Enjoy a sampling of pictures from the first week…

“We ourselves must be full of life if we are going to make life fuller for others.”
David Sawyer

Summer is officially upon us, although with the warm temperatures of late you would never know we weren’t already in the throws of summer. Today as it being Friday, was a day for volunteers to connect with local agencies throughout the county that provide much needed services year round, as well as visit residents whom they have worked with in the past.

This group was lucky in that it was Distribution Day at the Itmann Food Bank, so they were able to help with the monthly distribution. Over 500 residents were served during the day getting food boxes, clothing, diapers and household items. The PVs helped alongside local volunteers to put the boxes together, run them out to the cars and assist with the clothing and other household items.

Part of the group left mid-day to go help at the future home of UGWA (Upper Guyandotte Watershed Association) but pulling up the Japanese Knotweed that has grown and overtook the area in front of the building.

Volunteers also spent part of the day stopping in and saying hello to many residents in the county. Building relationships have always been an integral part of the PVs and these visits help to cement those relationships.

Lasagne was on the menu tonight and it was absolutely fabulous. The meat lovers and vegetarians alike were thrilled with their respective lasagnes. Along with the lasagne we ate salad and garlic bread. For dessert we were treated to chocolate raspberry bars.  In this bloggers opinion, no finer combination has ever existed.

Tonight was the closing prayer service for the week. The Friday reflections are always a chance to look back on the week that has finished and reflect on those experiences that have been most significant for each volunteer for the week. This week we shared how God has called us to serve this week.

“We ourselves must be full of life if we are going to make life fuller for others.”
David Sawyer

Summer is officially upon us, although with the warm temperatures of late you would never know we weren’t already in the throws of summer. Today as it being Friday, was a day for volunteers to connect with local agencies throughout the county that provide much needed services year round, as well as visit residents whom they have worked with in the past.

This group was lucky in that it was Distribution Day at the Itmann Food Bank, so they were able to help with the monthly distribution. Over 500 residents were served during the day getting food boxes, clothing, diapers and household items. The PVs helped alongside local volunteers to put the boxes together, run them out to the cars and assist with the clothing and other household items.

Part of the group left mid-day to go help at the future home of UGWA (Upper Guyandotte Watershed Association) but pulling up the Japanese Knotweed that has grown and overtook the area in front of the building.

Volunteers also spent part of the day stopping in and saying hello to many residents in the county. Building relationships have always been an integral part of the PVs and these visits help to cement those relationships.

Lasagne was on the menu tonight and it was absolutely fabulous. The meat lovers and vegetarians alike were thrilled with their respective lasagnes. Along with the lasagne we ate salad and garlic bread. For dessert we were treated to chocolate raspberry bars.  In this bloggers opinion, no finer combination has ever existed.

Tonight was the closing prayer service for the week. The Friday reflections are always a chance to look back on the week that has finished and reflect on those experiences that have been most significant for each volunteer for the week. This week we shared how God has called us to serve this week.

“We ourselves must be full of life if we are going to make life fuller for others.”
David Sawyer

Summer is officially upon us, although with the warm temperatures of late you would never know we weren’t already in the throws of summer. Today as it being Friday, was a day for volunteers to connect with local agencies throughout the county that provide much needed services year round, as well as visit residents whom they have worked with in the past.

This group was lucky in that it was Distribution Day at the Itmann Food Bank, so they were able to help with the monthly distribution. Over 500 residents were served during the day getting food boxes, clothing, diapers and household items. The PVs helped alongside local volunteers to put the boxes together, run them out to the cars and assist with the clothing and other household items.

Part of the group left mid-day to go help at the future home of UGWA (Upper Guyandotte Watershed Association) but pulling up the Japanese Knotweed that has grown and overtook the area in front of the building.

Volunteers also spent part of the day stopping in and saying hello to many residents in the county. Building relationships have always been an integral part of the PVs and these visits help to cement those relationships.

Lasagne was on the menu tonight and it was absolutely fabulous. The meat lovers and vegetarians alike were thrilled with their respective lasagnes. Along with the lasagne we ate salad and garlic bread. For dessert we were treated to chocolate raspberry bars.  In this bloggers opinion, no finer combination has ever existed.

Tonight was the closing prayer service for the week. The Friday reflections are always a chance to look back on the week that has finished and reflect on those experiences that have been most significant for each volunteer for the week. This week we shared how God has called us to serve this week.

“Lord, grant that I may always desire more than I can accomplish.”  Michelangleo



Another beautiful day in wild, wonderful West Virginia. And speaking of West Virginia, today is West Virginia’s 150th birthday. Happy Birthday West Virginia! Keep your eye out for a commemorative forever stamp to mark the occasion, coming to a post office near you, nationwide. You can share a little of the beautiful mountains with your loved ones (and bill collectors : ) )

Today the volunteers worked in two separate groups. One group went up to Baileysville and finished up with all the work that we set out to do. Thanks to the hard work of the PVs the family should have a drier and safer place to live. Luckily we finished up an hour our so early, just as it was starting to heat up.

