Well, I am back from Wisconsin and it was a wonderful visit! I didn't see many friends this time, just planned to be with family and see all the little babies that are growing so quickly. Had a great time with Mom and we spent each morning sitting in the backyard near the garden having our morning coffee. It was just beautiful to sit out and watch the birds feeding their babies and having their morning breakfast. Mom's garden looks great and I swear everything grew a few inches while I was home. Looks like it will be a good year for the garden.
The trip home to Kentucky was long and the construction was all over the place. Just need to relax and enjoy the time alone in the truck to think and listen to some good music. Thankfully no mishaps along the way and all in all was a good trip back to the mountains.
I have been doing alot of thinking about this blog and I have come to the end. I have enjoyed sharing this experience with you but I think you all have a good picture of what life here with CAP is like. If there is anything major that happens I will fill you in. Otherwise, I thank you for joining me and I pray that each day is a new and exciting journey for you.
God Bless and keep you safe.
In His service
Jane
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Saturday, June 12, 2010
ASP is Here!
ASP is the Appalachia Service Project based out of Tennessee. This Christian organization comes to Clay County each year and assists home owners with repairs on their homes. This is truly a God send for us because sometimes we have a waiting list that gets up to a 2 year wait for some of the jobs. I had been trying to get in touch with ASP, but was not having any luck. Then I received a call that they were arriving last Saturday. YEAH!!!! Angie and I met with some of the crew leaders and were able to give them about 22 referrals for the area. Some of these jobs we knew we would not be able to do for lack of ownership for the family that was residing in the home. Sometimes many of these homes are "in heirs" which means there could be as many as 80-85 owners. If that is the case, CAP cannot do any work because we require that the home be in the name of the person or family that is currently living there. ASP does not have the same guidelines and they are able to do the work regardless of the status of the deed. This is really a gift that we can get so many families taken care of and CAP can continue with the other homes that need repair. Thanks ASP!
Angie took me and Janet out on some new roads this week and it was beautiful. We traveled one pretty sketchy road up a mountain that had almost no homes on it. Much of the road had been washed out at some points and there had been some stones and rocks held up by heavy mesh netting that holds it all in place. It was an amazing drive, but some of it was pretty freaky. Always eager to head out to some new areas and get another look at the beauty of Kentucky.
The house is turning over and I have very mixed feelings about it all. It is exciting to get new people in but is also difficult to say good-bye to the housemates that are leaving. I realize that some of these people I may never see again and that is hard to accept. I have hopes that some of them I will see again somewhere along the way, and that is a good thing to think about.
It is a rainy Saturday and many of us are just staying in for the day. Hope you are all doing well and I look forward to being back in Wisconsin this coming week.
God Bless
Jane
Angie took me and Janet out on some new roads this week and it was beautiful. We traveled one pretty sketchy road up a mountain that had almost no homes on it. Much of the road had been washed out at some points and there had been some stones and rocks held up by heavy mesh netting that holds it all in place. It was an amazing drive, but some of it was pretty freaky. Always eager to head out to some new areas and get another look at the beauty of Kentucky.
The house is turning over and I have very mixed feelings about it all. It is exciting to get new people in but is also difficult to say good-bye to the housemates that are leaving. I realize that some of these people I may never see again and that is hard to accept. I have hopes that some of them I will see again somewhere along the way, and that is a good thing to think about.
It is a rainy Saturday and many of us are just staying in for the day. Hope you are all doing well and I look forward to being back in Wisconsin this coming week.
God Bless
Jane
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Longer Commitment
Well, it's official. I am staying for a longer term than I had originally planned. My one year commitment would be done in early September, but I am going to stay on for another 9 months after this first term is completed. I am planning on coming home for the full month of September in-between starting another term of service. I talked it over with my mom and she understands that this is where I need to be right now. Thanks Mom. So starting October 1st I will start a new program and stay until the end of June 2011.
I talked it over with the volunteer manager and my program manager and I am going to be involved with helping the volunteer program with all the work groups that come in throughout the year. I am pretty excited about this! There is prep work and then hosting, cooking, commandeering the groups and also educating them about the Appalachian area. I think the education part will be great! Many times groups come in from anywhere in the USA but they might not know much about this area and the history of the culture. I will be able to explain more about this beautiful land and the wonderful people who live here. How cool is that!
Another bonus is that when I have some slow time I can still be a part of Family Advocacy and be able to spend time with my families. That is really the gift in it all. I know that I would miss being able to see the families and making those home visits. I am very greatful and very fortunate to be able to make this transition. Thanks to CAP for allowing me this wiggle room.
The weather is heating up and the storms are rolling in. Love the thunder storms but could do well with some 70's weather. I guess that is the benefit of living in the south.
Hope all is well with you and yours. God Bless
Jane
I talked it over with the volunteer manager and my program manager and I am going to be involved with helping the volunteer program with all the work groups that come in throughout the year. I am pretty excited about this! There is prep work and then hosting, cooking, commandeering the groups and also educating them about the Appalachian area. I think the education part will be great! Many times groups come in from anywhere in the USA but they might not know much about this area and the history of the culture. I will be able to explain more about this beautiful land and the wonderful people who live here. How cool is that!
Another bonus is that when I have some slow time I can still be a part of Family Advocacy and be able to spend time with my families. That is really the gift in it all. I know that I would miss being able to see the families and making those home visits. I am very greatful and very fortunate to be able to make this transition. Thanks to CAP for allowing me this wiggle room.
The weather is heating up and the storms are rolling in. Love the thunder storms but could do well with some 70's weather. I guess that is the benefit of living in the south.
Hope all is well with you and yours. God Bless
Jane
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Wonderful Visit, Wonderful Friend
It has been a few days since Ann left, but what a wonderful visit we had! Ann is a good friend from Sheboygan and she came to the Appalachians on Thursday, May 20th. I cannot believe all the things that happened that she and I could be a part of. There were volunteers in from Ohio and we were able to have dinner with them at Camp AJ and then share a devotion with them. They were some great, hard-working people and we really enjoyed sharing an evening with them.
The days at work held some interesting home visits and I was delighted that Ann got a good view of the area that I work in. We traveled up the mountain and had to take one of those driveways down that you can't see until the front end of the car nosedives and then there is the road in front of you. Ann was a little freaked but was a trooper and held in there with us. The homes were on the meager side and it showed the poorer side of Clay County. Some of the homes in another area were beautiful and very well kept up, so I was happy that we got a view of all types.
Ann and Angie, my co-worker, hit it off famously. Sometimes I think they forgot that I was even along. :) I usually took the back seat when we traveled around the county so Ann had a clear view of all the areas that we were visiting. We stopped at a ministry that reaches out to pregnant women and Ann was able to drop off some beautiful caps and booties that a friend had sent along for the babies. The woman who runs the program had just gotten off of a phone call and we all took hands to pray for the situation she had just learned of. It was quite moving, and again I was happy that Ann could get a sense of the people that I have built a relationship with here in Kentucky.
We took some time for sight seeing and saw some really beautiful countryside. On Sunday we traveled up to Lexington and worshiped at Southland. This is a huge church on the edge of the city that does some amazing outreach in the area and all over the world. It was a very moving service and I was delighted to be able to worship with Ann.
I cannot thank Ann enough for her generous gifts for the people of Appalachia and also for what she has given to me. How can I say thank you to someone who brought me a taste of home. It was awesome to have Ann here and I am glad that she was able to come and get a good picture of what I do.
I pray you are all having a great Memorial Weekend.
God Bless
Jane
The days at work held some interesting home visits and I was delighted that Ann got a good view of the area that I work in. We traveled up the mountain and had to take one of those driveways down that you can't see until the front end of the car nosedives and then there is the road in front of you. Ann was a little freaked but was a trooper and held in there with us. The homes were on the meager side and it showed the poorer side of Clay County. Some of the homes in another area were beautiful and very well kept up, so I was happy that we got a view of all types.
Ann and Angie, my co-worker, hit it off famously. Sometimes I think they forgot that I was even along. :) I usually took the back seat when we traveled around the county so Ann had a clear view of all the areas that we were visiting. We stopped at a ministry that reaches out to pregnant women and Ann was able to drop off some beautiful caps and booties that a friend had sent along for the babies. The woman who runs the program had just gotten off of a phone call and we all took hands to pray for the situation she had just learned of. It was quite moving, and again I was happy that Ann could get a sense of the people that I have built a relationship with here in Kentucky.
We took some time for sight seeing and saw some really beautiful countryside. On Sunday we traveled up to Lexington and worshiped at Southland. This is a huge church on the edge of the city that does some amazing outreach in the area and all over the world. It was a very moving service and I was delighted to be able to worship with Ann.
I cannot thank Ann enough for her generous gifts for the people of Appalachia and also for what she has given to me. How can I say thank you to someone who brought me a taste of home. It was awesome to have Ann here and I am glad that she was able to come and get a good picture of what I do.
I pray you are all having a great Memorial Weekend.
God Bless
Jane
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Retreat of a Lifetime
Well, it has been two weeks since I last checked in. I didn't have too much to say last week, so I thought I would keep it all for this week. And what a week it has been. I just returned to Jackson House from the volunteer retreat held next door at Camp AJ. Wow was it wonderful!!!!!
