Rain, Rain, Come This Way (At night, if you please!)

Laura

Day 4: today we began work on the sites. At first we kind of just stood around baffled because we needed a plan of attack. What I mean to say is, us kids did nothing while the adults planned everything. While we waited I got to talk to our homeowner Lois, and I met her dogs: a pit bull and two Chihuahuas.

We finally decided that the most necessary repairs were to tear down and rebuild the bridge over the creek that leads to the house, to reshingle the back of the roof, and to dig a French drain in the back. I chose to work on the bridge, and it was pretty fun. It's about a 20ft drop to the creek, so the main challenge of the bridge is not falling off when screwing, sawing, and hammering. I really like all the people on my site, and I'm especially fond of the others doing the bridge. We didn't accomplish too much today, but we stripped away enough rotten wood and rusty bolts so that tomorrow our job should be easy.

No one fell in today, but we dropped lots of tools. It's kind of a funny sensation to watch the tools fall for a second or two. Joe did crack a board when walking across the bridge today, but he stayed on. It's good no one has fallen at all, but I don't pretend it wouldn't be exciting. But for now safety first.

Today we went to Kmart and the dollar store. I'm starting to doubt I'll ever get to see my dragon friend again. So sad.
I forgot what we had for dinner today, but we had this delicious ice cream cookie thing for dessert. The only sad part about that is that it's all downhill from here. Nothing compares to ice cream for dessert.
I still am not fond of the games we have to play together. However, the bible studies are starting to grow on me. We do this thing where we pray in partners after devotion, and I like it a lot. You can learn a lot about a person in five minutes.
I'm also still super fond of the little church service things we do. I just kind of wish we'd sing hymns rather than contemporary stuff. I might suggest to Steve that we do both.
I have lots more to add, but I'm getting yelled at to go to bed. So I'm going to submit to authority because otherwise I would be breaking my servant covenant thing.

Vici

Today was pretty a pretty important day. We had to get up at 6:15 so we could eat and leave for the work sites. (Anyone that knows me know it's like impossible to wake me up. Let alone at 6:15 in the morning.) Anyway I was on site one which meant I had the site that had a house leaking really bad. Once we met the home owner we got to work on tearing the ceiling and insulation out in 2 rooms and 3 closets. We also had to pull nails out of all the trim. We were given body suits, face masks, and gloves so that we wouldn't get fiberglass, mold, or dust on us too bad. The suits were very helpful.

Mrs. Fox, our home owner, is deaf. Cole, a guy on my site, and I both took ASL classes and 2 other girls know a little ASL. Me and Cole really try and help translate the best we can so we can talk to our home owner and ask her questions. She is a very sweet lady and I can't wait to get to know her more through out the week.

After all that we went to a college and took showers. When we got back to the church we ate dinner, played some games, and worshipped.

I'm really loving everything I get to do here. It's such a blessing to help these people out and to be able to worship with all the teens, adults, and pastors with us. I really love being able to do this work and I hope I can keep doing it.

Nikki

It is much easier to get journals out of the girls, because we sleep in the same room and I can remind them at bedtime. I must endeavor to remind the boys earlier in the day. Michigan did have kitchen clean up after dinner today, which consumed the most convenient time for them to journal.

Solomon and I are both on the septic site this year. It is a new drain field and not a full install. We are hand-digging 200’ of trench for the new field, 3’ wide and 18” deep on the lowest spot. Keep in mind that we are digging in the mountains, so 18” on the low side might be 36” on the high side depending on the lay of the land, since the bottom has to be level. Our inspectors are good to us, recognizing that we are hand digging, and do their best to work with the natural terrain to our benefit. This year that has given us some very curvy trenches. It has been very dry here just like at home and the digging is difficult. We had a nice thunderstorm here in Asheville tonight, so I am hopeful that we got rain out at our site as well. You can’t always tell in the mountains, because the storms often follow the ridges. In fact, we watched a storm chase the ridge and go around us this afternoon. In addition to the dry, we are running into a fair amount of tree roots and rocks. So far nothing too large, just pesky. I pray that it stays that way.

