Saturday

We're home and safe. Our journey was uneventful aside from a stop at Goodwill, where Daniel found a whoopie cushion costume.

Thank the Lord for traveling mercies and for the wonderful blessings we received during our trip.

Friday - ACE Adventures - Part 2

We spent the afternoon at ACE Adventures, where were went through the mud obstacle course. The course involved crawling over and under logs in muddy water, low-crawling through muddy water, walking across logs over muddy water, climbing up various inclines in muddy water and paddling a raft along a muddy creek. To make it more interesting, it was pouring rain.  By the end of the course, were were soaked, muddy and extremely smelly. We then headed to the swimming area, where they have giant inflatables to climb on, a zip line and a big slide, as well as beach volleyball. Lightning put a quick end to our plans, though.

Ready for mud.

Dancing in the rain.

After the course.

Cleaning up.

Rain delay.

We then went to Pizza Hut for supper, returned to the hotel to swim and then had a final devotional meeting, where we discussed what God had taught us during the week.
We rise early tomorrow and head by to Northern Virginia.
We had a terrific time service Jesus and serving the people of Hamlin, W.Va.  We've learned a lot about ourselves and the Lord. It has been a great trip. - Brian B.

Friday - ACE Adventures - Part 1

Where am I?  This is Nikki Turner and I am at a hotel pool watching Tim pretend to be a ballerina in the water while surrounded by a group of dancing teenagers.    Even though the pool is only 3 feet deep that is not spoiling their fun! 
Driving was quicker than the first time.  At least that is what it felt like.  We had pizza for dinner and we didn’t even eat half of it. Ordering was that big hassle and I felt sorry for Tim.  But even now people are doing handstands in the pool.

Pizza Hut party.

More pizza!

Today was one of the hardest of my life because I had to say goodbye to my new friends.  They became very important to all of us and I know they will be extremely missed.  Of course when you live in Wisconsin, Missouri, and Delaware you can’t just drop by to visit.  Everyone wishes it was a smaller world.  But even though we left the West Virginia Youth Works that doesn’t mean we will never see it again.  Today when we stopped for a lunch break a group of kids were exiting the food court.  Their shirts were the same as the ones for sale at Youth Works.  Apparently they came from a Trip in North Carolina.  Youth Works is everywhere. 
We gained a new member with Walter Evanz, a tape ball that was constructed with the used tape from our Turtle work site.  All the turtles signed their names on it. 
Now for the more smelly part of the day, the mud race course.  I ended up throwing away a pair of shoes, socks, and shorts.  Some people weren’t happy that I kept my shirt but it was from a Bed race and I couldn’t part with it.  No matter how much paint and mud stained it.
We were going to continue the day with the obstacle course in the lake but it began to thunder and we were forced to depart.  Even with a shower we still smell a bit.  Some still have dirt up their nose according to Jessica Winkler.   All in all it was a once in a lifetime trip.  Hopefully it truly was, because I don’t think I would do it again.
In the end the trip couldn’t be beat.  It was one of the best things in our lives.

Friday - recap

Today, we were awakened at 6:20! Everyone’s pretty tired. We said bye to everyone (very sad), packed, and left. We had a blast this week and now we’re driving to our hotel where we will swim and do the mud obstacle course… which sounds really fun J.

WELCOME BACK TO THE BLOG OF JESSIE AND NATALIE! J

Natalie - Yesterday, we finished the two bathrooms in the local elementary school. It was go, go, go all day. I added to my tape ball which I started on Wednesday! And this morning a couple people signed it. It’s my little souvenir from Lincoln County. Its name is Walter Evans! Yesterday, our evening group activity was a community picnic. We had burgers and hotdogs and they were really good. On Wednesday, we went to the lake and ordered PIZZAAA! Yummay. We played soccer in the sand, and some of the guys played chicken! It was fun to watch, they’re such boys! We went as far away from the water as we could and ran straight for the water. Exciting! And now, we just left. And I miss everyone already! L  But now we get to do to the Mud Obstacle Course! I’m uber excited.  We just decided we wouldn’t go to Big Ugly State Park because that would add an extra 1½ hours L (Tim: Excuse me Sir. Can you tell me where the Big Ugly State Park is?) L AWWWWWWW. Ohkay, I’m done. See you in like 36 hours-ish. Buhbyeeeeeeee!

Having a ball - of tape.