First I was honored to be asked to help with the music. There are musicians on the east side that lead us in song, and myself and three of my housemates were also asked to help out. We were challenged to do some Taize music for the group. First of all I had no idea what that was so we checked on youtube and there it was. It is a type of chant that is used in worship and I think it was started in France. Anyway, we found two songs to use and it was beautiful! God used our voices and it really was a wonderful experience.
The highlight was the main speaker. He was amazing. His name is Todd Butler and he is a professor at Brescia University in Owensboro, KY. His main thought throughout the retreat was transformation and transition. Many of us are coming to the end of our year long commitments and it has been very difficult in some cases to say good-bye. Say good-bye to people that you have grown to love and also to say hello to the new volunteers coming in to take their places. It is a truly bittersweet time. Change is constant and sometimes it is difficult to keep up with it all.
Todd had us taking a look at the community (family of origin) that we grew up with and how that compares to the community that we have been living in currently. How do they differ and what similarities do we see. It was quite interesting to diagram the table where I shared a meal as a child and what the table looks like today that I share nightly with my community here. It is difficult to put into words all that he walked us through. I just know that I want to keep this with me for as long as I can.
There is a stray dog that has been wandering around Camp AJ for a few weeks. Yesterday morning a little girl was trying to use bacon held out in her hand to help lead this dog to a pile of food that had been laid out for the dog. This stray is very skittish and would not come to the little girl or follow her to the feast that had been prepared. We talked about this situation and compared it to this. What is God holding out to us that we are too afraid to take from His hand? What is He attempting to lead us to that we just cannot see? It may sound funny to compare this small child and a stray dog to our relationship with God. But to me, it touched something inside that I think will stay with me for a long time.
I pray all is well with you and yours. God keep you safe til we meet again.
Jane
First I was honored to be asked to help with the music. There are musicians on the east side that lead us in song, and myself and three of my housemates were also asked to help out. We were challenged to do some Taize music for the group. First of all I had no idea what that was so we checked on youtube and there it was. It is a type of chant that is used in worship and I think it was started in France. Anyway, we found two songs to use and it was beautiful! God used our voices and it really was a wonderful experience.
The highlight was the main speaker. He was amazing. His name is Todd Butler and he is a professor at Brescia University in Owensboro, KY. His main thought throughout the retreat was transformation and transition. Many of us are coming to the end of our year long commitments and it has been very difficult in some cases to say good-bye. Say good-bye to people that you have grown to love and also to say hello to the new volunteers coming in to take their places. It is a truly bittersweet time. Change is constant and sometimes it is difficult to keep up with it all.
Todd had us taking a look at the community (family of origin) that we grew up with and how that compares to the community that we have been living in currently. How do they differ and what similarities do we see. It was quite interesting to diagram the table where I shared a meal as a child and what the table looks like today that I share nightly with my community here. It is difficult to put into words all that he walked us through. I just know that I want to keep this with me for as long as I can.
There is a stray dog that has been wandering around Camp AJ for a few weeks. Yesterday morning a little girl was trying to use bacon held out in her hand to help lead this dog to a pile of food that had been laid out for the dog. This stray is very skittish and would not come to the little girl or follow her to the feast that had been prepared. We talked about this situation and compared it to this. What is God holding out to us that we are too afraid to take from His hand? What is He attempting to lead us to that we just cannot see? It may sound funny to compare this small child and a stray dog to our relationship with God. But to me, it touched something inside that I think will stay with me for a long time.
I pray all is well with you and yours. God keep you safe til we meet again.
Jane
Saturday, May 1, 2010
I Know a Man
Shackled by a heavy burden,
'Neath a load of guilt and shame.
Then the hand of Jesus touched me,
And now I am no longer the same.
He touched me, Oh He touched me,
And oh the joy that floods my soul!
Something happened and now I know,
He touched me and made me whole.
Since I met this blessed Savior,
Since He cleansed and made me whole,
I will never cease to praise Him,
I'll shout it while eternity rolls.
He touched me, Oh He touched me,
And oh the joy that floods my soul!
Something happened and now I know
He touched me and made me whole.
This past week we held the annual Women's Retreat at Camp AJ. I cannot begin to explain how wonderful this event is. Some of these ladies have been coming for 8 years, since it began. Some have come for the first time and already know that this is something they never want to miss again. We started out with some introductions and letting people know the lay of the land and what the guidelines were. Then one of the first group things was coming together and singing to the Lord. It was beyond beautiful! Carrie led us in this event and she is outstanding. Carrie has this strong and wonderful Gospel voice that just takes you to another place. Everyone joined in and we sang some of the old favorites. There were a few ladies that took the lead and it was like being in a movie. Their voices took me to a place in the Appalachian Mountains that I had never been before.
There were different activities all throughout the 3 days we were together. We all shared in the meals and then there were crafts, camp fires, fishing, more singing, speakers and more. The final day was the main speaker. She was one of the best I have ever heard, truly. She spoke directly to our hearts and told us her life story and how God has used her life to minister to other people.
At the close of her presentation Carrie started to lead us in song and the speaker went around to each person in the room to touch them, hold them and pray with them. Many a tear was shed. The song that Carrie started with is at the beginning of this entry. God was there that day and touched many a heart in that room. It is really difficul to convey the feelings I had that day. To see these women from all different walks of life ministering to each other was an amazing gift to see and experience. This is one of the best memories that will come with me when I go.
When I had first interviewed with Robyn, my manager, she talked about the retreat and how she will never stop holding the retreat for the women. I more than understand now what she was saying. This was one very special event and I know that these ladies hold it in a very special place in their hearts. If there is anything that I come back to do with CAP, it will be to attend and help with this God-filled three days in Appalachia.
I pray that all of you may have an experience such as this in your life.
God Bless
Jane
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Vacation Week is Over
The buds were down from Wisconsin last week and we had a great time! The first two nights were spent at Jackson House so they could get a better feel for how it is to live in community. They really enjoyed the house and the housemates. Thanks Jackson House for letting us stay a few nights. We spent some time in Berea and also went to Lexington for the Keeneland horse races. What a hoot! Two of us placed some bets and we had some winners. It was quite interesting to people watch at this affair. This is absolutely a "Kentucky" that I had not seen before. People were dressed to the nines, especially the women. It was really cool to watch the races, but I think I got more enjoyment out of watching the crowd.
The next day we left for Natural Bridge State Resort Park. OK, if anyone is considering coming to Kentucky for some vacation, this area is a "have to see" thing. We took the skylift up to the natural bridge, and then hiked around for awhile. The view is phenomenal!!!! After we returned to our Bee-yooo-tee-fulll cabin, I took some of the trails back up to the bridge and checked it out a little more thoroughly. The walk back felt like I was traversing through a jungle, way cool! Next day was Red River Gorge, which is a geological area. For those of you terminology impaired, this means it isn't a little park with well placed bathrooms. We had a bit of a struggle finding our way around, but well worth the search. So many wonderful places to check out and spend some time taking in the vistas. I just think Kentucky could do a little better with their signage.
Off to the east side to see more mountains and visit Diane. We all went to Pig in a Poke for dinner and enjoyed some of the best barbecued ribs ever tasted. Well done Pig! We spent the night at Floyd House in the upper area. Thanks for letting us invade, Floyd House. We appreciate the hospitality.
Our last leg of the journey was to Buckhorn State Resort Park. In my opinion not as cool as natural bridge, but still quite beautiful. All in all was a wonderful week and all made it home safely. Thanks to my friends for coming down and spending some time.
Tonight Jackson House has been invited to dine with some CAP-related people. John lives near Natural Bridge, so it will be another beautiful drive. Can't wait to see what is all on the menu.
This coming week is the Women's Retreat at Camp AJ. I think this is going to be alot of fun. I am looking forward to seeing all the ladies and leading them in some different crafts. The weather is not looking all that great, but such is life.
Hope you are all doing well.
Jane
The next day we left for Natural Bridge State Resort Park. OK, if anyone is considering coming to Kentucky for some vacation, this area is a "have to see" thing. We took the skylift up to the natural bridge, and then hiked around for awhile. The view is phenomenal!!!! After we returned to our Bee-yooo-tee-fulll cabin, I took some of the trails back up to the bridge and checked it out a little more thoroughly. The walk back felt like I was traversing through a jungle, way cool! Next day was Red River Gorge, which is a geological area. For those of you terminology impaired, this means it isn't a little park with well placed bathrooms. We had a bit of a struggle finding our way around, but well worth the search. So many wonderful places to check out and spend some time taking in the vistas. I just think Kentucky could do a little better with their signage.
Off to the east side to see more mountains and visit Diane. We all went to Pig in a Poke for dinner and enjoyed some of the best barbecued ribs ever tasted. Well done Pig! We spent the night at Floyd House in the upper area. Thanks for letting us invade, Floyd House. We appreciate the hospitality.
Our last leg of the journey was to Buckhorn State Resort Park. In my opinion not as cool as natural bridge, but still quite beautiful. All in all was a wonderful week and all made it home safely. Thanks to my friends for coming down and spending some time.
