Red Bird Blog

At the end of day 6, there was just no more stuff left. We were so exhausted, even to write a blog. Sorry… This blog will be the last two days all rolled up into one blog.

 

A small group of us returned to Kathleen’s home on Thursday to finish up things we didn’t finish on Tuesday. There were just a couple of odds and ends to accomplish and managed to get back to the Red Bird campus by noon. We later learned that the two windows ordered for Kathleen’s home arrived. On Friday two of the guys went back again and popped them in without a problem. Check out the before and after pictures…

 

 

 

 

 

Over the last two days we moved a lady and her belongings from one home to another and worked on the Red Bird Campus cleaning the laundry room and working odd jobs at the Early Child Development (ECD).

 

At the ECD we cleaned toys in accordance with local laws which meant:

 

 

We emptied a room at the ECD of toys and book shelves so we could prep and paint the walls. We also removed the baseboard coving in other rooms that will be getting new floor tiles.

 

Outside, the engineering types from our group were studying how best to relocate a play gym from the ECD area to another part of campus to make room for a new play set better suited for smaller children. They got as far as dismantling the yellow tube; digging around the footers; and collected a lot of ideas on how best to pick it up and move it. Unfortunately we ran out of day and couldn’t put any of their ideas to the test.

 

  

 

Thursday night was talent night and Aldersgate/Bethany was not short of talent. Nancy and Nikki produced our two skits. The first was a cute little skit that involved God (Russ) and a scientist (Nikki) who felt the world no longer needed God. The narrator (Nancy) set the seen. God challenged the scientist to a man making contest in the old fashion way using dirt.  She was up to the challenge, but when she went to pickup some dirt, God said, “No, that is mine. Get your own dirt.”

 

 

 

The other longer skit included Bob (Bob), Joe (Joel), and Jesus (Nancy). This is one you would have to see to appreciate so I won’t spoil it for you, except to say that we found a new star in Joel.

 

  

 

This is our last night and we’ll have a time of sharing and worship after dinner with all the groups that came to Red Bird this week. On Thursday evening we had our own time of reading scripture and sharing our experiences. Even though it was a lot of hard work, without exception we’ve all been blessed by our experiences at Red Bird and the friendships made. What else would you expect when you are working for the Lord.

 

 

 

Some of the team members left Red Bird for home early this morning and tomorrow morning the rest of the team will leave. This will be the last day of blogging. We hope that you’ve enjoyed sharing our adventure.

 

Blessings,

The Red Bird 2009 Team

Wednesday has been a free day. No loading up the vans with tools.

 

Most of us took advantage of the beautiful weather and went on a day trip. Our first stop was at the Cumberland Falls State Park. You can see a rainbow coming off the mist at the bottom of the huge waterfall. You can see also see a ‘Moonbow’ when there is a full moon. No kidding.

 

 

 

From here the group traveled to the Kentucky Splash Waterpark in Williamsburg Kentucky where we splashed all afternoon. We bobbed in the wave pool; floated in the lazy river; and zoomed down the slides.

 

The group worked up quite an appetite and was hungry for Ryan’s Steak House. The closest was in Middlesborough. You’ve heard that half the fun is getting to your destination? Well, no one our bus will tell you that our trip to Ryan’s was fun. Scary might be the more appropriate description.

 

We were using a combination of electronic devices to map our route from Williamsburg to Middlesborough. One showed us a route where we to travel north and then south. It seemed like a silly way to go. Why not just go east?

 

 

                                                                                                                           

The GPS system we were using gave was more the more easterly route. The only problem was that we could not see just how curvy the route was.

 

 

 

From this map, you cannot see the numerous curves; hairpin turns; and up and down hills there was in this 30 mile stretch of road. And to make the trip more harrowing, often guardrails were not along side of the road and the local drivers were much more comfortable on these roads and traveled much faster. People on the left side of the bus had the perfect view of a very long and steep hill out of their windows. We knew that when everyone stopped the chatter that they were scared. One rider in a genuine effort to calm the more nervous riders that if the bus to go off the side, the trees would keep from reaching the bottom. As you might have guess, this word of encouragement didn’t help.

 

Lesson learned, bring a paper map…

Back to the holler we went to continue our work at Kathleen's home. 

 

We started the work day with an even larger prayer circle. Another work crew from Ruston, Louisiana that has been working on Kathleen’s daughter’s home in the same holler joined us for prayer. 

 

Here is a great picture of the work crew along with Kathleen and Aaron who is our Red Bird work crew leader.

