We retuned to Goshen today, our service trip completed. In the photo taken upon our departure from Meridain, the smiles inidicate a great time was had by all ... Kiara is unhappy only because we woke her from a nap for the picture!
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Back Home
We retuned to Goshen today, our service trip completed. In the photo taken upon our departure from Meridain, the smiles inidicate a great time was had by all ... Kiara is unhappy only because we woke her from a nap for the picture!
Shingles by Terry Berg
skreetch
tap tap
bam bam bam
shfff shfff
separate shingles
start a nail
put in 4 nails per shingle
shuffle up and to the right
repeat a few hundred times
My week was spent on the roof of a new house being constructed by Habitat for Humanity. We began with 8 Eighth Streeters on Monday. By Friday it was down to Kevin Jaberg, Jonathan, and myself.
We started the week warmly with t-shirts and some bare skin.
By Thursday and Friday the wind and cold had us wearing a lot more layers. Not cold by Goshen standards but very cold for a roof in Mississippi.
4 strong days on a roof is a bit much even with the help from the Navy crew that joined us. Unfortunately we had some extra work to do adding some bracing, building an extra truss and installing a bathroom vent. Ask Pete, Kevin or Jonathan about those projects.
The asphalt scrapes on my fingers will heal, my calf muscles will return to normal but I will remember the experience putting shingles on a house. Thanks for the memories!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Wesley House
Wesley House is a United Methodist ministry in Meridian that provides a multitude of services. Wednesday and Thursday morning Myron, Sara, Liz and Jane spent the morning sorting clothes and organizing the food pantry.
You can find more information aboout Wesley House at wesleyhousemeridian.org
You can find more information aboout Wesley House at wesleyhousemeridian.org
Navy and Mennonites
One of the surprises of this service trip is we Mennonites working side by side with Navy personnel at both the Habitat for Humanity roofing job and at Love’s kitchen, even riding on the church bus.
When Myron ask Joe what he thought of Mennonites working with the Navy personnel, Joe replied “should that be a joy or concern?!”
Mitch, one of the Navy sailors shown here walking up the street with Zach, said “I respect your religious beliefs but I am not into it."
When Myron ask Joe what he thought of Mennonites working with the Navy personnel, Joe replied “should that be a joy or concern?!”
Mitch, one of the Navy sailors shown here walking up the street with Zach, said “I respect your religious beliefs but I am not into it."
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Love's Kitchen
Myron, Sara, Liz and Jane have spent Mondau and Tuesday at Love's Kitchen preparing and serving. Love's Kitchen provides meals at no charge to the people in need in Meridian.
Projects at Jubilee
There are numerous projects at Jubilee Mennointe Church that we are working on. Repairing plaster, painting the gym and cleaning the nursery are just a few.
Life together
An important part of our experience of 8th DS is building relation-ships with each other, with Jubilee Mennonite and with others we come in contact with.
Through conversation, laughter, eating and playing we learn to know and appreciate each other.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Roofing a habitat house
Eight of our crew are spending Monday through Wednesday roofing a house for Habitat for Humanity along with volunteers from the local Navy base.
Where are the parents?
Where are Kiara's parents? What are they doing while every one esle holds the most popular partcipant on the 2009 8th DS trip?
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Arriving Thoughts by Jonathan Schrag
We arrived at Pine Lake Camp about 15 hours after we left Goshen. Jane and Joe Farrell had Rickie’s chili soup hot and ready when we arrived. (They came in from Birmingham earlier in the day.) Food and rest!! Thank you God for being with us so far: Safety, shelter, and your love. May we share your spirit with those we meet this week.
Travelling Thoughts by Jonathan Schrag
I had mixed feelings leaving Goshen: excitement at heading South to a different culture here in the U.S., reconnecting with friends made on last year’s trip, and a time to make new friends (both in Meridian, and fellow Eighth Streeters). Yet I also felt disappointment at leaving behind such beautiful snow and the activities it allows: skiing, sledding, snowball fights, quiet night walks in the snow, and yes, even shoveling the neighborhood walks! … sigh…
We were on the road by 5:10. And soon left the snow behind. I don’t remember much of the events outside of the bus on the trip down – one of the great things of being a rider rather than a driver. I do remember rain, some sleet-sounding noises, and rumble strips (though infrequent!) Thankfully we stopped before the two hour mark - Wabash! Most people made room in their bodies for more liquids/food; most bought some food for breakfast. We were soon back on the road.