Hey it’s Jess! SO Natty Patty pretty much covered all of that.. but we had lots of fun at the community cookout yesterday and the kids were since we didn’t get to see them at VBS! I’m really sad that we’re leaving but I got email addresses ADORABLE and everything so I can still stay in contact with some people! I’m so psyched for later today though at the ACE mud obstacle course and the hotel! I hear tell that we’re allowed to do what we want? We’ll see J But all the girls are gonna paint their nails, go swimming, and have FUN tonight!!!!!!! Well we’ll see you all later tomorrow night!! BYE! J

REBECCA (aka Reba)-Right now I’m typing and sitting in the bus as we go to the Ace Adventures. I just want to say I’m having a great time! God has kept me safe and healthy! This past week the snake group accomplished so much work at Steve’s house. My group finished painting the ceiling and the walls of the ‘master suite’ yesterday. We also helped knock down a wall on Wednesday. I learned to use a powersaw and used it to cut through the wood of the wall… Everyone, watch out I know how to use a saw and that could be very dangerous… I also enjoyed the community cook out we had, I ate a burger and a bunch of pasta and chips. I’ve basically ‘junked out’ this week and I need more veggies in my diet than the dinky salad we’ve been eating. Well can’t wait to see everyone back out home and to tell you all the great stories from our missions trip and what God has been doing!

Hey there everyone ASHLEIGH HERE!!!!!  J Sooo this week has been the bomb.com!! I have had so much fun it’s crazy! God has really taught me how to serve these last couple of days and just to have an open heart. I have made a lot of new friends and built relationships that I hope last FOREVER! Reba pretty much covered everything because she was a fellow snake this week…hahaha!

Saying goodbyes to our teammates.

IBC team and Youth Works leaders.

Friday - leaving Hamlin

It's 7:20 a.m. and we're all packed up and ready to go. After breakfast, devotions and cleaning, we'll hit the road. Please pray for a safe trip and stay at Ace Adventures.
Also, please add some comments to our blog. We want to know what you think.

Thursday - community picnic and worship

On Thursday night, we invited the Hamlin community to join us for a cookout at a small park in the town. We played a lot of games, got to meet some of the children from Kids Club and others from the area.

Daniel and Steve. Daniel was on the Snake Team, which worked on Steve's house.

Playing with Hamlin kids.

Ashliegh "plays" the guitar.

Rebecca, the next Hamlin Idol.

After the cookout, we had our final worship. It included a foot-washing service in which the Youth Works leaders washed Tim, Jessica, Bryan and Brian's feet. The leaders then washed the students' feet and prayed over them. It was a very touching and powerful service.

Judson on the worhsip team.

Why all the animals?

You've seen us mention turtles, snakes, opossums, rabbits and deer.  Wonder what's up with that? They're our team names and they come - we found out yesterday - from the roadkill found along West Virginia roads.

Thursday - Kids Club report

Hi, this is Daniel McCloskey (we had a confusion involving 2-Daniel M’s in our group earlier in the week).  I have been working in the Kids’ Club with my Possum Group and with another group, the Rabbits.  We finished our last day of Kids’ Club and many of the kids were sad that there are only two weeks of Kids’ Club left.  We have had fun all week in the Kids’ Club and were able to have many kids memorize the verse of the week.  The verse was short (I think it was Psalm 116:8), but the kids were able to memorize it using hand motions and reading it during the reading group in Kids’ Club.  The verse is “The Lord is with me, I will not be afraid.”  Many kids were glad to have us there, but said that they were going to miss us, and were satisfied to find out that we were going to be at the community cookout with them.   The theme of the Kids’ Club this week was a parable that Jesus told about a seed being planted in the thorny vines.  Many of the activities in the week were about fruit and animals, the game for Tuesday was “Steal the Banana,” a version of Steal the Bacon, using a banana instead of “bacon.”  The game for Wednesday was with water balloons, you throw the balloons at your opponents’ feet to “water their roots.”  The games for Thursday (today) were an obstacle course with animal movements, a relay with animal sounds, and “Tug-o-Vine,” instead of Tug-o-War.  After spending the week in the sun, with today being 90 degrees, I found out that tomorrow is supposed to have a high of 78 degrees, which frustrates me.  We are all looking forward to the cookout and the future activities for the mission trip, but I know that I would like to come home, even though it’s very nice here and the locals are very friendly.  We have had a great time so far, and will continue to have fun.  Thanks for reading!

Thursday - plenty to do

Turtle Team finished cleaning, stripping and repainting two restrooms at Hamlin's elementary school.

Turtle team from Virginia and Minnesota.

  Opossum team team played bingo with the elderly and then went to Kids Club.
  Snake team worked on the fence, painted and assembled some antique mantles.
  More reports coming ...

Wednesday - part 2

  Hey! This is Nikki!  Today was so BLUE!!  I am on the Turtle team and we continued to work in the bathrooms.  Everyone in the Girl bathroom hurried and we finished the first coat of paint quickly followed by the Boys bathroom.  In the Boy bathroom we came up with a dilemma with the bathroom stalls because we found out we weren’t to paint them so instead we had to scrape off the first covering of paint that was already there.  Many of us had to straddle toilets just to reach the needed places.  It was very embarrassing and unfortunately caught on camera.  Needless to say we exited the day with clothes covered in blue paint along with skin dusted with blue powder.