 

 

 

The weather was a lot less humid than yesterday but by early afternoon it got hot, real hot.  But it did not deter us from turning into work animals. We finished painting the inside rooms; laid new a new sub floor and linoleum on the kitchen floor; installed new baseboard trim; installed 4 new interior doors; installed a kitchen sink and cabinet; and repaired / painted outside wood along the roof and gutter.

 

Enjoy these animals…

 

  

 

We really thought we would be able to finish Kathleen’s home today and we almost made it. We’ll return on Thursday to replace the gutters and down spouts, hook up the water lines, and add the dryer vent. Once we’ve finished Kathleen’s we’ll go next door to help our friends from Louisiana.

 

This evening the Red Bird Fire Department was selling ice cream for a buck a scoop for their weekly fund raiser. It was a great day for ice cream.

 

Once again Ronnie took a truck load up to the mountain tops. Tonight we saw four elk up close and personal. We must have been within 20 yards of these majestic animals. We got out of the truck and walked with the elks. They got bored with us after about 15 minutes and walk away as quickly as possible.

 

 

Tomorrow is our day off. Some of us are planning a trip to the Cumberland Falls State Park and then to a water park in Williamsburg, Kentucky. Ronnie is returning to Paintsville to visit with his family and drop Andy and Nancy at the Ford dealer that is to start fixing their truck.

 

7:15 begins the day with devotions in the dining hall. Each group has an opportunity to lead the volunteers with devotions. Aldersgate started the week. Nikki, Nancy, and Lindell led us with “This is the Day the Lord Has Made”. Nikki then read from Mathew 25: 31-46 and explained that we are doing exactly what Jesus has asked of us. In verse 40 Jesus said, “…I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”

 

The volunteers in the camp also get the opportunity at least once to clean the dining hall after a meal. Again, Aldersgate started the week.

 

This is Kathleen and two of our ladies...

 

 

We loaded up the trucks and off to Kathleen’s home we went. The 40 minute drive could have been done in 10 minutes if we were a crow. The Appalachian Mountains roads are never straight and never flat. The further we drove the deeper we were in the woods. Eventually the double yellow line disappears and the road becomes narrower.

 

There are four homes on Kathleen’s property (the same holler) and each is owned by one of her children. Talk about a close family!

 

We started with a huge circle of prayer and then we turned into work animals. 

 

  

 

In one very hot and humid day we replaced and painted new skirting around the house; painted several rooms; tore out an old kitchen sink and cabinet; replaced three inside doors; and began to lay a new foundation for the kitchen. Tomorrow we’ll finish the painting; install linoleum in the kitchen; and repair the eves of her roof. It is a very good chance we’ll finish the job tomorrow.

 

Thank you for all the prayers and support you have given this team and the Red Bird Mission.

Yep, the day two blog is just a bit little late. We had trouble getting access to the wireless network last night – however, better late that never.

 

Sunday was a pretty casual day, but not without it’s challenge. Andy & Nancy Miller’s truck wouldn’t start. We moved the luggage from their truck and loaded it into Ira’s truck, Ron’s truck, and the bus. The plan was to call Monday morning to have the local Ford dealer tow and repair it. Wednesday is our day off and hopefully the truck will be ready for the road again.

 

Leaving their truck behind in Paintsville, we motored on to Hazard, Kentucky for quick lunch. Nope, we did not see Daisy or the Dukes.

 

We arrived at Red Bird about 2:30 PM and unloaded our gear. For the next week, we’ll be living in the Sparrow cabin with the ladies in the back and the guys up front. The décor is very early scout camp with enough bed bunks for every one. There is also enough air conditioning in our cabin to keep the men cozy and the women too cold. Since the thermostat is on the women’s side of the cabin the guys are not expecting to be comfortable every night.

 

 

We had our first Red Bird dinner with your choice of Sloppy Joes; chicken salad; or tuna salad. Not exactly 4-star dining, but it does stick to your ribs and gives you fuel for the next day.

 

 

In the evening we had praise and worship with Dennis, one of the camp leaders with about one hundred other people. There were volunteers that drove to Red Bird from Louisiana, Michigan, and there were several groups from Pennsylvania.

 

 

Later that evening, with Ronnie as our guide, we took our annual trip to Elk Mountain. That’s not really the name, but it is a mountain and we do see elk. You can see forever - up and down several hollers. The elk come out to graze as dusk is approaching. Not only do you see and hear God’s creatures, you also get to see His sky paintings as the sun sets. It is just simply awesome. Oh, you can also get cell phone service from this advantage.