This year, the Mustard Seed Fund of Sacred Heart Church made a generous grant to the Passionist Volunteers. Here the check is being presented to the co-directors of the Volunteers, Jenny and Jill.
To work! There are usually 6 - 10 different projects to work on on any given day. Here we see some of the participants of an art camp that was run for a week for the local children. Different projects for each day, and some time at the end to run and have fun.
Looking slightly otherwordly, Savannah is ready to tear into the wall. Personal protection to the max. Down comes the plaster, down comes the lath.
Aiden is ready to get his licks in also. Plenty of dust for everyone.
Not all work though. July 4th fell during our work week, so not only did we have the day off, but the volunteers were invited to the Mullins town picnic on the top of Tatter Mountain. A large crowd of local folk, and the volunteers had a most enjoyable day on the top.
Looking happy with the company and the food, part of the volunteer group relaxes after a delicious meal.
Not only good food and company, but entertainment as well. Plenty of local talent on display for all to enjoy.
On the down side, in the middle of the entertainment, the skies became very threatening. Everyone decided to bail out, with a couple of choices on going down the mountain. This is one choice, a golf cart which was OK for a few people on the way up, not so good for a crowd on the way down. We opted to make a run for it, and just arrived at the bottom of the mountain at the parking lot at the same time as the rain.
What would the Forth be without fireworks? Several people brought enough for a good display in the school parking lot.
But no day off lasts forever. And so the next day, we were back at the wall again. That plaster gets really hard after so many years, and is very difficult to remove. But it was removed. Here Jo, Becky, Bernie, and Becki get ready to finish the insulation, and put up some more sheet rock to complete the room. What an improvement.
And so the work went for the rest of the week. Every Saturday is a group day off, and this year we all went to Lake Stephens, a local park. Time to swim, hike, and in general relax. Here one of the hiking details takes a few seconds for a group shot.
Every weekend there is someone leaving, someone arriving. The tradition for those leaving is a wave off by everyone still at the school. Here one family is leaving for home, and the remaining volunteers are giving them a big send off and a thank you for a job well done.
Every day, while everyone is out at a job site, one of the volunteer directors tapes a small reflection on the door of your room. One reflection per person in the room. In case of a large family, like this one, the number of reflections adds up pretty quickly, and covers the whole door.For example:
"You have not lived a perfect day, even though you have earned your money, unless you have done something for someone who will never be able to repay you."
Ruth Smeltzer
Last year the volunteers painted this church. Probably one of the bigger projects they ever took on, this is a historic black Baptist church, built for the black miners working in a nearby mine. The church is still active, but the mine is long gone. In need of a paint job, the congregation approached the volunteers, who willingly took on the task. As a way of saying thank you, the volunteers were invited to dinner following the Sunday service. Delicious home cooked ham, chicken, corn pudding to die for, and a warm welcome from the congregation.
The pastor of the church made everyone welcome, and offered a blessing for all attending.
A member of the red hat society, this ladies license plate reads "FOXYLADY". She was responsible for organizing last years work and arranging to feed all those who were painting.
Volunteering to help in the local food pantry proved to be very interesing this year. Among the items available for distribution were these turkey logs. About four feet long, they were quartered and packed for distribution. Don saws, Mary packs. Of course, they were frozen and hard as could be, but a sharp knife solved all difficulties.
But the most interesting (And popular) item to repack were stacks of Godiva Chocolate. Clair and Liz were only too happy to help on this one. It seems that there was a constant need to check to quality of the candies. And how would you do that? Of course.
Mullins Manor is a residence for the mentally handicaped. Every week, the volunteers run a game of "Banana Bingo" for the residents. The usual bingo game, except everyone wins a couple of bananas.
Every Friday the entire group of volunteers gather in the school gym for a picture taking session. Everyone has a camera, and one person does the shooting. About forty people for this one.
Evenings are spent in various leasure activities. This year there was a hotly contested world championship hearts tournament. Emerging victorious were Becki and James from England. (No, not New England, the original, old England).
With some free time, we took a tour of a coal mine in Beckley. Very interesting to see how the coal was actually mined up to about 50 years ago. Danger at every turn. And when they turned the lights out, oh my, was it dark!
At the start of the new work week, the project involved removing an old stairs from the back of a home, and replacing it with a new set. Here Becki, Bob and Bev have removed the old stairs, and are starting to build the new set.
Measure, hold, cut, nail, repeat. Nothing to it. And before you know it...
Not only are the stairs done, but the crew and the happy home owner are out to prove just how solid they are.
In addition to replacing the stairs, this project also involved replacing part of the ceiling tile in several rooms of the house. Looks like Bev has a good handle on this project.
Just outside the front door of the house was a beautiful flowering bush. Lots of beauty all around us, we just have to look.
Dinner is prepared each night by a different person or group of people. So every night is a different taste treat. Here some of the dinner crew are getting ready to start the evening meal.
Sometimes, it seems like there is no way to get up in the world. For example, Becki discovered during this roof repair project that she is terified of heights. Wonderful the insights you get from the volunteer experience.
In addition to the roof repair, a new bathroom floor was installed, along with the tub. Here Mary caulks the tub to prevent leaks.
One very impoortant aspect of the Passionist Volunteer experience, is that the job at hand is never as important as getting to meet the local resident, and sharing Jesus with each other. Here Becki is enjoying the company of the homeowner who is getting a new roof and bath.
As the second week of our stay winds down, it's once again time for a group photo. Again, about forty people were there for this week. Perhaps a few less for the coming week. But the program continues, work sites are evaluated, job assignments made, and Jesus made present without a word being preached. Most of the credit for this great program goes to a very few preple. Such as...
...Jill, who with the other co-director Jenny made all this happen. I can't imagine the amount of work that goes into planning and organizing all this. And then there is...
...Dan, from Kansas. Dan does a lot of the site evaluation, figuring out what can or can't be done, organizing supplies, and generally overseeing a lot of the day to day work, and answering all the crazy questions asked by people like us.
Because it's a wonderful, faithfilled, family oriented experience. This family from New York have been traveling to West Virginia since the birth of their youngest child. All these children will grow up in an atmosphere of helpful compassion.