Jess "caught on camera."

  And finally while a few of us socialized with the local children in the cafeteria, I acquired a friendship bracelet from a boy named Tyler I met the previous day.  Without a doubt he was one of the nicest kids I met at the school.
  Tomorrow the Turtles have to make breakfast EXTREMELY early.  I am not sure what we are having but I hope it is good. 
  I am going to be so sad when I leave because of all the friendships I have made.  Also because I may never find another decent ping pong partner again.  I am still the reigning champion of the ping pong!   We all miss our family so a big shout out to the parents and siblings.  We love you.  Now it is time to go down to the lake and swim.  Hopefully the pizza isn’t Hawaiian.  I can’t stand pineapple.
PS!  We had SLURPEES!!!

Picnic at Mud Lake.

Hiya! This is Jessica Winkler and Becca Hart who were both part of Kids Club! Before the kids arrived the leaders took us for ice cream.  I had Irish cream and Becca had a yummy chocolate milkshake. We passed out snacks during the skit even though the children were very grabby. Most of the time we sat around at the reading post station listening to the stories read by our fellow buddies. When the children left our smaller group of the Opossums had to get back to take showers.  Then we were able to take twenty-minute showers! The showers were actually really, really WARM which was completely incredible. Next we’re off to the lake and tomorrow is our last day on the project sites! It’s really incredible to stick your head out the window of the car when you’re going really fast and the sun is beating down on your hair making you warm but soon the mosquito infested West Virginia will soon be gone as we head back to VA on Saturday L but soon we can sleep until noon like we did before in our comfy beds with the AC and long showers J :D see y’all on Saturday night! Once again we say a HELLO to all the parents and siblings! WE MISS YOU!  We’re on the Opossum team (with Emmy, Daniel Mc. and Wesley) When we went to the senior center yesterday the older ladies were flirting with Wesley, which was hilarious! She asked each of us if we were sixteen but me (Becca) if I was ten… Sixteen and Never Been Kissed

WITH LOVE <3 Becca and Jess out! J
Daniel Montoya didn’t want to write but he had fun in construction (as far as we know) painting a house which we saw but we’re pretty sure he misses the parents too …  

Wednesday - food prep

We do plenty of eating during trip - and it's easier to catch people preparing food than working on the job site
.

Daniel

Emmy

Hannah

Jessica and Becca

Judson and Daniel

Rebecca

Wesley

Tuesday, July 5

Hi. WE ARE AN AWESOME TEAM AND DESERVE SOME CANDY AND FUN. Today we split into work teams and kids club group. At first I accompanied a smaller group to a senior citizen home to play bingo. I LOVED THE SENIORS THERE; THEY MADE ME LAUGH SO MUCH.  They were so funny and cute and we will be going back there on Thursday. We had a great time at kids club the kids are great and super fun! I can’t wait till the next time we see them!!!

Doc Carter is on duty.

HEY!! So today we went to Steve’s house to do some construction work. My group was told we were able to paint so when we got to the room, it was FILLED ENTIRELY with wood. We had to lug the wood to another room in the house and it took forever, but it was a great workout!! We also did a lot of scraping alongside the house and one of the groups added onto a picket fence and got to paint it. We swept the rooms and Steve told us all about his amazing plans for his future bed and breakfast. It was a lot of work, but we got to bond with our team and we had a great time!! We miss you all and thanks for your prayers! J
~Emmy, Ashleigh, And Judson and the rest of the WV Team

Hello everyone, this is Team Snake! We did a work project at Steve’s house. H is house was constructed in 1894! Tim and Hannah and some members scraped a side of the house and prepared it for painting. Daniel Montoya and some other members helped build a wooden fence and painted it along with the ‘scraping team.’ Judson, Rebecca, Ashleigh, and some others had to haul a whole room full of planks about 7 feet each that contained nails in them into another room. It was really really challenging but it was a load of fun! Steve was really cool, funny, and optimistic. Rebecca thinks we should go back there when the bed and breakfast is finished!
-Hannah and Rebecca

Snake Team.

Hannah and a snake skin for the Snake Team.