and a late addition from:

Solomon

Today was quite a day! We had our first day on the work site! It started off a bit slow because the soil where we're digging is rather rocky and has tree roots. Also it hasn't rained in months, although it's raining as I write this, so I hope that will help a little bit! Although it took us a little while to get going, we made great progress today overall! Me and my digging buddy Patrick made it about 12 inches deep through about half of our trench. I think that's about 90 square feet, give or take. I found a really cool red rock today when we were digging too! I did get several big blisters already on the first day, but it was worth it! I really enjoyed digging again! It's hard to explain how digging can be fun to people that haven't done it, but the exertion combined with a big group of people who have become family is really an enjoyable experience! we joke around a lot and talk in horrible accents (at one point today there was some sort of Irish/Minnesota hybrid accent) and really enjoy ourselves while we're working for a good cause!

As is usual with the great cooks here, we had a wonderful dinner, after which Michigan had our first clean-up duty. It was pretty painless. We also had our first K-mart run! I bought some gloves since mine had holes in them and some fun things for my secret servant, although I can't tell you what or else it wouldn't be much of a secret! The discovery of lemon Oreos did very much brighten my day as well! We played a new game in community life today that was pretty much a variant of capture the flag, only it was better because one of the teams was ninjas! All in all, it was a pretty great day!

Dennis

Hi again I'm back, today was our first work day and the people on my site spent most of it digging a trench then around midday we were told by the homeowner that the trench was too close to the house so we filled that in and began a new trench slightly further away from their house. I am working on a site where the main project is rebuilding a bridge and there are various side projects which we need to complete also such as re-shingling the roof and creating a french drain in their backyard. I really am beginning to like the people in my group I don't really have a lot of people from my church who I know or many people whom I already knew from past years so it is really fun to begin interacting and finding out everyone's story and their plans for the future and such. I had a good day today I just hope tomorrow will be better.

Just a Little Sunday Driving

Nikki

I am endeavoring to post by midnight, so this must be brief. Today was a good day of everyone getting to know each other and a very LONG drive through some very twisty mountain roads. I was one of the drivers, so while I did get to participate in some of the conversation in the car, I had to keep my mind and eyes on the road. I was ready for a big stretch and to be out of the car by the time we returned. I will let the youth fill you in on the rest.

Vici

Today we had worship through the whole morning. After we had an awesome lunch, which was ham and potatoes, we drove to all 4 sites. In all it took about 6 hours to drive to all of them and to get back. After we got back we ate dinner, which was lasagna. Then we did more worship until about 11. Now I have to go to bed Bc I have to get up at 6:15. So goodnight from me. Happy reading.

Dennis

Hi everyone, I am Dennis I know I haven't really posted anything so far but today, I will change that right this second.. Today we spent all day in the car after church traveling to the new work sites we visited some really cool places which all had amazing views I got to really interact with the rest of the youth in the Michigan groups and made some friends and some frien-emies (she knows who she is). We got to meet the majority of the people whose homes we will be working on and got a quick rundown of what jobs we are expected to complete. It was a fun drive full of talking singing and the appropriate oohs and ahhhs as we passed various scenery. When we came back we had community life and spiritual life before finding out which sites we will be working on. I got placed on a site which we have to replace a bridge so I am very excited and just a little intimidate to be facing such a big job/I am writing this as I head to bed and I should really catch some sleep so goodnight

