“Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and help them become what they are capable of being.”
Goethe

Today we continued with the three sites we were working on yesterday. Instead of talking about what we did at each site, we thought we would a little about the home owners and their similarities. At all three sites we are working for women. All three of these women are strong women who have dealt with quite a bit in their lives, but who have come out stronger and wiser. Each of these women has taken the time to sit and talk with the PVs at the site and share their stories and share their joys of life. We have all become better people because we have met these women.

We ate a very nourishing and comforting dinner tonight. We were treated to ham, macaroni and cheese, carrots cooked with oranges and biscuits. Everything was delicious and then to top it off we were treated to a wonderful pineapple cake.

Tonight for reflection we were told the story of General Benjamin Butler. It tied in nicely to what we are trying to do down here as well as tying it into the 4th of July. After the story we were asked to write a blog post for the PV blog about our day, our experiences, anything related to the PVs.  Look for some of these posts in the future!

“I can’t be found in myself; I discover myself in others. That much is clear. And I suspect that I also love and care for myself in others.”
Hugh Prather

We awoke to the pitter patter of rain hitting the metal school roof, but were happy to see it was only a passing shower and we would be able to go out and work. Work continued at the painting site and the flooring site. Much was accomplished. The painting should be done tomorrow and the flooring will be ready for tile.

We also started a new site just up the road from the school. Volunteers helped to clear brush from a driveway making it much easier for the homeowner to get up to her house. Other volunteers worked with the underpinning around the house, replacing broken pieces and popping the existing underpinning back into place. Several stray cats seem to have made under the trailer there home, but in the process had been pulling down the insulation.

Dinner was a wonderful treat of fettuccine alfredo, uncle Roberts chicken, corn salad and scrumptious leftovers from the night before. All was delicious, but it was topped off splendidly with homemade white chocolate cheesecake, with an Oreo crust and fresh raspberries on top. Yummmmmy.

For reflection tonight we reflected on things that we are grateful for, and as the group shared it was evident that there are many.

“I can’t be found in myself; I discover myself in others. That much is clear. And I suspect that I also love and care for myself in others.”
Hugh Prather

We awoke to the pitter patter of rain hitting the metal school roof, but were happy to see it was only a passing shower and we would be able to go out and work. Work continued at the painting site and the flooring site. Much was accomplished. The painting should be done tomorrow and the flooring will be ready for tile.

We also started a new site just up the road from the school. Volunteers helped to clear brush from a driveway making it much easier for the homeowner to get up to her house. Other volunteers worked with the underpinning around the house, replacing broken pieces and popping the existing underpinning back into place. Several stray cats seem to have made under the trailer there home, but in the process had been pulling down the insulation.

Dinner was a wonderful treat of fettuccine alfredo, uncle Roberts chicken, corn salad and scrumptious leftovers from the night before. All was delicious, but it was topped off splendidly with homemade white chocolate cheesecake, with an Oreo crust and fresh raspberries on top. Yummmmmy.

For reflection tonight we reflected on things that we are grateful for, and as the group shared it was evident that there are many.

“I can’t be found in myself; I discover myself in others. That much is clear. And I suspect that I also love and care for myself in others.”
Hugh Prather

We awoke to the pitter patter of rain hitting the metal school roof, but were happy to see it was only a passing shower and we would be able to go out and work. Work continued at the painting site and the flooring site. Much was accomplished. The painting should be done tomorrow and the flooring will be ready for tile.

We also started a new site just up the road from the school. Volunteers helped to clear brush from a driveway making it much easier for the homeowner to get up to her house. Other volunteers worked with the underpinning around the house, replacing broken pieces and popping the existing underpinning back into place. Several stray cats seem to have made under the trailer there home, but in the process had been pulling down the insulation.

Dinner was a wonderful treat of fettuccine alfredo, uncle Roberts chicken, corn salad and scrumptious leftovers from the night before. All was delicious, but it was topped off splendidly with homemade white chocolate cheesecake, with an Oreo crust and fresh raspberries on top. Yummmmmy.

For reflection tonight we reflected on things that we are grateful for, and as the group shared it was evident that there are many.

“Love cannot remain by itself – it has no meaning. Love has to be put into action and that action is service.”
Mother Teresa

Another great week lies ahead of us. Not only do we have some fantastic sites for the week, but we also get to celebrate 4th of July as well. Today we had three groups head out for the day. One crew was a closer group, as they went to the two sites in Oceana from last and finished them up, so we are officially through with those two sites. They look wonderful and the homeowners are happy.

We also started two new sites. The first was a painting site out near the Wyoming/McDowell County line. We were helping to paint the eves on an elderly woman’s house. The volunteers enjoyed chatting with the homeowner, as well as her son. The son even made and shared sweet tea with the volunteers as he shared stories about growing up in the area and working in the mines.

The other new site for the week was only about 5 minutes from the painting site. We had a little bit of everything going on at this site. One group of volunteers helped to recover a newly installed waterline, while another couple of volunteers cleaned out the gutters to help get them moving again. Still yet, a third group of PVs helped to replace several floors that had really become dangerous. The floor work will continue for several days, but the gutter cleaning and pipe covering up, was pretty much completed today.

