It's hard to believe the week is almost over as we have one more day to complete our work and clean up the center to give it back to the school. Overall the projects are going well and we should be able to finish everything we've been assigned plus some additional adhoc projects. This evening we are having a picnic with our families at a local state park. This is usually a highlight of the week as we get to spend time with the families in a non work environment. I'll let the teens get into more of the details so here are their insights.
Hi this is Andrew and I'm in Team Duro (Ron, Jody, Nora, Mia, Ryan)
Today started off with the usual peaches an ice stop on the way to the work site. After arriving at the work site, all of us started finishing up the back deck, by putting on spindles and last minute touches. When we finished the back deck, we immediately started putting the flooring on by the back door that was damaged by rain. After the flooring was finished, we enjoyed a home-made lunch from Debbie(the home owner) which consisted of fried green tomatoes grown out of her garden. After lunch, we packed up and went to jump off the cliff and go swimming by the waterfall in the creek. When swimming finished, we went to the Family ASP Picnic where ASP families were invited for dinner and fun in the in the state park. The day finished with a trip to Sonic for ice cream. Overall, today was a great day with new friends and experiences.
Hey everyone I'm Alo reporting for Team Serpansortia. The day started off at 6.30 when I was woken up for morning rosary. I tried waking up other people by flicking their heads, sadly my method didn't get the results. Needless to say it was worth it. Walking outside is a whole new world, the mountains height looms over everything, while a thick fog blankets the bottom section. It's hard to appreciate all the beauty. Now that I'm fully awake it's breakfast time. I eat some pizza mutation that happens to be scrumptious (really) and afterwards we pack some lunch for the work day. We ride in this shady white van to the work site which is about 15 minutes away and luckily we stop by a peach stand, purchasing about 14 peaches for 5 people. That's how good they are. The family is kind and helpful, they're everything I could hope for. Amber is a young mom who loves her two daughters and enjoys being amongst the workers, encouraging and revealing more about herself. It's truly humbling to see the change we make, from ripping up floors to placing new walls, but the real change isn't a new wall or floor. It's getting to know the family and hoping that they remember you and what you've done. I don't really care if the two girls don't remember who made them a new room, as long as they remember singing frozen with me. The change that this family has left on me is much deeper than any experience I've had. Poverty sucks, it ensnares people in this cynical cycle that doesn't end, but this family doesn't let that get in their way. They laugh, smile, and sing just like me. Life hasn't been fair to them and their house is in shackles but their family is vibrant and strong, this makes me happy. Hopefully you can all see what a great thing this is, for me and Amber's family. Oh and then we went to a picnic and had ice cream. It's late now so I'm signing off. It's been a great day.
Hello to our friends and family back in Illinois! This is Lucia Leslie reporting from team Nox to tell you all about our wonderful experiences here in the gorgeous Appalachian mountains, where we not only help build safer, warmer homes for the less fortunate, but also build relationships with one another throughout our 2014 ASP experience.
My day begins with lights suddenly turned on and country music reverberating throughout the hallways. I put on a pair of nasty looking old jeans and a wrinkled T-shirt that I just never found the heart to donate, and head outside to have a morning devotion, or a morning devo. We all join hands, ask God to guide us in our lives, and then go inside for some breakfast. Next, we prepare our lunch (which consists of peanut butter jelly sandwiches), stuff all necessary materials in our van, and head off to our worksite. It is a wonderful, refreshing way to wake up and go on with our day... albeit a little hectic.
We arrive at our worksite, and immediately plunge into work. The sound of hammers hammering and saws sawing immediately fills the quiet country air, and within minutes, we are drenched in sweat. Even though the work is very challenging, difficult, and sometimes downright exhausting, we often concentrate on installing air vents or patching up an unstable roof so hard that we lose track of time. Next thing we know, it's lunch time, then back to work.
Oh, I'm sorry, I must have skipped over what our jobs actually are. It is an interesting question, because are duties often contrast as to which side of the house we are working on. Some of us work inside, installing flooring, while other toil on the roof, ensuring that there are know rough patches so that rain or snow can't get through. My job consisted of installing air vents- so, basically drilling holes, cutting out a square, and drilling an air vent in. Trust me, it's harder than it sounds.
Before we know it, it's 4:15. We pack up everything and head back to base, where we then prepare for a picnic with our families at 5:30, and once again pile into cars and go to the picnic grounds.
I was tired after a long day, and was getting a bit grumpy, but any exhaustion I had evaporated instantly when I saw how beautiful the picnic grounds were. There were trees everywhere, and a river with, get this, a waterfall trickled in the background. We said a prayer, and then ate hot dogs and hamburgers together. It was like having a barbeque with your closest family members, not just people you met four days ago. Finally, we headed back to our homes. We had evening devotion and then got ready for bed.
I can't believe that we've only been in Appalachia for four days. It feels like I've been here my whole life, and my family is just that. My family. It's going to be great to stand back and look at all the work we've done on their homes, and sleep at night knowing that they are in a protected, safe, happy home. But at the same time, it will hurt to leave them behind when we go back to Illinois. That is why I decided to write a prayer for all of the men and women who have made their homes here in Appalachia. If you are reading this and you have a little extra time, please pray the following tonight:
May God bless the gentle, quiet, open-hearted, kind people of Appalachia, and the peace and prosperity they bring to our great nation. May we keep them in our hearts, thoughts, and prayers when we return home, and be forever grateful for all of the blessing God has bestowed upon us. We thank you, we bless you, and support you forever.
Amen
Thank you all readers for supporting this service trip, and have a good, restful night!
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