Thursday, July 7, 2016
Technical Difficulties "Please stand by"
We are having a few technical difficulties publishing the blog. We will publish as much and as often as we can. . .
Miso Paste
This ASP was one to remember. We helped a close knit family that was in need.
Travis is her son. He is forty-three years old and has a mental disability. Karen has the house in a disabled trust that gives the house to an organization so that Travis could live at home and have someone take care of him.
This I thought was awesome that Travis could stay in his home, and this motivated me to make this house as liveable and safe as possible. ,
On our first day we began really tearing up the floor and found a "God is Greater than you" license plate and we thought nothing of it and tossed it to the side. Later Big Doug asked Karen if it was hers and she told us it was her Mom's, who passed away a year ago. She said she used to have it on her car, but when she quit driving, she took it off Karen had been looking for that licene plate ever since her mom died. This brought Karen to tears. We gave her more that just a floor, we gave her a peice of her mom that she will have for the rest of her life.
Travis is her son. He is forty-three years old and has a mental disability. Karen has the house in a disabled trust that gives the house to an organization so that Travis could live at home and have someone take care of him.
This I thought was awesome that Travis could stay in his home, and this motivated me to make this house as liveable and safe as possible. ,
On our first day we began really tearing up the floor and found a "God is Greater than you" license plate and we thought nothing of it and tossed it to the side. Later Big Doug asked Karen if it was hers and she told us it was her Mom's, who passed away a year ago. She said she used to have it on her car, but when she quit driving, she took it off Karen had been looking for that licene plate ever since her mom died. This brought Karen to tears. We gave her more that just a floor, we gave her a peice of her mom that she will have for the rest of her life.
Miso Paste
This ASP was one to remember. We helped a close knit family that was in need.
Travis is her son. He is forty-three years old and has a mental disability. Karen has the house in a disabled trust that gives the house to an organization so that Travis could live at home and have someone take care of him.
This I thought was awesome that Travis could stay in his home, and this motivated me to make this house as liveable and safe as possible. ,
On our first day we began really tearing up the floor and found a "God is Greater than you" license plate and we thought nothing of it and tossed it to the side. Later Big Doug asked Karen if it was hers and she told us it was her Mom's, who passed away a year ago. She said she used to have it on her car, but when she quit driving, she took it off Karen had been looking for that licene plate ever since her mom died. This brought Karen to tears. We gave her more that just a floor, we gave her a peice of her mom that she will have for the rest of her life.
Travis is her son. He is forty-three years old and has a mental disability. Karen has the house in a disabled trust that gives the house to an organization so that Travis could live at home and have someone take care of him.
This I thought was awesome that Travis could stay in his home, and this motivated me to make this house as liveable and safe as possible. ,
On our first day we began really tearing up the floor and found a "God is Greater than you" license plate and we thought nothing of it and tossed it to the side. Later Big Doug asked Karen if it was hers and she told us it was her Mom's, who passed away a year ago. She said she used to have it on her car, but when she quit driving, she took it off Karen had been looking for that licene plate ever since her mom died. This brought Karen to tears. We gave her more that just a floor, we gave her a peice of her mom that she will have for the rest of her life.
The
Funions and the Devil Dogs, also known as Sunflower Seed Butter 1 and
Sunflower Seed Butter 2 were lucky enough to be double crewed on a
double trailer site. The Funions crew members include Lori Bowers, John
Casale, Laura Heath, Adam Timari, Brandon Blyk, and myself Jenna
Costantino. As for the awesome Devil Dogs their crew members are Laura
Goodson, John Almindinger, Juliana Powers, Danielle Lorah, Noah Smyth,
and Scott DeMouth.
On the double trailer site both groups worked together to "hug the house." Meaning, we used flashing and foam boards to prepare the house to be sided after we gave the house more support by putting in many 2 by 4's.
Personally, I love being double crewed and working with more people because it adds to the idea of becoming a family and working together for someone else. Thanks to the helpful and funny adult leaders of the groups, I felt very confident in what I was doing while also having a lot of fun.
On Tuesday June 5th, a man stopped by our work site while we were taking our lunch break to thank us for being apart of ASP and helping out the home owner. As he was thanking us he shared how faithful he is and stories where the lord answered his prayers. His experiences had an effect on me and made me realize that if you walk in faith, God will always be there for you. I'm very thankful for the opportunity to join ASP and work with such a grateful and loving group of people. I can't wait to be back next year!
On the double trailer site both groups worked together to "hug the house." Meaning, we used flashing and foam boards to prepare the house to be sided after we gave the house more support by putting in many 2 by 4's.
Personally, I love being double crewed and working with more people because it adds to the idea of becoming a family and working together for someone else. Thanks to the helpful and funny adult leaders of the groups, I felt very confident in what I was doing while also having a lot of fun.
On Tuesday June 5th, a man stopped by our work site while we were taking our lunch break to thank us for being apart of ASP and helping out the home owner. As he was thanking us he shared how faithful he is and stories where the lord answered his prayers. His experiences had an effect on me and made me realize that if you walk in faith, God will always be there for you. I'm very thankful for the opportunity to join ASP and work with such a grateful and loving group of people. I can't wait to be back next year!
