Welcome!

Thanks for stopping by the Habitat for Humanity ABST blog! 

First of all, we're  going to Sussex County, Delaware! The leaders of the trip are Brendan Scully and Morgan Grzegorzewski.

Brendan is a senior nursing student from Erie, Pennsylvania and has been on past ABST Habitat trips. He is also on the executive board for Gannon University's Habitat for Humanity chapter! 

Morgan is a sophomore physician assistant student from Cincinnati, Ohio. She went on the habitat trip last year and looks forward to leading it this year. She is also a part of the executive board at Gannon. 

As we continue this journey, you will meet more of the group members and get to read their stories and experiences! 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

~Morgan 

We started building a house and left a Home

Our last full day in Kentucky was another eventful one in the books. 

We started our day with a two hour delay, a goodbye to a very special habitat friend we made, and then we were off. We went to a new house in the very near town of Berea to work. 

The Berea house was close to finish, so we were able to try new tools of trade. We hung doors (or rather attempted to), and we trimmed. 

(Above is Morgan and Alfred, and below Shawn working on doors)

(Above Giona and Marty-the Habitat job supervisor finish up a door, and below Marya and Morgan trim) 

It was a tedious task to hang doors and trim as most of us found out quickly. However, we were able to work side by side with the owner of the house today and get to hear a little bit about their story. When our work day was done it was a bitter sweet moment. Knowing we were done with the doors and trim for the day was a small highlight. Although we realized it was our last time working with the amazing people we met this week.

 (Our group with our fearless job supervisor Marty) 

After work we returned home, got cleaned up, and headed back to Berea for First Friday. First Friday is held at the beginning of every month at the Village Trough; which is a local earthy resturant that uses locally grown products. We listened to two very talented musicians play and sing. Some of us tried the local grub and really enjoyed it and we talked with each other and some locals. 

We returned to our home of the week for our final time, and had a great reflection of everything we have experienced. We now pack, clean, and finish up some last minute tasks of the week before we head home. 

At the beginning of the week we started with some lumber in an empty warehouse. Within two and a half days we were able to build the frame for a house where many memories are going to be made. Today we were able to see the work we did from the beginning of the week in an almost finished house. We started as strangers, and are leaving as friends. Just as we started a house, and we are leaving a home. 

-Jess

SNOWDAY!!!

Hello world!

Anna here with today's blog. After an exciting day yesterday we went to bed ready to rise early in search of adventure at the Berea build. We awoke to six inches of snow and a ghost town. We brave erie-ites had no second thoughts of entering the tundra, but to our dismay the build was cancelled for the day. But fear not we did not simply sit around all day...okay we did. We spent the day together strengthening the community we have built and learning from one another. Some of us went outside and played in the snow (throwing snow and licking metal poles) while others chilled inside. 

Late afternoon arrived and we decided to venture up the road to the local coffee shop Purdys. There we found warm drinks, crazy games, and special memories. after returning home Leann, Morgan, and I treated the group to a Taylor swift concert, much to everyone else's dismay. 

After a delicious dinner of pizza, we had our nightly reflection. Tonight was special; we heard the story of one of our group members. We heard their struggles and why our service is so important. The time we were supposed to meet the families we have been building for had to be cancelled. There is a good chance we will not be able to meet the people we have been building for, and that is kind of hard. However, the good we have done will not go unnoticed or unappreciated. We all have to believe that it has all been for a greater purpose than ourselves.

"The good you do today will often be forgotten tomorrow, do good anyway."-Mother Teresa. 

Yes we wanted to meet the families and see what they thought of our work, hear their story, and understand what we have been working towards, but instead we are holding on to a belief that we must always strive to do good even when we don't see why. As we end our fun-filled day with laughter and games, we look to tomorrow as one last chance to do real good before we leave our beautiful  Richmond. Goodnight all and pray that the weather allows us the opportunity to build together one more time.

left- Anna and Morgan in their Purdy's Shirts

back- Shawn and Anna front- Morgan and Marya--- all are sporting their Purdy's shirts bought from the local coffee shop 

 -Anna and Morgan 

With A Little Help From My Friends

This morning was quite the rainy one! In fact all day has been a mixture of signs from a Mother Nature that can't make up her mind. 

Along with the rain, we were gifted with the opportunity to help out at a place called God's Outreach.

God's Outreach is a food bank for Madison county in Richmond. The woman on the far right, Joyce, graciously allowed us to work with her and her staff this morning. We packed bags, moved groceries, and talked with a diverse group of people. I had the pleasure of taking the foods to the cars of families in need. It was pouring down rain and I couldn't feel my hands, but the comments and stories I heard made it all okay. One woman went as far as to ask if the reason for my helping was because I was in trouble! I laughed and explained we were from out of town and we wanted to help. She confirmed our need in the world for more people like that. 

Photo includes Ben helping to unload food.

Left- Local volunteer, Alfred, Morgan, Shawn waiting to push the carts for those in need.

The mornings experience was exhilarating and reflective. Volunteering, even if for a few hours can make all the difference. Joyce gave us all a little wisdom along with some food as a parting gift. She told us that we need to find a volunteer opportunity we love and to give and then give some more. People are in need and when we are all giving, the world can be a beautiful place.

After lunch we went back to work on our frame! More nails were hammered, more knees were sore, and more was accomplished. We ended our work on this house, in particular, with an almost complete frame! 

Marty will be finishing up part of a window and the front door! Other than that, this house is ready to be moved to its resting place!

This is our crew leaving the workplace for the last time.