Tonight Jackson House has been invited to dine with some CAP-related people. John lives near Natural Bridge, so it will be another beautiful drive. Can't wait to see what is all on the menu.
This coming week is the Women's Retreat at Camp AJ. I think this is going to be alot of fun. I am looking forward to seeing all the ladies and leading them in some different crafts. The weather is not looking all that great, but such is life.
Hope you are all doing well.
Jane
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Another Wonderful Week
Today is beautiful! The warm weather is on sabbatical and we are seeing the mid to upper 60's for the next few days. I am patiently waiting for my friends from Wisconsin to get here. I am so excited. We are planning a week of fun and adventure. First stops will include Berea and the horse races in Lexington. One of my housemates went this past week and said it was alot of fun. The place is called Keeneland and they have races in the afternoon. I think they start around 1 PM and the last race is about 5 PM. I'm looking forward to seeing it and maybe having a cold one while we watch the race.
Last Wednesday I went over to see Diane Beckmann on the east side. Don and Peggy Hasse were visiting and we all got together for a nice chat and dinner. It was a great night and was a real treat to see Don and Peg. We took a drive through Jenny Wiley State Park and then got out a bit at the Dewey Dam. It is really beautiful there and the weather was great. We then stopped for all you can eat catfish. Yum! Best catfish I have had in a long time.
This week we will be heading over to Natural Bridge and also Red River Gorge. I am pumped to see this area. Haven't been there yet but have seen some pictures, and people who have been there said it is awesome. We have a cabin or cottage and will be spending two nights in the area. Looking forward to taking the lift and getting a bird's eye view of the mountains.
The following week is the CAP Women's Retreat over at Camp AJ. This should be a hoot. There are about 60 women who attend and we all stay at camp. It is a three day event and the ladies really have a great time. We are having some speakers and Mrs. Kentucky International will be there too. I guess she is bringing her entourage and they will be doing make-up and hair for all our glamor shots. Can't wait to see that!
Hope you are all doing well. God Bless
Jane
Last Wednesday I went over to see Diane Beckmann on the east side. Don and Peggy Hasse were visiting and we all got together for a nice chat and dinner. It was a great night and was a real treat to see Don and Peg. We took a drive through Jenny Wiley State Park and then got out a bit at the Dewey Dam. It is really beautiful there and the weather was great. We then stopped for all you can eat catfish. Yum! Best catfish I have had in a long time.
This week we will be heading over to Natural Bridge and also Red River Gorge. I am pumped to see this area. Haven't been there yet but have seen some pictures, and people who have been there said it is awesome. We have a cabin or cottage and will be spending two nights in the area. Looking forward to taking the lift and getting a bird's eye view of the mountains.
The following week is the CAP Women's Retreat over at Camp AJ. This should be a hoot. There are about 60 women who attend and we all stay at camp. It is a three day event and the ladies really have a great time. We are having some speakers and Mrs. Kentucky International will be there too. I guess she is bringing her entourage and they will be doing make-up and hair for all our glamor shots. Can't wait to see that!
Hope you are all doing well. God Bless
Jane
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Blossoms Galore!
Kentucky Blossoms!
This week has been great. The weather went from 89 degrees on Wednesday to about 55 on Thursday. You would think I was in Wisconsin with how different each day is. Youthfest is over and we are starting to return to a somewhat more normal routine. The sad part is that some members of Jackson House will start to leave in May. Once June hits we will lose quite a few of our housemates. This is going to be a sad time to say good bye to people I truly love.
I am more than half way through this journey and I still think this is one of the best decisions I ever made. I am really happy that I still feel that way after being here for this amount of time. There have been a few struggles but all in all it has been wonderful journey.
Not much to report right now. I hope all is well with you and yours.
God Bless
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Happy Easter
What a week! Last Sunday I went with a housemate to see Guy Penrod in McKee. What an awesome concert! The tickets were free and then we sat in the third row! That is hot spit people. I mean literally, hot spit. Guy liked to walk around the auditorium and talk to people and he also handed out the prizes when they called the names from the door prize bowl. He is an amazing vocalist and really shared a wonderful message with all of us. I was so happy to be able to see him and it was one remarkable night of singing and sharing. If anyone is interested he has a new country CD out and I think it will be a good one. It really was a great night and what a wonderful way to celebrate Palm Sunday.
I just got home not too long ago from spending the weekend with my sister Beth. We met in LaFayette, IN and really had a wonderful Easter weekend. I went up on Friday and then Beth arrived on Saturday morning. We spent time in the hotel talking and then went out for dinner. Our favorite place, Olive Garden, was directly across the road from the hotel. Cool. Then we just went downtown to check out the shops and stroll the streets. It is a cute city and we found a nice spot to people watch. Then we walked out of one place and saw a crowd of people standing around an old theatre. We walked over to check it out and it was a presentation of The Passion Play and was starting in about 45 minutes. Well, the tickets were free so we just grabbed a seat and waited for the show. It was awesome! It was a musical and had two story lines going at one time. The story of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection was the main message, and then it included another side story of one of the actors in the show and how he came to be aware of God's grace and what it meant for his life. At first I wasn't too thrilled with the duo story line but by the time it was all done they had presented an excellent performance.
Beth and I found a Lutheran church downtown for Sunday service and then caught a quick breakfast before both heading out to go home. Beth to Wisconsin and me back to Kentucky. When I got back to Jackson House they were still eating Easter dinner so I grabbed a chair and joined them for conversation and a piece of lemon pie. What a treat to spend the weekend with my sister and then being able to spend part of Easter with my Jackson House family.
The weather has been wonderful here and when I was driving home I saw a hillside covered with Redbud trees and bushes. Man was that beautiful! In a few days they will be opened even more. That will be a treat.
Hope you all had a Blessed Easter! He is risen, He is risen indeed!
I just got home not too long ago from spending the weekend with my sister Beth. We met in LaFayette, IN and really had a wonderful Easter weekend. I went up on Friday and then Beth arrived on Saturday morning. We spent time in the hotel talking and then went out for dinner. Our favorite place, Olive Garden, was directly across the road from the hotel. Cool. Then we just went downtown to check out the shops and stroll the streets. It is a cute city and we found a nice spot to people watch. Then we walked out of one place and saw a crowd of people standing around an old theatre. We walked over to check it out and it was a presentation of The Passion Play and was starting in about 45 minutes. Well, the tickets were free so we just grabbed a seat and waited for the show. It was awesome! It was a musical and had two story lines going at one time. The story of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection was the main message, and then it included another side story of one of the actors in the show and how he came to be aware of God's grace and what it meant for his life. At first I wasn't too thrilled with the duo story line but by the time it was all done they had presented an excellent performance.
Beth and I found a Lutheran church downtown for Sunday service and then caught a quick breakfast before both heading out to go home. Beth to Wisconsin and me back to Kentucky. When I got back to Jackson House they were still eating Easter dinner so I grabbed a chair and joined them for conversation and a piece of lemon pie. What a treat to spend the weekend with my sister and then being able to spend part of Easter with my Jackson House family.
The weather has been wonderful here and when I was driving home I saw a hillside covered with Redbud trees and bushes. Man was that beautiful! In a few days they will be opened even more. That will be a treat.
Hope you all had a Blessed Easter! He is risen, He is risen indeed!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Workfest Completed
The third and final week of Workfest is done. I have mixed feelings about the whole thing. It is somewhat sad to say farewell to the volunteers who came down specifically for Workfest. The cooks have left and the crew leaders are also on their way home. These are some amazing people and they have been coming for many years. I do feel that I will see them again here at CAP. Even if it is for a short visit, I know that our paths will cross again. The couple from Wisconsin is still here and will not be heading home until about mid-April. It is nice to have Jackson House return to a more familiar schedule, but that will be short lived as Youthfest starts in one week. It is similar to Workfest but on a somewhat smaller scale. Some of the jobs for these high school aged youth will be completing the work started by Workfest teams.
Weather in the past few days has been spectacular! Yesterday Judy and I went to the pinnacles, which are on the edge of Berea. What a hike! We took the trail to the east pinnacle and then just stood and drank in the beauty of Kentucky. We left the east pinnacle and trekked over to the Indian Fort Lookout. I think that is the name. That was also very beautiful and we spent a bit more time there just sitting and looking out over the countryside. In about a month we will not have the same view because so much will be budding out and some of the view will be blocked. Daffodils are blooming everywhere! I saw one hillside covered by crocuses, croci?? Not sure what to call it but it was truly lovely to see the purple and white on the hill. I am eager to see spring blossom here in Kentucky and take in all the wildflowers in the area.
I received an e-mail from Don and Peg Hasse and they will be stopping in for a visit. That is way cool! We are planning to meet in Floyd County and visit with Diane all at the same time. I think it is easier for them to navigate the RV on the east side rather than come into the Cumberland area. It will be great to see them and I am really looking forward to their visit.
I look forward to this week to be able to get caught up with the regular workload. Some things were put on the back burner in keeping on top of things for Workfest. I have some home visits to make and get some items delivered to some of my families so they can get their home repairs taken care of.
All in all, life is great! I hope you are all getting Spring fever and the weather is cooperating.
