“Where you end up is not the most important thing. It’s the road you take to get there. The road is what you’ll look back on and call your life.”
Tim Willey

Another crazy weather day… it was hot and humid and then about 4 o’clock a thunderstorm came rolling in, with lots of rain and wind. It was enough of a storm to knock out the power once again at the school, and probably at one of the worst times, right as dinner was starting to get prepared. Luckily the first thing prepared was the the dessert so that was all done : ) We ended up making a decision to go to Jose Ole in Pineville for dinner. We filled up the downstairs and definitely raised the noise level quite a bit, but it was a nice change of pace. And to make everything even better, when we arrived back at the school the power was back on.

But before all the excitement we did have sites that we went to. Because we finished up several sites yesterday, we were able to start a new site out past Pineville on top of a mountain. At the site volunteers fixed flooring and replaced guttering. It was quite phenomenal to amount of work that was done today by the volunteers, the home owner and her son.

Another smaller group went to two sites to finish up small amounts of tiling that need to be done and make another dump run. We they finished up in the early afternoon they went up to join the mountain top folks.

The final group was working with the camps back at the school. They had another successful morning session with the two girls and then were joined by quite a few campers in the afternoon for a Basketball Camp. The day culminated in a 5v5 game.

Everyone was able to get their showers in before the power went out and extra long naps were taken when there was no power, but all in all it was just a little inconvenience. Even though it was a little late (9:30) When  we came back from dinner we went right into reflection. During reflection we were asked to reflect on our Eden, our apple and our heart, and share about any or all of it. After reflection we were able to enjoy the brownies that were made pre-power outage, Yummy!

“Suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be. I have been bent and broken, but – I hope – into a better shape.”
Charles Dickens

The common thread that seems to be running through this summer is the lack of electricity. After another big thunderstorm that cleared out the heat and humidity, many were left without power, including one of our sites. We we had virtually no rain the first several weeks of the program, we have certainly made up for it the last two weeks. What do they say, when it rains it pours?!

Despite the rain we had a very productive day with finishing 4 sites and getting very close to finishing a fifth had it not been for running out of tile with a row and a half left. The site up in Oceana finished up it’s tiling in the dark after losing power, but the floor looks gorgeous, and the home owner very happy with all the work that had been done at his house over the last week.

We also went to Lillydale to work with several of our old friends. We ended up working on three different family member’s houses. In one we replaced a light fixture, in another we fixed a door and then in the third we finished some plumbing underneath the house and put a new subfloor and tile on 9/10 of the the floor. We will go back and finish that up tomorrow.

We also had a group of volunteers help haul trash at a site up on Sunhill road for a man and his son whose house we worked on a couple of years ago. He was going to get fined if he didn’t get some of his garbage hauled away so St. Vincent DePaul called us to see if we make a couple of trips to the dump. The best part of the dump runs today was that the volunteers were able to use the entrance to the dump that is actually a two lane road the whole way making the drive to the top of the mountain a lot less exciting.

The final group of volunteers stayed back at the school for basketball camp. Due a smaller than usual turnout, the morning session has now become a day camp with crafts and the PV kids and local kids hanging out together and playing. In the afternoon basketball camp was back and they picked up two more kids and had a great session of basketball.

For dinner tonight we were treated to breakfast for dinner: pancakes, eggs, ham and home fries. For dessert we had coffee cake and homemade ice cream. Yummy, yummy!!!

During reflection we were asked to reflection on worrying. Think about a time when we worried about something only to find out that we shouldn’t have worried.

“Suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be. I have been bent and broken, but – I hope – into a better shape.”
Charles Dickens

The common thread that seems to be running through this summer is the lack of electricity. After another big thunderstorm that cleared out the heat and humidity, many were left without power, including one of our sites. We we had virtually no rain the first several weeks of the program, we have certainly made up for it the last two weeks. What do they say, when it rains it pours?!

Despite the rain we had a very productive day with finishing 4 sites and getting very close to finishing a fifth had it not been for running out of tile with a row and a half left. The site up in Oceana finished up it’s tiling in the dark after losing power, but the floor looks gorgeous, and the home owner very happy with all the work that had been done at his house over the last week.

We also went to Lillydale to work with several of our old friends. We ended up working on three different family member’s houses. In one we replaced a light fixture, in another we fixed a door and then in the third we finished some plumbing underneath the house and put a new subfloor and tile on 9/10 of the the floor. We will go back and finish that up tomorrow.

We also had a group of volunteers help haul trash at a site up on Sunhill road for a man and his son whose house we worked on a couple of years ago. He was going to get fined if he didn’t get some of his garbage hauled away so St. Vincent DePaul called us to see if we make a couple of trips to the dump. The best part of the dump runs today was that the volunteers were able to use the entrance to the dump that is actually a two lane road the whole way making the drive to the top of the mountain a lot less exciting.

The final group of volunteers stayed back at the school for basketball camp. Due a smaller than usual turnout, the morning session has now become a day camp with crafts and the PV kids and local kids hanging out together and playing. In the afternoon basketball camp was back and they picked up two more kids and had a great session of basketball.

For dinner tonight we were treated to breakfast for dinner: pancakes, eggs, ham and home fries. For dessert we had coffee cake and homemade ice cream. Yummy, yummy!!!

During reflection we were asked to reflection on worrying. Think about a time when we worried about something only to find out that we shouldn’t have worried.

“Suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be. I have been bent and broken, but – I hope – into a better shape.”
Charles Dickens

The common thread that seems to be running through this summer is the lack of electricity. After another big thunderstorm that cleared out the heat and humidity, many were left without power, including one of our sites. We we had virtually no rain the first several weeks of the program, we have certainly made up for it the last two weeks. What do they say, when it rains it pours?!

Despite the rain we had a very productive day with finishing 4 sites and getting very close to finishing a fifth had it not been for running out of tile with a row and a half left. The site up in Oceana finished up it’s tiling in the dark after losing power, but the floor looks gorgeous, and the home owner very happy with all the work that had been done at his house over the last week.

We also went to Lillydale to work with several of our old friends. We ended up working on three different family member’s houses. In one we replaced a light fixture, in another we fixed a door and then in the third we finished some plumbing underneath the house and put a new subfloor and tile on 9/10 of the the floor. We will go back and finish that up tomorrow.

We also had a group of volunteers help haul trash at a site up on Sunhill road for a man and his son whose house we worked on a couple of years ago. He was going to get fined if he didn’t get some of his garbage hauled away so St. Vincent DePaul called us to see if we make a couple of trips to the dump. The best part of the dump runs today was that the volunteers were able to use the entrance to the dump that is actually a two lane road the whole way making the drive to the top of the mountain a lot less exciting.

The final group of volunteers stayed back at the school for basketball camp. Due a smaller than usual turnout, the morning session has now become a day camp with crafts and the PV kids and local kids hanging out together and playing. In the afternoon basketball camp was back and they picked up two more kids and had a great session of basketball.

For dinner tonight we were treated to breakfast for dinner: pancakes, eggs, ham and home fries. For dessert we had coffee cake and homemade ice cream. Yummy, yummy!!!

During reflection we were asked to reflection on worrying. Think about a time when we worried about something only to find out that we shouldn’t have worried.

“The opposite of live is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference.”
Elie Wiesel

It was another hot and humid day in Wyoming County. Volunteers were at four different sites throughout the county. Volunteers finished up the tiling in Lillydale. The bathroom looks fabulous!

Another group went to continue with the porch and the tiling in Oceana. The porch is almost finished, just one step left. All the underlayment is done in the kitchen, only the tile needs to be put down. As a little extra job today, volunteers cleaned out the aquarium at the house. It now looks sparkly clean.

A third group went back to the Itmann school house to continue work. A hard working group worked in the back continuing to dig the trench, while another group worked inside putting the bathroom back together and insulating the back wall. The back wall is now ready to have the drywall installed.

The final group stayed back at the school to run the basketball camps. The kids had a great time and learned new basketball skills. We look forward to another great day tomorrow.

The dinner tonight was terrific. We had pasta alfredo with broccoli and chicken, salad and homemade rolls. Everything was delicious!

The focus of reflection was on the Mother Theresa quote “We cannot do great things, only small thing with great love.” We were asked to share something that was a small thing, but showed great love in doing it.

“The opposite of live is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference.”
Elie Wiesel

It was another hot and humid day in Wyoming County. Volunteers were at four different sites throughout the county. Volunteers finished up the tiling in Lillydale. The bathroom looks fabulous!

Another group went to continue with the porch and the tiling in Oceana. The porch is almost finished, just one step left. All the underlayment is done in the kitchen, only the tile needs to be put down. As a little extra job today, volunteers cleaned out the aquarium at the house. It now looks sparkly clean.

A third group went back to the Itmann school house to continue work. A hard working group worked in the back continuing to dig the trench, while another group worked inside putting the bathroom back together and insulating the back wall. The back wall is now ready to have the drywall installed.

The final group stayed back at the school to run the basketball camps. The kids had a great time and learned new basketball skills. We look forward to another great day tomorrow.

The dinner tonight was terrific. We had pasta alfredo with broccoli and chicken, salad and homemade rolls. Everything was delicious!

The focus of reflection was on the Mother Theresa quote “We cannot do great things, only small thing with great love.” We were asked to share something that was a small thing, but showed great love in doing it.

“The opposite of live is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference.”
Elie Wiesel

It was another hot and humid day in Wyoming County. Volunteers were at four different sites throughout the county. Volunteers finished up the tiling in Lillydale. The bathroom looks fabulous!

Another group went to continue with the porch and the tiling in Oceana. The porch is almost finished, just one step left. All the underlayment is done in the kitchen, only the tile needs to be put down. As a little extra job today, volunteers cleaned out the aquarium at the house. It now looks sparkly clean.

A third group went back to the Itmann school house to continue work. A hard working group worked in the back continuing to dig the trench, while another group worked inside putting the bathroom back together and insulating the back wall. The back wall is now ready to have the drywall installed.

The final group stayed back at the school to run the basketball camps. The kids had a great time and learned new basketball skills. We look forward to another great day tomorrow.

The dinner tonight was terrific. We had pasta alfredo with broccoli and chicken, salad and homemade rolls. Everything was delicious!

The focus of reflection was on the Mother Theresa quote “We cannot do great things, only small thing with great love.” We were asked to share something that was a small thing, but showed great love in doing it.

There was an article in this week’s Beckley Register Herald about the PVs working in Itmann on the old school house. Click here for the story.

There was an article in this week’s Beckley Register Herald about the PVs working in Itmann on the old school house. Click here for the story.

There was an article in this week’s Beckley Register Herald about the PVs working in Itmann on the old school house. Click here for the story.