The next couple of hours brought the lightening sky and more rain; Thankfully we were out of the snow belt. The reports coming in from Elkhart County were of more snow and cancelled events. The rain is fine. Soon another stop – somewhere in Indiana.
It’s light enough for some Pinochle! So we start a game, but we can’t play with three, so we draft Pete A. to be the fourth. Kevin, KJ (Jaberg), Pete, and myself then spend the rest of Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and part of ‘Bama playing cards! Wow what fun! (even though team K2 beat the P&J team 2 games to 1!) Cards and conversations help the miles to fly by!!
Unfortunately, these diversions don’t help the butt from feeling the long miles! Kiara, our youngest traveler soon lets us know that it is high time to be off the bus! She is vocalizing our own feelings! Thankfully, we are close.
We were on the road by 5:10. And soon left the snow behind. I don’t remember much of the events outside of the bus on the trip down – one of the great things of being a rider rather than a driver. I do remember rain, some sleet-sounding noises, and rumble strips (though infrequent!) Thankfully we stopped before the two hour mark - Wabash! Most people made room in their bodies for more liquids/food; most bought some food for breakfast. We were soon back on the road.
The next couple of hours brought the lightening sky and more rain; Thankfully we were out of the snow belt. The reports coming in from Elkhart County were of more snow and cancelled events. The rain is fine. Soon another stop – somewhere in Indiana.
It’s light enough for some Pinochle! So we start a game, but we can’t play with three, so we draft Pete A. to be the fourth. Kevin, KJ (Jaberg), Pete, and myself then spend the rest of Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and part of ‘Bama playing cards! Wow what fun! (even though team K2 beat the P&J team 2 games to 1!) Cards and conversations help the miles to fly by!!
Unfortunately, these diversions don’t help the butt from feeling the long miles! Kiara, our youngest traveler soon lets us know that it is high time to be off the bus! She is vocalizing our own feelings! Thankfully, we are close.
Beginning Thoughts by Jonathan Schrag
I awoke Saturday morning after a restless night between sleep and conciousness. I’m not sure if it was because of the spicy thai green curry Betty and I shared the night before or if it was the excitement of returning to Meridian and reconnecting with friends made last year or if it was something more. In any case, after a couple of cups of coffee, a bowl of cereal, a quick check of the email, news, and weather, and a glance out the window at the new fallen snow, I was bright-eyed, busy-tailed, and ready to go!
I loaded the car with the essentials: Coffee, pancake mix, homemade syrup, griddle, laptop, duffel bag, tool bucket, and pinochle cards! The trip to the church was fun at 4:45AM – the roads had not yet been plowed, the snow kept falling, and there was not much (if any) traffic! So I wasn’t afraid of getting hit by other crazy drivers! I think I drove sanely until we got to the church. But when I got into the parking lot, I just had to let loose a bit and do a doughnut in the new snow! J Boy am I glad I don’t have to drive in this stuff to get to Meridian! Thank you Ron and Terry!
I loaded my stuff in the trailer, settled in to my seat at the back of the bus (the pinochle section!), and prepared to settle in for the long ride to Meridian. Did I mention that I was glad that we had the bus to travel in and that Ron and Terry were driving?! I was also glad that the "stopping every two" hours was being reiterated – maybe I’ll not be as uncomfortable as last year! (The milk and coffee needs to come out before four hours!) I’m looking forward to the conversations with fellow travelers – there’s something about this kind of experience that builds church/Christ’s community in almost imperceptible ways!
I loaded the car with the essentials: Coffee, pancake mix, homemade syrup, griddle, laptop, duffel bag, tool bucket, and pinochle cards! The trip to the church was fun at 4:45AM – the roads had not yet been plowed, the snow kept falling, and there was not much (if any) traffic! So I wasn’t afraid of getting hit by other crazy drivers! I think I drove sanely until we got to the church. But when I got into the parking lot, I just had to let loose a bit and do a doughnut in the new snow! J Boy am I glad I don’t have to drive in this stuff to get to Meridian! Thank you Ron and Terry!
I loaded my stuff in the trailer, settled in to my seat at the back of the bus (the pinochle section!), and prepared to settle in for the long ride to Meridian. Did I mention that I was glad that we had the bus to travel in and that Ron and Terry were driving?! I was also glad that the "stopping every two" hours was being reiterated – maybe I’ll not be as uncomfortable as last year! (The milk and coffee needs to come out before four hours!) I’m looking forward to the conversations with fellow travelers – there’s something about this kind of experience that builds church/Christ’s community in almost imperceptible ways!
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