God bless
Jane
Weather in the past few days has been spectacular! Yesterday Judy and I went to the pinnacles, which are on the edge of Berea. What a hike! We took the trail to the east pinnacle and then just stood and drank in the beauty of Kentucky. We left the east pinnacle and trekked over to the Indian Fort Lookout. I think that is the name. That was also very beautiful and we spent a bit more time there just sitting and looking out over the countryside. In about a month we will not have the same view because so much will be budding out and some of the view will be blocked. Daffodils are blooming everywhere! I saw one hillside covered by crocuses, croci?? Not sure what to call it but it was truly lovely to see the purple and white on the hill. I am eager to see spring blossom here in Kentucky and take in all the wildflowers in the area.
I received an e-mail from Don and Peg Hasse and they will be stopping in for a visit. That is way cool! We are planning to meet in Floyd County and visit with Diane all at the same time. I think it is easier for them to navigate the RV on the east side rather than come into the Cumberland area. It will be great to see them and I am really looking forward to their visit.
I look forward to this week to be able to get caught up with the regular workload. Some things were put on the back burner in keeping on top of things for Workfest. I have some home visits to make and get some items delivered to some of my families so they can get their home repairs taken care of.
All in all, life is great! I hope you are all getting Spring fever and the weather is cooperating.
God bless
Jane
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Second Week of Workfest Completed
This has been a very interesting and difficult week. First of all we were very happy that the rain held off until Friday afternoon. It dripped a little on Thursday but not enough to make anyone stop their work. This week I was asked to take donuts out to the work sites on Wednesday. I went with another volunteer and we had a great day. We took a dozen donuts to each house and then also took pictures for each work crew. It really is amazing to see all the work that is being accomplished. These college groups are working hard and for some jobs are even ahead of schedule.
On Thursday I went with Angela to take the final pictures of what work has been accomplished at each house. We waited until late in the day so we can show the next crews coming in what the house looked like before and where we are at now. These pictures are posted in Old Hickory (a meeting room) and all can see what is going on. The last house we stopped at was Loretta's and it was awesome. Loretta and her daughter had made a full Thanksgiving dinner for the work crew and invited us in to eat also. There was homemade sauerkraut with chopped up wieners. It was incredible! I tasted a bit of the other food but was mostly interested in the kraut and dogs. Then, Loretta and her son and daughter picked up a guitar and some spoons and began to sing for us. They all have beautiful voices and when they sang together is was amazing! The son plays guitar, fiddle, mandolin and a few more instruments. The daughter was playing the spoons and it was great. Loretta had the strongest voice and just sang her heart out. They were all gospel songs and you could tell how much each song meant to her.
We asked them if they would sing at the family night, and they agreed. Thursday night is when all the crews and the families get together to share in a meal and say good-bye. Loretta and her family did about two songs for all of us and the room really enjoyed it all. It was just so cool to see them up there and see how the crowd was responding to them. This week was better than last that almost all the families were able to come and join us in the meal. It is really incredible to see the connection between the crews and the families. One of the ladies was crying as she hugged each one good-bye. It was really quite touching. We all left after the dinner and were headed back to Camp AJ. This is where it went awry.
On the way back, Janet and I came around a corner and there in front of us was a small truck engulfed in flames and a car that had the front totally smashed in. There were no police or EMT's there so we knew it had just happened. We both jumped out of the truck to run up and see if there was anything we could do to help. There was a woman who was coming from the other way and I thank God she was a nurse. She was out there attempting to take care of the victims of the crash. Two were dead at the scene, and the other was taken by flight for life. This happened after we left, but I heard about it the next day. From what people have said, the two men in the truck were drunk and hit this young woman head on. It is a bad part of the road, and I think there have been quite a few accidents there in the past. This is the most horrible thing I have ever seen. I never want to come upon anything like this ever again.
All the vehicles that were heading back to Camp AJ had to take a detour and go on the back roads to get there. The good roads in Kentucky are not all that great, so taking back roads was not a favorable situation either. It was the longest drive I have ever made. When we pulled up to the house I just lost it. Life is so fragile and it makes you realize that you need to appreciate each moment.
This coming week is the last week of workfest, and we are all hoping for good weather again. If any of you are looking for volunteer opportunities, this is the pace to be. It is really an honor to be a part of the lives of the people in Appalachia.
God Bless
Jane
On Thursday I went with Angela to take the final pictures of what work has been accomplished at each house. We waited until late in the day so we can show the next crews coming in what the house looked like before and where we are at now. These pictures are posted in Old Hickory (a meeting room) and all can see what is going on. The last house we stopped at was Loretta's and it was awesome. Loretta and her daughter had made a full Thanksgiving dinner for the work crew and invited us in to eat also. There was homemade sauerkraut with chopped up wieners. It was incredible! I tasted a bit of the other food but was mostly interested in the kraut and dogs. Then, Loretta and her son and daughter picked up a guitar and some spoons and began to sing for us. They all have beautiful voices and when they sang together is was amazing! The son plays guitar, fiddle, mandolin and a few more instruments. The daughter was playing the spoons and it was great. Loretta had the strongest voice and just sang her heart out. They were all gospel songs and you could tell how much each song meant to her.
We asked them if they would sing at the family night, and they agreed. Thursday night is when all the crews and the families get together to share in a meal and say good-bye. Loretta and her family did about two songs for all of us and the room really enjoyed it all. It was just so cool to see them up there and see how the crowd was responding to them. This week was better than last that almost all the families were able to come and join us in the meal. It is really incredible to see the connection between the crews and the families. One of the ladies was crying as she hugged each one good-bye. It was really quite touching. We all left after the dinner and were headed back to Camp AJ. This is where it went awry.
On the way back, Janet and I came around a corner and there in front of us was a small truck engulfed in flames and a car that had the front totally smashed in. There were no police or EMT's there so we knew it had just happened. We both jumped out of the truck to run up and see if there was anything we could do to help. There was a woman who was coming from the other way and I thank God she was a nurse. She was out there attempting to take care of the victims of the crash. Two were dead at the scene, and the other was taken by flight for life. This happened after we left, but I heard about it the next day. From what people have said, the two men in the truck were drunk and hit this young woman head on. It is a bad part of the road, and I think there have been quite a few accidents there in the past. This is the most horrible thing I have ever seen. I never want to come upon anything like this ever again.
All the vehicles that were heading back to Camp AJ had to take a detour and go on the back roads to get there. The good roads in Kentucky are not all that great, so taking back roads was not a favorable situation either. It was the longest drive I have ever made. When we pulled up to the house I just lost it. Life is so fragile and it makes you realize that you need to appreciate each moment.
This coming week is the last week of workfest, and we are all hoping for good weather again. If any of you are looking for volunteer opportunities, this is the pace to be. It is really an honor to be a part of the lives of the people in Appalachia.
God Bless
Jane
Saturday, March 6, 2010
One Week In
It is Saturday morning, the sun us shining bright and it is a good day! This has been an interesting week. Our first round of Workfest college students have come and gone and they got a tremendous amount of work done for our participants. There were five crews and they were spread about in Jackson and Clay Counties. Two of the jobs are scheduled for all three weeks, and the other jobs are for one or two weeks. One of the houses needed 16 post holes dug to place some posts to hold up a new roof. This is done in situations where trailer walls are not strong enough to support the weight of a new roof. Anywho, when they started to dig the holes the crew realized that this house was built on solid rock. Drag! Some of that crew spent the week with a jack hammer working on getting those posts in. Those were some tired puppies when we saw them in the evenings.
The first night, Sunday, is welcome, dinner and orientation. Jackson House goes up to camp to be a part of all this. Dig it! There was a powerpoint presentation to introduce everyone to current volunteers, crew leaders and the staff that was involved in getting this all put together for the families. It was a fun night and the presentation was hilarious. Well done Lucas!
Monday night was dinner, and then a panel of current volunteers sat down to discuss their experience with CAP and answer any questions they might have. This is a great way to recruit long term volunteers for down the road. After the panel discussion we had some awesome music presented by Mitch Barrett, a local troubadour. This was a fun night.
Wednesday we were all on our own. Jackson House was not expected to go to camp, so we had a night together as a family and shared devotion together. It was nice to have a night off from all the activities. Some of the younger members went over to camp later to go hiking, I think.
Thursday night we all went over to The Oneida Baptist Institute (OBI). This place provides a dinner and the space to have our closing services together. The food was wonderful and then all the crews get up to tell how their week went and what type of experiences they have had. It was funny and quite touching. The participants are invited also, but only one family was able to come this week.
Our next group will be coming in Sunday afternoon/evening. I am excited to see the new faces and meet another group of young people who are committed to making a difference in Appalachia.
Today is going to be a day of hiking and taking in all the sunshine. I think there is supposed to be alot of rain next week, which is not good. Monday looks wonderful but after that it goes down hill. We'll see what the week brings, but either way the crews will be out there doing their thing.
Hope you are all doing well and blessings to all!
Jane
The first night, Sunday, is welcome, dinner and orientation. Jackson House goes up to camp to be a part of all this. Dig it! There was a powerpoint presentation to introduce everyone to current volunteers, crew leaders and the staff that was involved in getting this all put together for the families. It was a fun night and the presentation was hilarious. Well done Lucas!
