Wacky Wednesday

Today was wacky wednesday...aka we wear funny clothing and make our volunteers take ridiculous pictures with us when we go to visit us at the worksite...its great!

So I haven't posted in like a bazillion years because I fail at finding free time, but so much has happened!! So we had our first week of volunteers and are well into our second week of them.  Having volunteers is so much fun, I can see God in each one of them.  It does make things more stressful, but its worth it.  We are currently working on 9 homes right now.

So lets back up to week one and hit up some exciting things from then...

1. groups are awesome and care so much for the staff, bringing ice cream to our meetings, and being flexible when we mess up or don't quite know the answer.

2. Sometimes things don't go as you plan, at my contact home we pulled up the floor and it somehow was being held up by 1 joist ( usually there should be one every 16") so when such things like this happen, you roll with it and learn in an hour how to construct a new floor so you can teach your GL.

3. having visitors is awesome...shoutouts to new friends who came to visit us in week one, and for seeing how willing they are to literally do anything for you if you need help, and they like to get Gelato with you too!!

4. Sometimes GLs will surprise you with their talents, who would have thought removing a tree with a chainsaw would be so much fun.

5. The families that we have met are changing my life, just as I am changing theirs.  They are already such an important part of my life.

6. Getting mail is so wonderful...it makes me happy :)

OK onto this week, this week has been a little more challenging...we have 9 houses instead of 4, and all of the projects are getting more complicated and need more discussion.  But we are going to build a 90' ramp...so cool, and having 70 volunteers is always exciting.

Also exciting is when your volunteers build a huge slip n side, ( to my CLW peeps...it was quite similar to the one we built)  and even better is when you go down it, and are all sudsy and muddy and then as you are taking a shower the power decides to go out.  It's exciting!

Today I am in Knott County visiting my prayer partner for my day off, even though I'll end up spending more of this trip sleeping and driving it has been worth it.  I spent the three hour drive catching up with friends from home and just taking some time for me ( which doesn't happen in the world of staff).  Then we went out to Mexican ( the food came in literally one minute after we ordered it).  We stopped at walmart on the way home and got ice cream and a movie.  Then we enjoyed movie watching and just relaxing.  It's been nice to relax and not think about work!  Also her center is in Lotts Creek, which is where i first volunteered.  It brings back so many memories to be here and what it was like to be a volunteer. So great!

Overall even though some days are tough, I'm learning a lot and growing.  Love and hugs from KY :)

p.s.   photos coming soon!!!

Speed Bumps

We have arrived in Knox CO TN, and everyday is an adventure.  We are staying at Knoxville College in a dorm that hasn't been used in quite a few years and so there is lots of cleaning to be done!  Also from the entrance of the college to our building, we have the pleasure of driving over 12 speed bumps.  We got here on Saturday and have been keeping really busy ever since.  We had to do a lot of cleaning and moving of beds and furniture so we have someplace to sleep.  Above you will see a look at our crazy staff, Becca, Ben, me and Becky!  Sometimes while we are unpacking our center box we discover crazy things!  

The first days here were really busy but also fun, the staff from Anderson CO was staying with us in our center because they still had school in session at their center.  We loved having them here, and grilling with them and singing songs!  We played a game of watermelon rugby (most sticky and ridiculous game ever!)  Each staff was really busy doing IHVs ( Initial Home Visits) trying to find projects in the community for our volunteers to work on when they get here next week.

Days here are busy and sometimes stressful, since this is our first year in this county, people don't know who we are and we have to make a lot of calls and work to find projects.  Since we are working in a more urban area, there are a lot more permits to pull and inspections to have, so we have to take that into consideration.

Even though there have been some speed bumps (literally and figuratively) in our first few days here, I know that God is not going to let us down, and somehow on Sunday night when the first set of volunteers show up we will be ready to go!  You can pray for all of the families whose homes we will work on this summer, and those whos we can't get to.

If you want to send me mail :)

Knoxville College
Attn: Appalachia Service Project
901 Knoxville College Dr.
Knoxville, TN 37921

Love and Hugs!

Rocking chairs, lightning bugs, and squre dancing

So much has been happenig here at the porch and I am so thankful for all of the fun stuff! So a few of my favorite memories are sitting in the rocking hairs on the porch and just talking with all of the different people who are here.

Another favorite are the stars and the lightning bugs and that I can sit outside at midnight in shorts and a t shirt so different then last summer in Wyoming where snowsuits were a necessity. We often sit outside and share stories and memories that somehow all connect our lives. Most days it feels like I have known the people here for my whole life when in reality its only been ten days.

Although things are good it wouldn't be life without some challenges. We have been learning a bazillion things they say it's like having a fire hose sprayed at you and trying to take a drink, somewhat impossible. I have learned a little bit about everything- from how to do underpinning to how to deal with bats in your center.

One of he most exciting days was finding out our staffs and where were going to be living at for the rest of he summer. I am really excited about my staff, were going to be serving in Knox co tn which is close to Knoxville and in a more urban area. This is the first year that ASP has been at his center! I also have the Posistion of volunteer coordinator woohoo- more to come on this later.

Tomorrow were off to Johnson city for sOme training and load up day and ben were almost done, Saturday evening I'll be in my county and have way more to tell you about! Love from the porch!