Day 1     Day 2     Day 3     Day 4    Day 5     Day 6

White Water Rafting on Day 3

Other Information About The Trip

Day 6, Friday, June 12, 2009

At 6:15pm today we have entered Ohio, and plan on making a short stop for dinner around 7pm, and then expect to arrive at the church a little before 10pm tonight.

Gooooooood morning! Everyone is up and we are finishing a breakfast with a little bit of everything from the week. We are getting ready to head to our last day at the jobsite! We plan to be on the road by 2pm with a quick lunch stop. I will have everyone make contact with their parents as we get going. I hope you all enjoyed the s'more series of photos from last night! Its been an incredible week! I can't wait to tell you all about it! See you all in Avon Lake!

All the best, Nate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The house as of Friday morning

Tearing up the front gable

 

The roof is off

Teamwork

Larry loooooved his coffee

Our bunks for the week

Jonathan's barefeet. He didn't wear shoes much

We painted a mural. It was awesome!

 

Day 5, Thursday, June 11, 2009

Well this morning we awoke to some major rainfall or liquid sunshine as we came to call it. It put us on a morning rain delay or in other words, plan B. We have been inside cleaning the facilities here at H.O.M.E.S. and doing odds and ends jobs around the place. We are starting to see some signs of tired teenagers longing for their own beds and their friends and families. All in all they continue to impress me with their work ethic and their flexibility. I am so incredibly proud of each of them. I can't forget how awesome Bracken, Steve, Amy, Ashley and Larry have all been. They are saints! Thanks for all your continued prayers - we are so incredibly grateful.

All the best, Nate

You might do summer circles down the hill! - paige

My stomach hurts! O-H!

 

We take loading the dump truck serious!

The srtongest teens in the world

The main st. Through the heart of Neon, KY

Loading up the dump truck

This was the smelliest piece of carpet in the world

Gunshow reflecting in the window

A battle between two wannabe Jedi knights

We also found light sabers!

Streetside in Neon

We actually found a shank!

Cleaning the afternoon away!

The apt. Was quite the sight

Mikhaila getting some fresh air

 

We found a lizard!

The burn pile was incredibly hot!

The guys working the burn pile

The dirtiest rug in the lower 48 states

Cleaning the hard hats

The H.O.M.E.S. Logo on the bball court

It was a rainy Thursday in Neon, KY

Me and Bracken were so thankful for mountain dew

Breakfast! I burned a pan of bacon- it smelled and was smokey!

Taco peed on Kelsey! She was not happy

The kids fell in love with a dog they named Taco, and really want to bring it home! Help!

Amen!

Bracken got us lost on the way back!

Personal commode stop for Tyler at a church on the top of a mtn!

At the KfC museum

TA DA!

Even the dept. of interior recognizes its greatness

Kelsey and Tom at KFC

I spilled my large pepsi all over KFC

 

Fun at KFC

 

White Water Rafting - Day 4, Wednesday, June 10, 2009

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 4, Wednesday, June 10, 2009

We are up and on the road making our way literally over Pine Mountain on our way to the Outfitters. Right now my ears our popping as we make our way through the mountains and getting ready to hit the river.

Everyone is having a blast. Last night we had the opportunity to hear a talk from a former coal mine owner about his experiences. The situation is very complicated when you try to dissect it involving the coal mine companies, the people of these communities and the picture that the outside world has of this region.

Tomorrow we will be continuing work on dismantling the camp house. It is so much better now that the home has been cleared out. Watch for more pictures and updates all week. Thanks for your prayers!

IMPORTANT ITINERARY CHANGE: we will be departing Kentucky around 2pm on Friday. We expect to be back in Avon. Lake around 9:00-9:30pm.  See you then!

All the best,
Nate

An enlightening conversation with the colonel himself

 

Ready to tame the mighty Cumberland

Running with excitement to the river!

Ready to rock!

Ready for the river!

Alyssa got stung by a bee under her eye. She is doing fine Ms. O

Bracken calliong the outfitter. JC prayerfully watching over!

Bring on the river!

Thrilled to be up and moving

Yes it is actually a.m.

Driving to the Cumberland river

Off to whitewater rafting at 5:34am!

 

Day 3, Tuesday, June 9, 2009

 

Morgan needed her chocolate fix!

 

Special guest speaker, former coal mine owner

Steve had a looooooong day! Actually he really works like an ox!

A rowdy game of Pit

Gatorade for everyone! Lunch was a HUGE hit!

Everyone had PBJ for lunch. Thanks to Amy my lunch off limits

Cleaning up the roofing mess

Alyssa working hard

The backyard filled with lots of everything

Tossing the chimney out the window!

Tyler, Kelsey and Tommy working the day away

Alyssa got a bug bite!

A lonely puppy that the kids fell in love with

Getting crazy taking the ceilings out!

Breaktime!

Bracken taking out the roof

From the 2nd floor of the house

Some are so tired that they wore their shirts backwards!

Larry needed a bandaid. He's lucky he didn't lose his finger

Mmmmmmmmm...goood!

Bracken- griddle master!

Mike foley...chef extraordinaire

Breakfast!

 

 

Day 2, Monday, June 8, 2009

 

 

Everyone at evening advocacy lessons

 

Steve is whooped!

I just played bball with 8th n 9th graders! I love A/C

 

The miracle key also found among the mess

Dinner is going to be amazing!

At the IGA with bologna snack bites... Yummy!

Steve and Tyler after tearing out the ceiling filled with coal

Tom and Tyler getting serious!

Way to go guys!

A wonderful tablecloth we discovered among so much!

 JC at Arbys on monday afternoon

 Lunch on monday at Arbys

Massssssive centipede! I mean steroid type 

 Dishes at breakfast

Morgan has bagel with cream cheese and topped with cherrios

Day 1, Sunday, June 7, 2009

10:45pm All The Vans Arrived Safely in Neon, Ky.

Mission trip 09 the calm before the storm

Bracken and alllllll his gear

Filling up for gas at the getgo in Avon

They are still smiling

Loaded and ready to go

Plush Jesus (popularly referred to as JC) enjoying the open road

We made it to Neon, KY!

Walmart

Walmart

Walmart receipt

  

   

   

 

 

Road trip to see strip-mining

Singing in the car!

Giant flaming hot cheetos

The beautiful Kentucky landscape

Brotherly/Sisterly loooove

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrggggg

Group shot!

JUMP!

Kids working off some energy

 

Geared up for the river

Final instructions before the rafting and fun begins!

Cumberland Falls

 

An enlightening conversation with the colonel himself

Dinner at the original KFC!