Monday night was dinner, and then a panel of current volunteers sat down to discuss their experience with CAP and answer any questions they might have. This is a great way to recruit long term volunteers for down the road. After the panel discussion we had some awesome music presented by Mitch Barrett, a local troubadour. This was a fun night.
Wednesday we were all on our own. Jackson House was not expected to go to camp, so we had a night together as a family and shared devotion together. It was nice to have a night off from all the activities. Some of the younger members went over to camp later to go hiking, I think.
Thursday night we all went over to The Oneida Baptist Institute (OBI). This place provides a dinner and the space to have our closing services together. The food was wonderful and then all the crews get up to tell how their week went and what type of experiences they have had. It was funny and quite touching. The participants are invited also, but only one family was able to come this week.
Our next group will be coming in Sunday afternoon/evening. I am excited to see the new faces and meet another group of young people who are committed to making a difference in Appalachia.
Today is going to be a day of hiking and taking in all the sunshine. I think there is supposed to be alot of rain next week, which is not good. Monday looks wonderful but after that it goes down hill. We'll see what the week brings, but either way the crews will be out there doing their thing.
Hope you are all doing well and blessings to all!
Jane
Saturday, February 27, 2010
It's Starting
Whelp! People have already started piling in for Workfest. One of the cooks, who is from Colorado, arrived Friday and is making her nest in the "cooks" bedroom. She is really nice and has been coming to Kentucky for about 26 years as a volunteer. That is amazing! Not all of those years have been for CAP, but I think most of them have. She loves it and I am enjoying having her here already because she keeps cleaning corners around the house. That is way cool. We even had a table sit-down breakfast today which is not normal for a Saturday. There were about nine of us and it was nice.
We had snow again today, and we were grounded on Thursday. This is really getting to be a drag and I do hope that we don't get any snow for Workfest. What does one do with 80 college students who cannot get out to the worksite? Glad that will not be my responsibility. I think Monday and Tuesday are looking good, with a possibility of snow for Wednesday, but let's all pray that nothing will come of that. All the participant families are getting excited and so am I.
This week was pretty busy at the office. I met a new elderly gentleman who was referred to me for some assistance in purchasing coal for heat for his home. By the time he got to my office and we completed all the paperwork, it was too late to go and purchase the coal. We set an appointment for 11:00 AM the next day and I took another volunteer with me to his home and then we made our way to the coal distribution office. I wasn't sure where we were going and when we got to this office, I realized that this man wasn't sure where we were going either. We happened to meet another vehicle there and they directed us to where we needed to be. It was interesting to watch how this was attended to.
Ray drove his truck onto the scales so they could get an established weight of his vehicle in their office. Then he drove out to where the coal piles were and they met him with a front loader type of thing. What was cute was the office dog jumped on for the ride as they made their way to the piles. He stared at us the whole way and I think he was kinda taunting us that he got to ride on the equipment and we could not. His name was Bud and he was pretty cool. Anyway.......
The back of the truck was loaded and then Ray made his way back to the scales to be re-weighed and charged for the pounds of coal. That was some darn good looking coal and according to Ray, burnt down to a small amount of ash so he really gets his monies worth from the 800 pounds. That is a good deal. Another good thing is that Ray agreed to have the elderly program volunteer come and visit him and check in to make sure that he is doing well. I am very pleased by that because Ray has some health issues and it will be good to have another pair of eyes on him.
I realize today that everything will be topsy turvey for the next 6 weeks. After Workfest finishes we will begin 2 weeks of Youthfest. Is very similar but the volunteers coming in are high school age instead of college age. The Youthfest volunteers do all their jobs with the elderly participants. This will be great to help get many small jobs done such as house cleaning, yard clean up, painting and some small carpentry type things. They might help with some of the clean up from Workfest, but mostly the focus is on our elderly participants. Again, it is a wonderful thing to see the relationships develop between the volunteers and the families.
My church sent me the DVD's of The Truth Project. I am thrilled to share this series with the house. Now that we are so close to Workfest I am not exactly sure when we will get to watch them, but I know that we all wanted to watch them together so we can have some good discussions. I look forward to that immensely.
Once again, hope all is will with you and yours. May God bless your day richly.
Jane
We had snow again today, and we were grounded on Thursday. This is really getting to be a drag and I do hope that we don't get any snow for Workfest. What does one do with 80 college students who cannot get out to the worksite? Glad that will not be my responsibility. I think Monday and Tuesday are looking good, with a possibility of snow for Wednesday, but let's all pray that nothing will come of that. All the participant families are getting excited and so am I.
This week was pretty busy at the office. I met a new elderly gentleman who was referred to me for some assistance in purchasing coal for heat for his home. By the time he got to my office and we completed all the paperwork, it was too late to go and purchase the coal. We set an appointment for 11:00 AM the next day and I took another volunteer with me to his home and then we made our way to the coal distribution office. I wasn't sure where we were going and when we got to this office, I realized that this man wasn't sure where we were going either. We happened to meet another vehicle there and they directed us to where we needed to be. It was interesting to watch how this was attended to.
Ray drove his truck onto the scales so they could get an established weight of his vehicle in their office. Then he drove out to where the coal piles were and they met him with a front loader type of thing. What was cute was the office dog jumped on for the ride as they made their way to the piles. He stared at us the whole way and I think he was kinda taunting us that he got to ride on the equipment and we could not. His name was Bud and he was pretty cool. Anyway.......
The back of the truck was loaded and then Ray made his way back to the scales to be re-weighed and charged for the pounds of coal. That was some darn good looking coal and according to Ray, burnt down to a small amount of ash so he really gets his monies worth from the 800 pounds. That is a good deal. Another good thing is that Ray agreed to have the elderly program volunteer come and visit him and check in to make sure that he is doing well. I am very pleased by that because Ray has some health issues and it will be good to have another pair of eyes on him.
I realize today that everything will be topsy turvey for the next 6 weeks. After Workfest finishes we will begin 2 weeks of Youthfest. Is very similar but the volunteers coming in are high school age instead of college age. The Youthfest volunteers do all their jobs with the elderly participants. This will be great to help get many small jobs done such as house cleaning, yard clean up, painting and some small carpentry type things. They might help with some of the clean up from Workfest, but mostly the focus is on our elderly participants. Again, it is a wonderful thing to see the relationships develop between the volunteers and the families.
My church sent me the DVD's of The Truth Project. I am thrilled to share this series with the house. Now that we are so close to Workfest I am not exactly sure when we will get to watch them, but I know that we all wanted to watch them together so we can have some good discussions. I look forward to that immensely.
Once again, hope all is will with you and yours. May God bless your day richly.
Jane
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Spring?
Another beautiful morning here in the Appalachians. Last Monday and Tuesday we were grounded due to bad weather. Wednesday morning some of us left the house to attend a staff meeting and on the way got a call from our manager. She was going to ground us because the guy who plowed the driveway said Sandlick Road was horrible and he recommended that nobody drive on it. OOooops! We thought it was sort of bad, but as long as you went very slow it was fine. I apologized to Robyn, our manager, but we just could not stay another whole day in the house with all of us locked up together. It was fine and I truly hope they don't think we were just being defiant. Sometimes ya just gotta do whatcha gotta do.
On a different note, yesterday a few of us went to a birthday party in McCreary county for two of our volunteers. On the way we stopped at Cumberland Falls and checked out the area. Talk about beautiful! We went a little too close to the falls and were asked to get back. Sorry about that but got a really cool look at the falls, close up. Then we drove over the bridge to the other side and hiked the trail to Eagle Falls. Wow! That was way wonderful! I laughed at the trail because there were times when I couldn't tell where the trail went, but there were little splotches of yellow paint sprayed around to show us the way. All in all was a great day.
We are really getting geared up for Workfest. The kids will start to arrive next Sunday and we are underway. I am excited to see all this come together and be a part of it all. I think the best part will be watching the relationships develop between the college students and the families. That is the most wonderful thing to see.
Short one today. I pray you are all doing well.
Jane
On a different note, yesterday a few of us went to a birthday party in McCreary county for two of our volunteers. On the way we stopped at Cumberland Falls and checked out the area. Talk about beautiful! We went a little too close to the falls and were asked to get back. Sorry about that but got a really cool look at the falls, close up. Then we drove over the bridge to the other side and hiked the trail to Eagle Falls. Wow! That was way wonderful! I laughed at the trail because there were times when I couldn't tell where the trail went, but there were little splotches of yellow paint sprayed around to show us the way. All in all was a great day.
We are really getting geared up for Workfest. The kids will start to arrive next Sunday and we are underway. I am excited to see all this come together and be a part of it all. I think the best part will be watching the relationships develop between the college students and the families. That is the most wonderful thing to see.
Short one today. I pray you are all doing well.
Jane
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Another Winter Weekend
Good Mornin' Y'all!
I was supposed to have gone to Indianapolis this weekend to meet my sister Beth, but alas, the weather is questionable on this end. We were grounded on Wednesday due to a good amount of snow, and right now Sand Lick is pretty icy in some areas. A little snow over that and things are not good here on the mountainside. I am disappointed but we are going to just pick another weekend and see what happens. I think March is a little more promising weather-wise. We are all hoping March is better or we will have a lot of people here for Workfest and jobs we cannot get them to.