Laura

Day three: Today we had a bible study and attended church. The church service was very nice, but I admit that I did waste some time wondering why the stained glass was orange and black. Very strange colors if you ask me. The theme of the day was "the Good Samaritan," which has always been a favorite of mine. It has a special place in my heart because it's a motivation to serve without expecting a reward, even gratitude from whoever you help. Also, I particularly enjoy the story because of a chapel my fifth grade class did where Sam, Savannah, and Jessica were the robbers who beat up Paul. What a great memory…
Anyway, we also checked out the worksites today. It was lots of driving, which is definitely not my favorite activity. I got very carsick on the way to the bridge site, but then I got to sit in the fun car. Tom told me a lot about the area since he's from NC, and he had some interesting facts and fun stories. My favorite was a story about one of his friends who got a DUI while riding a horse. Apparently he wouldn't have gotten caught had he not been riding through backyards tearing down clothes lines.
Solomon and I have been thwarted every time we try to play One Night Ultimate Werewolf. Perhaps tomorrow.
We always have good food. Super good food. Today was lasagna.
I enjoyed Bible study today a lot more than yesterday. We read all of Colossians and didn't discuss moonshine at all. We also do this thing where we buddy up and pray for each other, and I really like it.
Anyway, we got our site assignments, and I'm fixing a bridge and roof or something. Which should be fun. The only issue is that this particular site is the one high in the mountains whose roads made me sick. So pray for me, and pray for effective motion sickness pills.
I think we're going to Walmart tomorrow, so I can visit my T-rex friend. This trip is fun. Also we're showering tomorrowfor the first time in a while.

Solomon

Today we got up and got dressed and showered and went to church. Not in that order though. Wearing clothes in the shower would just be super silly. We went to church. It was a nice service with a sermon on the Good Samaritan and some good old traditional hymns! It was a little weird being in a church where everyone wasn't singing just as loud as I was! The people of Emmanuel continue to provide us with absolutely delicious food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!Tonight we had lasagna and garlic bread, with a myriad of delicious desserts!. My personal favorite was the lemon cake, although the strawberry cake was a close second!

We toured all the sites today, which amounted to about 5 or 6 hours in the car. The Michigan crew rode together (Plus Steve from Pennsylvania) and we played a few card games. I learned how to play Old Maid (I didn't lose a single game!) and played some more euchre. We also played a few games of Heads Up on Emily's phone (It's kinda like Taboo or Catchphrase). The scenery was beautiful too. I always like looking at mountains with trees!

Other than that we just listened to music and took the occasional nap, although mine was interrupted by a turn that slammed my head into the hard part of the seat belt. I also took a pretty hard fall when we were playing Kids from Mars later in the day. It's a fun game where you have to run past the two "kids from mars" and get to the other side of the gym whenever they call a color you're wearing. Anyway, it was right after dinner, so I was a little slow and I tried to cut around the kid from mars, but there was another person running in the exact opposite direction and we kinda smacked into each other. So I have a bit of a headache. So I got tagged the first round because I couldn't quite get up fast enough.



But anyway, back to the sites! So there's four sites this year. The first is a deaf lady who had a leaky roof and several of the bedrooms have extensive water damage. A previous group fixed the roof and repainted her house, so now we are going to repair the inside. The second site has a deck that is pretty close to having somebody fall through it that we're going to rebuild, plus some flooring inside. The third site has a bridge that we're rebuilding! Like for cars to drive on! A bridge! Also some roofing to be fixed. The fourth site, which is the one I was assigned to, is a septic site. We are putting in a new drainage field for the septic system. We don't have to dig a pit because their tank is working. Although it's a lot less work without a pit, it will be a little sad that we don't get to dig one. There's just something fun about standing in an eight-foot pit that you dug yourself! I also get to be on a site with my mom for the first time in four yearsand I have some old friends from previous worksites that I have the pleasure of working with again, as well as some new faces that I hope to get to know well over the coming week!





God's Blessings!

Arrival & Day 1

Saturday's blogs - a little late!

Solomon

Today was a good day. We settled in to our North Carolina home and set up everything for the other state groups to arrive. We made our secret servant bags! Mine has a fancy snowman and a fire and some decorations. Everyone got here all at once, so it was a little harder to meet all the new faces this year, but I think I got most of them! I got to teach some new people how to play spoons (although we used markers) and we played some euchre! All in all, it was a fun, laid back day of excitement and getting to see people again for the first time in a year! I'm excited to head out to the work sites tomorrow!

