Day 4 - Our Hearts Are Broken

Hello from Pipestem, everyone.  I think Rick's blog really says it all about today.  I'd like to add a few pictures to let you see what he wrote about.

We started our day doing a few jobs before heading out to Bluefield.  Here is a picture of the library log cabin finished.

As Rick said, the trip over to Bluefield started at the Open Heart Ministries homeless shelter dining area.  We had lunch there: three of us had the Thursday Special: a taco salad, advertised "no other taco salad is this good and plentiful," and so it was!

The Open Heart Ministries showed us some of the houses they were working on as well as some they completed,  Unfortunately,  the houses they are given are in horrible shape: the places nobody wants, so they have to work with what they've got.  That's the story with so many folks working with the poor down here, they are not given many resources to do their work and constantly have to deal with substandard materials.

Here is a place they worked on with a group of young volunteers.  They completely transformed this house of a poor retired veteran with a long history of health problems.  Now he does not have to live in totally run down mobile home.

 

The Wade Center was an incredible experience.  Our hearts were truly broken, as you can tell from Rick's blog. You can see how beautiful these kids are, despite the overwhelming problems they face. We were amazed to see one of key Bible verses on the wall of one of the Wade Center's hall.  It was painted by a mission team.  They have facilities to house a large amount of mission teams that can both work in the Center as well as going out to help the poor in the Bluefield community.

We got back, emotionally drained yet grateful for the experience.  We ended the evening around a campfire, with the requisite s'mores.  

Tomorrow we will finish a few minor projects early, then head over to Beckley, WV to see a Coal Mining Museum.  Terry and Rick will head to Charlotte, NC to fly back.  Allyson, Chris and John are heading via our trusty minivan to Pennsylvania, staying overnight, then heading home on Saturday.

We miss you all and are looking to being back with you.  We feel your prayers and we pray for you, too.  We can't wait to tell more stories, with lots of pictures and a few videos.

Peace to you all!

John