring program of the last 5 years.

Tonight we have a school full of tired, but satisfied volunteers eagerly awaiting a comforting meal of ham and macaroni and cheese.

“Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of nonessentials.”  Lin Yutang

We ended last evening with a beautiful reflection on how bad things that happen to us so often turn into a suprisingly good thing.  There was a heartfelt sharing of some of these examples from our own lives as well as good things from the day. The PV community gathering together at the end of the day is really a special and blessed time.

This morning we woke up to a little more cloud cover than we have had the last couple of days and even a little bit of rain that later turned into torrential downpours at differenct points in different parts of the county.

Today we continued on with the flood site and with soccer camp. These two sites are lasting all week and a lot of volunteers are involved.  Every volunteer is doing a wonderful job and are continuing to give their love, sweat and tears to people they are encountering.

Today we also started the Glen Fork Summer Tutoring program.  We were very happy to have 5 kids show up for the first day.  This is the biggest first day of PV Tutoring history!  It shows the importance of continuity and building on each summer.  This first day would not have been so successful with each and every tutoring program of the last 5 years.

Tonight we have a school full of tired, but satisfied volunteers eagerly awaiting a comforting meal of ham and macaroni and cheese.

“Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of nonessentials.”  Lin Yutang

We ended last evening with a beautiful reflection on how bad things that happen to us so often turn into a suprisingly good thing.  There was a heartfelt sharing of some of these examples from our own lives as well as good things from the day. The PV community gathering together at the end of the day is really a special and blessed time.

This morning we woke up to a little more cloud cover than we have had the last couple of days and even a little bit of rain that later turned into torrential downpours at differenct points in different parts of the county.

Today we continued on with the flood site and with soccer camp. These two sites are lasting all week and a lot of volunteers are involved.  Every volunteer is doing a wonderful job and are continuing to give their love, sweat and tears to people they are encountering.

Today we also started the Glen Fork Summer Tutoring program.  We were very happy to have 5 kids show up for the first day.  This is the biggest first day of PV Tutoring history!  It shows the importance of continuity and building on each summer.  This first day would not have been so successful with each and every tutoring program of the last 5 years.

Tonight we have a school full of tired, but satisfied volunteers eagerly awaiting a comforting meal of ham and macaroni and cheese.

“Charity begins at home and justice begins next door.”   Charles Dickens

Today was another hot, sweltering day in southern West Virginia. As always, volunteers were troopers and battled through the heat.  (Dairy Queen at the end of the day doesn’t hurt either.)

We had three sites going on today.  A large group of volunteers headed back to the flood damaged trailor that they were working on yesterday.  More framing for the underpinning was completed, drywall and mudding was done and many other much needed odds and ends.

Soccer camp continued today.  The heat out on the field was almost unbearable, but the kids and the volunteers continued to play and learn the “beautiful game.”

The last group of volunteers headed out to St. Vincent DePaul to help organize the warehouse and unload a truck of housewares that were then moved to the Itmann Food Bank.

We are all looking forward to a yummy dinner of “Nancy’s Chicken Casserole”, a meal that has become an annual PV tradition.

“Charity begins at home and justice begins next door.”   Charles Dickens

Today was another hot, sweltering day in southern West Virginia. As always, volunteers were troopers and battled through the heat.  (Dairy Queen at the end of the day doesn’t hurt either.)

We had three sites going on today.  A large group of volunteers headed back to the flood damaged trailor that they were working on yesterday.  More framing for the underpinning was completed, drywall and mudding was done and many other much needed odds and ends.

Soccer camp continued today.  The heat out on the field was almost unbearable, but the kids and the volunteers continued to play and learn the “beautiful game.”

The last group of volunteers headed out to St. Vincent DePaul to help organize the warehouse and unload a truck of housewares that were then moved to the Itmann Food Bank.

We are all looking forward to a yummy dinner of “Nancy’s Chicken Casserole”, a meal that has become an annual PV tradition.