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