At the end of each day, during reflection, we are asked to tell our high and low moments as well as the moment we feel closest to God. I'm realizing as we continue on this journey that my high moments so easily couple with how close I feel to God. If you are up to it, as the readers, maybe think about your moments that fall under these categories and reflect with us as our adventure continues!

Tomorrow is a new day!  A new site will hopefully be visited if weather permits!

-Morgan

Hard Work and Good People

Somedays we are blessed with the opportunity to help good people and other days we are blessed with enjoying the company of people who were once strangers. Today we were blessed with both!

This is all we have accomplished in the last two days! We were a group where only a few of us understood terms such as crowning or studs and now we are taking initiatives and constantly asking what we can do to help! We work with Marty, Job Site Supervisor for Richmond Habitat. This man is a hoot; he knows anything and everything!

Photo above is Marty with a few of our workers.

After our workday today, we spent some time wth Webber, President of the Board of Habitat. We were able to walk to the location where the house we have started will someday stand. Currently, we are working inside of an old tobacco warehouse due to the weather from the week before our arrival. Webber showed us Habitat Houses number three and four which were completed earlier this year.

Photo includes Webber (front) and the group.

Tomorrow we have been given the opportunity to work in a soup pantry for the morning hours and then back to work on finishing the frame in the afternoon!

Below are more pictures of group members working to put this frame together!

Left-Carrie Right-Marya

Front to Back- Alfred, Myself, Anna, Giona, Jessica, Brendan, Shawn, Ben, and Marty

Just a goofy picture for a goofy group!

We hope you are enjoying reading this and feel as if you are part of the adventure!

-Ben and Morgan 

The Beauty in Adventure

This day began with a welcoming breakfast provided by our new habitat family here in Richmond.  We were able to meet the president of the Habitat for Humanity (HFH) Madison and Clark counties, who informed us that since this HFH was founded, they have built a total of 102 houses for local families!!! Today we actually began working on the latest home!  We were able to assemble multiple outside walls in habitat's warehouse and will hopefully be completing all the walls of the home in the next day or so.  

Photo includes Morgan and Carrie (one of the leaders of the trip)

After a long day of hammering hundreds of nails, we headed again towards Berea in hopes of exploring some of the hiking trails.  Even though we were sent on a few detours, we  arrived to the exact trail we were searching for all along!  We had the opportunity to witness our first Kentucky sunset on top of what felt like a little mountain top.  This was a great time to sit and admire all of God's beauty through nature.  

After hiking quite a few miles, we went to a local restaurant called Papa Leno's for dinner. This restaurant was pointed out to us by close to ten people telling us just how amazing their food is - and boy were they right!!!

 It's days like these where we experience wonderful contributions small towns have to offer to those lucky enough to visit.

Photo includes Marya Hoffman, Co-leader of the trip.

-Marya 

Faith For All

WHAT A DAY

Fortunately, this morning was not one of alarm clocks and rushed people. We started the day with a traditional 11 am Catholic Mass. Only a handful of us are catholic thus allowing eyes to be opened to the traditions and as LeAnn likes to put it,"the sitting, standing, and kneeling." Not every mass is exactly the same, so new things were experienced by all. 

The people here are nice and for reasons unknown, can tell we are from out of town! The weather was not up to hiking standards so we spent our afternoon exploring the little town of Berea, Kentucky which happens to be the Folkarts and Crafts Capital of the state! The Log Cabin had amazing woodworking from students that attend Berea College, a place where they can study a craft that they will then use later in life. Since it is a Sunday, a lot of shops were closed including the fudge store which was the most heartbreaking for all of us chocolate fans!

We then attended a second service of the day at what is called Church On The Rock. This could not have been more different from what we all witnessed earlier this morning, that by time it was finished (2 hours later), controversial discussion was had by all. At one point during the service, the pastor acknowledged us as a group and welcomed everyone in the church to pray for us this upcoming week. With bodies turned and arms outstretched prayers of all sorts were aimed toward us. 

We ended our day with some scrumptious tacos and an intriguing talk about what each and every one of us believes, understands, and desires from our different relationships with God. While this was intense, a better understanding of who everyone is and how their faith affects their everyday lives was comprehended. 

So wish us luck as we begin the project tomorrow and actually have to wake up before 8am! 

We Made It!

People don't take trips... trips take people.

-John Steinbeck 

CDs were played, conversations were had, and naps were taken. Our van of eleven arrived in Richmond after 10 hours  of travel! We stopped at a wonderful Denny's where too much food was consumed. We then proceeded to take a "shortcut" back to the highway that led us through some vast fields with old-fashioned, beautiful houses! Needless to say, it was an acceptable detour. 

Upon our arrival, a shopping trip was taken, in which Anna (photo below), Shawn, Carrie, and Brendan gathered our food for the week! 

We christened the new place with a viewing of Frozen, which to most people's shock, was Giona's first time watching it! 

After our first reflection, all are preparing for the day we have tomorrow! Pray for good weather as we go out and explore the wonderful city of Richmond!

-Morgan 

And away we go...

On this cold, winter morning we are off on time! We have eleven people to a twelve person van and we couldn't be more snug! Along for the ride we have, Marya, Ben, Carrie, Jessica, Anna, Shawn, Giona, Brendan, LeAnn, Alfred and myself! 

Multiply this amount of cargo by at least three and then you will be in our shoes!

Let's be honest, we are all excited to get out of Erie and the cold! The fifties will feel like summer and the layers of clothes will be shed! 

Next stop, Richmond Kentucky! 

-Morgan