Angie has been working very hard and has pretty much everything ready for Workfest. There is much prep work involved, and she is ahead of the game right now. Donnie, our crew leader, has had the crews out delivering the wonderboard and other items to make sure the homes are ready to go. I am pretty excited to see how all this works. It should be a lot of work, but also plenty of fun. I will be taking pictures as the work progresses and that will be interesting to compare and see what has all been accomplished each week.
Five of us from Jackson House drove over to the east side on Thursday night for orientation. It was wonderful! There were three volunteers that spoke on the three pillars of CAP: service, spirituality and community. They did a great job and it sparked something in me again as to why we are here and what we are trying to accomplish. It was great to see Diane. I wish we could have had more time to talk, but with so much going on we just exchanged a few hugs and talked briefly. I think I will have to take a trip over to be able to have some solid time with Diane and have a good catch up. I miss her and could use some Wisconsin back-home conversation with a good friend.
It's great to have Bridget back in the house. She was gone from last Saturday until Thursday night. We asked her how she felt about orientation and she had a great time. Bridget said it was nice to be with people that were all in the same place. Meaning that they were all new to each other and it felt good to all be there. Her analogy of coming into Jackson House was this: It's like all of you have been at the barbecue together, talking and having drinks. You are all very familiar with each other and now I am trying to enter into the conversation. I thought that was a pretty cool and accurate analogy. Even though we have all opened up to make her feel as comfortable as possible, the history is not there yet. Good for all of us to keep in mind when someone new enters into our lives.
Who watched the opening ceremony for the Olympics last night? I didn't make it to the end but loved the whales swimming on the floor. That was beautiful!
That is all for now - have a great week and God Bless
Jane
I was supposed to have gone to Indianapolis this weekend to meet my sister Beth, but alas, the weather is questionable on this end. We were grounded on Wednesday due to a good amount of snow, and right now Sand Lick is pretty icy in some areas. A little snow over that and things are not good here on the mountainside. I am disappointed but we are going to just pick another weekend and see what happens. I think March is a little more promising weather-wise. We are all hoping March is better or we will have a lot of people here for Workfest and jobs we cannot get them to.
Angie has been working very hard and has pretty much everything ready for Workfest. There is much prep work involved, and she is ahead of the game right now. Donnie, our crew leader, has had the crews out delivering the wonderboard and other items to make sure the homes are ready to go. I am pretty excited to see how all this works. It should be a lot of work, but also plenty of fun. I will be taking pictures as the work progresses and that will be interesting to compare and see what has all been accomplished each week.
Five of us from Jackson House drove over to the east side on Thursday night for orientation. It was wonderful! There were three volunteers that spoke on the three pillars of CAP: service, spirituality and community. They did a great job and it sparked something in me again as to why we are here and what we are trying to accomplish. It was great to see Diane. I wish we could have had more time to talk, but with so much going on we just exchanged a few hugs and talked briefly. I think I will have to take a trip over to be able to have some solid time with Diane and have a good catch up. I miss her and could use some Wisconsin back-home conversation with a good friend.
It's great to have Bridget back in the house. She was gone from last Saturday until Thursday night. We asked her how she felt about orientation and she had a great time. Bridget said it was nice to be with people that were all in the same place. Meaning that they were all new to each other and it felt good to all be there. Her analogy of coming into Jackson House was this: It's like all of you have been at the barbecue together, talking and having drinks. You are all very familiar with each other and now I am trying to enter into the conversation. I thought that was a pretty cool and accurate analogy. Even though we have all opened up to make her feel as comfortable as possible, the history is not there yet. Good for all of us to keep in mind when someone new enters into our lives.
Who watched the opening ceremony for the Olympics last night? I didn't make it to the end but loved the whales swimming on the floor. That was beautiful!
That is all for now - have a great week and God Bless
Jane
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Coffee Time
Good Mornin' I've had my coffee, two cups, and am ready for the day. The weather is questionable so I have a list of house chores again for today. Right now it looks OK but I am not sure about later. The storm may have missed us, or it is on a day late schedule like the others.
First of all, an update on our new housemate Bridget. Love her! We were all a little leery as to how a new volunteer will change the dynamics of the house, and it has all been for the better. First of all, she snorts. Not a cute little snort, but a good husky, solid one. And then, if we can keep her laughing, we'll hear a whole line popping; one right after the other. It is awesome! So Lucas and I have a goal at dinner to get her going and see how long it will last. OK, we are not being mean, just curious. Honestly though, she is great and has added another golden thread to the plaid of the house. Bridget is heading over to the east side for orientation and then the commissioning service. Some of us from the house are planning on going over on Thursday for the service, God willing and the creeks don't rise. I hope they all have as wonderful an experience as I did at my orientation.
This week I spent more time working in preparation for Workfest. I took my manager Robyn and a gentleman from the home office to visit three of the families. It was pretty cool. There is a big difference watching an interaction between fellow Kentuckians, rather than a volunteer from out of state. There is a kinship there that just flows in the conversation. The first home we went to was an elderly lady just outside of Manchester in Clay County. She showed us all the pictures of her family and told all the stories that go with them. Her brother was killed in the mine explosion that occurred in 1970. It was the Finley Coal Company and the mine was in Hyden, in Leslie County. I believe there were about 38 people who died in that accident. You should look it up and read more about it. Then we walked the house to look at the work that will be done during Workfest. As we left one of the bedrooms, she picked up her harmonica and started playing for us! How cool is that. It was a great visit and we spent quite a bit of time there.
There were two other families that we stopped at during the course of the day. Those visits were very nice also, but no more harmonica playing.
Thursday night was our house meeting with Kiara, the Volunteer Manager. We got a little more info about Workfest, due to our house being located next to Camp AJ. As current volunteers we are called upon to be there at night for dinner and the night's activities. We have quite a few housing volunteers here at Jackson House so we will be deeply involved in the whole month. I believe most of them will be crew leaders. There will be local musicians that come to entertain, and I am really looking forward to that.
Each week Thursday night is designated as "Family Night". We will all gather at the Oneida Baptist Institute and share in a meal and fellowship. It is an opportunity for all the crews to be together with all the families that received work on their homes. This also offers an opportunity for all the families to meet. I hear it is a very special night. Should be great!
Well, I think I will start my list of chores. I pray you are all doing well. Til we meet again.
Jane
First of all, an update on our new housemate Bridget. Love her! We were all a little leery as to how a new volunteer will change the dynamics of the house, and it has all been for the better. First of all, she snorts. Not a cute little snort, but a good husky, solid one. And then, if we can keep her laughing, we'll hear a whole line popping; one right after the other. It is awesome! So Lucas and I have a goal at dinner to get her going and see how long it will last. OK, we are not being mean, just curious. Honestly though, she is great and has added another golden thread to the plaid of the house. Bridget is heading over to the east side for orientation and then the commissioning service. Some of us from the house are planning on going over on Thursday for the service, God willing and the creeks don't rise. I hope they all have as wonderful an experience as I did at my orientation.
This week I spent more time working in preparation for Workfest. I took my manager Robyn and a gentleman from the home office to visit three of the families. It was pretty cool. There is a big difference watching an interaction between fellow Kentuckians, rather than a volunteer from out of state. There is a kinship there that just flows in the conversation. The first home we went to was an elderly lady just outside of Manchester in Clay County. She showed us all the pictures of her family and told all the stories that go with them. Her brother was killed in the mine explosion that occurred in 1970. It was the Finley Coal Company and the mine was in Hyden, in Leslie County. I believe there were about 38 people who died in that accident. You should look it up and read more about it. Then we walked the house to look at the work that will be done during Workfest. As we left one of the bedrooms, she picked up her harmonica and started playing for us! How cool is that. It was a great visit and we spent quite a bit of time there.
There were two other families that we stopped at during the course of the day. Those visits were very nice also, but no more harmonica playing.
Thursday night was our house meeting with Kiara, the Volunteer Manager. We got a little more info about Workfest, due to our house being located next to Camp AJ. As current volunteers we are called upon to be there at night for dinner and the night's activities. We have quite a few housing volunteers here at Jackson House so we will be deeply involved in the whole month. I believe most of them will be crew leaders. There will be local musicians that come to entertain, and I am really looking forward to that.
Each week Thursday night is designated as "Family Night". We will all gather at the Oneida Baptist Institute and share in a meal and fellowship. It is an opportunity for all the crews to be together with all the families that received work on their homes. This also offers an opportunity for all the families to meet. I hear it is a very special night. Should be great!
Well, I think I will start my list of chores. I pray you are all doing well. Til we meet again.
Jane
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Well Grounded
It is Saturday afternoon and we have been grounded, again. McKee received about 6" of snow, but in Mt. Vernon I heard they got about 10". In Kentucky terms, that is staggering! So, our day has consisted of teaming up with Kristen and attacking the laundry/storage room and giving it a deep cleaning. It took us about 3-4 hours and we accomplished much. The room looks awesome, you can actually walk around in the room and I just hope people don't go looking for all the stuff we through out! I am sure what we tossed was so old and forgotten that no one will notice. I think that there are many things left behind by former volunteers and they have totally forgotten what was all there.