Nikki

Our Savior, Hartland & St Paul, Northville arrived on Friday night. We took the opportunity while on our own to go into Asheville and be adventurous. We went to drum circle & after some coaxing, all of the Our Savior youth and some of the St. Paul youth went out and danced. Then we tried out some Himalayan food at Kathmandu Café, which was a new experience for all of us. We didn’t recognize all of the food names, but we ended up all enjoying our meal, despite some hesitations. We also thoroughly enjoyed the sitar music. It was fun to take the time get know everyone from Michigan a little bit.

Saturday is always an excitement charged day as we get things ready for the arrival of the other state groups. Returning youth & adults are filled with anticipation as they await the arrival of old friends and new faces. First timers are still trying to figure what they have gotten themselves into and are often nervous to meet all the new people and try to remember 50 some new names and faces. By the end of the evening our youth were all mingling in with the others and seemed comfortable. I am looking forward to having a great week with this exceptional group of youth who want to come spend their summer serving.

Vici

Since I was in Mrs. Spangler's group, we had to come down a day early to get ready for the other groups. I was super nervous but I was also every excited. I honestly couldn't tell which I was feeling more so I just tried to calm down and be excited. On the way down it was about a 12 hour drive. We hit a big a big storm on the freeway in Kentucky. I'm sure that slowed us down for a little bit. I felt back for the guy that had a motorcycle that we passed under the bridge. And the guy that had a convertible top that was open and top was slowly closing. When we got to the Tennessee welcome center there was a bunch of Dolly Parton stuff. I thought it was funny because the last time I saw her was when I was younger watching Hannah Montana. When we actually got to Asheville, North Carolina we headed to the Emmanuel church and unpacked all our stuff and got beds set up. Once we felt we were done we went into town to see a drum circle and eat dinner.when we got to the drum circle some guy had a snake so me and some of the group went and pet it. The guy said it was a boa and his name was Big Boy. Sadly the drum circle didn't last long because it had started to rain. So we went looking for a place to eat. Most of the people wanted to try something new. So we went into a Himalayan restaurant. Me and Laura shared one of their meals. We can't remember the name but it looked like Indian curry. It was rice with a hot tomato and chicken sauce. It was surprisingly good. I also had a tea that was made with different herbs. Once that was all done we went back to the church and met up with some new people that had gotten there. After a little while we all went to bed. Then Saturday all the groups came in so it was kind of crazy for a little while. The Michigan groups went out to eat for lunch. When all the groups got settled in we all had dinner that some amazing people at this church made for us. Then when all that was done we did some really fun group games and then some kind of study time. When all that was done we went to the church to end the day with praying and praising God.

Laura

The drive down on Friday was fairly uneventful; I slept for a solid 90% of it and stared out the window for the rest. This road trip was different than any other I've ever been on because we took bathroom breaks almost every two hours. Other than that, I don't have much to say about the way down here.


When we arrived at the church, we cleaned some things I think; I don't really remember. Then we went to a drum circle in downtown Asheville. I had never been to a drum circle, so of course my expectations were shattered once we arrived. I had expected to see a circle of people playing drums, but when we got there, there was only a semicircle of drummers. While listening to the drums, we had the privilege of petting a very kind snake named Big Boy, and that was pretty cool. We then ate dinner at a Himalayan restaurant, which was probably my favorite part of the day. The food was delicious, and we were provided with a sitar player for entertainment. After the musician packed up, Solomon entertained us by finishing not only his dinner but three other dinners as well.
Then we drove home and did some things I can't remember; there was evening and there was morning, the first day…

