"This is my blog - not yours"

This is Priscilla's blog post for Thursday, June 27  “This is my blog – not yours” (transcribed by Curt Equi)

I think today was the funnest day so far because we went to work on the bathroom today and I got to try 5 different new tools that I never tried before: the recipe say, the circle saw, but I just called everything the chainsaw.

It was fun talking to Timmy, who is Timmy Stewart.  He is the funniest man ever.  He calls me missy prissy.  He’s the guy who works for WVMAW and he’s funny and giving and lovable, he’s a lovable teddy bear but I wouldn't hug him because he’s always sweaty and busy. 

The other day he gave me a lecture about something.  It was a lecture about how to hold the pushy saw (ed. note – it was a drill).  That I have to push with all of my body weight because my body weight isn't enough.   And he told me I have to stop because I ‘m very pushy but I get things done. 

He told us we’re funny gals because we got muck on our faces.  And he blamed us for cutting his finger.  He came up to us and put it up to our faces and I was like eew..

And the best part was we talked to Betty (the homeowner), and she said “I want to adopt you three.” 

And then today, this morning, I walk in, and she’s like come in my granddaughters.  And her granddaughter was here.  And she asked her “How old do you think she is” and her granddaughter said 12.  And she asked me how old do you think my granddaughter is, and I said 19, and she said nope, and she said 16, and she said it was because of the tattoo and she if she were my daughter and you had that hair and that tattoo she’d be out of my house.

Oh the baby.  Alex is holding a baby, and Alex is sitting on the porch, and the baby is googy gagging Alex, and I’m like Alex loves baby.  And she’s like, here hold her maw-maw.  She kept rubbing Joel’s beard, but that’s beside the point.  She’ll be 7 mos on July 3^rd.  And then she’s like hold her.  And Alex is holding her.   And I’m like oooh baby.  And I said can I hold the baby.  And I’m bouncing the baby up and down on my knee.  And then Joel came and the baby loved Joel.

(Aside – as we’re writing this, Priscilla told Joel that he was the third sassiest man that she knows.   The first and second are Spanish men.)

After the baby disappeared with Betty, and then we talked to Samantha (the granddaughter.)  So we were sitting on the porch for about three minutes.  It was me Sondra and Alex and Samantha the granddaughter.  And we said, Do you think any of the boys here are attractive.  And she asked the question back to us – who do you think I was attractive.  And I said ##### (don’t put that was in the blog – that would be awkward)  And she said, I think the muscular one, I think she said that, was the hottest one and but the younger one thought the one with the spiky hair was the hottest one.

So then after that we switched the topic and we started talking about what she likes to do when she comes to see Maw-Maw (that’s Betty).  And she’s like, around here, theres not much to do but I do go fishing ,but that’s boring, and hunting, but that’s stupid, but she does like to shoot guns, and she likes to hang around with three girls around here.  And then we switched the topic to Ohio, and (Alex is taking over now) and said, I think I’ve been to Ohio once, is that next to Wyoming?  And  then she said I meant Wisconsin…. I get my W’s mixed up.  And Samantha was just like, Huh?  And Priscilla said I have no idea how I made it to Senior Year, but I made it.

(Back to Priscilla).  This is my blog… not yours. 

Overall this week has been very fulfilling for me.  I learned that this can impact my life and I can impact others.  And that I can help other people, and I like the ability to impact others lives while they are impacting mine, and the opportunity to work.  So the week was very fun.  Very tiring but very good.