This week we spent alot of time going to the Workfest homes with Robyn, our manager. She needs to see all the jobs and approve the plans that have been set for them. All is good and we have the go ahead for almost all the jobs. Angie is still working on the grant writing, but that should get taken care of next week. This has been a huge learning experience for me and I have appreciated all of it.
We were expecting a new volunteer today, but she has been detoured to another volunteer house due to not being able to get down Sand Lick Road. She should be able to get here tomorrow, God willing and the creeks don't rise. We are all excited to meet her and begin a new friendship with another CAP volunteer. Her name is Bridget and she is from the New York area, but I think I already told you that last week.
My big question of the week is: what is the difference between a holler, lick, branch and a fork? I am asking people around here and getting some mixed answers. A holler dead ends in the middle of nowhere. A branch usually leaves the road and then curves it's way back to the same road. I am not sure about the lick and the fork. I was on a holler that was called May Fork, so I think we have some explaining to do. If anyone wants to add their opinion I am all ears.
My other thought of the week, why do I feel that I am more patient with my current housemates than I am with family members and some friends? I have said before that I feel I am a better person here than I am at home. Why is that? Do I look at this time as short lived so I need to let things not bother me? So I keep myself on my best behavior because I want to make sure that I treat people with kindness? Is this not how we should approach life in general? We don't know when our time here will end, so shouldn't we always strive to treat people with kindness and respect? I hope that when I return home I can keep this same sense of not letting the small things get to me. And, hopefully will treat people the same way that I would like to be treated. Or as Angie would say, I do people the way I want them to do me.
I think that is the way we should all be. Til we meet again,
God Bless
This week we spent alot of time going to the Workfest homes with Robyn, our manager. She needs to see all the jobs and approve the plans that have been set for them. All is good and we have the go ahead for almost all the jobs. Angie is still working on the grant writing, but that should get taken care of next week. This has been a huge learning experience for me and I have appreciated all of it.
We were expecting a new volunteer today, but she has been detoured to another volunteer house due to not being able to get down Sand Lick Road. She should be able to get here tomorrow, God willing and the creeks don't rise. We are all excited to meet her and begin a new friendship with another CAP volunteer. Her name is Bridget and she is from the New York area, but I think I already told you that last week.
My big question of the week is: what is the difference between a holler, lick, branch and a fork? I am asking people around here and getting some mixed answers. A holler dead ends in the middle of nowhere. A branch usually leaves the road and then curves it's way back to the same road. I am not sure about the lick and the fork. I was on a holler that was called May Fork, so I think we have some explaining to do. If anyone wants to add their opinion I am all ears.
My other thought of the week, why do I feel that I am more patient with my current housemates than I am with family members and some friends? I have said before that I feel I am a better person here than I am at home. Why is that? Do I look at this time as short lived so I need to let things not bother me? So I keep myself on my best behavior because I want to make sure that I treat people with kindness? Is this not how we should approach life in general? We don't know when our time here will end, so shouldn't we always strive to treat people with kindness and respect? I hope that when I return home I can keep this same sense of not letting the small things get to me. And, hopefully will treat people the same way that I would like to be treated. Or as Angie would say, I do people the way I want them to do me.
I think that is the way we should all be. Til we meet again,
God Bless
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Getting Out There
What a wonderful week this has been. I have been involved in getting jobs set up for Workfest, which starts in March. Donnie, the crew leader, Angie, the housing coordinator, and I have been driving around Clay and Owsley counties making home visits and checking on the feasibility of these sites to be included in Workfest. It has been amazing! First of all, I am not driving so I can just relax and look at the beauty of Kentucky. Donnie and Angie are both from Clay County so I felt very comfortable in the hands of someone who grew up driving these roads.
Let me take a moment to explain Workfest. College students come in groups to work on houses in the Appalachia area. It is an alternative Spring break other than going to Daytona beach or some other party place. We have crew leaders that take them out to the houses and then guide them through such things as replacing roofs, putting on siding, adding underpinning, replacing doors and windows, building a new porch and steps or perhaps putting on a much needed ramp. It is awesome to see the amount of work that gets done and the changes to these homes and the families that live there. It is a gift to see the relationships that grow between the participants and the work crews. I am looking forward to being a part of all this.
Anyway, some of the jobs we looked at were on major roads, not that interesting. But, most of the jobs were way down the hollers, which was awesome. Hearing some of the directions given to our office is a treat in itself. Example: Drive down the road until you see a pair of tennis shoes hanging over the power lines, then turn left. In another county a participant told the CAP employee: drive down the road until you see the McDonalds bag in the road and then turn left. Apparently, that bag had been there long enough to become a landmark. What a hoot!
Anywho, there is much more involved in picking a Workfest job than I had realized. We need to consider how much work needs to be done. We do not want a crew at a site and there is not enough work to keep everyone busy for at least a week or two. Is the road passable in bad weather. Can't have people getting stuck out in a holler somewhere. Will there be too much mud. If there is wet weather we don't want people working in mud or getting stuck in mud. Are there a lot of dogs and are they friendly. Will the family interact with the crews and enjoy having that many people there. Is the drive too long from Camp AJ and then too much of the day is on the road. Angie also takes a look at if the families fit into our income guidelines and are they capable of making a payback for some of the funding. It is much to look at and take into consideration.
It was a treat to be able to drive down these hollers and completely take in the beauty of the area. There was one home that was at the end of the holler. I just stood there drinking it all in: the calling of the birds, the river running by on the other side of the road, the horses near the barn, the colors of the bushes and trees, and the smell of autumn. There were two kittens playing at my feet as I stood and took pictures of the job. I could have stayed there all day. The family was very nice and we visited with them for awhile. Not all of the homes were this beautiful, but I thoroughly enjoyed visiting all of them.
I hope that when my friends come in April I will have the opportunity to take them to such a magical place. Kentucky is surely one of the most beautiful states I have visited.
On a different note, Monday night dinner had 12 of us at the table. I just love it when there is such a good group to share a meal. Tom and Dorothy came up and then Lucas' brother and father joined us also. It was a great time for fellowship and Janet made a delicious dinner for all.
Hope you are all well. Until we meet again, God Bless
Jane
Let me take a moment to explain Workfest. College students come in groups to work on houses in the Appalachia area. It is an alternative Spring break other than going to Daytona beach or some other party place. We have crew leaders that take them out to the houses and then guide them through such things as replacing roofs, putting on siding, adding underpinning, replacing doors and windows, building a new porch and steps or perhaps putting on a much needed ramp. It is awesome to see the amount of work that gets done and the changes to these homes and the families that live there. It is a gift to see the relationships that grow between the participants and the work crews. I am looking forward to being a part of all this.
Anyway, some of the jobs we looked at were on major roads, not that interesting. But, most of the jobs were way down the hollers, which was awesome. Hearing some of the directions given to our office is a treat in itself. Example: Drive down the road until you see a pair of tennis shoes hanging over the power lines, then turn left. In another county a participant told the CAP employee: drive down the road until you see the McDonalds bag in the road and then turn left. Apparently, that bag had been there long enough to become a landmark. What a hoot!
Anywho, there is much more involved in picking a Workfest job than I had realized. We need to consider how much work needs to be done. We do not want a crew at a site and there is not enough work to keep everyone busy for at least a week or two. Is the road passable in bad weather. Can't have people getting stuck out in a holler somewhere. Will there be too much mud. If there is wet weather we don't want people working in mud or getting stuck in mud. Are there a lot of dogs and are they friendly. Will the family interact with the crews and enjoy having that many people there. Is the drive too long from Camp AJ and then too much of the day is on the road. Angie also takes a look at if the families fit into our income guidelines and are they capable of making a payback for some of the funding. It is much to look at and take into consideration.
It was a treat to be able to drive down these hollers and completely take in the beauty of the area. There was one home that was at the end of the holler. I just stood there drinking it all in: the calling of the birds, the river running by on the other side of the road, the horses near the barn, the colors of the bushes and trees, and the smell of autumn. There were two kittens playing at my feet as I stood and took pictures of the job. I could have stayed there all day. The family was very nice and we visited with them for awhile. Not all of the homes were this beautiful, but I thoroughly enjoyed visiting all of them.
I hope that when my friends come in April I will have the opportunity to take them to such a magical place. Kentucky is surely one of the most beautiful states I have visited.
On a different note, Monday night dinner had 12 of us at the table. I just love it when there is such a good group to share a meal. Tom and Dorothy came up and then Lucas' brother and father joined us also. It was a great time for fellowship and Janet made a delicious dinner for all.
Hope you are all well. Until we meet again, God Bless
Jane
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Change of Season
Earlier this week we were debating whether we should go out on the roads and risk the ice and snow, or stay put and be safe. There were a couple days we waited for 2-3 hours and then ventured out to work. On Saturday I went to Berea to spend the day and saw a young lady lying in the sun in her swimsuit. Gotta love Kentucky!!!! I know this has been an abnormally cold winter thus far for Kentucky, and the quick change was surprising. Berea was bustling and it was a great day to just take a long walk and make a lot of phone calls. It was a wonderful day to relax and enjoy the warm weather. From 6 degrees on Tuesday to 57 degrees on Saturday. I think that even beats Wisconsin.
