2021

Our project was to sheetrock, spackle and paint an entire home consisting of (6) rooms and (2) hallways. Our Family, MawMaw, PawPaw and four young grandchildren H (6), G(4), D (3) & A (1), were in need of the renovations to make the home warmer, safer and dryer before summer’s end! We worked in two teams of three, plus the help of Alex, a “Helping Hands”  volunteer with us for the week. The weather was cooperative in that its wasn’t too hot, with low humidity, so the spackle dried quickly. Our youth played with the four children and the children thrived on their presence. The grandparents moved from Oklahoma last year and their grandchildren joined them in April of this year. 

Our team were quick learners. We learned how to frame a closet, measure and cut sheetrock, and how to use some really neat tools. We also learned how to tape and spackle without having to do alot of sanding. By the end of the week we installed about (40) sheets of sheetrock and applied (25) gallons of spackle. On Friday, our homeowners provided us with a delicious lunch of homemade meatball subs, pasta vegetable salad and a wonderful fruit drink. We came close to finishing what we set as a goal and left the final incoming team and the staff a management amount of work to complete the home . Our goodbyes were hard as throughout the week we fell in love with the children and their incredible imagination. As we waited for MawMaw to return, H “showed” us his pet Alligators that lived in the creek behind the house while D offered hugs to those with tears in their eyes. It is safe to say that our crew will not soon forget those 4 little people and their loving grandparents. It was a blessing to be a part of this beautiful family for one short week.

Our homeowners were D & R with 3 dogs--Donkey, Temple & Charlie. They both have medical issues. R. was born premature with spina bifida. She has difficulty walking especially going up & down stairs. Our job was to build a handicap ramp so she could use her rollator walker. Mosey Monday we met our family. Most of the morning was spent figuring out the layout and the logistics of the job. Then the work started with digging 20 holes for the posts. Each day we saw progress and felt good as we went back to the center for showers & evening gathering. Every team member had the opportunity to dig, shovel, cut wood & drill.

Throughout the week our water bottles with our names given to us by Willie & Jeanette Markert were a lifesaver to keep us hydrated each day! Thank you to them both!

On Friday we presented our family with a quilt from Priscilla Circle and gave the other one to John from Columbus, Ohio, our helping hand for the week! We were thankful & blessed to have John with us for the week. His building expertise, his sharing of faith stories made this week on ASP and awesome experience! It was an amazing week of growth for us all!

Our team’s site was named Aerial Area Rug, and we had the opportunity to install a brand new tin roof on a trailer to replace a leaking shingle roof. Our homeowner, Ms. A, was delighted to see us all working together and we had lots of wonderful discussions with her. The news of our work traveled through the neighborhood, and Ms. A was thrilled to share her experience.

In order to install the roof, we first had to place underlayment and purlins, and then attach the rows of tin roofing. Our team bonded with our homeowner and her cat, Sandy. She shared that our arrival was an answer to her prayers and had given her renewed hope in the world. She believed that we were a blessing from God while we feel that she was a blessing for us to meet, learn from and love.

Our team name this year was Swinter, and we had the pleasure of working on installing siding for Mr. S and his elderly mother. Mr. S would routinely come out to greet us in the morning with a cheerful smile to lift our spirits before we set to work. During the day he took joy in joking with our team and showing off some old photographs of what his neighborhood used to look like when the nearby mine was functional.

The side of the house we were working on took the brunt of any weather and without any insulation in the walls inside, the rooms on this side of the house were often leaky and freezing. We started by installing purlins vertically to nail the new siding into, and between these purlins we nailed down insulating foam board to help regulate the temperature inside. Next we covered the entrances to under the house with underpinning to keep out any wildlife. Thursday and Friday the group came together to get siding and J-Channel up nearly the entire side of the house. It was a long week, but we're all leaving with our souls refreshed and ready to come back next year!