WE ARE THE TURTLES! WOOT WOOT! Oh. Hey it’s Natalie and Jessie! We’ve been working on cleaning and painting bathrooms in the local elementary school and today we got so much done! We finished scraping off the gross circus wallpaper from yesterday off the walls, scrubbed down the walls, taped everything in sight, and began painting! Very dangerous work J Today... Natalie broke a window. By accident obviously... and we don’t know how it happened exactly! She also was taping the ceiling and she stepped on a sink, and fell. (I thought I was going to die!) During our afternoon break we went across the street to 7-11 and got slurpees! YUM! And they had a gazillion flavors of Mountain Dew! During lunch, Peter, Nikki, Jessie, and Natalie went to the cafeteria while the elementary kids ate lunch. Natalie talked to one of the leaders, Jacob and three little girls, Hannah, Caitlin, and Ashley. Jessie and Peter went to talk to one girl named Autumn and we found out that she is a harry potter fan, WIN!!! J She introduced us to her brother who was a Leukemia survivor; they were both really cool and fun! While waiting for the showers this afternoon, Emmy, Jessie, Natalie, and Nikki creamed Kyle – on of the YouthWorks leaders – in Peanut Butter.  Our team was on dinner cleanup crew today, Jessie spilled a bunch of dirty water- filled with tomatoes and lettuce – on the floor!
And now we are on our way to go hiking! FUN FUN FUN!
Happy late 4^th of July. We miss you all. And are really thankful for your prayers. We love you! And can’t wait to see you on Saturday!
 -Jessie and Natalie (If you didn’t already know that! XD)
P.S. – TEAM TURTLE HAS THERE OWN HANDSHAKE! YES. And I am pretty sure that we are the only team with a handshake. J

Shoutouts from Natalie and Jessie:

Jessie – Happy birthday Robert, 27 is a big number!! J Also, happy birthday KAYLA, you awesome 14 year old!!
Natalie - I love you Jakob! My lil bro! <3 I miss you and I can’t wait to see you on Saturday! J Love you too Mom and Dad!
 (And now we are stuck in the bus! BUHBYEEEE! J )

Turtle team.

Now a special segment of The Blog of Jessie and Natalie – The Hike.
Well, now we are back in the shuttle after a very very very tiring hike. It was literally vertically up the mountain. But we all made it back alive! Phew! We took pictures at the top and during the hike. Beautiful! Both, Jessie and Natalie (and Judson!), climbed up this mountain (Phillip Bernard Livingston: that’s the mountains name) in flip flops, no bug spray, no water. True survivors!  We ran part of it, bad idea. And by the end of this week we will be all muscle! J When we got back down the mountain, Hannah rolled down the last hill and Daniel found a turtle! GO TEAM TURTLE! Now we have a mascot. Phillip Bernard Livingston was named by Timothy Pinkard and Kyle Lincoln.
And that concludes THE HIKE! Dun dun dun! (We are leaving you in suspense…)

Monday - Fourth of July

We’ve had a rousing Fourth of July, starting the day with a parade through the streets of Hamlin, W.Va.  Our work crews walked behind the float for one of the local churches, waving to the crowds and helping to distribute candy to the kids. It was great to witness the gratitude that the people of Lincoln County have for Youth Work, we repeatedly heard, “Thank you” and “Keep up the good job.”  It’s easy to see why the citizens are appreciative when you realize that 35 percent of Lincoln County residents live below the poverty line and 34.5 are on disability.

Tim makes friends in Hamlin.

Princess waves for all.

Since the parade left us with a short day, we didn’t get too deeply into our work schedule.  The Kids Club crew planned their skits and other events. The work crews did a variety of jobs around the primary school – primarily weeding and prepping the restrooms for painting.

Carter in double vision.

Team weeding.

A step up for Ashleigh.

Later tonight, we’ll go to the fireworks display at the high school sports field.

Comments on the day so far:
Carter: “Some of it is nice but a lot of it is really run down. There’s a lot of work to do.”
Daniel Montoya: “We got a lot done (weeding), but it was a long and painful process.”
Daniel McCloskey: “Everything is so close together because it’s such a small town.”
Nikki: "I wish it wasn't as humid here."

We're Here!

The team at IBC before hitting the road!

We arrived in West Hamlin, W.Va., about 5:30 p.m. after taking time for a rest-stop birthday party for Jessica Winkler. [Thank you, Lord, for the safe trip.]

A little birthday surprise for Jessica W :)

West Virginia...we're here!

We’re now settling in at Trinity Methodist Church, meeting new friends from Missouri, Wisconsin, and Delaware. The boys will be sleeping in the sanctuary and the girls will be sleeping in an upstairs classroom. [They claim there’s no air conditioning right now but we know that they actually have a spa and ice cream stand up there.]

Settling in! :)

Tomorrow, we’ll be representing YouthWorks in the local Fourth of July parade in the morning and then getting to work preparing lessons for Kids Klub and cleaning and painting projects.  In the evening, we’ll watch the local fireworks display. It will be a relatively light day, but we'd still appreciate your prayers.

Blessings, Brian B. for the team