Dinner was very enjoyable tonight. We were treated to a noodle casserole, Spanish rice, chicken and a wonderful salad with lots of goodies in it. For dessert we had pineapple dump cake. Yum, yum, yum.

We did a good old traditional new and good for reflection tonight after hearing a quote about finding happiness in moments.  New and goods area always a great way to hear about each others days.

We actually had a bit of excitement after reflection when a bat somehow got into the school. A couple of brave and peaceful PVs, helped to trap and then usher the bat out a door. The poor little guy was a bit spooked, but in the careful guidance of the PVs he (or she) found their way to freedom.

“Love cannot remain by itself – it has no meaning. Love has to be put into action and that action is service.”
Mother Teresa

Another great week lies ahead of us. Not only do we have some fantastic sites for the week, but we also get to celebrate 4th of July as well. Today we had three groups head out for the day. One crew was a closer group, as they went to the two sites in Oceana from last and finished them up, so we are officially through with those two sites. They look wonderful and the homeowners are happy.

We also started two new sites. The first was a painting site out near the Wyoming/McDowell County line. We were helping to paint the eves on an elderly woman’s house. The volunteers enjoyed chatting with the homeowner, as well as her son. The son even made and shared sweet tea with the volunteers as he shared stories about growing up in the area and working in the mines.

The other new site for the week was only about 5 minutes from the painting site. We had a little bit of everything going on at this site. One group of volunteers helped to recover a newly installed waterline, while another couple of volunteers cleaned out the gutters to help get them moving again. Still yet, a third group of PVs helped to replace several floors that had really become dangerous. The floor work will continue for several days, but the gutter cleaning and pipe covering up, was pretty much completed today.

Dinner was very enjoyable tonight. We were treated to a noodle casserole, Spanish rice, chicken and a wonderful salad with lots of goodies in it. For dessert we had pineapple dump cake. Yum, yum, yum.

We did a good old traditional new and good for reflection tonight after hearing a quote about finding happiness in moments.  New and goods area always a great way to hear about each others days.

We actually had a bit of excitement after reflection when a bat somehow got into the school. A couple of brave and peaceful PVs, helped to trap and then usher the bat out a door. The poor little guy was a bit spooked, but in the careful guidance of the PVs he (or she) found their way to freedom.

“Love cannot remain by itself – it has no meaning. Love has to be put into action and that action is service.”
Mother Teresa

Another great week lies ahead of us. Not only do we have some fantastic sites for the week, but we also get to celebrate 4th of July as well. Today we had three groups head out for the day. One crew was a closer group, as they went to the two sites in Oceana from last and finished them up, so we are officially through with those two sites. They look wonderful and the homeowners are happy.

We also started two new sites. The first was a painting site out near the Wyoming/McDowell County line. We were helping to paint the eves on an elderly woman’s house. The volunteers enjoyed chatting with the homeowner, as well as her son. The son even made and shared sweet tea with the volunteers as he shared stories about growing up in the area and working in the mines.

The other new site for the week was only about 5 minutes from the painting site. We had a little bit of everything going on at this site. One group of volunteers helped to recover a newly installed waterline, while another couple of volunteers cleaned out the gutters to help get them moving again. Still yet, a third group of PVs helped to replace several floors that had really become dangerous. The floor work will continue for several days, but the gutter cleaning and pipe covering up, was pretty much completed today.

Dinner was very enjoyable tonight. We were treated to a noodle casserole, Spanish rice, chicken and a wonderful salad with lots of goodies in it. For dessert we had pineapple dump cake. Yum, yum, yum.

We did a good old traditional new and good for reflection tonight after hearing a quote about finding happiness in moments.  New and goods area always a great way to hear about each others days.

We actually had a bit of excitement after reflection when a bat somehow got into the school. A couple of brave and peaceful PVs, helped to trap and then usher the bat out a door. The poor little guy was a bit spooked, but in the careful guidance of the PVs he (or she) found their way to freedom.

Everyone has arrived safely and are ready to start the week. For Community Day today, the group headed just up the road to Panther State Forest for a short walk in the woods. The temperature while in the woods was very pleasant, however there seems that there were quite a few ticks present. The highest tick count on one volunteer was 8. Needless to say, we all checked after we got home.

Sundays we have are usual schedule of Re-Orientation, a cook out for dinner, and then wrap up the evening with commissioning and jobsites. We look forward to another great week ahead.

Everyone has arrived safely and are ready to start the week. For Community Day today, the group headed just up the road to Panther State Forest for a short walk in the woods. The temperature while in the woods was very pleasant, however there seems that there were quite a few ticks present. The highest tick count on one volunteer was 8. Needless to say, we all checked after we got home.

Sundays we have are usual schedule of Re-Orientation, a cook out for dinner, and then wrap up the evening with commissioning and jobsites. We look forward to another great week ahead.

Everyone has arrived safely and are ready to start the week. For Community Day today, the group headed just up the road to Panther State Forest for a short walk in the woods. The temperature while in the woods was very pleasant, however there seems that there were quite a few ticks present. The highest tick count on one volunteer was 8. Needless to say, we all checked after we got home.

Sundays we have are usual schedule of Re-Orientation, a cook out for dinner, and then wrap up the evening with commissioning and jobsites. We look forward to another great week ahead.