The other group of PVs got a little relief from the heat, as they were working with water all day. They had the task of power-washing, and then when the power-washer quit on them hand washing, the St. Vincent DePaul building, Holy Cross Church and the Pineville Children’s Clinic. All three of these organizations have been and continue to be wonderful supporters of the PVs and we were happy to lend a hand. Now, all three buildings are glowing white and clean!

Dinner tonight was a treat, chicken parm and eggplant parm along with a salad.  And for dessert, chocolate and vanilla ice cream with butterscotch and chocolate toppings. It was delicious and satisfying.

Tonight we had another wonderful reflection, capped with the first “new and good” of the season.

“Lord, grant that I may always desire more than I can accomplish.”  Michelangleo


Another beautiful day in wild, wonderful West Virginia. And speaking of West Virginia, today is West Virginia’s 150th birthday. Happy Birthday West Virginia! Keep your eye out for a commemorative forever stamp to mark the occasion, coming to a post office near you, nationwide. You can share a little of the beautiful mountains with your loved ones (and bill collectors : ) )

Today the volunteers worked in two separate groups. One group went up to Baileysville and finished up with all the work that we set out to do. Thanks to the hard work of the PVs the family should have a drier and safer place to live. Luckily we finished up an hour our so early, just as it was starting to heat up.

The other group of PVs got a little relief from the heat, as they were working with water all day. They had the task of power-washing, and then when the power-washer quit on them hand washing, the St. Vincent DePaul building, Holy Cross Church and the Pineville Children’s Clinic. All three of these organizations have been and continue to be wonderful supporters of the PVs and we were happy to lend a hand. Now, all three buildings are glowing white and clean!

Dinner tonight was a treat, chicken parm and eggplant parm along with a salad.  And for dessert, chocolate and vanilla ice cream with butterscotch and chocolate toppings. It was delicious and satisfying.

Tonight we had another wonderful reflection, capped with the first “new and good” of the season.

“Lord, grant that I may always desire more than I can accomplish.”  Michelangleo


Another beautiful day in wild, wonderful West Virginia. And speaking of West Virginia, today is West Virginia’s 150th birthday. Happy Birthday West Virginia! Keep your eye out for a commemorative forever stamp to mark the occasion, coming to a post office near you, nationwide. You can share a little of the beautiful mountains with your loved ones (and bill collectors : ) )

Today the volunteers worked in two separate groups. One group went up to Baileysville and finished up with all the work that we set out to do. Thanks to the hard work of the PVs the family should have a drier and safer place to live. Luckily we finished up an hour our so early, just as it was starting to heat up.

The other group of PVs got a little relief from the heat, as they were working with water all day. They had the task of power-washing, and then when the power-washer quit on them hand washing, the St. Vincent DePaul building, Holy Cross Church and the Pineville Children’s Clinic. All three of these organizations have been and continue to be wonderful supporters of the PVs and we were happy to lend a hand. Now, all three buildings are glowing white and clean!

Dinner tonight was a treat, chicken parm and eggplant parm along with a salad.  And for dessert, chocolate and vanilla ice cream with butterscotch and chocolate toppings. It was delicious and satisfying.

Tonight we had another wonderful reflection, capped with the first “new and good” of the season.

“Emotion is the chief source of all becoming conscious. There can be no transforming of darkness in to light and of apathy into movement without emotion.”  Eric Jung

Today started off a lot drier than yesterday. It wasn’t sunny first thing, but as we drove to the sites in the morning there was fog nestled in the mountains. If you haven’t seen that sight before, you are missing something of beauty.

Today we had several different crews heading out for the day. One group went back up to Long Branch to work on the porch that was started yesterday. With the drier weather and a hard working crew, the porch was finished by the end of the day. By all accounts, it looks wonderful and will be much enjoyed by the four generations of family we have met over the days.

A second group returned to the site outside of Baileysville. Today the group focused on the roof and on the front porch railings. The roof had been leaking in several places. It took a little tar, a little caulk and a lot of creativity, but we think the roof should be much better at keeping its occupants dry. The work we did on the porch was to replace the railings and make it a lot safer. It looks like one more day of work and we should be done at this site as well.

A third crew took on the role of furniture movers in the morning. A local couple from the parish are moving and wanted to donate some furniture to St. Vincent DePaul for distribution. A couple truckloads and some PV muscle later and the task was complete. We will miss you Wilburn and Kathy!

With all the furniture moving, porch building and roof repairing done today, it is no wonder why everyone had a bit of an appetite tonight. Tonight is the traditional “Breakfast for Dinner” night where several men cook the dinner. This is also the night where we take pity on our cook has to cleanup after them : ) All kidding aside, breakfast for dinner is always a nice treat. You can’t really go wrong with pancakes, bacon and eggs.

Tonight’s reflection asked us to think of a time while in West Virginia that we had a moment, or moments when we knew we were right where God wanted us to be.