- Jenna Costantino
Tuesday, July 5, 2016
Wakame 3
This is my fourth summer of ASP & this is by far my favorite family. My previous homeowners were all very nice, but I never seemed to make that connection that I heard others talk about in relating family stories. Our family this year is very unique. The parents Rich & Reesa have adopted 11 children. The range in age from 11 to young adult. Many have some special needs. Three of the sons, who are older teenagers, have been helping our crew this week. Riku, Isaac & Eli expressed to us that if people like us can volunteer & give their time to help their family, they couldn't just sit by and watch us work without also pitching in. So the three of them, plus two of their younger sisters Alex & Emma, became part of our crew with Chris A., Taylor G., Mike P., Tim G., & Emily B.
Last year they moved into the house we are repairing. It is a 3 story house that was previously an apartment building. Other crews were working on siding & finishing a newly constructed room in the lower level. Our job was to address the runoff problem that caused serious erosion that threatened their foundation & also was allowing water to enter their home. We are finishing a multi-tier retaining wall that feeds into the drainage ditch we dug on Monday. Since it rained hard last night, Rich was able to tell us that the work we already did, helped & only a small amount of water entered their home.
The work we are doing isn't the most glamorous work or even requires much skill or fancy tools to accomplish. It entails digging dirt & breaking up rocks. We moved large amounts of stones. We worked in muddy conditions that caked our boots with muck. When we were tired, you would see Riku or Isaac or Eli jump up & grab a shovel or a pile of lumber & you knew you could keep going. You wanted to make it right for their family!
Reesa told us a story about the many different rocks that were piled up around her house. She said when her kids were little, they would give her a rock & put it in her hand and she would keep them because to her they weren't rocks, but each rock represented a prayer. Reesa has had a tough life and willingly and lovingly accepted much more than any person should have to in a life. It is a pleasure and a privilege to get to know her & her family this week. They will remain a part of me long after we leave.
Melissa Bellamy
Wakame 3
Flax Seed Meal
by James Esposito
Being it's my first year, I didn't know what to expect besides all the nice compliments from the experienced ASP volunteers, like all the new friends you make, the fun you all have and the experience of the trip itself. It's only my second day of this journey into the Midwest, where I have never been befor, but I have experience and learnded so much. There is just something special about working with your new and old friends to make a less unfortunate person's house warmer and safer
Current members of ASP have told me accidently that I'll experience what the call "God's experiance" by the end of the week I'm down here, but I already feel I have experienced a few tiny glimpses of it already. ASP is so great, I'm already convinced I'm coming back next year -- which I didn't think would happen to me. So the moral of the story is to try things that are out of yuor comfort zone because you might end up falling in love with it.
James is on the self names "Fried Oreos with powdered sugar team, serving the Flax Seed Meal site.
Being it's my first year, I didn't know what to expect besides all the nice compliments from the experienced ASP volunteers, like all the new friends you make, the fun you all have and the experience of the trip itself. It's only my second day of this journey into the Midwest, where I have never been befor, but I have experience and learnded so much. There is just something special about working with your new and old friends to make a less unfortunate person's house warmer and safer
Current members of ASP have told me accidently that I'll experience what the call "God's experiance" by the end of the week I'm down here, but I already feel I have experienced a few tiny glimpses of it already. ASP is so great, I'm already convinced I'm coming back next year -- which I didn't think would happen to me. So the moral of the story is to try things that are out of yuor comfort zone because you might end up falling in love with it.
James is on the self names "Fried Oreos with powdered sugar team, serving the Flax Seed Meal site.
With each year I come to love ASP more and more. The first year is exciting and nerve - racking all at the same time, and finally you have experiences to compare to the crazy funny stories you've heard. But each year only adds to the joy of the work. This is my fifth year, and I hope I continue for many more.
Now for the update on the work that we're doing. My group, self-named the Peanutbutter Cups, is working on Coconut Oil this week. On Monday we were able to put down the subfloor in what will be the grandson's room, and we also started dry walling the ceiling of the bathroom. The subflooring went significantly better than the ceiling. Miraculously most of the sieces of OSZB required only one round of measurement and cutting (a feat not often achieved on ASP.) The ceiling on the other hand is still not comopletely figured out.
Today's highlight had nothing to do with the work though. Instead it was meeting the three children on site. The amount of giggles that came from them was amazing. We almost finished the laminate in the grandson's room today, and he was absolutely over the moon about having is own room. He was planning where his bed would go and where his train set would fit in the room. The scampering feet in the house today only made the work more joyful!
By Blair Shields. Blair's other team members are Keith B, Sue F, Billy G, Kurt, Katy T.
Now for the update on the work that we're doing. My group, self-named the Peanutbutter Cups, is working on Coconut Oil this week. On Monday we were able to put down the subfloor in what will be the grandson's room, and we also started dry walling the ceiling of the bathroom. The subflooring went significantly better than the ceiling. Miraculously most of the sieces of OSZB required only one round of measurement and cutting (a feat not often achieved on ASP.) The ceiling on the other hand is still not comopletely figured out.
Today's highlight had nothing to do with the work though. Instead it was meeting the three children on site. The amount of giggles that came from them was amazing. We almost finished the laminate in the grandson's room today, and he was absolutely over the moon about having is own room. He was planning where his bed would go and where his train set would fit in the room. The scampering feet in the house today only made the work more joyful!
By Blair Shields. Blair's other team members are Keith B, Sue F, Billy G, Kurt, Katy T.
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