And this is my partner in crime.  Alex is my partner in crime. 

the barefoot preacher

The organization that we are serving with this week, WV Ministry of Advocacy and Workcamps, takes Wednesday’s off to give groups the opportunity to do some sightseeing or other activity in the area.  We didn't travel all the way down here to take a full day off so I was told get in contact with Rev. Greg Kuppar at the Summersville Presbyterian Church to see if they might have any work that we might be able to help them with and sure enough they did.  Our students were a little sad that they weren't going to be at Betty and Bernie’s house however they were thankful that they got a day off of being up on the roof in the heat that we have been having this week.  While we were at the church in Summersville  we help organize their entire stock of food for their food cupboard and check for items that has expired, we thoroughly cleaned the room that their preschool meets in, and students got to help families who came to the cupboard to get food.  All in all it was a great day of service and when we finished around 2 or so we all went to the Summersville Lake to go swimming, play volleyball, have a cookout, make s’mores, enjoy some great conversation, and play ultimate Frisbee.  So pretty much it was a great after noon/evening as well.

We did forget to take a lot of pictures today so here are two that I was able to find and if I get any more I will post them as well. 

Please be praying that our students get a great night’s sleep to be rested and re-energized for these last two days of service here in WV.   Thanks for all your prayers!

Day 2

We had another beautiful day here in Mt. Hope, WV and God blessed with a little overcast weather this morning which was very appreciated since we were up on the roof again today and will be for the next couple of days.  The sun did make its way back out around lunch time but the sun is much better then rain.



One of the most powerfully examples that we have learned from working on Betty and Bernie's home is that just because something looks good on the outside doesn't mean that everything is okay underneath.  When we first started tearing off all of the shingles and number of students asked how come we were working on this roof because the shingles look pretty good, and it was true the shingles did look good, however after we pulled them all off all of the rotten wood was exposed from slow leeks that got under the shingles.



The same is so true in times with our faith in Christ, we try so hard to make it look like everything is great but in reality we are falling apart inside. There are time where we are in Church on Sunday morning, however the night before we were making choices that we knew were not correct.  A friend might ask us how our relationship with God is and we say that it is going great, but there are times when if we are really honest with ourselves things we haven't anytime reading God's word and being in conversation with him.  We get so caught up worrying about how others view us but forget that God sees right threw everything and knows right where the rotten wood is.  The best thing about our God is that he is a loving God and wants nothing more to restore that relationship with us and threw the gift of his Son Jesus Christ that restoration can happen.

This evening after dinner, and I have to pause right here and give a huge shout out to Joan and Kurt Heiselmoyer who have so graciously come down with us to been out cooks!  The food has been delicious and the best part about it is that I have not had to think about anything food related other than how much I can consume because it is sooo good.  So the next time you see Joan or Kurt please thank them for this awesome gift they have given us.  Oh yes sorry so after dinner we went down to this park to hang out and play some basketball and Frisbee but when we got to the park there was a soccer game just starting but they need four more players so Caleb, Evan, Elliot, and I jumped at the chance to play some soccer when the other students got to teach some local kids to throw a Frisbee, and some of our other students play basketball with other kids as well.  It was a great way to meet some local people and share with them the work that were are doing this week.

Here are some more pictures of the work that we have been doing on the roof.  Also today Sondra, Priscilla, and Alex started working in the bathroom because once again there had been a slow leek around the tub that all the walls around the tub were totally rotten and were just crumbling with you touched them.  Here are some pictures of that too.



Grace/Peace,



Joel

Location:WV-16,Mount Hope,United States

Suns out guns out (dont worry not firearms)

We made safely down here to West Virgina and had an awesome day at the worksite today. (We were told that we were going to have Internet connection and we even got the password for the wifi however we are not able to get online yet so I posting those from my phone so if the post is short that is because my thumbs got tired.)

We are lucky enough to all be at the same worksite again this year which is a blessing. We thought for sure that since we were such a large group that we would be at two sights. This year we are working at Betty's home. Betty has been taking care of her husband for the last couple of years because he has been very ill and as a result they have not been able to make the needed repairs to their house and things have gotten pretty bad.

Today we ripped off all the shingles on the roof, replaced rotten sections of plywood, and laid new felt paper. I was incredible proud of all of our students for the hard work that they put in and not letting the heat bother them because boy was it hot especially up on the roof.

Thanks for a the prayers and we will be sure to let you know how tomorrow goes.

God Bless.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:WV-16,Mount Hope,United States