Day two: We cleaned some more things including all the water coolers. It's amazing how dirty they were since being cleaned at the beginning of last year--foreshadowing of the dirt we can expect this week.
We made our first Walmart stop today too, and I rescued a friendly dinosaur from the underwear aisle. I planned to adopt him, but then I discovered his captors were requesting a fortune of $25 for his release, and I chose instead to leave him with a kitten I met there. Hopefully they become great friends, I will check up on him next time we go. After Walmart we at some delicious Mexican food. Even if I don't like a single thing about the rest of the trip (which isn't likely), I will definitely say the food makes it worth it.
When we returned from lunch, the other groups began to arrive. There are so many people to meet all at once, but after a day of silly games and constant introductions, I think I know about ten names. We played lots of card games because there wasn't any more cleaning to do. Everyone I've encountered has been lamentably bad at ERS, but I've enjoyed some euchre, spoons, and the classic go fish. I met a girl named Grace from Delaware who had been trained in one card game, Uno, who wanted to learn some more. Grace proved to be a quick learner and soon mastered spoons and go fish. Being a far too honest person, she struggled with BS, but you can't be good at everything. Grace is the epitome of most of the people I've met; everyone is excited to learn new things, meet new people, and serve the Lord.
After dinner we did some group activities which were probably meant to be fun but were positively alarming for those of us who are not fond of holding people we just met like babies (or riding them like broncos or carrying them like backpacks). However, I surrendered to discomfort in the name of competition. Maybe I'll undergo some huge change over this trip and suddenly enjoy surprise hugs; you never know what the lord has in store.
We then had a bible study of sorts. We watched a documentary on moonshine and marijuana featuring the voice talents of Billy Ray Cyrus. I was a bit skeptical about the Jesus connection in the whole thing, but I came to see that PJ wanted us to appreciate the region of Appalachia more. We then answered some questions about "putting on love." I've always wondered why we as Lutherans have to come up with odd phrases to try to relate to everyday life, but the message encased in the corniness was applicable. We're here to serve God, but service is not a locational occupation; rather, we are called to serve him anywhere and everywhere. I must admit, years of bible study has me sick of corn, but witnessing the tearful reactions of some of those around me has proven that preferences differ, and even biblical corniness can change lives.
After the bible study, we went into the sanctuary to sing and pray responsively. ASE has a tradition of allowing everyone to pray at the altar, a tradition which I found to be both relaxing and invigorating. It's nice to simply kneel down and speak to God, which is something I don't do nearly enough of. That's about it for day 2; hopefully I will have more exciting things to report tomorrow.

Deacon's Final ASE Reflections

This time last week, our group was driving home from another great experience in Asheville, North Carolina.  It was about now that we were stopping for lunch at Chick-Fil-A in Kentucky.  This is a favorite for us since they are extremely sparse in our home State.  It was also when we had to say goodbye to our friends from Hamilton, Ohio.  Just when you thought the tears were finished before departing our gracious hosts at Emmanuel Lutheran in Asheville, a few more were shed when Ohio left the caravan, and then lastly when we separated from the Northville group just before Toledo.  It was evident that a lot of good friendships were made and reinforced during this 10+ day journey.

At the beginning of the week, I resumed my Servant Event name of DD (Deacon Dan).  I was so happy to be back amongst the great youth and their leaders and pastors.  This event is unique for a servant event, in that it has the feel of a family reunion.  I cannot recall feeling that way about the other events I have been a part of, either as a youth or an adult.  I think that is one reason our students keep asking to be a part of this project.

However, come Monday, it was time to get to work!  I was on the same site as Ben, and since he described some of our joys and struggles quite well, I will just share some broad observations from our time serving Mr. Shelton and his family.  I was extremely proud of all the youth on our site!  We got some pretty discouraging news a couple of extremely inopportune times during our week, but it was following those that I saw them dig in and get to work without complaints.  Sure there was frustration, but our students wanted to complete this job for the Shelton family.  We learned at the end of our time there that Mr. Shelton was in danger of being removed from his home if not for our work to add a new septic field.  His old field was bubbling to the surface, causing a public health problem.  Again, upon learning this, our students showed a renewed resolve to complete the task!

Near the end of the week, Paige and Solomon agreed to share their gratitude and experiences with our host church, Emmanuel.  I was proud to see their maturity in their speeches, as well as the passion of service for Christ's people.  It was a very edifying moment for me personally to watch and listen to them share their faith with the congregation.

