Sarah DeYoung '07 of Kentwood, MI and Amy Kline '06 of
Jonesville, MI work together to drill and rivet pieces of
gutter for their family's home.
T
his morning our dreams were interrupted by the lyrics of Milli Vanilli�s �Girl, You Know its True�, being blared from the center�s loudspeaker system. The staff members at The Appalachia Service Project (ASP) use this technique to abruptly awaken the volunteers, but for our group the plan backfired. Our members woke up dancing and singing along. This was the start of our rewarding work day. Both groups were finally able to visit their work sites this morning�one group visiting their site for the first time. This group arrived at their work site thirty minutes late after getting lost among the unmarked dirt roads around their site. With the wonderful maneuvering skills of Carol Gregg (Discovering Vocation Office) and the directing skills of a student, the group was able to turn around on the narrow road and find their way to the site. After their arrival the students assembled the gutters to be placed on the house. They attempted to apply soffet under the edge of the roof, but were unable to do so using ladders in the muddy conditions. A couple of students choreographed a mud dance while trying to kick the mud off of their shoes. After brainstorming, the students decided they needed to return tomorrow with other means for applying the soffet.
The other group continued the work they started yesterday afternoon
installing insulation in what will be a bathroom. Students in this
group also �tarred a boot� around plumbing vents�applying tar to areas
around vents to allow for better insulation�and painted bare wood to
match the newly built walls of the bathroom addition. During their
break for lunch, students climbed the mountain behind the home with a
young family member. The young family member said it was the most fun
he�d ever had. After significant progress on insulation installation
students
began putting up drywall. Time passed very quickly and it was soon 5 o�clock and time to bid our new friends farewell before we knew it. This evening we all ventured to Hazard where we went to Dairy Queen for Ice Cream! A staff member accompanied us and we all had fun and got to know one another better. We then returned to the center for a time of devotions and sharing, and shortly after we set off for bed to prepare for another day of work.
All of the participants end a long, productive day with a trip to Dairy Queen in Hazard, KY.
