Two days in Abingdon
It's Wednesday evening, and I'm relaxing on the biggest bed I've ever slept in. I could go on and on about what's coming up in these few words, but let me begin by saying that it's weeks like these that I'm going to carry with me for a good, long while.
Monday afternoon, we rolled up into Abingdon, Virginia, where we were going to be building 2 high tunnels for an organization called Appalachian Sustainable Development. They currently have a partnership with a church that will be using these tunnels to grow vegetables that will go to the kitchen in the church, where students with special needs in the area schools will learn basic cooking skills to prepare lunches for senior citizens and such. Some of the students also helped us with the tunnel builds this week.
Unfortunately, the week started off a bit shady, as we ended up in the wrong town (oops!), but we laughed it off and made our way to Bristol, Virginia/Tennessee (look it up!) to the work site at the church. We were met with a group of folks who were beyond ready to jump in and help out! So yeah...we got out of the truck, AFTER driving all morning/afternoon, and jumped right into working. The first day was spent hammering...and hammering.....and hammering....oh, did I mention there was hammering? I was immediately floored and awestruck at the level of volunteers and help that we had; such friendly, welcoming folks. That spirit kept up all the way through the week!
Yesterday was the first full day of work, and all we had were ground posts, so essentially not even a skeleton. This was also when the students came in. I can't begin to describe how much my heart was warmed, seeing these kids not only helping us, but one another as well. They were so eager, and so proud at the end of each shift; many of them only stayed for about an hour at a time because this was during their school hours. Yes, they came and helped us during school time! How awesome is that? I haven't had much exposure with this group of students, but they were some of the sweetest and big-hearted kids I've ever worked with. I had one today who was talking to her teacher and she pointed to me and said "Hey, I like her!" Another would always want to see after I took a picture with him in it; he also would try to sneak up on me and scare me. Most importantly was the impact that getting involved and pitching in had on them; some of the volunteers that helped were teachers, and it was often mentioned how some of the kids were not the best behaved, but being out and pitching in was working wonders on their behavior. It was truly a sight to witness; it really was. Not to mention Abingdon/Bristol are such lovely, pretty little towns :)
The amount of work we accomplished in two days is still hard for me to grasp, to be honest. The company was wonderful...I guess that made the days more enjoyable and not so much like a "daily grind". Good company helps pass the time, I suppose. Two days ago this site was a plot of land, and now in its place are two high tunnels, ready for use. Long days, long days indeed, two nights of good sleep! And fortunately for us, we're not heading back to Berea until tomorrow...I may or may not have convinced my boss to let us stay another night. Hey, the hotel was already paid for for two nights...why not?
ALL of this to say...going into the office on Friday is going to be a bit of a challenge, after all that's taken place these past two days. My body is tired and weary, but my spirit is soaring.
Monday afternoon, we rolled up into Abingdon, Virginia, where we were going to be building 2 high tunnels for an organization called Appalachian Sustainable Development. They currently have a partnership with a church that will be using these tunnels to grow vegetables that will go to the kitchen in the church, where students with special needs in the area schools will learn basic cooking skills to prepare lunches for senior citizens and such. Some of the students also helped us with the tunnel builds this week.
Unfortunately, the week started off a bit shady, as we ended up in the wrong town (oops!), but we laughed it off and made our way to Bristol, Virginia/Tennessee (look it up!) to the work site at the church. We were met with a group of folks who were beyond ready to jump in and help out! So yeah...we got out of the truck, AFTER driving all morning/afternoon, and jumped right into working. The first day was spent hammering...and hammering.....and hammering....oh, did I mention there was hammering? I was immediately floored and awestruck at the level of volunteers and help that we had; such friendly, welcoming folks. That spirit kept up all the way through the week!
Yesterday was the first full day of work, and all we had were ground posts, so essentially not even a skeleton. This was also when the students came in. I can't begin to describe how much my heart was warmed, seeing these kids not only helping us, but one another as well. They were so eager, and so proud at the end of each shift; many of them only stayed for about an hour at a time because this was during their school hours. Yes, they came and helped us during school time! How awesome is that? I haven't had much exposure with this group of students, but they were some of the sweetest and big-hearted kids I've ever worked with. I had one today who was talking to her teacher and she pointed to me and said "Hey, I like her!" Another would always want to see after I took a picture with him in it; he also would try to sneak up on me and scare me. Most importantly was the impact that getting involved and pitching in had on them; some of the volunteers that helped were teachers, and it was often mentioned how some of the kids were not the best behaved, but being out and pitching in was working wonders on their behavior. It was truly a sight to witness; it really was. Not to mention Abingdon/Bristol are such lovely, pretty little towns :)
The amount of work we accomplished in two days is still hard for me to grasp, to be honest. The company was wonderful...I guess that made the days more enjoyable and not so much like a "daily grind". Good company helps pass the time, I suppose. Two days ago this site was a plot of land, and now in its place are two high tunnels, ready for use. Long days, long days indeed, two nights of good sleep! And fortunately for us, we're not heading back to Berea until tomorrow...I may or may not have convinced my boss to let us stay another night. Hey, the hotel was already paid for for two nights...why not?
ALL of this to say...going into the office on Friday is going to be a bit of a challenge, after all that's taken place these past two days. My body is tired and weary, but my spirit is soaring.
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