Overall, it was another great year in Asheville!  I look forward to returning next year, again reuniting with our friends, and serving God's people in the Appalachian Mountains.

Deck is Half Done - Paige

One of the hottest days so far and we got half the deck done. Everyone was burnt and sweaty. Adam's ear are actually purple because he got so burnt. I'm not complaining because I enjoy them so much. They make being in the hot sun for 7 hours actually decent. I don't want to leave but I want to sleep in my own bed ;-) I'm happy I'm here serving the Lord. Seeing that so many teenagers can make a difference in someone's life is just unforgetable. Love and miss you fam!

Sleep on a Mountain - Paige

Another rainy day in the site yet my crew is ready to work. We got so much done once again. I love being with them because I feel like they are my family. I can tell them anything and I'm already sad thinking about leaving them. PK (Pastor Kufahl) makes its so enjoyable to be there. He makes us do hard work yet it is always fun. I never mind waking up at 6 in the morning. One bad thing that did happen though was my bed popping on one side. Its like sleeping on a mountain. Time for a new air mattress mom :)

The Floor is Done! - Solomon

We finished the floor today and it looks completely fantastic! It was also very troublesome, but we took shifts, so it wasn't all that bad. I got to know the people I was working with a little more in my down time and we talked and got some cool pictures and we got work done!

Oh, and I hooked up a sink all on my own! All in all it was a pretty good day!

Supplies Arrive - Solomon

We finally got supplies today! It was absolutely fantastic! We actually got some work done on the site, and I got to use a screw gun for the first time!

When we finally got to community life, we played an extremely intense game of trash can, and I won twice in a row! It was a lot of fun! I've never won before because There's a LOT of people at ASE. I've gotten to know all the people at my work site pretty well by now too, and it's really a blast working with them!

Another Rain Delay - Paige

On my site today I wasn't able to to much. It rained all day and there was lighting so we weren't able to do much. At 1 we eventually got to start work. My site knows how to work hard for sure. I love being here and I love everyone. I am already sad that I'm going to be leaving in a few days.

Rain Delay - Paige

Today was an amazing day at the site. Even though it rained pretty much all day we got a lot of work done. We started working at 12 because of the lighting and got as much work done. I'm so proud of the progress we have made. I also got to know Connor way more (Connor is my new best friend) I love everyone here and I'm so happy that I am able to be here with them.

Muddy Wednesday - Ben

Day three started out easy. First we bailed the water out of the ditches that was placed there by the thunderstorms. Then we began to detail and make sure the trench floors are level. It is a long process and lunch could not have come any faster. However, I must admit, the mud wars over top of the dirt piles helped speed up the time. Lunch went by fast yet I wished it hadn't because the inspector over our site informed us we had to dig another foot deep in each trench due to unforeseen complication. PERFECT!  either way it had to be done and thus the second half of the day flew bye and was very productive. On to day four.

Paige Bonds With Her Work Group

Today was amazing day getting to know everyone on my site. I got to become great friends with a kid named Connor. If he wasn't on my site I wouldn't know how I could wake up every morning.

Sunday, 7/12/15 - James

Good morning! Good evening! Or good afternoon, whatever it may be. Sundays are always a lil awkward at first. Everyones still getting to know each other and whatnot but it's a fun lazy day. Breakfast was early, then we had a few hours after to hang out and get to know one another some more before devotion and then the church service. After church we took a quick lunch (which was FANTASTIC as usual, the church hooks us up with some bomb meals) and then were off to see the sites. I was surprised by our sites this year. Out of four sites we only have one that is a dig site, and that's only getting the septic field replaced, no tank like we'd usually do. Another of our sites was actually in a lil town; generally they are up on the mountains. The last thing i noticed about our sites was that there didn't seem to be a whole lot of work to do there, at least as much as the previous years i've gone. I was kinda disappointed about that, but it just means we'll really be able to focus on getting a quality job done instead of rushing to finish, and that we'll be able to visit and learn things from our homeowners more. I just can't wait to get to work!

