Another guest blogger…

Hi All!
     We had a wonderful day today!!  Though we started the day off with some clouds, they gave way to sunshine while we finished off the steps at our site.  We had were wonderful workers again today screwing in the boards on the steps.  We all worked hard to dig and dig and dig some more and yet the hole never seemed to get deeper nor did the risers seem to level!  With hard work, determination and some “girl power” we managed to get all but the railings completed.
     The people at our site were so nice and the homeowner’s brother-in-law showered us with homemade gifts made of recycled materials.  The smile on the homeowner’s face was worth all of the hard work!  Of course we played with the dogs and enjoyed watching the ducks swim by in the water as we were energized by the sunlight that shined today unlike yesterday.  I think we did a good job of mixing work and play!
     Having the young women here has been a wonderful experience.  Their energy and enthusiasm have been inspiring.  Seeing them surrounded by the WV mountains wheeling a pickax or operating a drill made me realize how important these trips really are.  I am so glad that we were still able to come even though there were so few of us this year.  I can’t wait to see what next year will bring!!

Stay tuned for the posting of the pictures tomorrow due to technical difficulties today!

Another guest blogger…

Hi All!
     We had a wonderful day today!!  Though we started the day off with some clouds, they gave way to sunshine while we finished off the steps at our site.  We had were wonderful workers again today screwing in the boards on the steps.  We all worked hard to dig and dig and dig some more and yet the hole never seemed to get deeper nor did the risers seem to level!  With hard work, determination and some “girl power” we managed to get all but the railings completed.
     The people at our site were so nice and the homeowner’s brother-in-law showered us with homemade gifts made of recycled materials.  The smile on the homeowner’s face was worth all of the hard work!  Of course we played with the dogs and enjoyed watching the ducks swim by in the water as we were energized by the sunlight that shined today unlike yesterday.  I think we did a good job of mixing work and play!
     Having the young women here has been a wonderful experience.  Their energy and enthusiasm have been inspiring.  Seeing them surrounded by the WV mountains wheeling a pickax or operating a drill made me realize how important these trips really are.  I am so glad that we were still able to come even though there were so few of us this year.  I can’t wait to see what next year will bring!!

Stay tuned for the posting of the pictures tomorrow due to technical difficulties today!

From a special guest blogger….

Our PV communities continue to merge as yet another member of TGIA has ventured for the first time into the mountains.  It has been a great trip so far in spite of rain on the 11 hour ride down, and more rain at today’s worksite.  We are continuing the work started by NIU students two weeks ago, by adding stairs to the front of the trailer.  The woman who will move in there stayed with us all day in the rain, telling stories and sharing her warm laughter (in spite of recent hardship and loss).  Our 6 woman crew was impressive, especially our teen girls who picked up carpentry skills with tremendous energy and ease!  And Skipper the puppy added affection and comic relief to the day.  

Back at homebase we left our muddy boots on the porch, and enjoyed some soup and grilled cheese sandwiches, followed by a reflection of the day and a somewhat mellow, though laughter filled version of the board game of ‘Outburst’.

Our day ended with a Litany for Peace by Thich Nhat Hahn…
With humility, with awareness of the existence of life, and of the sufferings that are going on around us, let us pray for the establishment of peace in our hearts and on the earth.  Amen.           

From a special guest blogger….

Our PV communities continue to merge as yet another member of TGIA has ventured for the first time into the mountains.  It has been a great trip so far in spite of rain on the 11 hour ride down, and more rain at today’s worksite.  We are continuing the work started by NIU students two weeks ago, by adding stairs to the front of the trailer.  The woman who will move in there stayed with us all day in the rain, telling stories and sharing her warm laughter (in spite of recent hardship and loss).  Our 6 woman crew was impressive, especially our teen girls who picked up carpentry skills with tremendous energy and ease!  And Skipper the puppy added affection and comic relief to the day.  

Back at homebase we left our muddy boots on the porch, and enjoyed some soup and grilled cheese sandwiches, followed by a reflection of the day and a somewhat mellow, though laughter filled version of the board game of ‘Outburst’.

Our day ended with a Litany for Peace by Thich Nhat Hahn…
With humility, with awareness of the existence of life, and of the sufferings that are going on around us, let us pray for the establishment of peace in our hearts and on the earth.  Amen.           

From a special guest blogger….

Our PV communities continue to merge as yet another member of TGIA has ventured for the first time into the mountains.  It has been a great trip so far in spite of rain on the 11 hour ride down, and more rain at today’s worksite.  We are continuing the work started by NIU students two weeks ago, by adding stairs to the front of the trailer.  The woman who will move in there stayed with us all day in the rain, telling stories and sharing her warm laughter (in spite of recent hardship and loss).  Our 6 woman crew was impressive, especially our teen girls who picked up carpentry skills with tremendous energy and ease!  And Skipper the puppy added affection and comic relief to the day.  

Back at homebase we left our muddy boots on the porch, and enjoyed some soup and grilled cheese sandwiches, followed by a reflection of the day and a somewhat mellow, though laughter filled version of the board game of ‘Outburst’.

Our day ended with a Litany for Peace by Thich Nhat Hahn…
With humility, with awareness of the existence of life, and of the sufferings that are going on around us, let us pray for the establishment of peace in our hearts and on the earth.  Amen.           

We are back in wild, wonderful West Virginia again.  The drive down was in the pouring rain, just as it was when we left the county two weeks ago.  Luckily, the rivers are much lower and there doesn’t seem to be a threat of flooding in county.

This time we are in Wyoming County for a TGIA service trip. “Teen Girls in Action” is the young womens empowerment group from Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn that we have been working with for the past 7 years.  This is the 4th service trip for the group.  We had some last minute cancellations, so the group is two young women and four slightly older women : ), who lead the group.  We will be in Wyoming County until Wednesday morning, and will be sure to post daily, our activities and a few pictures, so please check back!  We might also have a few guest bloggers to mix it up a bit…

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers during the week.

We are back in wild, wonderful West Virginia again.  The drive down was in the pouring rain, just as it was when we left the county two weeks ago.  Luckily, the rivers are much lower and there doesn’t seem to be a threat of flooding in county.

This time we are in Wyoming County for a TGIA service trip. “Teen Girls in Action” is the young womens empowerment group from Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn that we have been working with for the past 7 years.  This is the 4th service trip for the group.  We had some last minute cancellations, so the group is two young women and four slightly older women : ), who lead the group.  We will be in Wyoming County until Wednesday morning, and will be sure to post daily, our activities and a few pictures, so please check back!  We might also have a few guest bloggers to mix it up a bit…

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers during the week.