Work has been a lot of fun this week. Now that the Christmas basket program has been completed, I can focus on many other things that get placed on the back burner during that time. With all the cold weather, there were many families in need of assistance for heat. People use electric, firewood, coal, gas or sometimes small kerosene or propane heaters. This is my first time to be involved in purchasing coal to heat a home. I really don't know if people still use coal in Wisconsin for heat. Anyone want to fill me in?
When I was home for Christmas I received some sweater sets that were hand made by a friend of my sister. They were beautiful!!!! Little boggins that matched the sweaters. I had a young mother come into the office with her son and daughter. The little girl was about 5-6 years old. I asked her if she would like a new sweater and she got that really cool look on her face that in my opinion meant "Really Mom, can I?" So I brought out a set of bright yellow and orange and some other darker tones and she put it on. Her face just lit up!!!! She looked beautiful and she was so excited to have something new. So a big thank you to Jeannie and her wonderful gift of knitting.
We are getting a new housemate at the end of the month. I believe she is from the New York area or there abouts. I am excited to meet her. She stayed at the Rockcastle House when she came for her interview and the people there loved her. I think she will be a grand addition to our Jackson volunteer house.
And, we now have a couple from Wisconsin living at the bottom of our driveway in their RV! Tom and Dorothy are from Tomahawk. They are very nice and have been spending some time with us here at the house. They have come to do much needed work at Camp AJ and get that project completed. I am sure they will also be helping out with Workfest which takes place in March. I guess we will have to have that brat fry now!!!!!!!!!!
On a totally different note, in the past week or so three of my friends had a parent that passed away. You are all in my prayers and I rejoice with you in knowing that your mothers are now in the presence of their Savior. What an amazing thought. I look forward to the day when we will see them again in the New Jerusalem.
May God bless your week richly.
Jane
Work has been a lot of fun this week. Now that the Christmas basket program has been completed, I can focus on many other things that get placed on the back burner during that time. With all the cold weather, there were many families in need of assistance for heat. People use electric, firewood, coal, gas or sometimes small kerosene or propane heaters. This is my first time to be involved in purchasing coal to heat a home. I really don't know if people still use coal in Wisconsin for heat. Anyone want to fill me in?
When I was home for Christmas I received some sweater sets that were hand made by a friend of my sister. They were beautiful!!!! Little boggins that matched the sweaters. I had a young mother come into the office with her son and daughter. The little girl was about 5-6 years old. I asked her if she would like a new sweater and she got that really cool look on her face that in my opinion meant "Really Mom, can I?" So I brought out a set of bright yellow and orange and some other darker tones and she put it on. Her face just lit up!!!! She looked beautiful and she was so excited to have something new. So a big thank you to Jeannie and her wonderful gift of knitting.
We are getting a new housemate at the end of the month. I believe she is from the New York area or there abouts. I am excited to meet her. She stayed at the Rockcastle House when she came for her interview and the people there loved her. I think she will be a grand addition to our Jackson volunteer house.
And, we now have a couple from Wisconsin living at the bottom of our driveway in their RV! Tom and Dorothy are from Tomahawk. They are very nice and have been spending some time with us here at the house. They have come to do much needed work at Camp AJ and get that project completed. I am sure they will also be helping out with Workfest which takes place in March. I guess we will have to have that brat fry now!!!!!!!!!!
On a totally different note, in the past week or so three of my friends had a parent that passed away. You are all in my prayers and I rejoice with you in knowing that your mothers are now in the presence of their Savior. What an amazing thought. I look forward to the day when we will see them again in the New Jerusalem.
May God bless your week richly.
Jane
Friday, January 8, 2010
Pictures for Your Pleasure
The Christian Appalachian Project is closed today due to the weather and bad roads. This will be a nice long weekend. Just wish I didn't have this stinking cold.So, let's start with some pictures of the new babies at their first Christmas. All cute as a button and I now have officially been moved into the "grandparent" level. Life is good !
This is the storm on December 18th. Beautiful but damaging. Really???? Kentucky?????
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Back in the Saddle
Well, it has been awhile and I need to do a little catching up. I had intended to place a new post on the weekend of December 18th, but we were hit with a very heavy snow and were without power at the volunteer house from sometime Friday night until Monday afternoon. No power, no heat and no post. It was quite the adventure. There is a small gas fake fireplace in the living room, but we all agreed we would wait to turn it on because of rumors that it might smell and we didn't want any headaches or sick stomachs. We just all grabbed a blanket and made a nest in every corner of the living room and hung out. Some told stories, some read to themselves and also aloud to the group. We sowed by flashlight and tried to do some work on computers for those who had a good battery. We started up the grill on the porch and cooked old hot dogs and warmed frozen leftover pizza. At some point we all gathered in one corner and watched a movie on a small computer screen. At this point we agreed to turn the gas stove on and it was great! No smell and it warmed the one room quite nicely. (After we hung blankets in the doorway to hold in the heat.) All in all was a wonderful day and a great time to spend with family.
On Sunday we were actually able to get out and have a little space. Still no power, but the roads had cleared enough that some of us went in to town for a bit. That night we all gathered in the living room again and shared stories and some potatoes cooked on the grill. It was the night before my birthday dinner so we decided to do birthday devotions in case we didn't have electricity the next night. It was wonderful and the evening turned into a night of deep conversation about relationships and marriage and divorce. Great insights by many different minds.
On Monday, my 50th birthday, we all made it home from work to find the power back on. Whew! But, I had decided that I wanted to spend my birthday night at Opal's Diner in McKee, KY. It was awesome! We all went to town and enjoyed a variety of sandwiches and a special cake. It was one of the most wonderful birthdays I have ever had! About a year ago I had talked to some friends about spending my birthday in Greece. Well, instead, I spent my birthday eating grease and a friend at the table is Greek. Close, but much more wonderful than I could have imagined.
On the 22nd, Diane Beckmann and I left for Wisconsin. We had a great ride with no problems traffic wise. It was a great time to be home and see my family and so many friends. It really was wonderful! It was absolutely great to be back at St. Paul's and see my church family and be able to worship with them. I big thank you to my niece Ann who had all the patience in the world to let me yak after the service. Thanks again Ann, I truly appreciated your tolerance. The time went very quickly and I wish I could have seen more people, but bad weather and time only allow so much visiting time.
I am back at work and it feels right. I told some friends that when I was home I felt like I didn't really want to go back to Kentucky, but as soon as I hit the road with Diane I knew I was headed where I am meant to be. These first two days have been very busy and I was a little surprised by that. I thought with all the snow and the cold not many people would be out, but they are. It has been some crazy weather here and I have to tell Leif Gigstad that it is as cold here as it is in Wisconsin. So, no gloating on my part for being in the warm southern weather.
I have some pictures to share and I think I need to say that you probably saw them before you read this post. I haven't quite gotten the picture thing down, but what the heck. Have a great week and I will keep the once a week schedule now that I am back to my computer, the internet and electricity. Until next time, God Bless!
On Sunday we were actually able to get out and have a little space. Still no power, but the roads had cleared enough that some of us went in to town for a bit. That night we all gathered in the living room again and shared stories and some potatoes cooked on the grill. It was the night before my birthday dinner so we decided to do birthday devotions in case we didn't have electricity the next night. It was wonderful and the evening turned into a night of deep conversation about relationships and marriage and divorce. Great insights by many different minds.
On Monday, my 50th birthday, we all made it home from work to find the power back on. Whew! But, I had decided that I wanted to spend my birthday night at Opal's Diner in McKee, KY. It was awesome! We all went to town and enjoyed a variety of sandwiches and a special cake. It was one of the most wonderful birthdays I have ever had! About a year ago I had talked to some friends about spending my birthday in Greece. Well, instead, I spent my birthday eating grease and a friend at the table is Greek. Close, but much more wonderful than I could have imagined.
On the 22nd, Diane Beckmann and I left for Wisconsin. We had a great ride with no problems traffic wise. It was a great time to be home and see my family and so many friends. It really was wonderful! It was absolutely great to be back at St. Paul's and see my church family and be able to worship with them. I big thank you to my niece Ann who had all the patience in the world to let me yak after the service. Thanks again Ann, I truly appreciated your tolerance. The time went very quickly and I wish I could have seen more people, but bad weather and time only allow so much visiting time.
I am back at work and it feels right. I told some friends that when I was home I felt like I didn't really want to go back to Kentucky, but as soon as I hit the road with Diane I knew I was headed where I am meant to be. These first two days have been very busy and I was a little surprised by that. I thought with all the snow and the cold not many people would be out, but they are. It has been some crazy weather here and I have to tell Leif Gigstad that it is as cold here as it is in Wisconsin. So, no gloating on my part for being in the warm southern weather.
I have some pictures to share and I think I need to say that you probably saw them before you read this post. I haven't quite gotten the picture thing down, but what the heck. Have a great week and I will keep the once a week schedule now that I am back to my computer, the internet and electricity. Until next time, God Bless!
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