Work Day 2 - Solomon

Today is day 2 at the site!

Unfortunately our supplies ended up not coming, but it provided an excellent opportunity to get to know the people around me better. We didn't have a ton of work to do, so in our copious free time, we took pictures, played ninja, told riddles, and watched the hummingbirds.

Today in spiritual life we also got these awesome crucifix necklaces after talking about our freedom in Christ. All in all, it was more a fun than a productive day, but it was still a good day! Hopefully tomorrow is a little more productive. Pray for good weather!

Monday, 7/13/15 - Ben

Rain. Rain. Ohh, and more Rain. Today, at the worksite, it started off with a magnificent thunder storm and a lot of rain but ended in beautiful sunny (HOT) evening. Day one is done and so far our site is well on its way. Three trenches have been started and there is dirt everywhere. My Paradise. The work site group is awesome. Everyone wants to work hard and get the job done. Mr. Shelton is a great man and I admire his red  V8 Ram 2500 truck. Overall, I look forward to talking to him more through out the week and working in the dirt and clay. On to day Three.

Sunday, 7/12/15 - Ben

Yesterday was interesting. We visited all the different work sites and met the people we could possibly be working with. They all have their individual stories. There is a digging site and a site where we have to destroy and build a deck. Those two sites, to me, seem to be the two best. One involves mud and the others destruction and wood. Can't go wrong with either one. The small group session was intriguing and the video was eye opening. Overall today went well and I can't wait for the work site tomorrow. I got the digging site! Mud here I come.

Monday - 7/13/15 - Solomon

Today was the first day at the site! After some excitement getting to the site (we got slightly lost. we saw some kittens though! They were adorable!) we met the homeowners and got to know them a little bit well PC and the other adult leaders figured out an attack plan.

After that, it was a little different. This was my first year being on a construction site instead of a septic site, so it took a little bit longer to get started since we don't have our supplies yet. We took the opportunity to get to know the people we're working with and working for. It was a lot of moving things in the morning and scraping/sawing through tiles and floorboards in the early afternoon. Overall, it's been completely awesome so far!

And it seems like I've bonded with my fellow servants especially quickly this year. It's crazy how in just one or two days it can feel like you've known each other for months or years. I'm looking forward to enjoying the rest of my time working alongside my second family!

Solomon Returns!

So I haven't blogged in a while, but here's some of what's been going on. First of all, my site is progressing well. On Tuesday, we ran into lots of rock. On Wednesday however, we received a jackhammer. We also got some pry bars, which are basically heavy metal bars that you repeatedly smash against the rock. I got to use the jackhammer, which was a fun, unique, and harder than expected experience. On Thursday, we worked some more on the trenches. Finally on Friday, we put the septic tank in and started the smaller trenches for pipes. Unfortunately it was also rainy and muddy on Friday, but we persevered. In the evenings we had some very insightful and helpful conversations that struck close to home, particularly on things like lust, greed, hypocrisy and dating. I've learned a lot in the time here so far and grown closer to God.

Paige's Sunday

Today was for sure a sad yet exciting day! We spent our morning speaking about our time here and that kinda tore me apart. The white water rafting was amazing though, it was probably my favorite part of this trip. Tonight was crazy because we watched the video of all the pictures from the servant event which made my tears poor out! Thinking about the next three days is going to be rough.

Cecilia's Saturday

I had a lot of fun today! Part of the reason being because I got to sleep in, and part of it because we did so many new things. As we all shuffled into the vans I ran along a present surprise of Alexa who had driven from Maryland to come hang out with us for two days!!! I was sooooooo excited. After that we all went to an art gallery since it was raining which was nice. It was cool to do something different. Then we went with our state groups(me with Ohio because why not) to go out to eat. We decided to go to Jerusalem Garden Cafe and my gyro was very delicious! Next we headed back to the church to practice the song we'll be singing in church tomorrow and for more "ask the pastor". At the end of the day, I ended up under the kitchen sink eating a cup of ice cream.